Clobberin' Time #1

I am a sucker for team-up comics. I try to collect every such series there is. From the Batman laced adventures of Brave and the Bold to the arachnid antics of Spider-Man in Marvel Team-Up, if it pits a well known hero with a array of partners ranging from A-list to Z, I will collect it. So when I learned of a brand-new team-up series starring the ever-loving blue-eyed Thing, I was thrilled and requested a copy of issue #1 from my favorite LCS. 

Steve Skroce does double-duty as both writer and penciler in this new team-up comic. Issue #1 has Dr. Bruce Banner visiting the Baxter Building for one of his routine gamma ray check-ups conducted by Dr. Reed Richards. While Mr. Fantastic is pre-occupied by some strange readings, Ben Grimm and Banner encounter a strange-looking intruder in the Fantastic Four laboratories. 

Looking like Iron Man and Doctor Doom were fused together by a bolt of lightning, this intruder sends The Thing and Banner to an alternate universe. In this new world, the pair learn that it's due for destruction by a giant kaiju looking creature. Hulking out, Banner and Thing easily subdue the beast. And then friends of the deceased invader decide on revenge...

I was intrigued by the cover of this book from the very beginning. For the first time in my 45-years of life, I saw just what happens if you were to break off one of those golden stones from Ben Grimm's mutated hide. There's blood and muscle under there! I was expecting something gray and oozing like cement. Needless to say, it really got my attention.

The initial cover art showed such an eye for detail, I was reminded immediately of Frank Quietly. I wish I could say that the interior drawings were just as good. But with the exception of the mysterious infiltrator of the Baxter Building, everything else was subpar looking and inconsistent! There's one scene where Grimm's left eye is all bruised up. Yet throughout the rest of the book, Steve Skroce keeps switching that damaged eye from the left to the right and back. I really felt due a No-Prize on catching this flaw!

The story itself is a mess. Skroce peppers the dialogue with rambling thoughts that never go anywhere. There's the whole scene where Thing is stranded on this other world when he gets a text from Johnny Storm that makes zero sense. It doesn't move the plot anywhere and seems totally unnecessary. 

Then we have the preview of next month's issue. It promises a teaming with everyone's favorite mutant, Wolverine. Okay, I'm on board. That Tony Stark/Victor Von Doom character is back again. Good, because I wanted to know just who in the heck he was. But this fella seems to be ripping Ben Grimm apart brick by brick. Each stone that makes up Thing's body looks like a tiny mushroom cloud erupting from Ben Grimm's torso and it made me sick to my stomach...

My favorite comic book store wanted to know if I wanted to complete the series run by the end of this weekend. For ordering purposes. Once I completed this whole thing, I was left just feeling that I really don't like this book. If I come across the collected trade, I might give it a read. The mysterious villain who sent Thing and Hulk across dimensions is intriguing. But I'd have to find it on the shelves of my nearby library as I do not feel like wasting anymore hard earned money on this. 

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

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. 

Marvel Comics Presents #164

3 all-new segments either start or appear in this issue. 

The ever-lovin' Blue Eyed Thing, Ben Grimm, gets in an altercation on the streets of the Big Apple. One of the victims is a young boy's rabbit that escapes its cage and flees into the NYC subway system. Leave it to the founding member of the Fantastic Four to begrudgingly track the little fella all the way through many a rat infested tunnel...

Then for the first time since a one-shot appearance in MCP #29 and the first time headlining a multiparter since all the way back in issues 1-12, Man-Thing returns. The first segment isn't really action-packed. It also stars Ted Sallis' former lover Ellen Brandt and is more of a refresher of the Man-Thing's origin story than anything else.

Rounding things out on the debut front is another Vengeance story. This one involves two blasts from Michael Badilino's past. First is the energy-absorbing mutant, Psiphon. Next is the former special forces member and demon hunter/hater, Samson Buchanan who now possesses a more deadlier version of the famed Exorcist gun from some previous MCP story that I can't quite recall. I think it was during the Midnight Sons story line...

