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Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman #7
Fantastic Four, Vol. 5
Earth is under simultaneous attack on multiple fronts. As the Future Foundation and its allies struggle to hold back the Kree Armada, Annihilus' Negative Zone forces prepare to enter our universe through a portal in the Baxter Building. And a fate far worse is coming. If Earth is to be saved, it will take help from Galactus, the return of an old friend, and a miracle.
Collecting: Fantastic Four 600-604
Collecting: Fantastic Four 600-604
208 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2012
23 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Hickman
1,228 books2,052 followersJonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 28, 2014
I kind of messed up a little bit. I didn't realize that, after volume four, Fantastic Four took a break and switched to FF. So I missed roughly a dozen issues between the last volume I read and this one. In my defense, you'd need to dig more than I imagine most casual readers would bother to to find that out now. Did it matter? In the end, not so much. I was able to understand enough of what happened during that time in order to follow this event. But probably it would have been better if I'd read those volumes of FF first, so maybe do that if you can.
Anyways. Johnny Storm is dead, long live Johnny Storm. That didn't take very long at all. I wonder if his resurrection was always planned? Hickman has a definite, complete, and detailed explanation here, which was enough for me to shrug it off. But honestly? I kind of wish they'd left him dead. Not because I don't like the guy, but because it almost feels like a waste of what was a moving, effectively written death. But that's comics for you. Nobody is really dead except for Uncle Ben.
Now, there's also an incredibly cosmic scale storyline here. How cosmic? Oh, just Celestials fighting Galactus, that's all. And while it's big and huge and cosmic, it's just sort of a thing that happens to me. It isn't until the family gets fully involved that it starts to have meaning. And when that happens, it really does resonate. More than that, it becomes obvious that this is something that was planned in some detail from very early in Hickman's run. Well done.
Hickman clearly has a tendency to think big, really really big in his storylines. This can lead to something like Infinity, which is so enormous that you need 30 or 40 issues just to scratch the surface. That's too big for me. But this Fantastic Four stuff, that's much more my speed. It's big and long, but it's still satisfying along the way. And it's about the characters, not the event, which is most of why it's so satisfying to read.
Anyways. Johnny Storm is dead, long live Johnny Storm. That didn't take very long at all. I wonder if his resurrection was always planned? Hickman has a definite, complete, and detailed explanation here, which was enough for me to shrug it off. But honestly? I kind of wish they'd left him dead. Not because I don't like the guy, but because it almost feels like a waste of what was a moving, effectively written death. But that's comics for you. Nobody is really dead except for Uncle Ben.
Now, there's also an incredibly cosmic scale storyline here. How cosmic? Oh, just Celestials fighting Galactus, that's all. And while it's big and huge and cosmic, it's just sort of a thing that happens to me. It isn't until the family gets fully involved that it starts to have meaning. And when that happens, it really does resonate. More than that, it becomes obvious that this is something that was planned in some detail from very early in Hickman's run. Well done.
Hickman clearly has a tendency to think big, really really big in his storylines. This can lead to something like Infinity, which is so enormous that you need 30 or 40 issues just to scratch the surface. That's too big for me. But this Fantastic Four stuff, that's much more my speed. It's big and long, but it's still satisfying along the way. And it's about the characters, not the event, which is most of why it's so satisfying to read.
April 17, 2019
This was fantastic.
Every single storyline is building up to this. All the behind scene moments all equal to the end that is coming. However, let's talk about the big return. Johnny Storm is BACK! Yes, from the dead. However, it actually makes freaking sense. Only Hickman can do that. His past and what happened was fucking badass. Then got the invasion coming and everyone is willing to fight back. A unlikely ally shows up and then...the future comes back to help the past.
This is the payoff after 3 good volumes and one amazing one, you get a followup that is stunning. I was so happy with the outcome, on the edge of my seat, from the tight and amazing dialogue, to the gorgeous art, to the ending that is both breath taking and then emotional. Overall, nothing is better than this for fantastic four that I read before. A 5 out of 5.
Every single storyline is building up to this. All the behind scene moments all equal to the end that is coming. However, let's talk about the big return. Johnny Storm is BACK! Yes, from the dead. However, it actually makes freaking sense. Only Hickman can do that. His past and what happened was fucking badass. Then got the invasion coming and everyone is willing to fight back. A unlikely ally shows up and then...the future comes back to help the past.
This is the payoff after 3 good volumes and one amazing one, you get a followup that is stunning. I was so happy with the outcome, on the edge of my seat, from the tight and amazing dialogue, to the gorgeous art, to the ending that is both breath taking and then emotional. Overall, nothing is better than this for fantastic four that I read before. A 5 out of 5.
February 16, 2015
Summary: blew the back of my head off.
This is (a) a simultaneous read of FF volume 3 and Fantastic Four volume 5, and (b) a late BuddyRead of Foursome Week with my pleasingly weird Shallow Comics Readers.
So I'm trying to read the Hickman from start to finish, because God help me the last time I tried to get through his run on the FF-verse, I lost interest - despite Doom, evil Reed Richardses, super-intelligent kids and lots of major courtly...courtliness. Yeah, I think it's that last part (along with the cosmic mumbo-jumbo that always challenges my adrenal glands to keep me from falling asleep) that finally broke me.
Never been a big fan of Inhumans and their hand-wringing, hunched/hushed tones while bitching about some meta that just isn't behaving correctly. REALLY could give a shit about the Glory Of The Kree Empire either - I don't fucking care how long they've been around or how intolerant they are of any other race/Galaxy, I just care when one of them poses a fresh challenge to one of our earth-born heroes.
And yet the MCU is giving me incentive to be interested in both - especially Plus Hickman is clearly building off these earlier stories in his run on Avengers. So here I am, head hung in shame, working to get through these tales.
Surprising even myself, I feel weirdly that Hickman actually *gets* how to write dialogue that sounds different from group to group. Medusa and Black Bolt, the Richards' kids, Spidey and his pal - I would've said the varying tones of dialogue escaped Hickman (his "work" on Spider-Man in the preceding FF volumes especially so). And yet here we are, Hickman poking me in the eyes Three Stooges style. How'd he do it? Did he finally get laid/have a drink/run a marathon? Something loosened him up, and I couldn't be happier for the guy.
The re-emergence of our surprise guest is pretty awesome - all growed up and solidly confident not arrogant. (I'm only 80% sure they're going to take this away from him someday soon. The other 20% is reserved for "they'll forget about him entirely".) But shit, for now I just don't care. Cool, calm, and deadly with even better powers - what's not to like about him? He's My Hero for today. (*googly eyes and drools emerge*)
However...
What. A. Climax. Holy shit Hickman, you pulled off another one. This makes nearly all of the inexplicable diversions and cryptic fragmented stories worth slogging through. I did *not* see a finale like that coming (and this from a guy who just recently finished Infinity).
Damned if I won't forget the details and the importance of what's happened in this storyline, so be a dear and remind me every once in a while?
I could ramble on about this pair of books - where Hickman got his groove back - but I'm just gonna give this a good rating, mention the art and head on up to the next one.
As for the art - one complaint I usually make that doesn't arise here: the rotating crew of artists. Actually I don't mind it this time around. Yes there's a different feel every issue or so, but they're all good and I think I'm getting used to the notion of a writer with a stable of artists.
This is (a) a simultaneous read of FF volume 3 and Fantastic Four volume 5, and (b) a late BuddyRead of Foursome Week with my pleasingly weird Shallow Comics Readers.
So I'm trying to read the Hickman from start to finish, because God help me the last time I tried to get through his run on the FF-verse, I lost interest - despite Doom, evil Reed Richardses, super-intelligent kids and lots of major courtly...courtliness. Yeah, I think it's that last part (along with the cosmic mumbo-jumbo that always challenges my adrenal glands to keep me from falling asleep) that finally broke me.
