Fantastic Four #6 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

In 2003, Marvel established an imprint for all ages. Unlike Star Comics in the 1980s, this imprint would star the heroes of the 616-Universe. First titled 'Marvel Age', the plots were taken directly from the earliest issues to bear the Marvel Comics brand name. Written by Stan Lee and featuring the art of Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and others. Marvel Age Spider-Man and Marvel Age: Fantastic Four. The retellings would be written by the best and brightest of the Marvel Bullpen with Manga inspired artwork by up-and-coming artists from the Japanese inspired medium. 

In this issue which reimagines Fantastic Four #6 from 1962, the Fantastic Four's most deadliest foes, Doctor Doom and the Sub-Mariner have joined forces. Doom has invented a device that can control the gravity of any object. The plan is for Prince Namor to visit the Baxter Building under the rise of a proposed truce. While there he will hide Doom's device inside the recesses of the skyscraper. 

It's actually not very hard for the Sub-Mariner to hide the device. While Sue Storm is Mister Fantastic's girlfriend, she's been developing feelings for Namor during their recent skirmishes with the ruler of Atlantis. Ben Grimm and Little brother Johnny Storm want to mop up the floor with Namor. Sue wants to finally have a chance to sort through her feelings. Meanwhile, Reed Richards smells a rat and right he is! Because Doctor Doom has activated his gravity device, sending the Baxter Building into outer space with the Sub-Mariner aboard! Heading directly towards the sun, with the oxygen running thin, I guess only so much can be said about honestly and loyalty when you make a deal with Doctor Doom!

The writing by Marc Sumerak was quite good. I've read this issue a number of times. The original, I mean. So it is a bit weird to experience this plot with references to more modern pop culture icons like Jerry Seinfeld. Though, did kids from 2005, when this Marvel Age issue was published, know who of the comedian and star of a TV series that went off the air 7 years prior? So the references are a bit awkward- too  awkward. But this is something that the big two publishers have been guilty of for decades. But it's also forgivable. Trying to relate to kids is hard. Not everyone can do it.

What, in my opinion, isn't quite so forgivable is the art. I should be a crime to think that you can't make a comic book for children without dipping into the Manga ink well. Sure, Manga is what has inspired a large number of artists who hit the scene in the past 30 years. But it should not be the only style of artwork that young comic book readers are exposed to. Especially for such an iconic family the Fantastic Four. That ever-changing look of characters based on their emotions which is a Manga staple just doesn't work with The Thing or the Human Torch. Heck, it doesn't even work with the plastic fluidity of Mister Fantastic. You'd think that it would considering that he's stretchy. But here, it just looks weird. Blame artist Alitha Martinez for that. However, I'm really confused as I've experienced some of her work before and it did not look like this. Maybe early in her career she tried the Manga route. If so, I am glad it was a phase or the comic collecting world would have been deprived of one of the most talented female artists of the past 2 decades.

If this  wasn't a FF comic book, I probably wouldn't keep it. But just like when I listen to Queen, a bad Fantastic Four comic is better than no Fantastic Four comic book at all!

Completing this review completes Task #8 (Fantastic Four Comic from the 2000s) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars

Marvel Age Fantastic Four, Vol. 3: The Return of Doom (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Before the advent of Marvel's all-ages Marvel Adventures imprint, the House of Ideas introduced young readers to their most popular characters with Marvel Age. Along with incorporating a handful of Manga inspired titles from Marvel's failed Tsunami line, Marvel Age retold the earliest adventures of Spider-Man, the Hulk and the Fantastic Four. Updated with modern twists, writer Marc Sumerak and artists Alitha Martinez and Joe Dodd followed the original plots of Marvel's First Family created by legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. 

Volume 3 of Marvel Age Fantastic Four, 'The Return of Doom' reprinted the last 4 issues of the all-ages series. 

Issue #9 sees Mr. Fantastic dogged by creditors in 'The End of the Fantastic Four.' Recent bad investments lead Reed Richards to accept an offer from Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner to star in a reality series starring the FF. In a challenge show similar to Survivor, it's a battle for survival as all of Namor 's challenges are secretly rigged as fights to the death!