The only continuing segment involves the sometime Avenger, Tigra. She's gone on the hunt for some slavers who have captured members of an indigenous Australian tribe that Tigra has taken refuge with. Needless to say, she's pissed.

The Thing's story was sweet and enduring. Another reason to love the members of Marvel's First Family. The Man-Thing story is an origin story. If you kinda know the story, then things are mostly yesterday's news. If anything has been rebooted, I'm not that familiar with the character to have picked through the changes. The Vengeabnce story promises to be another exciting tale that wisely focuses on Badilino's police force career as much as his time as a Ghost Rider. As for the Tigra story, the level of excitement is getting higher as this is the penultimate chapter. But the real winner here again is John Czop's amazing artwork.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #105

I'm getting kinda bored with MCP right now. The Wolverine/Nightcrawler and Doctor Strange/Ghost Rider stories don't seem to be going anywhere. The Young Gods adventure is kinda hokey. Only the great artwork from Tom Sutton (Not Brand Echh) is what keeps me reading that story. 

Our only winner this issue is the one-shot story. It seems the 8-pagers are the only thing worth reading in this anthology series lately. I hope that changes soon.

As for this one-and-done tale, it stars the ever loving blue eye'd Thing. Sent to the Negative Zone by Reed Richards, The Thing is tasked with obtaining a rare, but powerful gem. But first, Ben Grimm has got to get by the gem's keeper. 

I loved its twist ending. I just wish I was as ecstatic about the other 3 offerings...

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #21

There's a great story starring the mercenary Paladin. It involves a newspaper magnate hiring Paladin to rescue his daughter whose been kidnapped and held for ransom. Only the kidnapping was faked in order to bring awareness to protected lands owned by her father. And then you get the mafia, KGB and nameless other entities involved! It's a good thing Paladin charges for expenses!

This In Like Flint-type story was hilarious. I wish it wasn't a one-and-done story. The Scott Lobdell penned story was far more superior than the Cyclops mutant virus cover story and the way too drawn out Black Panther tale. 

The other 8-pager stars The Thing. This story was also very good. But with the subject matter of domestic violence and mental illness, it was also a heart-breaker.

I want more Paladin!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four #37

This one was an unexpected treat for this Halloween season. Every week I scroll through to see the newest forthcoming titles due out the following Wednesday. When this issue was listed, there was a 'Cover Not Submitted' image in place of the actual cover. So I didn't know this was a Halloween story until just a couple of days ago. Needless to say, I rushed to the comic book store as soon as I could and snagged me up this instant classic!

Ben Grimm and wife Alicia are now the adoptive parents of N'Kalla and Jo-Venn: Kree and Skrull children who were once mortal enemies and now siblings. It's the kids first Halloween and they've made it their mission to obtain massive amounts of candy by hitting the neighborhood multiple times. To do this, N'Kalla will use her shape-shifting abilities to create a host of amazing costumes. Jo-Venn will just have to do his best to disguise his blue skin. This assignment will be tough work. But if anyone can pull it off, it's these two!

Meanwhile, Johnny Storm is on fire. And its all thanks to the wraith of Doctor Doom. Now unable to shut off his flame and reaching unprecedented temps, Johnny has become a pariah. That is until Reed Richards can find a cure; which based on how long it has taken Mr. Fantastic to cure The Thing, Johnny may have to wait. Hopefully, a play date with best bud Spider-Man can help alleviate some of the Human Torch's loneliness. 

Why am I not reading more of this series? I enjoyed the wedding issues between Ben and Alicia. And the addition of the two alien kiddos was fantastic. This was a solid issue full of drama, humor and heart. 

I've read a lot of Fantastic Four and besides the original team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Dan Slott might very well be the best FF writer of them all! This was a modern comic book that while very culturally appropriate, it wasn't the least bit preachy! How come all current comics can't be like this?

I think some Fantastic Four issues or trades collections are gonna be getting added to my wish list!

A perfect little Halloween read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #3

Wolverine is reunited with a blast from his past- Jessan Hoan. Only she doesn't remember ever knowing the Canadian mutant.