Never been a big fan of Inhumans and their hand-wringing, hunched/hushed tones while bitching about some meta that just isn't behaving correctly. REALLY could give a shit about the Glory Of The Kree Empire either - I don't fucking care how long they've been around or how intolerant they are of any other race/Galaxy, I just care when one of them poses a fresh challenge to one of our earth-born heroes.
And yet the MCU is giving me incentive to be interested in both - especially Plus Hickman is clearly building off these earlier stories in his run on Avengers. So here I am, head hung in shame, working to get through these tales.
Surprising even myself, I feel weirdly that Hickman actually *gets* how to write dialogue that sounds different from group to group. Medusa and Black Bolt, the Richards' kids, Spidey and his pal - I would've said the varying tones of dialogue escaped Hickman (his "work" on Spider-Man in the preceding FF volumes especially so). And yet here we are, Hickman poking me in the eyes Three Stooges style. How'd he do it? Did he finally get laid/have a drink/run a marathon? Something loosened him up, and I couldn't be happier for the guy.
The re-emergence of our surprise guest is pretty awesome - all growed up and solidly confident not arrogant. (I'm only 80% sure they're going to take this away from him someday soon. The other 20% is reserved for "they'll forget about him entirely".) But shit, for now I just don't care. Cool, calm, and deadly with even better powers - what's not to like about him? He's My Hero for today. (*googly eyes and drools emerge*)
However...
What. A. Climax. Holy shit Hickman, you pulled off another one. This makes nearly all of the inexplicable diversions and cryptic fragmented stories worth slogging through. I did *not* see a finale like that coming (and this from a guy who just recently finished Infinity).
Damned if I won't forget the details and the importance of what's happened in this storyline, so be a dear and remind me every once in a while?
I could ramble on about this pair of books - where Hickman got his groove back - but I'm just gonna give this a good rating, mention the art and head on up to the next one.
As for the art - one complaint I usually make that doesn't arise here: the rotating crew of artists. Actually I don't mind it this time around. Yes there's a different feel every issue or so, but they're all good and I think I'm getting used to the notion of a writer with a stable of artists.
November 4, 2015
The Kree are invading Earth to annihilate the Inhumans and Annihilus is attempting to invade and take over the Earth as well.
A lot happens here and I honestly hadn't read enough to know why all this was going on. I followed the Inhumans storyline into this volume. This volume was the typical crossover which features a ton of characters and major battles. Some very unexpected events take place is the most I can say.
A lot happens here and I honestly hadn't read enough to know why all this was going on. I followed the Inhumans storyline into this volume. This volume was the typical crossover which features a ton of characters and major battles. Some very unexpected events take place is the most I can say.
February 24, 2018
That’s more like it! Hickman pulls all of his multiple cosmic plots together into one big thing, and the result is appropriately epic and impressive. It reminded me a lot of Infinity, Hickman’s Marvel event that came a few years after the Fantastic Four (although Infinity was much better, in my opinion). This volume feels too final, though — it could have been a perfect ending to the run. So how come there are three more books after that? Let’s find out, I guess.
June 8, 2021
Talk about epic and this is how you do it.
It starts off with the Kree invasion and its upto Reed and the F4 and the Avengers to stop t and when all seems lost, there is a sudden explosion and its the re-emergence of Johnny Storm and we see his whole backstory in Negative zone and how he returns and a war to shock the heavens, they take their ship Pestilence and fight the incoming armada and Inhumans vs Kree, Annihilation horde being led by Johnny and then Galactus comes in to fight on their behalf but then the mad celestials arrive and a world eater falls but it all connects and we get that one issue which explains everything and the coming of Adult Franklin and Valeria, power x2, and Franklin fights the dark celestials and that moment where he says "To me my Galactus" is the coolest one ever and their fight happens and thing seem to come full circle with father and son.
Its one of those volumes that isn't praised enough for its simple yet emotional story of father and son and the coming of full circle with the celestials and time travels and Galactus and the war of the four cities and all happens and its just so epic and the art and coloring gets so much better. Its one of the best F4 stories and runs easily like just wow.
It starts off with the Kree invasion and its upto Reed and the F4 and the Avengers to stop t and when all seems lost, there is a sudden explosion and its the re-emergence of Johnny Storm and we see his whole backstory in Negative zone and how he returns and a war to shock the heavens, they take their ship Pestilence and fight the incoming armada and Inhumans vs Kree, Annihilation horde being led by Johnny and then Galactus comes in to fight on their behalf but then the mad celestials arrive and a world eater falls but it all connects and we get that one issue which explains everything and the coming of Adult Franklin and Valeria, power x2, and Franklin fights the dark celestials and that moment where he says "To me my Galactus" is the coolest one ever and their fight happens and thing seem to come full circle with father and son.
Its one of those volumes that isn't praised enough for its simple yet emotional story of father and son and the coming of full circle with the celestials and time travels and Galactus and the war of the four cities and all happens and its just so epic and the art and coloring gets so much better. Its one of the best F4 stories and runs easily like just wow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2015
This is nearly a perfect comic book. Hickman has been laying the groundwork for this finale for dozens of issues, and now everything culminates in a huge, glorious fight that never feels like just a fight. It feels important and connected, because every single detail has been planned and executed by a master writer. This is one of my favorite comics I've ever read, hands down.
I will say, it will probably only feel that way to someone who's been reading all of Hickman's FF stuff up until this point, so definitely don't start here. But you owe it to yourself to read all of this anyway, so who cares.
I also found issue #600, which is collected here, to be one of the best "milestone issues" in decades. Instead of the usual group of short stories that all tell you a fun little thing about one of the heroes (which is what most milestone issues seem to do), Hickman lays out a bunch of individual, interesting, and yet still completely IMPORTANT stories about several members of the FF family. Not to mention one of the coolest returns of any superhero I can remember.
I am really laying it on thick here, and maybe exaggerating too much. But I can't stress how well put together this book is, and how perfectly Hickman pulled it off. If Secret Wars is anywhere close to as intricately plotted, or features anywhere near the payoff, I'll just jump right out of my chair with joy. I think this Fantastic Four run is one of those we will point to in 10 years as an example of how it's done.
Bravo, Hickman. This is some good shit.
I will say, it will probably only feel that way to someone who's been reading all of Hickman's FF stuff up until this point, so definitely don't start here. But you owe it to yourself to read all of this anyway, so who cares.
I also found issue #600, which is collected here, to be one of the best "milestone issues" in decades. Instead of the usual group of short stories that all tell you a fun little thing about one of the heroes (which is what most milestone issues seem to do), Hickman lays out a bunch of individual, interesting, and yet still completely IMPORTANT stories about several members of the FF family. Not to mention one of the coolest returns of any superhero I can remember.
I am really laying it on thick here, and maybe exaggerating too much. But I can't stress how well put together this book is, and how perfectly Hickman pulled it off. If Secret Wars is anywhere close to as intricately plotted, or features anywhere near the payoff, I'll just jump right out of my chair with joy. I think this Fantastic Four run is one of those we will point to in 10 years as an example of how it's done.
Bravo, Hickman. This is some good shit.
October 25, 2014
OK Hickman, your convoluted and cosmos-spanning storylines finally come to a head here. It was just about worth all the headaches so that I knew what the F*** was going on.
There were quite a few HOLY S*** moments, when I was actually like:
I feel like a lot of people don't like Hickman because he operates on a cosmic scale, multiverses, layered stories that take a while for the payoff, and I'm usually not interested in a story taking THAT much effort (but I'm not going to say if there's more than a couple words with 3+ syllables that I'll stop reading...I mean I am somewhat edu-mah-kay-ted), but this was actually worth the effort.
