Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Iban Coello
Color Artist: Jesus Aburtov
Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
The Fantastic Four are broken up! Again. Questions abound as to why they split up and what they’re all doing. However, we do get to see what Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman are doing away from all the chaos, but trouble still finds them. See how Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman deal with a town full of Doombots in Fantastic Four #2.
Review:
Okay, I’m not gonna lie, this book is weird. It’s weird for good and bad reasons, but let’s get into it. Like before with Ben and Alicia, Reed and Sue are just out and about trying to get away from New York after they did….something that resulted in a huge crater in what looks like where the Baxter Building used to be. They’re essentially in another state and are having a meal at a nice diner until Reed discovers one of the waitresses is a Doombot in disguise and so is everyone in the restaurant. From there, shenanigans ensue.
None of this isn’t a spoiler since the synopsis purposefully spoils the entire surprise with the Doombots. So, the rest of the comic is all about Reed and Sue trying to figure out just what the heck is happening and how these Doombots came to be in this small town. Ryan North is really leaning into the absurd and wacky tone but he also tries to balance it with a more emotional anchor to it as well. It wasn’t really there in the last issue but it’s here. This is very prominent with the narration as Sue’s the one who narrates throughout the comic about the events transpiring in the comic, herself, her family, friends, and Reed. The other half of the emotional element is tied with the big mystery of the Doombots.
Iban Coello once again knocks it out of the park with the art as he just embraces the fast and fluid movements mixed with Reed’s stretching ability and the action between Sue’s powers and the Doombots flying to attack. I won’t spoil the surprise twist surrounding this batch of Doombots, but it lends itself to some of the best parts of the series so far in terms of art. Nothing fans of the FF haven’t seen before but some of it will catch the readers off guard for a little bit.
So far, it seems like Ryan North is strongly establishing the intended tone for this story arc and possibly for the rest of the series. A mixture of weird and zany misadventures that are grounded in emotional storylines and characters. Hopefully the book doesn’t get drowned in wacky humor and wanna-be meta stories that feel ripped from more well-known movies and TV shows like the first issue and a bit in this one. So far, North is doing fine, nothing to brag about but he’s pulling off the casual fun misadventures of the Fantastic Four. Based on these last two issues, it only makes sense that the next issue focuses on Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch. Here’s hoping it’s good.
Final Thoughts:
Fantastic Four #2 follows a misadventure with Reed and Sue encountering a bunch of incognito Doombots. The situation with the weird Doombots is at the forefront of the story as Reed and Sue are trying to figure out just what’s going on. The twist is interesting and makes for a neat mystery for these heroes to solve; it’s not the biggest reveal but it works for the story that’s told here.