Henry10Chronological Fantastic Four Reviews! (#1-3)
October 9th 2006 13:56
As I've been reading through the complete run of Fantastic Four in chronological order, it seems logical to review them as I go. As I am a completely lazy SOB, it also seems logical to dredge up reviews that I have written elsewhere. It's a great stop-gap for the days I have nothing to write about, innit? Currently I'm in the mid-50s, so it might be a while before I catch up, but that suits me nicely.
For those of you unfamiliar with the awesomenicity that is the FF, here's the Cliff's Notes version:
* Three dudes and a chick went up in a rocket to outer space, and passed through cosmic rays. The rocket malfunctioned and they crached to Earth, but each of them now had fantastic powers. (Sometimes the rocket was being launched to beat the Commies to the moon, sometimes to Mars, and other times to break the speed of light. It doesn't really matter, but my personal fave is 'beat the Commies to Mars'..)
* Their leader is Reed Richards, who dubbed himself Mr. Fantastic. He can stretch his body to great distances, and is the smartest scientific type on the planet. He's also handsome, and a judo master. Basically, he can do everything better than you can.
* His fiancee is Susan Storm, called the Invisible Girl. She is a girl, and can turn invisible. She does girl things.
* Her kid brother is the Human Torch, Johnny Storm. He can turn himself into a being of living flame, and is generally an obnoxious teenager.
* Reed's best friend is Ben Grimm, the Thing. He's big, he's ugly, and his skin is made from orange rock. He gets angry, he gets upset at being a monster, he throws tantrums, but he also has a great sense of humour. And a vicious left hook.
Together they fight crime, investigate scientific marvels, and have adventures that are fun to look at while high on drugs.
FANTASTIC FOUR #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
It's impossible for me to objectively review this comic. It's the beginning of the Marvel Universe, the first appearance of characters I love, and it's just too significant to the things I love for me to ever say a bad word against it. Nevertheless, it can be talked about and discussed and dissected in comparison to how the characters and stories evolved, so here I go.
The plot is dead simple - the villainous Mole Man is stealing atomic power plants (yes, entire plants), and taking them to his underground kingdom. The newly created Fantastic Four go to bust up his 'hood and bring them back.
It kicks off with a nice introductory piece - Reed fires off a flare because the FF are needed, and each of the characters receives a scene to show off their powers. So what's the first in-story appearance for all of them?
Reed is the leader from the beginning, grim and no-nonsense.
It's fitting that Sue is shown drinking tea - she was little more than the stereotypical woman in her early appearances, and if Stan Lee can be said to have a weakness as a writer his depiction of women would be it.
The Thing is hidden for his awesome reveal next page, but it's telling that he's trying to buy clothes in his first ever panel - the conflict between trying to be a man in the body of a monster is central to his character.
Johnny, of course, is just doing shallow Johnny stuff like fixing hot rods. He develops a lot in the years to come, but begins as a stereotypical cocky, mouthy and annoying Lee/Kirby teenager.
This is the first time the Thing's appearance is revealed, and he sure looks different. He would eventually evolve into a cuter, cuddlier version, but here he's a monster, pure and simple. Note his dialogue as well - he became a completely different character, really. Here it's cliche Lee/Kirby monster material, with none of the charm, wisecracks and pathos associated with the Thing.
The Thing isn't the only one who looks different. Check out the Human Torch, demonstrating that the only thing he digs more than cars is being the Human Torch. Obviously a great deal more, if the smoldering wreckage of his hot rod is anything to go by.
The Thing scene is my favourite, but the Johnny scene wins points for sheer silliness. When Johnny is spotted in the skies over Central City (no, not New York just yet) fighter jets are scrambled to take him down. He melts them all, with no pilots injured of course, so instead they launch a nuclear missile to take him out. Luckily Reed Richards is on hand to throw it into the ocean, but the mayor of Central City sure has some government pull (and a few screws loose, too).
With the gang assembled, it's time to recap the origin, which I've already handily done above. I should note the ridiculousness of a scientist and a pilot bringing the scientist's girlfriend and her kid brother along for the flight. Don't make no sense, and it's never been adequately explained. But to fight the Communists, no measure is too ridiculous! As Sue Storm says, "Ben, we've got to take that chance... unless we want the Commies to beat us to it!" Who knew she was such a right-winger?
So Reed explains what's going on - atomic plants are disappearing into holes in the ground all over the world. He's tracked them down, so the FF get in their private jet and head for Monster Isle. The group is split up - while Reed and Johnny meet the Mole Man, Sue and Ben tangle with a rock monster, giving us the first ever punch landed in the Marvel Universe:
And lo shall it ever echo through the ages!
But back to the Mole Man! Spurned by women for looking like a mole (and rightly so!), the Mole Man decided to search for the centre of the Earth, and found a passage there on Monster Isle. He mastered the various underground beasties, and carved an empire. He's basically a blind guy with a stick, but he tells big scary monsters what to do (eat atomic power plants, apparently).
The Mole Man unleashes his monstrous horde upon the FF, and makes his escape. The FF flee in their jet, which prompts Reed to say, "I left him behind--He'll never trouble anyone again!" You know, apart from the whole MONSTERS EATING ATOMIC POWER PLANTS thing (and funnily enough, he returns with a similar plan in issue #23). Then the Mole Man inexplicably blows up Monster Island with a nuke he had lying around, and it's mission accomplished.