Issue #10, the title story, ushers in 'The Return of Doctor Doom!' Victor Von Doom has escaped from am orbital prison constructed by Mr. Fantastic thanks to a pair of aliens called Ovoids. From the creatures' space ship, Doctor Doom discovers a way to switch bodies with Reed. Now Doom's mind is in Richards' body and the leader of the Fantastic Four is trapped inside the iron armor of Doom.

After escaping from the clutches of their arch-enemy, the Fantastic Four meet 'The Impossible Man!' In this retelling of the classic second story of issue #11, the are plagued by the madcap antics of the shape-changing visitor from the planet Poppup.

Issue #12 retells the team's epic first encounter with the green colossus, The Incredible Hulk. After another top secret project is destroyed, the United States Army calls upon the FF to investigate. General Thunderbolt Ross is convinced that the sabotage is the result of another Hulk rampage. Dr. Bruce Banner is convinced it's something else and he should know since he's secretly the Hulk!

Featuring modernized versions of some of the greatest Marvel stories ever written, the Marvel Age imprint only lasted from 2004-05. It's predecessor, Marvel Adventures vastly outlived Marvel Age, running from 2005-2012. The success was large part to the addition of Darwyn Cooke who crafted a story Bible that set Marvel's best and brightest into new adventures that were nostalgic without relying completely on the scripts of Lee and Kirby. The artwork was less manga heavy as the Marvel Age books were and reflected a more sleeker style that was more commercial. As with all good things, the imprint was dismantled in order to usher in books based on the Disney XD animated lineup that were set in the Marvel cinematic universe. Being that the Fantastic Four were the property of Fox Studios, young readers were no longer able to find new comic book exploits of Mr. Fantastic, The Thing, The Invisible Woman and The Human Torch by 2013.

Completing this review completes Task #8 (Starring the Human Torch) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Barbie #1 (Family Comic Friday)

Fashion and toy icon Barbie makes her triumphant return to comics in this week’s Family Comic Friday. With a revolutionary production format by Papercutz, this new series looks to attract fans both new and old. It’s a crazy idea that just might be what other publishers need in order to save the comic book industry! Well, it would work, if the publisher executed it right...

Barbie #1

Written by Sarah Kuhn
Art by Alitha Martinez
Jim Salicrup, Editor
Published by Papercutz
Retail Price: $3.99

In this new series, Barbie is an aspiring fashion designer. She is set to be assistant to a top designer at their new fashion show. But something’s missing! Barbie wants to impress this clothing guru and to do so, she’s going to have to create an outfit that will stand out amongst the crowd. To create the ultimate outfit, Barbie just needs to find her own style. And that’s going to be hard, because everything she comes up with looks just like those designs of her new boss!

‘Want to know the rest of the story? Fans of Barbie will not have to wait for the next issue as Papercutz has gone the route of digital streaming TV! Along with readers being able to buy the individual issues of Barbie monthly in stores, for a little extra money, they can buy the entire story in collected form! It’s this sort of choice that just might save the comic book industry!’

The above paragraph is what I wanted to say about the new Barbie series, based on introduction to this comic from editor Jim Salicrup (Tales From The Crypt). Salicrup entices readers to get the whole story in the pages of Barbie #1: Fashion Superstar which is currently on sale. What Salicrup fails to mention is that this story has been in stores for almost 3 years! Not only is this issue of Barbie based on a reprint story, if you were to buy issues 1 and 2 of this new Barbie series, you’d actually spend a dollar more on cover price than if you bought the graphic novel!

Sales of comic books is way down. There’s a number of factors to this. While a number of my colleagues at Outrightgeekery have been publishing articles on this alarming trend, I’ve decided to stay out of the debate. But what Papercutz was initially offering is so revolutionary that I felt I must sing its praises in hopes that other publishers take note. Unfortunately, while Papercutz had a great idea, they’ve executed everything wrong.

The idea of spending a little extra for the whole story right away has been a major selling point for TV channels touting their new digital services. This sort of idea is something that I think the comic book industry needs to adopt. One complaint is that individual issues are too expensive to purchase monthly or bi-weekly. I know I was digging deep into my change drawer to be able to afford the $3.99 plus tax for this issue in order to review it. So anything that could be done to offset such costs and save comic books from extinction is a good thing!

