Fantastic Four #603, by Marc Alan Fishman – Snarky Synopsis | @MDWorld

February 26, 2012 Marc Fishman 6 Comments

Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Barry Kitson and Paul Mounts

When I picked up FF #1 in March of 2011, it was purchased on a whim. Much like many Marvel books for me… the barrier to entry was pretty high. Given that I knew nothing beyond the very basic concept of the Fantastic Four, and that with “FF” the series was now without Johnny Storm… I figured it was as good a time to jump in the deep end as it ever was. Since then, the book branched back into it’s former parent book… and the still-alive-because-I-wasn’t-dead-really-like-so-many-of-you-called-it Johnny Storm, Sue, Ben Grimm, and Reed Richards are once again piloting the plot of a Fantastic Four series. And rather than start with a fresh #1, Marvel started the book back right where it stopped. And with this penultimate chapter of Jonathon Hickman’s epic “War of the Four Cities” plot line here on Fantastic Four #603, I must say I’m glad I learned to swim in this fantastic pool.

Issue #603 picks up several chapters into this amazingly dense story. What you need to know is this: A while back Reed’s time traveling pappy comes back from the future to warn the fruit of his loins that there’s gonna be trouble. Smash cut! Johnny’s alive, and in control of the Annihilation Wave. Smash cut! The Mad Celestials are coming to Earth to destroy Reed. Smash cut! Reed calls out to Galactus to save his rubbery hide. Following along? Suffice to say with all the craziness going on, Hickman keeps all the balls in the air fairly well. Despite the fact that the story takes place within just Fantastic Four and it’s child-book FF, we’ve seen the Avengers, Spider-Man, and a who’s-who of Marvel’s cosmic cavalcade. For only two books, Hickman makes the series genuinely feel like a multi-book crossover. That he’s able to do this without useless tie-ins, spin-offs, and deconstruction shows a talent I hope isn’t lured away from his wheelhouse. Matt Fraction, I’m looking at you.

On the negative side, with all that’s going on, the Thing seems to be phoning-in his performance. Because there’s no use for a bruiser punching a God… he basically recedes to the background of the story. Johnny’s fateful return was well earned, but he’s driven more by plot necessity than personal motives. For being the “fun-loving” one of the family… he’s been more business than pleasure, and I have to say I “get it”, but don’t love it. If there’s a gripe I have to have with all the epic-epicness occurring here is that the individual chapters can’t spend enough time dealing with the human moments. And given the big (and well placed) cliffhanger for #603, I can only hope issue #604 has time to slow down a bit. Don’t get me wrong. This story has been a year in the making, and all of this action and madness comes well deserved. But as a review on a single issue? This is a very hot mess of plot points, and explosions.

From the art standpoint, I couldn’t be happier. Barry Kitson is a stalwart artist, and he’s at the top of his game here. His figures are beautifully rendered, and emotion is captured wonderfully. More than many working today, Kitson isn’t afraid of backgrounds and fine detail work. Special kudos go to Paul Mounts’ color work as well. His barrage of photoshoppery accentuates all the crazy cosmic action that Kitson throws at him. Near the beginning of the book Galactus and the Mad Celestials tussle, and Mount’s colors keeps the visual cacophony to a minimum. Nearly every member of the first family gets a chance to shine. But no one better than Sue. In the issue’s climax, an amazing display of her power plays against a panel of just her face… and the moment is not lost to me. Simply put, the art does a service to elevate the chaos Hickman is throwing at us. Where FF took a nose dive in quality with it’s current art team, Kitson takes off from where Steve Epting started a year ago without missing a beat.

Ultimately Fantastic Four #603 is a great continuation of all that’s been going on since this whole “War of the Four Cities” maxi-series started. All the loose ends are getting tied up, and I’m frankly looking forward to the next step for the series. Much like Invincible Iron Man, the book has paid off using the slow-burn methodology. More comics should take a hint at this kind of serialized storytelling. It’s a tip of the hat to comics of yesteryear, and I for one am enjoying the throwback. Consider me on this book for another Fantastic year.