(Shallow Reading friends, I can't help but notice not many people have read this one/arc. If you could get all 5 volumes together at once, I think it might be worth, but I think I've read this over 2 years or so...)
Long story short: The Earth is being attacked on multiple fronts: The Kree, Annihilus, Multiverse Reed Richards(es?). The FF is without Johnny, who died stopping the Negative Zone forces of Annihilus from attacking Earth; and he's been replaced by Spider-Man. (I like this because Hickman reminds people that Spidey isn't just a punchline machine; he's actually a brain to rival the likes of Reed Richards, Tony Stark, Hank Pym, Bruce Banner, et al.)
If you look at the cover, you'll note...Johnny is on the cover.
So....HE'S SOMEHOW NOT GOING TO BE DEAD LONG!!!
Which is a shame, as his death/sacrifice was done very well. This would fully support Sam's belief that character deaths in comics now are pointless. I'd have to agree, but this explanation didn't take a year-18 months to get to...we pretty much had it less than a few months later.
So here's the deal: Galactus tells Reed that there's an evil coming that's so powerful it's bigger than him. Sue suggests this might just be Galactus tricking them...Big G-Unit says nope, if this evil arrives, the universe dies...just a lot faster than if he's in-charge. I like the little detail like that, which acknowledges that Galactus still does what he does. Big G-Unit gives RR a device sorta like a pager for when shit hits the fan.
Meanwhile, the FF-Kids transport the Baxter Building out of NYC, where the attack is coming (one of these days, I swear, it's going to be in Toledo, Ohio or Bumfk, Iowa. - It almost makes me go back and give the Siege Event more stars because things happened in small town Oklahoma and not NYC.)
Reed sends Spidey to go check on the wee ones...he runs into Annihilus fanatics trying to open the gate the the Negative Zone...and...it opens...UHOH!!!
But then, who should be standing on the other side of the gate?
Johnny freakin' Storm.
We then get a whole issue+ setting up what happened to Johnny, and how we ended up where we are. (I appreciate the explanation, which actually helps to prevent it from feeling cheap with his 'death'). Suffice it to say, Johnny is in pretty decent shape...
The fight between the Kree and Johnny's Storm-mada (You like that one? I just invented it) isn't going well, and there's all kinds of space wreckage going to hit Earth, so not looking good...Reed and Sue go summon Galactus, as they think this was the Evil/death he spoke of...turns out, it wasn't...
Someone summons the Celestials (Gigantic Super-Gods), and just as Big G-Unit is telling everyone that shit hasn't hit the fan yet, he's like, oh nevermind, my bad...
Galactus defeats one of the Celestials, but they they go all Voltron/Super-Power-Ranger/Ultimate Optimus Prime Transformer, and merge into a gigantic one. Even Big G-Unit can't handle that...
There's no chance to defeat Super-Mega-Power Celestial, except that...oh wait...there is. Remember that Council of Reeds? The Reed Richardses from all the multiverses, they got together and figured out this would happen, and prepared mega-weapon on every Earth. It's time for this one's turn...good thing Reed's Dad Nathaniel is there to tell him to let loose...They get a great hit in...but, that ain't gonna cut it.
The only thing keeping the destruction at bay is Sue...who shields Reed and everyone (oh the whole EARTH I mean...she's a badass lady...no wonder Namor loves her (see corny line on page 2 or 3)) just in time for the cavalry to arrive...and the cavalry isn't who you'd expect...unless you paid attention to everything in the previous volumes.
The payoff is stellar. The revelations are astounding. There's a sweet life lesson (family is more important than anything...awww Mr. Hickman). This finale is so good, it really is.
I won't ruin it for those of you who will actually go and read it (You should. All in one shot. 5 Volumes. It will make you appreciate Hickman's scale and scope of his projects.)
But for those of you who want to know:
Yup. A stellar ending. I am a sucker for Father-Son relationships, they always get me emotional. Hickman, who's all about cosmic level universe expanding, crazy convoluted stories, boils it down to the love of a father for his son, and visa versa, as the saving grace of the world.
Well done. (There seems to be something in my eye...)
Get this review and more at:
There were quite a few HOLY S*** moments, when I was actually like:
I feel like a lot of people don't like Hickman because he operates on a cosmic scale, multiverses, layered stories that take a while for the payoff, and I'm usually not interested in a story taking THAT much effort (but I'm not going to say if there's more than a couple words with 3+ syllables that I'll stop reading...I mean I am somewhat edu-mah-kay-ted), but this was actually worth the effort.
(Shallow Reading friends, I can't help but notice not many people have read this one/arc. If you could get all 5 volumes together at once, I think it might be worth, but I think I've read this over 2 years or so...)
Long story short: The Earth is being attacked on multiple fronts: The Kree, Annihilus, Multiverse Reed Richards(es?). The FF is without Johnny, who died stopping the Negative Zone forces of Annihilus from attacking Earth; and he's been replaced by Spider-Man. (I like this because Hickman reminds people that Spidey isn't just a punchline machine; he's actually a brain to rival the likes of Reed Richards, Tony Stark, Hank Pym, Bruce Banner, et al.)
If you look at the cover, you'll note...Johnny is on the cover.
So....HE'S SOMEHOW NOT GOING TO BE DEAD LONG!!!
Which is a shame, as his death/sacrifice was done very well. This would fully support Sam's belief that character deaths in comics now are pointless. I'd have to agree, but this explanation didn't take a year-18 months to get to...we pretty much had it less than a few months later.
So here's the deal: Galactus tells Reed that there's an evil coming that's so powerful it's bigger than him. Sue suggests this might just be Galactus tricking them...Big G-Unit says nope, if this evil arrives, the universe dies...just a lot faster than if he's in-charge. I like the little detail like that, which acknowledges that Galactus still does what he does. Big G-Unit gives RR a device sorta like a pager for when shit hits the fan.
Meanwhile, the FF-Kids transport the Baxter Building out of NYC, where the attack is coming (one of these days, I swear, it's going to be in Toledo, Ohio or Bumfk, Iowa. - It almost makes me go back and give the Siege Event more stars because things happened in small town Oklahoma and not NYC.)
Reed sends Spidey to go check on the wee ones...he runs into Annihilus fanatics trying to open the gate the the Negative Zone...and...it opens...UHOH!!!
But then, who should be standing on the other side of the gate?
Johnny freakin' Storm.
We then get a whole issue+ setting up what happened to Johnny, and how we ended up where we are. (I appreciate the explanation, which actually helps to prevent it from feeling cheap with his 'death'). Suffice it to say, Johnny is in pretty decent shape...
The fight between the Kree and Johnny's Storm-mada (You like that one? I just invented it) isn't going well, and there's all kinds of space wreckage going to hit Earth, so not looking good...Reed and Sue go summon Galactus, as they think this was the Evil/death he spoke of...turns out, it wasn't...
Someone summons the Celestials (Gigantic Super-Gods), and just as Big G-Unit is telling everyone that shit hasn't hit the fan yet, he's like, oh nevermind, my bad...
Galactus defeats one of the Celestials, but they they go all Voltron/Super-Power-Ranger/Ultimate Optimus Prime Transformer, and merge into a gigantic one. Even Big G-Unit can't handle that...
There's no chance to defeat Super-Mega-Power Celestial, except that...oh wait...there is. Remember that Council of Reeds? The Reed Richardses from all the multiverses, they got together and figured out this would happen, and prepared mega-weapon on every Earth. It's time for this one's turn...good thing Reed's Dad Nathaniel is there to tell him to let loose...They get a great hit in...but, that ain't gonna cut it.
The only thing keeping the destruction at bay is Sue...who shields Reed and everyone (oh the whole EARTH I mean...she's a badass lady...no wonder Namor loves her (see corny line on page 2 or 3)) just in time for the cavalry to arrive...and the cavalry isn't who you'd expect...unless you paid attention to everything in the previous volumes.