The confusing web of the political conspiracy in the Man-Thing saga gets even more tangled. Now we've got a pagan priestess involved in matters. 

Shang-Chi agrees to help his old friends to save his old flame. But to do this, he's going to need to call in reinforcements and that means calling on an old foe.

Lastly, the Fear Eater turns to Ben Grimm as his next meal. A recent blast of gamma energy has caused the FF's Thing to mutate further. But it's when the Fear Eater turns Thing back into his human form does Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew start to have doubts.

The Wolverine story continues to captivate. The chapter starring the Master of Kung-Fu seemed unneeded. Lots of talk but no meat. The Thing story was okay. But it seems to me as a long time reader of Fantastic Four stories that having the Fear Eater mutate Ben Grimm further would do more to wreck the hero's confidence than reverting him back to human. 

As for this chapter of Man-Thing. I don't know what to tell you. The story is interesting. But I can't understand why the United States government would need devil worshipers to stop Communism in a South American country. 

A mixed bag. Typical for an anthology. But a couple of segments were some hot messes. 

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four: Grand Design #2

Issue #2 of Grand Design was such a disappointment. I feel in love with Tom Scioli's (The Myth of 8-Opus) premier issue which covered in brief yet amazing detail the early history of both the Marvel Universe and of the Fantastic Four. In that chapter, Scioli did mix some modern mythos of the MCU with the original blueprints lain by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. But by doing this, Tom Scioli helped to clarify some of the plot holes that had plagued the early days of the Marvel Age of Comics. In my opinion, this concept filled-in the cracks perfectly to forge over 80 years of comics into a single cohesive timeline. So, what the heck went wrong with issue #2?

This issue opens with the beginning of what fans call 'The Galactus Trilogy'. The first 2-3 pages are straight from Fantastic Four #48-49. But then Scioli decides to mash-up multiple timelines and story-lines into, well, I really don't know what. 

Whereas Tom Scioli sought to make a cohesive timeline in Grand Design #1, it seems that Scioli decided to make a 'What If' story in this last issue. Scioli combines elements from Earth X, Days of Future Past, and even a couple of stories from the original What If series of 1977-1984. If Tom Scioli had either kept both issues of this miniseries as a chronicle of the FF or had both issues become a hodge-podge of Fantastic Four lore, I would have been happy. I did not like this sudden transition between the two issues.

After completing issue #1 was disappointed to learn that Grand Design was limited to only 2 issues. But after finishing this chapter, I'm okay with their not being more. I don't know if I'd even buy a third issue after having plodded through this train wreck. I must admit that the artwork was way more improved. But I'd rather have a better story over artwork just about any day!

A deluxe edition that combines issues #1 and 2, plus a remastered classic Fantastic Four issue is due out quite soon. Skip it! The classic tale has been reprinted several times in it's story-line continuance. Look for that instead. Then, just seek out the first issue of Grand Design and pretend that the last page doesn't say 'To Be Continued.' Save the $4 you'd spend on this issue on something else.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four: Grand Design #1

With artwork that looks like it was done with a BIC ballpoint by a high schooler chilling during study hall, you would think that I wouldn't be on board wanting to read this. But I'm actually a big fan of Tom Scioli's work. His New Gods inspired Myth of 8-Opus was a yard sale find that I fell in love with. 

Scioli is very much a disciple of Jack Kirby. That following is what inspired Marvel Comics to hire Tom Scioli to create this 2-issue miniseries devoted to Kirby's amazing historic run on Fantastic Four. 

Fantastic Four: Grand Design doesn't seek to reboot the First Family of Marvel. I was very afraid of that was going to be the case. Instead, Scioli seeks to chronicle the beginning's of the Marvel Age of Comics while clarifying some of the oft confusing errors that earned scores of Marvel fans the coveted 'No Prize.' 

With the creation of the FF, Stan Lee was trying to create an all-encompassing universe in which all of his superheroes lived in the same world. Laying the foundation of such a project is a lofty goal that paid off beautifully for the House of Ideas. But such architecture has it's flaws in the design phase. Thus you have this comic- Grand Design. 

