FF #5, by Marc Alan Fishman – Snarky Synopsis | @MDWorld

April 7, 2013 Marc Fishman 0 Comments

 

Written by Matt Fraction, Art by Michael and Laura Allred

If ever I had an argument whether art is as important as writing in a comic, I need only look at Marvel Now’s FF. Matt Fraction, as good as he was on the Invincible Iron Man, has floundered terribly with me over his current run on both Fantastic Four and it’s sister book, FF. Where ‘Four is hampered by the hasty pencil of Mark Bagley, Mike and Laura Allred make FF so much fun to read… I can hardly tell how oddly it’s written. With 5 issues under his belt here, Fraction’s FF is a kooky throw-back to the Lee-Kirby era. Make no bones about it: there’s nothing contemporary about this book, and for that, it’s simply amazing. Hell, it’s pretty Fantastic to boot.

To bring you up to speed is a commentary both on the oddness and brilliance the book brings to the racks. Since the initial setup, the team has welcomed back a time-traveling elderly John Storm, damning Doom for the destruction of the family. She-Hulk and Wyatt Wingfoot enjoyed a sitcom-perfect dinner date. Darla Deering has come to accept her rocky role as Ms. Thing. And most recently, Medusa, perhaps beyond her own control, is setting up a nefarious plot. But ‘plot’ itself in FF is really secondary to the dance on the page itself. But I digress.

 

 

 

Issue 5 moves things forward thusly. Alex Power, disgruntled over Scott Lang (Ant-Man, doing his best Mr. Fantastic) and his wishy-washy ways… heads to Latveria to become a bit more pro-active in his heroing. Meanwhile John Storm goes a bit off his rocker, and proceeds to play firebug on the Bowery. The FF jump to justice, but it’s the Atlantean Vil and Wu and a favor from yet-another giant monster to truly “wash out” senior Storm. And to end things off? Medusa, and her “husband” (?!) the Wizard pay a night-time visit to Bentley (young clone of said Wizard), with nefarious intent. Things are not what they seem.

Fraction’s scripting and dialogue is sharp and witty where needed. While a larger cast elicits more melodrama than I’m used to with him, with all the plates in the air, it’s a testament to Fraction that not one plate breaks by issue’s end. The natural flair for humor in the book (taking a wink and a nod to Fraction’s former Defenders run, which I loved-loved-loved) balances with the insanity that runs rampant throughout the book. While things are predominantly reactionary in the series at large, I take it for what I hope it to be; direct homage to the originators of Marvel’s First Family. Should I be wrong though, then I wag an obligatory finger of shame towards Matt Frack, for his inability to allow anyone to breath before sounding the next alarm. Suffice to say, I think my finger needn’t wag at all.

As I’d said before (and before, and before) the art in the book is what truly elevates the rag to riches. Mike Allred’s throwback style defines the book; from the lighthearted tone to the old-school cliffhangers. His page layouts are kinetic when needed, and static when called upon. If anyone sat next to Scott McCloud when he was writing his biblically great “… Comics” series, Allred would be able to recite whole chapters backwards while tap-dancing. It’s not just his slick penmanship that elevates things visually. It’s his attention to detail. Take for example his old-timey cub photographer with his accordion camera, or the 60’s mod fashion store complete with 2005 iMac and bearded hipster. Laura Allred’s colors evoke an amazing level of jealousy in me. As a colorist myself, I long for the simplicity she leds to her husband’s pages. I’d try it myself, but like a well-made plate of scrambled eggs… something seemingly this easy is dastardly hard to master. Special credit should also be given to Clayon Cowles, whose lettering compliments the Allred’s work so much I honestly thought they were doing it too.

FF is a book built on shoulders of giants. Amidst the ‘smarter than thou’ Waid penned Hulks, the science-forward Hickman Avengers, or the time hopping soap opera that is Bendis’ X-men… Fraction’s Future Foundation is a visceral romp through Manhattan that simply doesn’t exist anywhere else on the mainstream racks. Where I’m finding less and less to like about Fraction’s Fantastic Four, here his FF is a perfectly rad concept packaged in bossanova sheets. From the retro-art, combined with the D-List cast, this is a book without boundaries. With no major players playing, FF is a fearless book that’s proud to let it’s freak flag fly. And as long as Mike and Laura Allred marry the wacky words to their perfect pages? I’m happy to continue eating at the family table. I’ll even sit in between the mole-kiddies.