So that's the first issue of Fantastic Four. Not a masterpiece by any account, but it has the Thing punching monsters, and is the beginning of a major pop culture revolution. It's place in history as an important part of comics cannot be denied.
I'll be back later to review more issues, most likely more than one at a time.
For those of you unfamiliar with the awesomenicity that is the FF, here's the Cliff's Notes version:
* Three dudes and a chick went up in a rocket to outer space, and passed through cosmic rays. The rocket malfunctioned and they crached to Earth, but each of them now had fantastic powers. (Sometimes the rocket was being launched to beat the Commies to the moon, sometimes to Mars, and other times to break the speed of light. It doesn't really matter, but my personal fave is 'beat the Commies to Mars'..)
Ignore the loveheart - they're actually cool!
* Their leader is Reed Richards, who dubbed himself Mr. Fantastic. He can stretch his body to great distances, and is the smartest scientific type on the planet. He's also handsome, and a judo master. Basically, he can do everything better than you can.
* His fiancee is Susan Storm, called the Invisible Girl. She is a girl, and can turn invisible. She does girl things.
* Her kid brother is the Human Torch, Johnny Storm. He can turn himself into a being of living flame, and is generally an obnoxious teenager.
* Reed's best friend is Ben Grimm, the Thing. He's big, he's ugly, and his skin is made from orange rock. He gets angry, he gets upset at being a monster, he throws tantrums, but he also has a great sense of humour. And a vicious left hook.
Together they fight crime, investigate scientific marvels, and have adventures that are fun to look at while high on drugs.
FANTASTIC FOUR #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
It's impossible for me to objectively review this comic. It's the beginning of the Marvel Universe, the first appearance of characters I love, and it's just too significant to the things I love for me to ever say a bad word against it. Nevertheless, it can be talked about and discussed and dissected in comparison to how the characters and stories evolved, so here I go.
The plot is dead simple - the villainous Mole Man is stealing atomic power plants (yes, entire plants), and taking them to his underground kingdom. The newly created Fantastic Four go to bust up his 'hood and bring them back.
It kicks off with a nice introductory piece - Reed fires off a flare because the FF are needed, and each of the characters receives a scene to show off their powers. So what's the first in-story appearance for all of them?
Reed is the leader from the beginning, grim and no-nonsense.
It's fitting that Sue is shown drinking tea - she was little more than the stereotypical woman in her early appearances, and if Stan Lee can be said to have a weakness as a writer his depiction of women would be it.
The Thing is hidden for his awesome reveal next page, but it's telling that he's trying to buy clothes in his first ever panel - the conflict between trying to be a man in the body of a monster is central to his character.
Johnny, of course, is just doing shallow Johnny stuff like fixing hot rods. He develops a lot in the years to come, but begins as a stereotypical cocky, mouthy and annoying Lee/Kirby teenager.
This is the first time the Thing's appearance is revealed, and he sure looks different. He would eventually evolve into a cuter, cuddlier version, but here he's a monster, pure and simple. Note his dialogue as well - he became a completely different character, really. Here it's cliche Lee/Kirby monster material, with none of the charm, wisecracks and pathos associated with the Thing.
The Thing isn't the only one who looks different. Check out the Human Torch, demonstrating that the only thing he digs more than cars is being the Human Torch. Obviously a great deal more, if the smoldering wreckage of his hot rod is anything to go by.
The Thing scene is my favourite, but the Johnny scene wins points for sheer silliness. When Johnny is spotted in the skies over Central City (no, not New York just yet) fighter jets are scrambled to take him down. He melts them all, with no pilots injured of course, so instead they launch a nuclear missile to take him out. Luckily Reed Richards is on hand to throw it into the ocean, but the mayor of Central City sure has some government pull (and a few screws loose, too).
With the gang assembled, it's time to recap the origin, which I've already handily done above. I should note the ridiculousness of a scientist and a pilot bringing the scientist's girlfriend and her kid brother along for the flight. Don't make no sense, and it's never been adequately explained. But to fight the Communists, no measure is too ridiculous! As Sue Storm says, "Ben, we've got to take that chance... unless we want the Commies to beat us to it!" Who knew she was such a right-winger?
So Reed explains what's going on - atomic plants are disappearing into holes in the ground all over the world. He's tracked them down, so the FF get in their private jet and head for Monster Isle. The group is split up - while Reed and Johnny meet the Mole Man, Sue and Ben tangle with a rock monster, giving us the first ever punch landed in the Marvel Universe:
And lo shall it ever echo through the ages!
But back to the Mole Man! Spurned by women for looking like a mole (and rightly so!), the Mole Man decided to search for the centre of the Earth, and found a passage there on Monster Isle. He mastered the various underground beasties, and carved an empire. He's basically a blind guy with a stick, but he tells big scary monsters what to do (eat atomic power plants, apparently).
The Mole Man unleashes his monstrous horde upon the FF, and makes his escape. The FF flee in their jet, which prompts Reed to say, "I left him behind--He'll never trouble anyone again!" You know, apart from the whole MONSTERS EATING ATOMIC POWER PLANTS thing (and funnily enough, he returns with a similar plan in issue #23). Then the Mole Man inexplicably blows up Monster Island with a nuke he had lying around, and it's mission accomplished.
So that's the first issue of Fantastic Four. Not a masterpiece by any account, but it has the Thing punching monsters, and is the beginning of a major pop culture revolution. It's place in history as an important part of comics cannot be denied.
I'll be back later to review more issues, most likely more than one at a time.
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