Tom Scioli's project was a labor of love. The Gobots writer/artist could have only focused on the lives of Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben. But he takes on the added task of examining the origins of the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. That's a side of Marvel that is overlooked quite often because it can be confusing and very complex. But Tom Scioli did a very good job explaining some areas of the MCU that had been a mystery to me for quite some time.

A great who's who for established Fantastic Four fans. It's also a very concise but still abundant introduction for those who want to dig into the mythos of the FF.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four: Lost Adventures by Stan Lee

The lost adventure that highlights this volume isn't really all that lost. It's merely the original script of issue #108 that wasn't able to be completed in it's original vision before Kirby defected to DC in the early 70s. The story did see print, it just has a few plot twists that differ and art by an artist other than The King. Fans do finally get a chance to read the original product and that which never came to be.There are a few changes between the two version but in all honesty, it's not really worth the $25 cover price.

Marvel adds a few other stories to the mix in hopes of making this volume worth buying. The Last Fantastic Four Story:\; a what if scenario in which the FF finally solve all their problems and are no longer needed on earth. The Stan Lee/John Romita Jr. story was very good. But again it wasn't enough to cough up $25 for.

There's also reprints of two anniversary issues. Issue #296 has the The Thing returning from his exile on the Beyonder's planet. Ole Blue Eye thinks that he's going to be welcomed back to the Baxter Building with open arms. But having his girl now in the arms of Johnny Storm and his spot taken up by She-Hulk, Thing decides to once again exile himself. This time to Monster Island with no other than the Mole Man!

The other reprint is from issue #543. In this Mike Allred inked tale, Stan the Man returns with a fun-filled romp with the First Family of Marvel. This one alone makes up for most of the hype/understatement of this collection. But it's a very short story of only 10 pages. 

This book was published in 2009. I can only imagine how expensive this book would be if published new now. $27.99 $29.99? $34.99? This is a shining example of why Marvel is in so much trouble right now in terms of sales. While I know that the company wants to make a great example by putting out works on premium paper with the highest quality ink on the market; the costs are just too high for most fans wallets. 

I got this book at a used book store. So I only paid a few bucks for it. I can't find how much I paid for it, but I cannot imagine I paid more than $12.50. This was a good read. It's full of 'director's cut' material, like original scripts and a slew of sketches. But if I was to have paid full price, I would demanding my money back as the promised material nowhere near matches the actual level of quality and quantity of this book.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

(Note: The hardcover edition of this book also retailed for $25. I thought paperback was supposed to be cheaper than hard! I guess nobody told the House of Ideas.)

Fantastic Four #5 (The 650th Anniversary Issue)

It finally happened! Benjamin J. Grimm married Alicia Masters! No tricks. No gimmicks. And human-DNA was confirmed to make sure Alicia wasn't once again replaced with a Skrull infiltrator. 

If I had read this last year, it would have ranked as my favorite book of 2018. But funds and the holidays prevented me from getting it until just a couple of days ago. But that's okay as this issue of Fantastic Four ranks as one of my all-time favorite issues!

Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man) bookends this deluxe sized issue with the prep work and final vows of the true Marvel wedding of the century. 

Then Mike Allred and his lovely wife Laura recall the origin of the team. As you know with all anniversary issues, it's a mandated law that the origin of one of the heroes or the entire team must be retold. But the Allred's do it with such nostalgic charm as they have done for decades! 

We also get a glimpse of the early days of Ben and Alicia thanks to the Allreds. Another sort of origin story. But one of which I do not recall getting this much detail into. I did not know how much Sue Storm played matchmaker. Plus, I love the great cameo of a famous rock group in one scene in which The Thing takes his gal to a petting zoo! That's classic Allred right there!

Then the amazing Adam Hughes (Betty and Veronica) tackles Ben's bachelor party. (For Alicia's hilarious bachelorette party, see the Fantastic Four Wedding Special #1) It's a wild ride. Hughes adds such a layer of humor and classic FF style to the book. And I love the tick-lined art style of his. I never realized how much Hughes and the Allreds are alike in that aspect. I am also a fan of thick inkings. So it's no wonder I am a fan of both artists!

