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At the start of the year there was a "major" event. Okay, it's fair to say they seem to be happening all the time lately in the world of comics, but this was still an event that was significant enough to pique my interest. Early in the year it was revealed that a member of the Fantastic Four would die. Some knew of this for some time, but as I read very little Marvel, I wasn't in the "know" until the rumblings became unavoidable. I knew that when the issue came out, I would be buying it. I have read small runs of Fantastic Four over my years of reading comics. Usually it was just something that grabbed my attention for a time. A change of the team lineup, a writer, an artist...the Beyonder. Anyway, I've dabbled in reading about the adventures of the Fantastic Four over the years. So, to hear that one of the originals would be dying...that was significant to me.
Now, I'm not so naive as to believe the death would prove permanent. In today's world of comics practically every death of a significant character is portrayed as permanent, only to have the character return later. It hardly ever works out that way. Unless your name is Ted Kord, Ralph Dibny or Sue Dibny...but I digress. I wanted to see how this situation would unfold and how it would be portrayed. So, I committed to picking up Fantastic Four #587. In it I found sacrifice of the Human Torch. The story and situation were well done and solid.
While Fantastic Four #587 was a good read, it was the following issue that really grabbed my attention. Fantastic Four #588 was a glimpse into the world of grief that many of us have had, and many of us dread. It was that grief taken to a superhuman scale, literally. We find Mr. Fantastic wielding the Ultimate Nullifier in a threatening manner and the Thing having a throw-down with the Hulk and Thor. That is anger. That is grief. It was also the point where the decision was made that Spider-Man would be taking the Human Torch's place. In pages of Fantastic Four #587 I also found a comic quote that stuck with me. Spider-Man was talking to Franklin Richards and he said, "Because I had to learn that when you have gifts like ours, you don't think of yourself first--you think about how lucky you are to have them, and how much other people need help..." To me, that signaled the feeling of where the surviving members of the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man would be going next when the title FF launched.
FF has been a very enjoyable read. I don't tend to read much in regards to "major" characters (though that has changed as characters I read have become more major ones), and I don't tend to read much Marvel. I've had a bad taste in my mouth in regards to Marvel ever since the events of the "Civil War". Still, I'd be lying if I didn't say that Jonathan Hickman has been writing an amazing title in FF. In fact, due to recent events (which I'll get to shortly) I'll likely be going back and getting most of his run on Fantastic Four in trade format. My only frustration with FF has been the rotation of artists. I realize that it is sometimes necessary for titles to have to change artists, but it just creates a disruption in my enjoyment when it happens so often. Still, all the artists have been good, and the reality is that it is the story in FF that has driven the title. But, now things are about to change. However, it's definitely not in a bad way.
This past month Fantastic Four returned with its 600th issue. If you haven't read or heard about what is in that issue then I suggest that you don't read any further than this point. Fantastic Four #600 picks up where FF #11 and Fantastic Four #587 left off. Yes, all things come full circle, and to a head, and it is done very well. An enslaved Doctor Doom, a continued threat from Annihilus and the Negative Zone, an upset group of Inhumans and a Kree invasion. Luckily, right before all this hit the fan Reed Richards got his head on straight and enlisted the help of the Avengers to take on the problems he was dealing with in the pages of FF. It's throw-downs galore ending with the return of the Human Torch. Oh, and that's just the first part contained in the 100 pages of Fantastic Four #600. Yes, that's right. First part. There are five parts (stories) in total in the issue, and let me tell you that the issue is definitely worth the $7.99 cover price.
I'll admit that the third part is probably the least engaging when compared to the others, unless you're a fan of the Inhumans and/or Black Bolt. I just happen to be such a person. So, while many may not care as much for the third part I was very happy to see how it is that Black Bolt and Medusa "talk". It says a lot about them, and a lot about him as King of the Inhumans. The fourth part is the setup for what is to come in the future of the Fantastic Four and the FF. The hints (which probably qualify more as warnings) come during a conversation between Reed Richards, Sue Storm and Galactus. You know, one of those casual conversations about world-changing events that people have on the surface of the moon. The fifth part lays even more groundwork for what is to come in the future and spotlights Franklin Richards.
Now, back to the second part. The second part is longest, and it's that way for a reason. It answers the question that hits your mind at the end of the first part and even carries that thought in its title, "Whatever happened to Johnny Storm?" In the story you are shown that there wasn't really a "lie" in the statement that the Human Torch died. He did. He died at least a couple of times. This could seem cheap if it wasn't for the overall story in the second part. It makes sense, and that's what makes it not feel "cheap". It's a solid story that isn't insulting and even shows that more intense side of the Human Torch we don't often see. That is, I've rarely seen it in the adventures I've read.
I haven't said much about the story that was in FF for a reason, and that is that you really can choose to skip it and jump on the return of the Fantastic Four (in whatever form it is) with this new issue. Personally, I think you should pick it up. Still, from this point forward Hickman will be running parallel stories between the FF and Fantastic Four. You could probably go with one, but I'm going to go with both. I really want to see where the story from FF goes, and as I mentioned earlier I am planning on picking up Hickman's earlier work on Fantastic Four now that the Human Torch's return has me interested in the larger story that played out before and will now continue.
Has this all been a gimmick? Maybe. However, if it was then it was an amazingly well-crafted gimmick. It got me to return to reading about the Fantastic Four (or what was left of them for a time) and now it will have me reading about what the Fantastic Four and the Future Foundation will become. It may sound silly, but Hickman has built my faith in reading both titles for the foreseeable future, and he's done that with elements found in the names of each. He's done it by building a fantastic foundation for both titles.
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