|
|
|
Comic Review by:
|
|
"Sweet" Dan Sweet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(15% OFF during their 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
|
|
|
“Hickman’s story is phenomenal, but I don’t think it would be as emotionally
arresting if illustrated by anyone else.”
|
|
|
As much as I’ve enjoyed Jonathan Hickman’s
mind-blowing run on Marvel’s First Family, I was more than a little hesitant
when I heard of the planned storyline “3” which was rumored (and ultimately
confirmed) to culminate with the DEATH of one of the quartet’s members. It’s not
that I’m against such storylines, quite the contrary actually. Whereas numerous
fans have taken to internet message boards to bash what they consider to be
‘gimmicky plot devices’, I’ve patiently awaited the outcome with bated breath.
When I last checked in on the FF (last month!) Sue was attempting to mediate a
peace-talk between warring Atlantean factions, Reed was trying to assist
Galactus in preventing his death in the future at the hands of the New
Defenders/Fantastic Force, and Ben, after being gifted with a temporary return
to his pre-cosmic ray days, is being shown the time of his life by Johnny Storm,
until the Negative Zone portal is ripped open and all Hell breaks loose. The
odds seem insurmountable in all three cases, and the potential outcomes were
vast…until now.
Having just read the conclusion of “3” in “Fantastic Four” #587, and knowing
that the title is ending after the following issue, I must say that my hat is
off to Mr. Hickman. Sure, I may have seen the victim coming months in advance; I
might have even doubted the credibility of the ‘announcement’, knowing hype and
marketing for what it is these days, but when it’s all said and done, and a life
IS extinguished by book’s end, I was floored.
‘Effective’ is the word I’d choose if I had to pick just one to sum up the
story. Hickman manages to insert each member of the team into their own
predicament, each more harrowing than the last. He does it with such flair, such
reckless abandon; throwing caution to the wind, Hickman makes readers honestly
believe that ANY one of the Four’s members is really, truly in danger. Then the
guillotine drops, the dust settles and one of their own is snuffed out.
Steve Epting brings a great dynamic look to the book that I don’t think any
other creator has managed in a long, loooooooooooong time. Say what you want
about your favorite runs on the Four, Lee/Kirby, Waid/Weiringo, Byrne/Byrne, or
whatever…Hickman/Epting is where it’s at! Epting’s classic design style,
combined with his ability to really bring the action to life is one of the
strongest assets that this book has going for it. Hickman’s story is phenomenal,
but I don’t think it would be as emotionally arresting if illustrated by anyone
else. His control over light and shadow, especially when colored by Paul Mounts,
really puts a Super-Sci-fi-Noir spin on a thrill ride of a send off for one of
the hottest heroes in the Marvel Universe.
I told myself I wasn’t going to talk about the poly-bag. I told myself I wasn’t
going to do it because to cry out, one way or another, about the packaging of
the comic doesn’t really mean anything as far as what’s in between the covers.
The fact is, in the age off the internet, these kinds of measure may have to be
taken to TRULY surprise fans. It’s the FANS that constantly bitch and complain
about how nothing catches them off guard, and thanks in parts to sites like
Scans Daily, or Bit Torrent engines, comics are available online before they
even go on sale. Marvel did what they had to do in order to keep their secret
SECRET; No one said you HAD to buy more than one copy…I didn’t. I just neatly
tore my bag open at the bottom and slid the book out, careful so I don’t damage
it, and easy enough to slide it back in when I was finished. Gimmicky, sure, but
it kept the ‘death’ a surprise until the final page, for me, and I’m glad that
they did it! |
|
|
|
All Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2011 by their respective
owners. No rights given or implied by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.
Reviews © 2011 Alternate Reality, Inc.
|
|
|