Originally, I was thinking I would be faked-out like with the wedding of lies between Kitty Pryde and Colossus. But Marvel went through with these nuptials and thanks to a Facebook buddy posting a scene from that story, I decided to grab this book. Man was I so glad I did. This issue was fantastic!

I've been very impressed with the Fantastic Four since their return! It's been one of the few bright spots of Marvel in a two-year period that has had way more lows than highs when it came to comic books for them. Please keep up the good work and use the formula for this and Spider-Man to help return the House of Ideas to it's former glory days.

While I love what Dan Slott and artist Aaron Kuder is doing with the team right now, I realize that creative teams don't last forever. Might I suggest Mike Allred? He did such a great job here and he's proven that's he's got the chops in the pages of FF to do that part of the Marvel Universe the right way! But in that series, we didn't get Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny. I would love to see how Michael and Laura would do focusing on the First Family of Marvel! Heck, I'd even be a monthly subscriber to that!

One of the most perfect comics of all-time! Definitely worth the couple extra bucks!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four Wedding Special #1

2018 was a year of mostly downs for Marvel. But there were a few bright spots for the House of Ideas. Spider-Man was by far their best line of properties, including the amazing new stuff that was being done with Venom. Another bright spot for 2018 was the return of the First Family of Marvel, The Fantastic Four. However, due to the X-Men wedding debacle in which we were all ready for Kitty Pryde to finally marry Colossus and the whole bait and switch with Rogue and Gambit tying the know instead, I waited a little bit before I decided to buy this special issue.

Once the nuptials were confirmed and Alicia ended up not being a Skrull (at least for now), I ponied up the $4.99. Don't worry, it's an over-sized book, slightly. Plus, it's well worth the money.

There's a trio of stories here. The first shows the shenanigans surrounding Alicia's bachelorette party. Written by Gail Simone (Wonder Woman), the opening adventure was quite funny, a little naughty, and had a very touching ending to it. It guest stars She-Hulk, one of my all-time favorite Marvel ladies. But when did Jennifer Walters start to become more primal (again) when she goes green?

In the second story, current Fantastic Four scribe, Dan Slott, has Ben Grimm visiting Alicia's father, The Puppet Master, for his daughter's hand in marriage! Of course, old baldy is going to say no! SPOILER- he doesn't! The reason why was straight out of the late Stan Lee's playbook! I loved it!

Lastly, living legend, Fred (he actually writes me an annual Happy Birthday message on Facebook) Hembeck does a small feature on the tumultuous history of the Puppet Master and The Thing as only Fred can do it! And yes- the knees still have spirals on them!

The art of this entire book was also very good. Marvel has gotten a lot of due flack for the lessened quality of new artists. But Laura Braga (Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica) is a real talent. And Mark Buckingham, who has been a favorite of mine since his Fables days, brings a real 70s flair to the Thing/Puppet Master story. (I don't care what you think- to me, the 70s was the best stylistic time for the FF!)

Lastly, we come to the cover. There were several to choose from. But I went with the regular cover. It depicts The Thing getting ready to smash a glass with his foot. Being a Jewish wedding tradition and married to a beautiful Jewish princess, you know I had to pay respects to the Tribe! 

Be sure to take an extra look at the cover! Our photographer is obviously Peter Parker! But look at the awe-inspiring tribute touches added by cover artists Carlos Pacheco and Romulo Fajardo Jr. Just below Parker's elbow is The King, Jack Kirby wiping away a tear. North of Peter's shoulder is Stan Lee making one final appearance in the lives of his most important creation. (Is that Fabulous Flo Steinberg next to Stan the Man?)

The Fantastic Four Wedding Album is a treat not to be missed. I can't wait to save up some money for the actual ceremony that takes place in Fantastic Four #650. My guys at my favorite LCS have it on hold for me. If it's half as good as this one, then I will be in for one hell of fun read!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Essential Marvel Two-In-One Volume 4

Volume four completes my run of Marvel Two-In-One. This early 80s series starring the Thing of the Fantastic Four was really entertaining and by the end of this book, I was sad to see ol' Ben Grimm go.