The payoff is stellar. The revelations are astounding. There's a sweet life lesson (family is more important than anything...awww Mr. Hickman). This finale is so good, it really is.
I won't ruin it for those of you who will actually go and read it (You should. All in one shot. 5 Volumes. It will make you appreciate Hickman's scale and scope of his projects.)
But for those of you who want to know:
Yup. A stellar ending. I am a sucker for Father-Son relationships, they always get me emotional. Hickman, who's all about cosmic level universe expanding, crazy convoluted stories, boils it down to the love of a father for his son, and visa versa, as the saving grace of the world.
Well done. (There seems to be something in my eye...)
Get this review and more at:
June 15, 2025
Everything pays off in this wonderfully executed climax. Hickman brings together several plot threads. The stakes are raised several times, and the ending feels earned.
This series/trade coincides with FF. If you are reading this series in trades, the reading order of the two series continues to be complicated.
This series/trade coincides with FF. If you are reading this series in trades, the reading order of the two series continues to be complicated.
February 23, 2019
This was amazing!! Back to Hickman best. So much going on but so enjoyable. The negative zone story was amazing. The action great and the twists just so Hickman.
December 3, 2020
Este tomo, que incluye el gigantesco número 600 de Cuatro Fantásticos, es el cierre de oro a todo lo que Hickman había ido diseminando a lo largo de toda su etapa al frente de la Primera Familia. Las Cinco Ciudades, el Doctor Muerte, el Puente, el Consejo de los Richards, Galactus, Nathaniel Richards, los Inhumanos, los Kree, la Inteligencia Suprema, la Zona Negativa, Annihilus y la Oleada Aniquiladora, los viajeros del tiempo, los críos de la Fundación Futuro, Spiderman...
Y... ¿qué puedo decir? ¿Es spoiler hablar de algo que se escribió hace como seis años? Venga, va. Voy a ser respetuoso ahora de momento. Luego espoileo. Creo que el trabajo de Hickman es espectacular, creo que el trabajo de Epting es espectacular, incluso el trabajo de los dibujantes eventuales es espectacular. Y creo además que Cuatro Fantásticos forma parte de una historia mucho más amplia que Hickman trazó desde SHIELD y que abarca Cuatro Fantásticos, sus dos colecciones de Vengadores y las propias Secret Wars que vendrían después de todo esto. Me parece épico, me parece brillante, me parece impresionante. Y es el motivo por el que desde hace mucho tiempo tenía muuuuchas ganas de que se reeditara en España esta etapa, que es la muestra evidente de que en Marvel deben estar los Cuatro Fantásticos, y de lo injusta que fue la compañía con los Cuatro Fantásticos cuando tras las Secret Wars se decidió cancelar la colección ya que los derechos cinematográficos estaban en Fox y no en Disney... En fin.
Spoilers a partir de aquí.
¿He dicho ya que es épico? ¿Esa historia sobre el regreso de la Antorcha Humana? Creo que hace mucho tiempo que todos sabemos que las puertas de la muerte son de ida y vuelta en el Universo Marvel, Hickman construyó toda una saga para matar a Johnny Storm, y todos sabíamos que antes o después iba a volver... y lo genial de Hickman es que tanto la muerte como el regreso formaban ya parte de su historia, de modo que lo que hace es un ejercicio de coherencia. Y el enfrentamiento entre los Celestiales y Galactus, así como la relación de este con Franklin... me recuerda tantísimo a Tierra-X, una de mis historias favoritas...
Una absoluta maravilla.
Y... ¿qué puedo decir? ¿Es spoiler hablar de algo que se escribió hace como seis años? Venga, va. Voy a ser respetuoso ahora de momento. Luego espoileo. Creo que el trabajo de Hickman es espectacular, creo que el trabajo de Epting es espectacular, incluso el trabajo de los dibujantes eventuales es espectacular. Y creo además que Cuatro Fantásticos forma parte de una historia mucho más amplia que Hickman trazó desde SHIELD y que abarca Cuatro Fantásticos, sus dos colecciones de Vengadores y las propias Secret Wars que vendrían después de todo esto. Me parece épico, me parece brillante, me parece impresionante. Y es el motivo por el que desde hace mucho tiempo tenía muuuuchas ganas de que se reeditara en España esta etapa, que es la muestra evidente de que en Marvel deben estar los Cuatro Fantásticos, y de lo injusta que fue la compañía con los Cuatro Fantásticos cuando tras las Secret Wars se decidió cancelar la colección ya que los derechos cinematográficos estaban en Fox y no en Disney... En fin.
Spoilers a partir de aquí.
¿He dicho ya que es épico? ¿Esa historia sobre el regreso de la Antorcha Humana? Creo que hace mucho tiempo que todos sabemos que las puertas de la muerte son de ida y vuelta en el Universo Marvel, Hickman construyó toda una saga para matar a Johnny Storm, y todos sabíamos que antes o después iba a volver... y lo genial de Hickman es que tanto la muerte como el regreso formaban ya parte de su historia, de modo que lo que hace es un ejercicio de coherencia. Y el enfrentamiento entre los Celestiales y Galactus, así como la relación de este con Franklin... me recuerda tantísimo a Tierra-X, una de mis historias favoritas...
Una absoluta maravilla.
August 13, 2018
While this isn't Jonathan Hickman's last story on Fantastic Four it is the culmination of years of story telling and plot lines that he's laid out. Almost all of the threats that he's laid before the F4 since volume one come together to created a threat not only to the team itself but to the entire city of New York and possibly the planet. This volume is probably one of the most epic Marvel events even though it was not marketed as one and was contained within Fantastic Four and FF. Between the Kree attack and the threat of invasion from the Negative Zone, the tension rides high throughout this entire volume.
My favorite scene though is the fist fight between Galactus and the Mad Celestials. That scene was drawn on such a grand scale that I couldn't help but read it multiple time in awe of what was occurring. Overall, this is one of the best Fantastic Four tales ever told and Hickman's run on the book should be remembered as one of the greats.
My favorite scene though is the fist fight between Galactus and the Mad Celestials. That scene was drawn on such a grand scale that I couldn't help but read it multiple time in awe of what was occurring. Overall, this is one of the best Fantastic Four tales ever told and Hickman's run on the book should be remembered as one of the greats.
July 13, 2014
I'm not going to pretend that I can ignore the discussions here about Hickman's current Avengers run, especially as I am pretty much in agreement with much of what has been said. There is a part of me that thinks someone at Marvel said while reading his FF and Fantastic Four work, "Lets give him all of the Avengers titles and see what he can do. Better yet, we'll just let him do what he wants."
I think he had a better grasp of what to do with the FF though. He has the characterization pretty much spot on, and uses the big cosmic canvas here well. The FF, for me, has worked best as science adventurers who happen to have supper powers, not as standard super heroes. Lee/Kirby, and writers such as Claremont and Kessel got that.
This volume wraps most of the ongoing story lines. A threat bigger than Galactus threatens the universe. The Kree-Inhumans War is resolved, and the issue of Black Bolt having multiple "wives" is also addressed. Hey, I didn't buy that Medusa was happy with the situation, at least this interlude explained how and why she was handling it.
This is a good shot at big time epic comic book story telling. While, IMO, not great Hickman doesn't drag it out the way he has been his Avengers' story lines.
I think he had a better grasp of what to do with the FF though. He has the characterization pretty much spot on, and uses the big cosmic canvas here well. The FF, for me, has worked best as science adventurers who happen to have supper powers, not as standard super heroes. Lee/Kirby, and writers such as Claremont and Kessel got that.
