Fantastic Four: Full Circle

In Fantastic Four #51, a man posing as Ben Grimm, has a chance at revenge against team leader Reed Richards. While exploring the Negative Zone, Richards becomes untethered from his lifeline. As a result, the Thing imposter looks poised to see the end of the Fantastic Four. But in an unexpected change of heart, the stranger sacrifices his life for Richards, leaving Mr. Fantastic and Sue Storm to ponder what was the motives of 'this man, this monster', who gave his life for one he previously had hated.

Fantastic Four: Full Circle seeks to do just that- bring the mysteries of issue #51 to a close. It begins with the return of our mystery man! Back from the dead or something else as this guy's return summons forth an attack by demons from the Negative Zone. Armed with new suits that repel the affects of the Negative Zone, the FF goes through the looking glass unto a universe is full of dangers at every turn.

This book has been on my wish list for a very long time. Alex Ross is my all-time favorite artist. And he can tell a darn fine story. This return to the Lee & Kirby days of the Fantastic Four was a fun ride that I did not want to end!

If you take the dust jacket off of this book, you will see Ross' stylized revamp of the FF's logo. It's done in a holographic foil and my breath was just taken away. Then to see that Alex Ross took that new '4' and built a sleek new uniform with 1960s space-faring nostalgic touches around it. I really want this to become the new costume for Marvel's First Family. Who am I kidding?! I want this version of the Fantastic Four to be the one we see monthly in stores!

Not only was the art and story of Alex Ross this awesome, so was his color palette! There were hints of Jack Kirby's black light posters when the team was wandering the depths of the Negative Zone thanks to those pastel colors! Speaking of Jack Kirby, be only the lookout for an Easter Egg of some of The King's amazing art. Plus there's a ton of tributes to the monsters and Kaijus of the 1960s. A gallery of Bullpen touches. Is that HERBIE? The voice of Stan 'The Man' and so much more. I loved this so freakin' much!

Manufactured by Abrams Artbooks, Full Circle really is a work of art! So much so, this book is suitable for framing! 

The new standard of the Fantastic Four!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars. 

Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules- the 2004 Eisner Award Winner for Best Limited Series.

Set in the late 1950s, Dr. Reed Richards is a rising physics superstar at Columbia University. On the verge of making a breakthrough with fabrics made from unsteady particles, the professor is also quite controversial. Accused of stealing formulas and discoveries from other scientists, Richards faces a series of potential lawsuits. Still, the potential loss of face isn't enough to deter the US military from requesting his help against the Red Menace of Communism!

Young Sue Sturm (not a typo) has been thrust into a role she did ask for. After the death of both parents in an automobile accident, Sue has had to raise her brother Johnny alone since he was 6. After several years of trying to raise a rebellious teen while playing the happy housewife is taking its toll on Sue. Johnny is frequently getting into trouble skipping school and stealing cars and fiance Reed seems more interested in his experiments instead of settling down.

Meanwhile, Ben Grimm is working as a boxing trainer after his own career has faded. Unable to stay in a stable relationship, Ben has just celebrated his one-month relationship with his latest gal. But deep down in his heart, Ben still kindles a flame for the one who got away- Sue Sturm.

This 2003 miniseries was an interesting concept. Fantastic Four: Unstable Molecules imagines if the First Family of Marvel were inspired by real people. However, unlike the perceived positivism of the 1950s nuclear family, things are anything but idyllic for the foursome who would be immortalized in countless comic books, movies, cartoons and action figures as the Fantastic Four. 

There's a cohesive story of a single day in the life of Reed, the Sturms and Ben. Along with the comic portions, there are a series of documents and interviews from the 'real life' inspirations of the FF and their friends. I love how the fourth issue of this series ties in how Stan, Jack and the rest of the Bullpen were invited to a wild party thrown by Sue and Reed and it led to the eventual creation of the comic book. But I really wish that those extra segments at the back of each comic would have explained what happened to those inspirations in real life. And do it without conflicting accounts.

In issue one, miniseries writer James Sturm tells readers that since Sue and Johnny Sturm were distant relatives, the Drawn & Quarterly scribe was inspired to write a biography about them. I understand that it's all pretend. But in that introduction to readers, James Sturm talked about how the inspirations were in real life adventurers. Yet in issue 3, in an interview with Johnny's best friend (taken years later, of course), the fiery blond youngster ended up becoming a fringe poet who like to use fire as a motif. If these fake extras would have been consistent, I would have been pleased. But with each issue contradicting each other on the 'facts', I was sorely disappointed.

This isn't your father's Fantastic Four. Heck, it might not even be my FF. This miniseries was rated PG+. While the series isn't full of blood and gore; it's a far cry from the World's Greatest Comics Magazine. There's the scene where Johnny is exploring his body. I've never encountered the Human Torch doing such a thing! Another scene that comes to mind is where Ben gets plastered and calls the girl who rebuffed him some pretty rude names that Aunt Petunia wouldn't condone. 

But there is one thing that this 'true tale' captures fairly well: the dysfunction of Reed, Ben, Sue and Johnny. Sadly, what is missing from these inspirations is what Stan and Jack made forefront in the Fantastic Four comic- LOVE.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #45 (An Eisner or Hugo Award winning book) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.