Featuring stories starring some very familiar and some quite obscure guest stars. Just about every story was a winner. Bill Mantlo and Tom DeFalco got very creative in these stories almost exclusively penciled by Ron Wilson.

Some highlights:

The Thing is laid-up in a hospital bed. Mr. Fantastic is fearful that some of the FF's enemies might take advantage of Grimm's grim condition and attack him. As the superhero community goes to visit Thing, they intercept the baddies until there's a massive battle royale outside the hospital!

The Thing and his nephew Franklin Richards are having a fun day together at the local arcade. There, the two meet a video game programmer who accidentally takes The Thing to an alien world that seems an awful lot like the video game he and Franklin were just playing.

Lastly, in a moving story, The Thing and his arch-enemy The Sandman bond over brews while Flint Marko reveals his secret origin. Will this be a crucial turning point for a villain on the edge?

I really enjoyed both this series and this volume. The biggest problem for a few of the stories was the endings. I think the writers had so many ideas that they ran out of space to give a couple adventures adequate endings. On at least several occasions, the fighting lasts until the very last page. If the story was to end on a cliffhanger, that would be one thing. But most of the stories were one-and-done issues.

Great fun, awesome art, and exciting ideas and character. Just a little bit rough on the total plotting.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Two-In-One #99

It's a dark and stormy night at the Baxter Building. The Blue-Eyed Thing is reading horror stories alone when the power goes out. As Ben Grimm goes exploring the cause of the outage, he stumbles across the smoking body of Rom: Spaceknight!

As part of Rom's continuing battle with his enemy the Wraiths, the Spaceknight has meet his match. In order to defeat his enemy's new weapon in the battle for humanity, Rom will need assistance! It's a good thing that there's a member of the Fantastic Four with nothing to do on a rainy Saturday night. 

I've been reading the complete run of Marvel Two-In-One as part of the Marvel Essentials line. However, due to licensing rights with Hasbro, this issue is not one of those issues reprinted.

It's like night and day going from reading a black and white collection to a single issue is stark (and yet beautiful) living 4-color! Avengers' Bob Hall did a fantastic job on pencils.

I'm hoping that the regular series of Rom wasn't as stunted as the dialogue was in this issue. Bill Mantlo wrote this story and he was the regular writer on Rom during it's original 1979-1986 run. The plot was good. The Thing's dialogue was good. But Rom sounded too cheesy. Like really, really bad Shakespeare!

I've got the entire Marvel run of Rom that I hope to one day get around to reading. So we'll find out how bad the dialogue really is. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Fantastic Four #1 (2018)

I gotta admit- I bought into the hype. I could not control myself and on Wednesday, I purchased the first issue marking the return of the Fantastic Four. I must admit, Dan Slott did one heck of a job on this initial outing. 

Let's face facts though: the only reason the FF disappeared was due to Marvel and their parent company (especially) Disney being upset that Fox held the rights to the Fantastic Four. The idea was that without Marvel's First Family being in print, any TV show or movie starring them would flop. Needless to say, that the 2015 film being giant sacks of garbage, didn't help matters any; the PR move was the first in a long line of missteps by Marvel Comics.

The former Spider-Man writer, Dan Slott, did an pretty good job with this first issue. Unfortunately, it's not quite the reunion loyal fans were expecting. But Marvel promises that it will happen soon! If this series continues to exceed from the first issue, then I think this could be Marvel the publisher's first step to returning a two-way street of respect and appreciation for it's fans that has been lost for the past several years from the House of Ideas.

I liked Sara Pichelli's art. It was very clean and bold. I think if she stays on, it will become a fan favorite of not just mine but of many other readers.

The back-up story did not impress me much. It marks the return of Doctor Doom. I understand that Doom is the main villain just as Luthor is the foil to Superman. But they both lack the creative inspiration of a Green Goblin or a Joker do in order to make me excited when they are both used ad nauseam. 