This volume wraps most of the ongoing story lines. A threat bigger than Galactus threatens the universe. The Kree-Inhumans War is resolved, and the issue of Black Bolt having multiple "wives" is also addressed. Hey, I didn't buy that Medusa was happy with the situation, at least this interlude explained how and why she was handling it.
This is a good shot at big time epic comic book story telling. While, IMO, not great Hickman doesn't drag it out the way he has been his Avengers' story lines.
September 24, 2012
Whoa! Wow! Amazing! I just had my mind blown by a comic book for the first time in, like, forever. This was a truly awesome collection and amazing conclusion to the storyline that Hickman set up so carefully throughout his run on the title. The "war of the four cities" comes to a conclusion that's not quite what you might have expected, but much more significant. This is cosmic storytelling done right (and I'm usually not a fan of the cosmic books from either Marvel or DC). Great storytelling and great artwork combined to create a truly special moment in recent comic book history. This has got to be Jonathan Hickman's finest hour.
December 31, 2021
The big payoff to arcs of buildup across Fantastic Four and FF, where all the big cosmic baddies come together for one big laser fight of power and energy and space armadas and all that cool stuff. It's jaw-dropping and rewarding and one hell of a ride.
August 5, 2025
Insane moments all throughout this volume. When Johnny came back I had so many tears in my eyes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2017
Holy buckets. Ok, as I probably mentioned in a previous review, I've never been one for the family of fantasticalness. But this. Wow. My jaw literally dropped and I had to put the book down for a minute at one point. I sat there staring at my cat, jaw still hanging, mind totally blown, wondering how in the seven hells Hickman came up with this. It shouldn't work. Only it does. It works so. Fucking. Well.
I do think that being able to read this in one go (or three, given my need to go to work and sleep) instead of over months during original single issue publication makes this so story so amazing. It'd be so easy to forget what was going on or get confused all over again if I had to wait several weeks to get to the next chapter. The scope to this story is incredible. I'll be re-reading this and will definitely be including it in my "never sell this unless you are going to be evicted due to having no money" bookcase.
I do think that being able to read this in one go (or three, given my need to go to work and sleep) instead of over months during original single issue publication makes this so story so amazing. It'd be so easy to forget what was going on or get confused all over again if I had to wait several weeks to get to the next chapter. The scope to this story is incredible. I'll be re-reading this and will definitely be including it in my "never sell this unless you are going to be evicted due to having no money" bookcase.
August 27, 2025
Ahh, sweet resolve. Ive said it before and I’ll say it again, I don’t think there’s anyone better at weaving multiple narrative threads into an amazing resolve than Jonathan Hickman. This trade is a perfect example of his supreme ability in that area.
In this one we have just one narrative thread after the other hitting you in the face. It was ridiculous, every issue ended with a punch in the gut and a resolve to a thread that had been set up since issue number one of this run. Those narrative threads contain too many spoilers for me to mention what they are but that’s just the nature of Hickman’s writing.
I love it. Even the stuff with the Inhumans... mostly because that was extremely minimal.
In this one we have just one narrative thread after the other hitting you in the face. It was ridiculous, every issue ended with a punch in the gut and a resolve to a thread that had been set up since issue number one of this run. Those narrative threads contain too many spoilers for me to mention what they are but that’s just the nature of Hickman’s writing.
I love it. Even the stuff with the Inhumans... mostly because that was extremely minimal.
December 8, 2013
This is the epic that Hickman has been building his whole run toward. I thought the 600th issue that leads things off dragged a bit. As is often the case, the comic wasn't helped by longer page count. However from there it kept trending upward, as we get more and more things from the run rolled together. It was perhaps wasn't up to the height of the run, but it was still a strong conclusion of the major plot strands.
July 3, 2021
So we get to find out what happened to Johnny Storm. That was cool. Then we get the super big battle. The Kree vs the Earth heroes and the Inhumans. I mean the battles were cool to witness but I still have no idea as to the why. Why did this big battles happen? What was up with Future Franklin and Valeria? That basically sums up this book. Cool things happen but I have no idea why they happened.
September 15, 2012
This is the greatest Fantastic Four story that has ever been published. I can't stress enough how perfect it is. I can't even review it, don't want to. You just have to read it. I cried it was so damn good. Jesus, I literally cried.
June 11, 2015
Hickman se toma en serio lo que significa hacer El Cómic Más Grande del Mundo.
No diré más porque el fanatismo y la emoción me ciegan, amo a estos personajes, amo lo que hizo Hickman con ellos y estoy muy feliz.
Eso.
No diré más porque el fanatismo y la emoción me ciegan, amo a estos personajes, amo lo que hizo Hickman con ellos y estoy muy feliz.
Eso.
September 7, 2018
This may have just become my favorite comic book ever Jonathan hickman is a genius this ties everything up that has been built through his entire run and its magnificent. You have to read it in the right order and along with FF to fully understand everything but man its worth it.
July 23, 2020
Great solid story and great artwork!
A bit biased here because I'm a sucker for Annihilus but it's a good story and even better, a good F4 story.
A bit biased here because I'm a sucker for Annihilus but it's a good story and even better, a good F4 story.
October 2, 2020
275/365
Todo lo que un buen cómic de superhéroes, ciencia ficción, space opera y épica, como es o debería ser Los Cuatro Fantástico, debe ser. Gracias, Hickman.
Todo lo que un buen cómic de superhéroes, ciencia ficción, space opera y épica, como es o debería ser Los Cuatro Fantástico, debe ser. Gracias, Hickman.
August 6, 2016
Collects Fantastic Four issues #600-604
This is one of the best modern Marvel stories I've ever read, but be warned that you can't start with this volume. There is a lot to read before you can appreciate what happens in this book. In fact, I don't believe you could read this book, and fully understand all the intricacies of what is happening. Before reading this, you need to read the following collected editions:
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four (by Hickman) volumes 1-4
FF (by Hickman) volumes 1-2
Then, when you start reading here, you have to take turns between Fantastic Four Volume 5 and FF Volume 3. For example, you will read the issues like this: Fantastic Four #600, FF #12, Fantastic Four #601, FF #13, and so on and so on...
Now that you know all that, I definitely recommend reading this legendary run by a remarkable writer, Jonathan Hickman.
Spoilers (from both Fantastic Four and FF for continuity's sake):
Fantastic Four #600:
-This issue was super-sized. It picks up right from where FF #11 left off, with the coalition of heroes preparing for the Kree attack and the Council’s negative actions.
-Johnny comes back. It turns out he was alive the whole time. Sort of. Annihilus has a way to bring people back to life, so he’s actually died multiple times and been resurrected…a lot. He leads a revolution against Annihilus, using multiple other prisoners on his side during the revolt.
-It turns out that Annihilus is super powerful. Johnny couldn’t kill him, but I don’t know why.
-We also learn more about how powerful Franklin is. He has been traveling to a universe that he created, and there is a mysterious (secret) person communicating with him about his powers. I think the mystery person is Future Franklin, or someone that Franklin inadvertently created. When Franklin and Leech act as heroes, they call themselves Hyperstorm and Kid Incredible.
-I learned more about Galactus in this book. It turns out that he is so powerful because he is a survivor of the last universe that has since died and been recreated with the Big Bang. He didn’t come from a different parallel universe, but from a universe that existed in the 616 space before the current universe. Also, under his purple and blue suit, he just looks like a giant human.
FF #12:
-You have to read back and forth from now on between Hickman’s run on Fantastic Four and FF. I found a reading order online, but make sure you read Issue #600 of Fantastic Four before starting this volume. This volume starts where that issue picked up. From what I understand, the reader now has to read every other book to keep things straight. So, to clarify, after you finish Issue #12 of FF, you should read on to Issue #601 of Fantastic Four, and then back and forth and back and forth.
