Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Iban Coello
Color Artist: Jesus Aburtov
Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
It’s here, it’s finally here! The big mystery unveiled of how the Fantastic Four lost the Baxter Building, the kids, New York’s respect and patience, and why they split up. It’s all here and then some. Read Fantastic Four #4 to see what events transpired to lead to this split up and just what can bring them back together.
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Review:
Ok, this reviewer is ready to have some humble pie and eat his words. From the first issue, I had my misgivings about Ryan North and whether or not he and Iban Coello would be able to not only tell good stories but tell good Fantastic Four stories that capture the core elements of what makes them great characters, superheroes, and what make their stories special in Marvel Comics. I’m thankful to say that Ryan North and Iban Coello surprised me with this issue.
To start off, the comic actually follows through on delivering what’s in the synopsis and then some. We get to see the event that caused the Fantastic Four to split up. The catalyst behind the event isn’t that too out of left field for the FF and their stories and feels perfectly fine as an explanation for what kicked off the events to come. However, the comic isn’t telling just one story but two: how the team broke apart and how it comes back together. Readers not only get a story in the past but also in the present as Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, and the Human Torch try to unravel the weird mystery of the Ben Grimm dome or “Grimm Dome” they found.
Ryan North manages to balance out everything in this comic from the Sci-Fi elements to the team back-and-forth, to capturing the superhero scientist element of the FF, and to showing what makes them a family. What’s more is that the explanation behind why the Fantastic Four split up makes sense both in the context of the FF and in general. From why Ben and Alicia left New York to go on their road trip and weren’t speaking to the others particularly Reed, why Reed and Sue were traveling incognito, why Johnny is in disguise, it’s all told in a believable manner for the characters.
I know it all sounds like a lot and it sounds almost too good to be true, but it is at least for this issue. North is able to present all of the voices for all of the characters from the main FF to their kids without any significant deviations to their team and family dynamics. What’s better is that North is also able to handle the Sci-Fi superhero action with family drama and thanks to Iban Coello’s art, the comic is able to sell just why the FF broke up for a little while. However, the comic also shows just what it is that brings them back together, the heart, friendship, forgiveness, and sheer love these characters have for each other.
Props to Iban Coello for and Jesus Aburtov on colors, the artwork really shines through in this issue. Everything from the fights in the city with the aliens from the Negative Zone to the weird alien environment inside the “Grimm Dome” as well. Coello is able to deliver some pretty great dynamic comic book art here with the action, the use of the FF’s powers in and out of combat, and most of all the facial expressions and body language of the characters. Those last two are important because it’s what’s presented in the characters’ faces and bodies that really sell the rage, sadness, heartache, and happiness in the story. And all without sacrificing the quality of the art and colors for the action either.
Final Thoughts:
Fantastic Four #4 delivers exactly what it says in the synopsis. Readers will get to see the event that temporarily broke up the Fantastic Four, why it did, and how it relates to the present mystery with the Ben Grimm like dome. The story really balances out the past and present day stories as they parallel each other well. Not to mention Iban Coello’s art with Jesus Aburtov’s colors really shine through in this comic in both the dynamic action and the emotional scenes with the heroes. Overall, it’s a great Fantastic Four comic that accomplishes a lot in just one issue and will leave readers wanting to see what the next story the creative team tells with the FF.