If I had unlimited resources, I would add this Fantastic Four revival to my monthly pull list. I really love this team and I feel like some great things are in store. However, money is an issue for myself, so I will have to wait until the trade. But if you can afford the monthly adventures of the Richards family, I highly recommend this book!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Essential Marvel Two-In-One, Volume 3

The team-up adventures of the Fantastic Four's Blue-Eyed Benjamin Grimm continue in the pages of Essential Marvel Two-In-One, Volume 3. 

This book begins with a massive story about The Thing becoming a security adviser at Project Pegasus. The Marvel equivalent of Project Cadmus, The Thing teams with a number of superheroes such as Quasar and Goliath as an odd assortment of villains try to break in and out of the research center.

After his tenure at Pegasus is complete, Grimm teams with an assortment of characters from the Marvel Universe including the Avengers, the Howling Commandos, and the original Guardians of the Galaxy. That last crossover will result in a strain in the relationship of the Thing and his gal pal Alicia Masters. Thus, the last third of the book gets a little sappy. 

Featuring Tom DeFalco, Chris Claremont, John Byrne, George Perez, and many more from the Marvel Bullpen, this was an great collection of issues from the late 70s rolling into the early 80s despite the corny lost love angle. Fans should really study the Claremont and Byrne issues as they highlight the gelling partnership between the duo that would most redefine the X-Men to become the most popular superhero group for a generation. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars. 

Fantastic Four: A Review: Part IV: The Forgotten Audience and My Rating

A lot has been made of the film being 'edgy.' So, is it suitable for kids? Since our heroes don't even get their powers until about an hour into the film, most of Fantastic Four will probably bore a viewer under age 10 to tears.

 Also, there is one scene in particular that is violently graphic for a PG-13 superhero flick. It takes place around the one hour and twenty-five-minute mark and lasts about two minutes. How can I describe it without giving away too much? Have you ever seen the movie 'Scanners?' The scene in question involves Victor Von Doom and a lot of exploding 'melons.' And believe me, the one time you want the CGI to be poor, this is unfortunately not it.

Really, Fox- did you forget kids might want to see this movie?

 Essentially, with the bad dialogue and terrible special effects if this movie was made 30 years ago, it would be considered an instant Classic. Add the fact that that the villain doesn't really appear until the last 20% of the movie, the plot of Fantastic Four is just the group's origin. So really the movie seems more suited as a TV-movie designed to be the pilot for a series. With Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben coming together as a team right at movie's end, I would have been much more satisfied with this project as a whole if it was geared for the small screen.

Instead, the film is like an unbalanced scale, heavy on character development (well most of them) but short on plot. Poor word of mouth hasn't helped this film. Even worse social media buzz pretty much sealed the film's fate and I fear this message will be the trend what with over 25 comics themed flicks due out in the next half decade.

   So, do like I did in 3 steps and this shouldn't be the worse film you've ever seen. 1) go to a matinee (and save a few $$$), 2) have low expectations, and 3) forget what all of the critics have said and watch the film with an objective mindset. Oh, but it might help to forget everything you know about the FF because this isn't not just your dad's Fantastic Four, it's really nobody's either.

    Sadly, for every plus I had about this film, I had an equal negative. In fact, the movie might've got a higher rate if not for the horrible final act. 

So my rating is thus:

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

  

Fantastic Four: A Review: Part III: CG-A'int and Other Missteps

  One particularly bad bit of CGI of note in Fantastic Four involves a chimp used as a test subject for the teleporter. He's so animated and poorly rendered to boot. Why a real animal wasn't used instead is beyond my comprehension.

  Another bad bit of movie magic involves test footage of Ben Grimm and Johnny fighting enemy armies. Both look like a video game instead of actual actors and Johnny even does a little signature move after he vaporizes a drone. Since Disney would not allow a video game version of the movie, I'm thinking a shelved prototype was used instead of having the actors pine for the camera.

  Thankfully, the acting wasn't that bad. Once again, the actor to play the Human Torch stole the show even though early critics thought he was going to suck. Many criticized the casting of Friday Night Light's Michael B. Jordan. Now most of those critics were super offended that a black actor was going to play the white superhero. I didn't think he had the chops based on his role on FNL. But the actor showed amazing zeal going  so far make Johnny both a little responsible and a bit of a slacker at the same time, much like his comic book counterpart.