-The art style changes completely, and it is for the worse.
-I like the fact that Nathaniel seems to know what is going to happen in the future, but Marvel has a long history of characters coming back from alternate futures. Nathaniel says things about Bentley becoming useful in the future, and he instructs Val to bring the FF to Latveria months before these events take place in this issue. However, technically speaking, he is not necessarily from this present-day’s future. Just him being there could be changing things.
-At the end of the issue, Val gets the Bridge working again, and Jerk Reed plans to go home.
Fantastic Four #601:
-Everybody finds out that Johnny is back.
-Ronan gave the Supremor its life back, but he doesn’t want to obey its instructions to attack Earth and Attilan because he is married to Crystal. The Supreme Intelligence shows him mercy and allows him not to partake in the violence because Ronan helped him come back to life.
-Johnny now commands the Annihilation Wave, which seems to be an armada. He has his own ship, and along with the Inhumans, they attack the Kree assault.
-Bad news, though…debris from their space battle is breaking through Earth’s atmosphere and doing severe damage to the planet.
FF #13:
-The FF, the Dooms, Nathaniel, and Evil Reed cross the Bridge, and come face to face with the Celestials.
-Franklin puts up a good fight, but the Celestials are going to breach the Bridge. The FF decides to destroy the Bridge from their side, but someone needs to fight the Celestials. Evil Reed volunteers to do it saying that he only ever wanted to help everyone. He asks for Val’s Ultimate Nullifier, and seeks out his own Infinity Gauntlet. Dr. Doom calls this Reed a poor shadow of the 616 Reed and decides to stay and help him stop the Celestials. He does this because the world needs him, and to me, Doom really comes off as a hero.
Fantastic Four #602:
-The Kree are attacking Earth because they want to dispose of the Inhumans.
-The assault is causing extreme damage to Earth and its inhabitants.
-In a moment of desperation, Sue tells Reed that it is time for them to call Galactus, using the Arc that he gave them.
-Galactus arrives and says it is too soon…this isn’t the coming death that he has foreseen. He helps them fight the Kree anyway
-Shortly after, the unstoppable Celestials appear, and Galactus confirms that these are the bringers of death that he predicted would arrive.
FF #14:
-Nathaniel claims that Doom will never return once he goes through the door (universe portal).
-Nathaniel tells Val that he is from all possible futures, and that there are universal constants (things that can’t be changed in time).
-This issue, in a scene that takes place in the past, shows Val and Nathaniel outlining a space battle that is currently happening in Fantastic Four #602. It just goes to show how much the two titles have to be read concurrently.
-In a past scene, the Council of Reeds discuss the Ultimate Nullifier, and how it is a key that unlocks all other doors. However, there is a long time understanding that the user of the Nullifier will die after using it. One of the Reeds tells his brothers that it can be used without causing death to the user if the user has enough focus. They agree that most of the Reeds would be able to display this much focus.
-Unfortunately, back in present day, the Jerk Reed uses the Ultimate Nullifier, tries to focus, but ends up exploding himself.
-I don’t know why Val calls Doom, “Uncle Doom.”
-It doesn’t seem like it, but Val and Nathaniel’s mission was successful. They only needed to delay events by 27 minutes, and the made it all the way to 28.
-I take it back, the artwork has grown on me, and fits with a story focused on children.
Fantastic Four #603:
-Galactus vs. the Celestials. Awesome.
-The Celestials are sort of like Transformers. And like Power Ranger robots.
-Reed uses Sol’s Anvil to attack the Celestials.
-The Celestials take Galactus out of the picture and turn their attention to killing the last Reed, the 616 Reed, to close the loop. All hope looks lost when Future Franklin and Future Val show up.
FF #15:
-Doom is lost in the multiverse. Kristoff is sad.
-This is the first time I’ve ever seen the Power Pack in comics.
-The invisible man is talking to Franklin again, but it seems to be just in his head. Or Franklin is the only one that can hear him.
-As I suspected, the invisible man ends up being Future Franklin, who comes back to the past with Future Val.
Fantastic Four #604:
-It sounds like the changes they are making to the past is working because Future Val and Franklin tell Nathaniel that the Revision Wave, combined with Franklin’s power, is fixing the timeline.
-The children from the future do a quick catch up with their present-day family, and then the Celestials attack again.
-Luckily, young Franklin has been storing his power, and gives it all to Future Franklin.
-Nathaniel tells Reed that he has seen this day multiple times, and they always lose. In fact, this is the day that Reed’s sins catch up to him, as this is always the day that Reed dies. They are trying to prevent that from happening.
-According to Nathaniel, here are some universal constants…Reed always walks through the Bridge…he always meets the Council of Reeds…he always helps them build suns and save universes…the Council always wakes up the mad space gods (the Celestials), and they always destroy the Council.
-Future Franklin wouldn’t stand for his father dying, so they devised a plan to save him. Nathaniel says that Galactus has had many heralds, but Franklin has had only one. Then, using his immense power, Future Franklin sends an energy orb at the fallen Galactus, and shouts, “Rise…To me, my Galactus.” It looks like Franklin controls him or something.
-Through further explanation, Nathaniel goes over the fact that all the other Reeds sacrificed being a father and husband for the greater good, but they were all wrong because it was important for Reed to raise Franklin. 616 Reed is the only one that chose correctly, so his son was able to grow up and sacrifice himself for the greater good. It looks like Future Franklin is killed destroying the Celestials.
-Nope, he lives. There is hope…forever.
-Is Reed trying to teach young Franklin to fly?
FF #16:
-Young Val doesn’t like Future Val, and Future Val feels the same.
-Kid Franklin and Mister Franklin get along great.
-Galactus mentions to Mister Franklin that he always thought he would see the death of the universe by himself, but now he knows he won’t be alone. Mister Franklin will be there with him. Mister Franklin reassures him that it will be billions of years until they have to worry about that. Future Franklin tells Galactus (who he calls Galen) that he has to wait a little because Union occurs further down the road.
-The whole Future Foundation get new numbering on their costumes.
-Young Val likes Bentley like that. I think that is a bad thing. Maybe it means that she is a little evil.
-Johnny and Peter decide to be roommates.
-Val promises her parents no more secrets, but fails to tell them that she knows Doom (trapped in a parallel universe) has access to an Infinity Gauntlet. And all of the lobotomized Dooms from the multiverse. He becomes their king.
-“Here I can build.” – Doom, after forming the Parliament of Doom
This is one of the best modern Marvel stories I've ever read, but be warned that you can't start with this volume. There is a lot to read before you can appreciate what happens in this book. In fact, I don't believe you could read this book, and fully understand all the intricacies of what is happening. Before reading this, you need to read the following collected editions:
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four (by Hickman) volumes 1-4
FF (by Hickman) volumes 1-2
Then, when you start reading here, you have to take turns between Fantastic Four Volume 5 and FF Volume 3. For example, you will read the issues like this: Fantastic Four #600, FF #12, Fantastic Four #601, FF #13, and so on and so on...
Now that you know all that, I definitely recommend reading this legendary run by a remarkable writer, Jonathan Hickman.
Spoilers (from both Fantastic Four and FF for continuity's sake):
Fantastic Four #600:
-This issue was super-sized. It picks up right from where FF #11 left off, with the coalition of heroes preparing for the Kree attack and the Council’s negative actions.
-Johnny comes back. It turns out he was alive the whole time. Sort of. Annihilus has a way to bring people back to life, so he’s actually died multiple times and been resurrected…a lot. He leads a revolution against Annihilus, using multiple other prisoners on his side during the revolt.
-It turns out that Annihilus is super powerful. Johnny couldn’t kill him, but I don’t know why.