What Papercutz and the other publishers out there need to do is as follows:

1. Publish simultaneously both the first individual issue of a series or storyline as well as the collected version.
2. 24 hours before the books physically drop, release the digital versions of both.
3. In terms of price point- the digital versions need to be priced higher. If you want to be first to read something, you’ve got to pay for it. And there are those out there who will because they have to be the go-to person for info! It’s a fact of life.

• The paper collection will of course be higher as there is more paper involved and no ads.
• The individual issues need to be the cheapest option. It takes longer to collect as it only comes out on a 2-4 week basis. But with ads, the price point should be 50% cheaper than such an issue is now.

I have no problem with Papercutz releasing the Barbie #1 graphic novel as individual issues. But the cover prices collectively are higher than the book was when released new. The industry needs young readers- especially girls. Barbie is the right property to entice young female readers. But you’ve got to make it affordable for them to become customers.
I hate to say it, but if you want to read this story, go to Amazon or your local book store and buy the trade. As much as I want individual issue series to succeed, getting the first couple of issues of this ‘new’ series isn’t cost effective. However, I still feel that Papercutz has hit upon a novel idea- they just didn’t get a bullseye to make it happen!

In terms of the story and artwork, it is ideal for readers of all-ages. Sarah Kuhn (Clueless: Senior Year) formulates a story that is sophisticated in the level of work Barbie does to impress her fashion hero while using vocabulary that is pretty easy to read. I’m quite jealous of Batgirl’s Alitha Martinez and her artwork in this story. Barbie is a Mattel property and the toy manufacturer is pretty specific on how the blonde doll should look. Martinez does an astounding job of making each image of Barbie and her friend Liz look like they were still mint in package on a toy store shelf!

Barbie #1 is a comic that fans of all ages will delight too. I recommend that if you are wanting to buy this for a young fan, get them the graphic novel that is already on shelves and more economical. Barbie also has fans that must have everything with her image on it. If that’s you, then getting this issue is the next logical purchase for your Barbie collection.

Barbie #1 debuted in print on February 27th, 2019. Barbie #1: Fashion Superstar debuted in 2016 and is available in print and digital formats such as Kindle.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Iron Man: The Mask in the Iron Man

Years of hard partying, being a superhero, and the stress of losing Stark Industries results in Tony Stark suffering from a massive heart attack. In order to keep the world without an Iron Man, Stark creates an artificial intelligence inside of one of his suits in order to fill the role. But when the Ai becomes sentient (and like went doesn't an Ai do such a thing in comic books), it seeks to rid the world of Tony Stark.

The world of Iron Man is one of those sections of the Marvel Universe where I know the basics and that's about it. If it wasn't for Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of the billionaire playboy Avenger, I probably wouldn't even like Iron Man. He's smug, pretentious, and kinda gets on my nerves how he keeps losing his business and then gets it back like a man might throw a boomerang repeatedly.

As you could probably tell from my earlier comments, I feel like the Ai wanting to be a real person story has been to death. But I enjoyed this book as though the plot has gotten old, the storytelling itself was rather good. Having Tony stranded on deserted island and be forced to survive like Oliver Queen had to prior to becoming Green Arrow was actually a pretty interesting plot twist. And wouldn't you know that the genius behind all this is Joe Q himself, Joe Quesada who wrote this story?! 

Quesada is one of those figures that though I couldn't stand him as the editor of Marvel, the man's got talent and he seems to know his fan base way better than his replacement Axel Alonso ever has. I can't believe I am going to say this but Come Back Joe! Marvel needs you! We need you!

As for the art. Eh... It's very much in that dated late 90s Rob Liefeld clone model. Sean Chen and Alitha Martinez are really winning me over with the artwork. But I actually think that the pencil thin inking and washed out colors are really what makes this book not so visually appealing. 

An interesting story that could have been nothing more than a cliche. Thankfully, Joe Q. keeps it from getting stale. It's not the worst Iron Man story I've ever read but it's not one of the best drawn either. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.