 Another aspect that hurts this picture is the screenwriting. Dr. Storm's character is played by the wonderful Reg E. Cathey. He is supposed to be the father figure to this team. But his character is given every cliche in the book and apparently the disease is catching. As Reed establishes himself as team leader, his dialogue gets more and more bombastic to the point I was ready to put my fingers in ears. And speaking of ears, there are several swears peppered in. So, parents, you've been warned.

Fantastic Four: A Review: Part II: An Unneed to Reboot

  

A Pandora's Box is probably the best way to describe this film. When Fox announced over a year ago that they were going to reboot the franchise, fans cried foul! It had only been 10 years since the first FF feature film hit screens and many felt like it was too soon to start over. (Roger Corman made a low budget film about the Fantastic Four in 1992 but it never went anywhere.)

   But Fox insisted that the world needed a new, hip, and edgy version for younger audiences to relate to. Again, critics protested. But this time, it was those at Marvel and parent company, Disney, decrying the film.

  Disney is chomping at the bit to regain the rights to the First Family of Marvel Comics, and they did everything in their power to make this supposed blockbuster fail. Marvel cancelled the Fantastic Four and even broke the team up into little bits just so fans couldn't have a comic book version to relate to. Plus, Disney made licensing, especially with the manufacturing of toys and cartoons, nearly impossible for Fox to do. Thus, the kiddie crowd had even less of an interest in the picture.

   While I think the fans had very good point about not needing another franchise reboot. Marvel and Disney really didn't have much to fuss about. The main reason is the special effects. They are not really good. Usually on a movie screen, it's very hard to tell if something was filmed in front of a green screen. The fabric of a movie screen helps to bleed out rough edges that are usually very noticeable on TV. That's not the case here.

Fantastic Four: A Review: Part I: Going to the Movies.

    Take everything you know about the Fantastic Four and throw it out the window. This is not the 1963 line-up we've grown to love over the past 50 years. If you are familiar with the Ultimate Fantastic Four, take about half of what you know about that team and throw it out that same window.

   Today, I went to see the most controversial superhero film of 2015- Fantastic Four. It's only like the 5th day the film has been out in theatres and already it's considered a colossal bomb. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 9%,  one of the worst weekend grosses of a Marvel superhero film, and the worst viewer rating in film history, I wasn't expecting much when I went to see this picture. Why, even the movie's director, Josh Trank, went on Twitter and apologized for making it! 

   When I got my first degree (in History) I minored in Film Studies. Since I was gonig to the movie with subpar expectations, I decided I would watch the film as I had been trained and base the movie on both its technical merits and story structure with an unbiased view. I feel like I was actually able to enjoy the film more this way too.

   In this version of the Fantastic Four, Dr. Franklin Storm and his adopted daughter (Kate Mara) recruit high school student Reed Richards (Miles Teller) to join the Baxter Foundation, a think tank prep school for super geniuses. Their task is to create a transporter, an idea in which Reed's been tinkering with since he and his best friend Ben (Jamie Bell) were in elementary. Also brought into the project is troubled Victor Von Doom, a former student who was expelled for destroying research data. Rounding out the group is Dr. Storm's son, Johnny (Michael B. Jordan), a reckless teen whose last chance at redemption lies in regaining his father's trust on the Baxter Foundation project. 

    The teleporter is a success. But, when the group is faced with losing the project to NASA, Reed and Victor impetuously use the device and are transported to a parallel universe. There, the group gain mysterious powers and on their return to earth are subjected to medical tests by the military. The project's leader, played by a super-creepy Tim Blake Nelson (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?) promises to find a cure for the teens if they will act as the artillery for some covert ops assignments. 

   However, the director has no intentions of ever curing this team but instead wants them to reopen the dimensional gate so he can create more superhuman weapons. But when he finally achieves the ability to teleport again, the world will learn that the entire project was a Pandora's Box to its destruction.