-We also learn more about how powerful Franklin is. He has been traveling to a universe that he created, and there is a mysterious (secret) person communicating with him about his powers. I think the mystery person is Future Franklin, or someone that Franklin inadvertently created. When Franklin and Leech act as heroes, they call themselves Hyperstorm and Kid Incredible.
-I learned more about Galactus in this book. It turns out that he is so powerful because he is a survivor of the last universe that has since died and been recreated with the Big Bang. He didn’t come from a different parallel universe, but from a universe that existed in the 616 space before the current universe. Also, under his purple and blue suit, he just looks like a giant human.
FF #12:
-You have to read back and forth from now on between Hickman’s run on Fantastic Four and FF. I found a reading order online, but make sure you read Issue #600 of Fantastic Four before starting this volume. This volume starts where that issue picked up. From what I understand, the reader now has to read every other book to keep things straight. So, to clarify, after you finish Issue #12 of FF, you should read on to Issue #601 of Fantastic Four, and then back and forth and back and forth.
-The art style changes completely, and it is for the worse.
-I like the fact that Nathaniel seems to know what is going to happen in the future, but Marvel has a long history of characters coming back from alternate futures. Nathaniel says things about Bentley becoming useful in the future, and he instructs Val to bring the FF to Latveria months before these events take place in this issue. However, technically speaking, he is not necessarily from this present-day’s future. Just him being there could be changing things.
-At the end of the issue, Val gets the Bridge working again, and Jerk Reed plans to go home.
Fantastic Four #601:
-Everybody finds out that Johnny is back.
-Ronan gave the Supremor its life back, but he doesn’t want to obey its instructions to attack Earth and Attilan because he is married to Crystal. The Supreme Intelligence shows him mercy and allows him not to partake in the violence because Ronan helped him come back to life.
-Johnny now commands the Annihilation Wave, which seems to be an armada. He has his own ship, and along with the Inhumans, they attack the Kree assault.
-Bad news, though…debris from their space battle is breaking through Earth’s atmosphere and doing severe damage to the planet.
FF #13:
-The FF, the Dooms, Nathaniel, and Evil Reed cross the Bridge, and come face to face with the Celestials.
-Franklin puts up a good fight, but the Celestials are going to breach the Bridge. The FF decides to destroy the Bridge from their side, but someone needs to fight the Celestials. Evil Reed volunteers to do it saying that he only ever wanted to help everyone. He asks for Val’s Ultimate Nullifier, and seeks out his own Infinity Gauntlet. Dr. Doom calls this Reed a poor shadow of the 616 Reed and decides to stay and help him stop the Celestials. He does this because the world needs him, and to me, Doom really comes off as a hero.
Fantastic Four #602:
-The Kree are attacking Earth because they want to dispose of the Inhumans.
-The assault is causing extreme damage to Earth and its inhabitants.
-In a moment of desperation, Sue tells Reed that it is time for them to call Galactus, using the Arc that he gave them.
-Galactus arrives and says it is too soon…this isn’t the coming death that he has foreseen. He helps them fight the Kree anyway
-Shortly after, the unstoppable Celestials appear, and Galactus confirms that these are the bringers of death that he predicted would arrive.
FF #14:
-Nathaniel claims that Doom will never return once he goes through the door (universe portal).
-Nathaniel tells Val that he is from all possible futures, and that there are universal constants (things that can’t be changed in time).
-This issue, in a scene that takes place in the past, shows Val and Nathaniel outlining a space battle that is currently happening in Fantastic Four #602. It just goes to show how much the two titles have to be read concurrently.
-In a past scene, the Council of Reeds discuss the Ultimate Nullifier, and how it is a key that unlocks all other doors. However, there is a long time understanding that the user of the Nullifier will die after using it. One of the Reeds tells his brothers that it can be used without causing death to the user if the user has enough focus. They agree that most of the Reeds would be able to display this much focus.
-Unfortunately, back in present day, the Jerk Reed uses the Ultimate Nullifier, tries to focus, but ends up exploding himself.
-I don’t know why Val calls Doom, “Uncle Doom.”
-It doesn’t seem like it, but Val and Nathaniel’s mission was successful. They only needed to delay events by 27 minutes, and the made it all the way to 28.
-I take it back, the artwork has grown on me, and fits with a story focused on children.
Fantastic Four #603:
-Galactus vs. the Celestials. Awesome.
-The Celestials are sort of like Transformers. And like Power Ranger robots.
-Reed uses Sol’s Anvil to attack the Celestials.
-The Celestials take Galactus out of the picture and turn their attention to killing the last Reed, the 616 Reed, to close the loop. All hope looks lost when Future Franklin and Future Val show up.
FF #15:
-Doom is lost in the multiverse. Kristoff is sad.
-This is the first time I’ve ever seen the Power Pack in comics.
-The invisible man is talking to Franklin again, but it seems to be just in his head. Or Franklin is the only one that can hear him.
-As I suspected, the invisible man ends up being Future Franklin, who comes back to the past with Future Val.
Fantastic Four #604:
-It sounds like the changes they are making to the past is working because Future Val and Franklin tell Nathaniel that the Revision Wave, combined with Franklin’s power, is fixing the timeline.
-The children from the future do a quick catch up with their present-day family, and then the Celestials attack again.
-Luckily, young Franklin has been storing his power, and gives it all to Future Franklin.
-Nathaniel tells Reed that he has seen this day multiple times, and they always lose. In fact, this is the day that Reed’s sins catch up to him, as this is always the day that Reed dies. They are trying to prevent that from happening.
-According to Nathaniel, here are some universal constants…Reed always walks through the Bridge…he always meets the Council of Reeds…he always helps them build suns and save universes…the Council always wakes up the mad space gods (the Celestials), and they always destroy the Council.
-Future Franklin wouldn’t stand for his father dying, so they devised a plan to save him. Nathaniel says that Galactus has had many heralds, but Franklin has had only one. Then, using his immense power, Future Franklin sends an energy orb at the fallen Galactus, and shouts, “Rise…To me, my Galactus.” It looks like Franklin controls him or something.
-Through further explanation, Nathaniel goes over the fact that all the other Reeds sacrificed being a father and husband for the greater good, but they were all wrong because it was important for Reed to raise Franklin. 616 Reed is the only one that chose correctly, so his son was able to grow up and sacrifice himself for the greater good. It looks like Future Franklin is killed destroying the Celestials.
-Nope, he lives. There is hope…forever.
-Is Reed trying to teach young Franklin to fly?
FF #16:
-Young Val doesn’t like Future Val, and Future Val feels the same.
-Kid Franklin and Mister Franklin get along great.
-Galactus mentions to Mister Franklin that he always thought he would see the death of the universe by himself, but now he knows he won’t be alone. Mister Franklin will be there with him. Mister Franklin reassures him that it will be billions of years until they have to worry about that. Future Franklin tells Galactus (who he calls Galen) that he has to wait a little because Union occurs further down the road.
-The whole Future Foundation get new numbering on their costumes.
-Young Val likes Bentley like that. I think that is a bad thing. Maybe it means that she is a little evil.
-Johnny and Peter decide to be roommates.
-Val promises her parents no more secrets, but fails to tell them that she knows Doom (trapped in a parallel universe) has access to an Infinity Gauntlet. And all of the lobotomized Dooms from the multiverse. He becomes their king.
-“Here I can build.” – Doom, after forming the Parliament of Doom
March 5, 2019
So yeah - in between volume 4 and 5 there was a run called FF (with Spider-Man taking the place of the temporarily dead Human Torch - not a spoiler since nobody ever stays dead in Marvel these days) and I didn't read it because my library doesn't have them. No worries - we seem to pick up where we left off with the build up build up build up finally starting to kinda pay off?
I'll rate it three stars but this was NOT my cup of tea. Why? Well, like a big summer blockbuster it was all BAM BOOM! Explosion!!! and no cleverness or drama.
