FANTASTIC FOUR: FOES #1 ADVANCE REVIEW

[Andrea Speed]

Reviewer: Andrea Speed andy@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Okay

The Puppet Master thinks he has a plan to destroy the FF once and for all.

<a href="http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/images/content/FFFOES01_COV.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/images/content/FFFOES01_COVt.jpg" align="left" border="0"> </a>Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Cliff Rathburn
Color Art: Bill Crabtree
Letters: Clem Robins
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Jim Cheung
Publisher: Marvel



Review: Well, this is a set up issue, and as such there’s bound to be a hitch in the giddy up (to use a phrase my grandmother used - and I believe she was the only person on the planet to ever do so). The main bump I had to get over was the inclusion of the Puppet Master, because he’s the current villain in the 4 series, as he’s trying to give his step-daughter Alicia new eyes. Continuity rearing it’s ugly head - I’ll get over it.

This will be a real treat for fans of all the bad guys of the FF over the years, because while the Puppet Master and the Thinker are the head honchos here, Kirkman has come up with a pretty clever plot device that will allow all sorts of other villains to smash into this miniseries as well. But I still have no idea what role Andrew is going to play in this series, although I expect Kirkman has something big for him.

Now, the art. Rathburn has an animated cartoon style vibe going for him, and while it’s reasonably good, sometimes Ben looks a bit off. The rest of the FF look okay, and Ben is fine for many panels, but every now and again I came across one that just made me pause. There are lots of open spaces in the panels, which I like, but I found the fact that almost no one had any pupils in their eyes kind of distracting, although you do get used to it. The color art by Crabtree is bright but somewhat translucent, a bit pale but not pastel. It goes very well with Rathburn’s style of art, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say this art style might be an acquired taste.

Not too bad, Kirkman keeps it light and moving, but for those hoping it would be more from the villains point of view may be disappointed. (With this issue anyways.)




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[madrox]

I may be mistaken but I was under the impression that Marvel Knights titles could be told in or out of continuity at the writers discression. Im positive I remember Millar saying that the editors left it up to him weather or not he wanted to have his run on Spider-Man in continuity (and he chose to have it in) I also remember this from an interview with the MK editor (his name escapes me at the moment) when X-Statix, Wolverine, and the Hulk went to MK that they could be out of continuity if the writer wanted.

That said, I was always under the impression that MK4 was out of continuity because even though the F4 are hurting for cash they are not broke. But then again I havent read it because at the time 3 F4 related books (UF4, F4, and Human Tourch) was enough for me.

[Andrea Speed]

Actually, no - in 4, it was recently revealed that they aren't broke and hurting for cash - it was just a plan of Reed's to help them live a "normal" life. They have cash now, and for some reason, no one has beat the stretch out of him. :LOL:

[Walt Kneeland]

I checked out "4" for the first couple stories or so (I honestly don't recall which issue I left off on, now)...hadn't heard about it being another 'plan' of Reed's...

As far as Thing...I'm reading a Spidey story from Amazing Spider-Man # 318 or so (TPB), and the Thing looks....well..."freaky" might begin to describe it. Definitely from before MY days of Spidey-readin' (pre-1992ish).

And I just forgot the main point I was gonna post. Yeesh..and it's not even 9pm yet! :D (go figure)

~Walt

[blue13]

Originally posted by Andrea Speed
Actually, no - in 4, it was recently revealed that they aren't broke and hurting for cash - it was just a plan of Reed's to help them live a "normal" life. They have cash now, and for some reason, no one has beat the stretch out of him. :LOL:

because if they were to beat the stretch out of him, they'd be screwed. reed IS the source of their money anyway.

what would they do if reed left, andrea?

sue and johnny are two of the most incompetent and useless ppl in the whole marvel universe.

what are they good at? nothing. they could both turn to modelling, sure...but that's fickle. acting? please.

[Blake Petit]

Originally posted by blue13
sue and johnny are two of the most incompetent and useless ppl in the whole marvel universe.

Good gracious, have you ever READ a Fantastic Four comic? I can't think of anything LESS true. Johnny is running the FF's business side right now, and after a few mishaps to get his footing, he's doing a pretty good job. Sue, on top of being potentially one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel U, is also Reed's grounding source. She's what keeps him down to Earth. He's their source of income, but Sue is the heart of the team, the mother, the one that makes the FF a family instead of just a group of superheroes.

[Mark Blicharz]

Uh no, Sue is a genius in her own rights. She teaches English at a college. Johnny was a firefighter, Ben was a pilot. Reed's inventions make them rich, but they can all do just fine on their own if needed.

[Lord_Magneto]

Plus, if a normal guy translates to useless then sure, Johnny is useless, i like to read about useless people. Jessica Johns is "useless" - bendis' greatest character IMO. Yorick from Y the last man? again, "useless". another great character. am i making myself clear here?

[Magnus2k]

Originally posted by Andrea Speed
Actually, no - in 4, it was recently revealed that they aren't broke and hurting for cash - it was just a plan of Reed's to help them live a "normal" life. They have cash now, and for some reason, no one has beat the stretch out of him. :LOL:

Now I have to go and re-read. I remember them getting cash back as they had the whole party on the roof and all, but I dont remember them saying it was a ploy of Reeds. Time to do some digging. :p

[Andrea Speed]

It was in the issue before the roof party issue - Reed admits to Sue it was a set up.