Exfanding Review: Fantastic Four 587

SPOILER WARNING: THIS REVIEW WILL REVEAL THE PLOT TO FANTASTIC FOUR, ISSUE 587, WHICH, IN CASE YOU'VE BEEN UNDER A ROCK THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, FEATURES THE DEATH OF A MAJOR CHARACTER.

IF, BY SOME CHANCE, YOU'VE MANAGED TO AVOID HAVING THE STORY REVEALED...FIRST, BRAVO. WELL DONE. AND SECOND...STOP READING NOW.

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Okay, I think that's fair enough warning for a book that's been out almost three weeks at this point and was spoiled the night before it hit stands by major news outlets, like CNN.

Oh, and the Internet exploded with the news before anyone could even wake up to get to the comics shop that day.

Still, I hate spoilers and I know Nathaniel hasn't yet read the issue. So I'm really only doing this for him.

Obviously, this issue involved the death of a member of the Fantastic Four, Marvel's first super hero team and their flagship title. Though, to be honest, it hasn't sold like their flagship title in quite some time.

Regardless, a member of the FF dying is a major comics event, and, apparently, worthy of the evening news.

The current series, written by the talented Jonathan Hickman, has garnered much attention and praise from critics, while the writer's universe-spanning story has seen an interesting split in fan opinion.

Hickman is very much from the "new school" of comics writing, and I've noticed that older fans--and by that, I mean fans who have read the title for a long time--tend not to like his take on the FF.

As I have very little invested with these characters, and I've only really picked the book up during major runs--I've read the Lee/Ditko stuff, the Mark Waid run, and the Mark Millar run--I really don't mind that Hickman's take isn't "traditional."

Stuff like that doesn't bother me, and I'm all for new takes on old characters. I'm interested in the story, and as long as it's a good one, and well told, then I'm in.

That said, I can completely understand that a fan of the series for several decades is entitled to a stronger opinion on the book than I am.

Still, it's interesting to listen to the debates about this book, and the FF in general. I've read interesting arguments about cancelling the book outright, as the FF is no longer a relevant force in the Marvel U. And I've read glowing reviews of Hickman's run, with some observers going so far as to say it's the best the book has ever been.

Ah, comics culture.

For the most part, Hickman's FF title has been chugging along, shipping on time every month, and keeping in its own little corner of the MU.

And then we get to this current storyline, entitled "3," where one of the team members will die. For "real" this time. And the entire comics community sits up, takes notice, and begins to yell and to scream.

Lots of hype, lots of hate, lots of love.

Pretty typical of any comics event, really. So, how does issue 587 stack up?

Well, I think it works. I think the entire "3" story line was quite good, but, frankly, this last issue was the weakest of the arc. Don't get me wrong--the death of Johnny Storm packed an emotional punch, and the swerve the book takes to get us there is a good one, and it kept me guessing until the final page.

But the real emotion of the story happened a couple of issues back, when The Thing was granted the ability--via some sort of magical serum--to turn human for one week.

Weird, corny little plot device, but seeing Ben and Johnny go out for a night on the town in NYC was fun, and touching. And that was my favorite issue from the run, and for me at least, it's where the story hit its emotional crux.

So when Johnny dies in battle--though, to be honest, he really didn't do much in the way of fighting--there's almost this...relief.

Relief that it wasn't Ben, because of the great moments he had just a couple of issues back. Relief that it wasn't Sue, because, well, she's Sue. Relief that it wasn't one of the kids, because for a second there, I thought it might be.

You'll notice the omission of Reed from that paragraph above. He was so far out of the story--literally--that I never once suspected he might be the one to bite it. I'm so ambivalent towards that character, though, that maybe it was more a matter of me not caring about his well-being than anything else.

But in the end, it was Johnny, and the lead up to his death was handled well on an emotional level. His last goodbye with Ben was a little hokey, sure, but it's comics and, really, it seemed appropriate.

The problem I had with the issue was the death itself.

Where Johnny--the Human Torch, mind you--just kinda stood there and didn't fight back. Despite a very cool action-hero line before he's swarmed by a giant insectoid mass, all we get is a panel of him being overtaken.

No "Flame On!"one last time. No going supernova. No never give in, let's keep fighting till the last. Just...the end of Johnny Storm. And then another perfectly captured, emotional panel of Ben coming to grips with his friend's death.

But overall, the issue--and the arc--proved to be worthy of the hype, and worthy of a read.

I'll pick up the next issue to see the reaction throughout the Marvel Universe, for sure, because as I've said, Hickman nails those little, human moments. If you haven't read the issue, don't rush out to buy the book, but do give the entire arc a chance in trade. It'll be worth it.