I'll take that back - the first part that shows how the Human Torch survived the negative zone was clever - I enjoyed that story.
We start the novel in the middle of the Kree (alien race) about to bomb the hell out of the Earth. Not totally sure why but I am sure it was covered in the FF issues I never read. So the Torch is back with the Control Rod from the Negative Zone and an insect army from the negative zone so he'll save the day!! Not quite! He turns the tide but...I think the Inhumans lend a hand...and Galactus...and then the Kree leave but oops the Celestials come and uh oh, Glactus stops one but then he's knocked out, and then Reed stops one but not good enough but then future Franklin all grown up to save the day because he loves his dad and....5 volumes of all of this just to have a warm moment of "he loved his dad, Reed Richards so much and that's what saved everyone". 5 volumes for the payoff of "Love will save the day!" Are you kidding me? Are you (swear words) kidding me?
Yeah - so summer blockbuster - all BAM and no brain (really, Franklin and Galactus just wave their magic power to stop the Celestials - that isn't clever that's just "bring in the next all powerful hero!"). What a huge disappointment. Hickman started this all with a very clever volume and an exciting new take on the FF that promised to be something new and intelligent and I would sum up the 5 volumes as "Hickman really knows how to build something up and have it be the most boring end of world battle I have ever seen". I mean even the villains of the Celestials was a horrid choice - I don't really understand their motives (they want to kill Reed because he was once part of the council of Reeds from volume one) and they are just all powerful robots. Not a lot of character building there. Give me a John Byrne story of them fighting Diablo any day over this "It must have world ending consequences!!!! and it will take 50 issues to get there!!!!!"
Ugh. Bleh. Not my cup of tea.
I'll rate it three stars but this was NOT my cup of tea. Why? Well, like a big summer blockbuster it was all BAM BOOM! Explosion!!! and no cleverness or drama.
I'll take that back - the first part that shows how the Human Torch survived the negative zone was clever - I enjoyed that story.
We start the novel in the middle of the Kree (alien race) about to bomb the hell out of the Earth. Not totally sure why but I am sure it was covered in the FF issues I never read. So the Torch is back with the Control Rod from the Negative Zone and an insect army from the negative zone so he'll save the day!! Not quite! He turns the tide but...I think the Inhumans lend a hand...and Galactus...and then the Kree leave but oops the Celestials come and uh oh, Glactus stops one but then he's knocked out, and then Reed stops one but not good enough but then future Franklin all grown up to save the day because he loves his dad and....5 volumes of all of this just to have a warm moment of "he loved his dad, Reed Richards so much and that's what saved everyone". 5 volumes for the payoff of "Love will save the day!" Are you kidding me? Are you (swear words) kidding me?
Yeah - so summer blockbuster - all BAM and no brain (really, Franklin and Galactus just wave their magic power to stop the Celestials - that isn't clever that's just "bring in the next all powerful hero!"). What a huge disappointment. Hickman started this all with a very clever volume and an exciting new take on the FF that promised to be something new and intelligent and I would sum up the 5 volumes as "Hickman really knows how to build something up and have it be the most boring end of world battle I have ever seen". I mean even the villains of the Celestials was a horrid choice - I don't really understand their motives (they want to kill Reed because he was once part of the council of Reeds from volume one) and they are just all powerful robots. Not a lot of character building there. Give me a John Byrne story of them fighting Diablo any day over this "It must have world ending consequences!!!! and it will take 50 issues to get there!!!!!"
Ugh. Bleh. Not my cup of tea.
December 10, 2025
Words fail me. The puzzle pieces all snap together and (almost) everything Hickman has been working towards all the way through this Fantastic Four run converges in this volume, which (I think?) caps off the Council of Reeds, War of the Four Cities, Galactus/ Celestials, and Future Val and Franklin arcs for the moment. And of course, there's Doom.
This volume will make a lot more sense if you follow Comic Book Herald's excellent reading order as I read, and read it in combination with FF, Vol. 3; that latter will make NO sense at all unless you are also reading the Fantastic Four 'revival'. The inside baseball convolutions of it all are frustrating - I do dearly miss a time like the Claremont era in X-Men where you could read a comic by itself and still enjoy a cosmic tale, unlike the infestation of crossovers that dominates comics now. Hey ho - not enough to begrudge me this volume 5 stars.
Issue 600/ 50th Anniversary special issue kicks things off with style. I jumped the gun a bit and accidentally read most of it on Marvel Unlimited before I read FF and I was left bewildered. Then thankfully Comic Book Herald demystified things for me and I went into FF vol 1. Rereading the issue in context makes it a LOT better. Because otherwise you just see Johnny's return and are left bewildered about why he died at all. He got better, but he changed... so as comic book deaths go, this one still had meaning.
The conclusion is absolutely batshit insane. "To me... my Galactus" is comic book legend at this point and I was glad to see that payoff was worth the hype. Franklin Richards is far too powerful IMHO but hey ho. We know where this goes with Secret Wars.
And that's the other thing... reading this Fantastic Four/ Future Foundation run, you can see the signature Hickman plotting of it all. The architecture for Secret Wars was clearly seeded here. The way F4 and FF interweave reminded me of the Avengers/ New Avengers inter-weaving. Of course the capping event (Secret Wars) happened as a separate event there, but arguably by the time you get to issue 604 in this volume, things are scaled up massively and it does qualify as an event, if not an Event.
So glad I read this... I will need to re-read Secret Wars after I complete this run. Absolute must-read for comic book fans, and Hickman fans!
This volume will make a lot more sense if you follow Comic Book Herald's excellent reading order as I read, and read it in combination with FF, Vol. 3; that latter will make NO sense at all unless you are also reading the Fantastic Four 'revival'. The inside baseball convolutions of it all are frustrating - I do dearly miss a time like the Claremont era in X-Men where you could read a comic by itself and still enjoy a cosmic tale, unlike the infestation of crossovers that dominates comics now. Hey ho - not enough to begrudge me this volume 5 stars.
Issue 600/ 50th Anniversary special issue kicks things off with style. I jumped the gun a bit and accidentally read most of it on Marvel Unlimited before I read FF and I was left bewildered. Then thankfully Comic Book Herald demystified things for me and I went into FF vol 1. Rereading the issue in context makes it a LOT better. Because otherwise you just see Johnny's return and are left bewildered about why he died at all. He got better, but he changed... so as comic book deaths go, this one still had meaning.
The conclusion is absolutely batshit insane. "To me... my Galactus" is comic book legend at this point and I was glad to see that payoff was worth the hype. Franklin Richards is far too powerful IMHO but hey ho. We know where this goes with Secret Wars.
And that's the other thing... reading this Fantastic Four/ Future Foundation run, you can see the signature Hickman plotting of it all. The architecture for Secret Wars was clearly seeded here. The way F4 and FF interweave reminded me of the Avengers/ New Avengers inter-weaving. Of course the capping event (Secret Wars) happened as a separate event there, but arguably by the time you get to issue 604 in this volume, things are scaled up massively and it does qualify as an event, if not an Event.
So glad I read this... I will need to re-read Secret Wars after I complete this run. Absolute must-read for comic book fans, and Hickman fans!
March 5, 2025
After 7 volumes of build-up, it's finally kicking off! Maybe this series would be better if you read it as a compendium or as individual issues. But I read it as trades, and it felt like a bit of a slog in the beginning as the author introduced all different storylines that felt like they weren't going anywhere. In this volume, some of those storylines do go somewhere. There's plenty of action here.
Overall, it was an exciting read. I'm not sure where the story will go from here. I liked the artwork for the main series.
Overall, it was an exciting read. I'm not sure where the story will go from here. I liked the artwork for the main series.
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