Ultimate Fantastic Four, Volume 3: N-Zone

Ultimate Fantastic Four (2003) (Collected Editions)

by Warren Ellis, Andy Kubert, John Dell (Illustrator)

It's the beginning of the FF's exploration of the mysterious N-Zone. Young Reed Richards wants to duplicate the accident that changed the four into the bizarre beings they've become and thereby reverse the process. But will his noble attempts at redress cause more harm than good?

Collecting: Ultimate Fantastic Four 13-18

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Comic Book, Fiction, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Warren Ellis is the award-winning writer of graphic novels like TRANSMETROPOLITAN, FELL, MINISTRY OF SPACE and PLANETARY, and the author of the NYT-bestselling GUN MACHINE and the “underground classic” novel CROOKED LITTLE VEIN, as well as the digital short-story single DEAD PIG COLLECTOR. His newest book is the novella NORMAL, from FSG Originals, listed as one of Amazon’s Best 100 Books Of 2016.

The movie RED is based on his graphic novel of the same name, its sequel having been released in summer 2013. IRON MAN 3 is based on his Marvel Comics graphic novel IRON MAN: EXTREMIS. He is currently developing his graphic novel sequence with Jason Howard, TREES, for television, in concert with HardySonBaker and NBCU, and continues to work as a screenwriter and producer in film and television, represented by Angela Cheng Caplan and Cheng Caplan Company. He is the creator, writer and co-producer of the Netflix series CASTLEVANIA, recently renewed for its third season, and of the recently-announced Netflix series HEAVEN’S FOREST.

He’s written extensively for VICE, WIRED UK and Reuters on technological and cultural matters, and given keynote speeches and lectures at events like dConstruct, ThingsCon, Improving Reality, SxSW, How The Light Gets In, Haunted Machines and Cognitive Cities.

Warren Ellis has recently developed and curated the revival of the Wildstorm creative library for DC Entertainment with the series THE WILD STORM, and is currently working on the serialising of new graphic novel works TREES: THREE FATES and INJECTION at Image Comics, and the serialised graphic novel THE BATMAN’S GRAVE for DC Comics, while working as a Consulting Producer on another television series.

A documentary about his work, CAPTURED GHOSTS, was released in 2012.

Recognitions include the NUIG Literary and Debating Society’s President’s Medal for service to freedom of speech, the EAGLE AWARDS Roll Of Honour for lifetime achievement in the field of comics & graphic novels, the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire 2010, the Sidewise Award for Alternate History and the International Horror Guild Award for illustrated narrative. He is a Patron of Humanists UK. He holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex.

Warren Ellis lives outside London, on the south-east coast of England, in case he needs to make a quick getaway.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are pretty well labeled, so yeah.
The Fantastic Four go to the N-Zone.



They head to the dimension directly under ours and find that the universe they've landed in is slowly dying. Reed wants to talk shop with the leader of what appears to be the last space station circling their dying sun, but Johnny is having a few health issues so they need to boogie back home.



Of course, what are the odds that they would run into a nice overlord?
Not high.
They barely escape, and manage to bring a few tourists back to Vegas with them.



The most interesting thing is this one (to me) was finding out more about Johnny's new biology. This was probably my least favorite volume so far, but it was still good enough that I downloaded the next volume immediately.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I have to admit I was slightly disappointed to see Adam Kubert back on art duties for this arc after being spoiled by Stuart Immonen’s gorgeous work on the previous arc, story-wise this was a vast improvement. They achieved a genuinely chilling SF/horror vibe with the trip to the N-Zone whilst still retaining the FF’s traditional spirit of exploration and discovery. Also, they didn’t balls up Annihilus too badly, which was nice.

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another fun read!

We have the team getting ready to go to Negative zone and well before that some crazy experiments from reed and also his talks with Ross is interesting and all and finally they enter the N-Zone and understand the nature of that area and I love how Ellis takes time to explore that and the palpable tensions there and Meeting Nihil (Annihilus) there and how he appears an ally there and then reveals his true nature and we learn of the fate of N-Zone and Annihilus motives and its the F4 vs their new foe and it ends in a typical manner like the other volumes and the adventures continues.

I guess the only thing I don't like in this volume is that they don't have that epic fight in the end, maybe a couple of pages and some panels and done which feels cheated for with the build up especially but regardless they could have made Annihilus more menacing but the characterization is awesomely done here and great focus on Reed and the relationship between the four and I love the art here definitely better than the previous volumes! A must recommend from me.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This was actually really good. Much better than I'd expected. It isn't really anything in particular that Ellis did that was original, it was the execution of a solid story with good dialog.

[Shadowdenizen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Gavin · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK, so Volume 3 again is helmed by Warren Ellis, who for me, has done nearly the best sustained job of writing Reed Richards that I can recall. He gets just how smart this guy is, but also in the Ultimate version, makes him have a slightly more in-tune with other humans vibe. (If I can put it this way, most people write Reed like Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory in the first season, whereas Ellis writes him more like Leonard, who's still super smart, but gets the social contract a bit more...) After our adventures with Victor Van Damme last volume, here we focus on the N-Zone (negative zone).

The science in this book is fascinating, but done on a level where anyone who reads it slow-ly can un-der-stand. I love that Reed takes the time to try and metaphorically explain things to Ben, who fully admits that he's clueless, but I love that this Reed cares enough to try.

Andy Kubert is back on art duties in this volume, and one thing that jumped out at me, is that he totally captures just how sad Ben Grimm's eyes are. There might be 5 panels in the book where he doesn't have that sad distant look in them, and it's brilliant...Ben is completely cut off from his humanity, unlike the others who still maintain human forms. However, a small conversation with the usually shallow Johnny kinda hits home for him: Ben wanted to play football, and Johnny says OK so you wanted to be broke and washed up at 30 with bum knees to score a few goals? Dude, you punched out a Sea Monster the other day. You get to be a Superhero! Are you really going to be that sad about not playing ball?

It's things like that, this Fantastic Foursome are not just cardboard cutouts or generic FF settings, these are actual young people, who've undergone a huge change in their lives, and are mostly excited about what that change presents them with...Sue is strong, fiercely intelligent biologist in her own right, not just 'Reed's Girlfriend and Johnny's Sister' or the kids' mom. Johnny is the young one of the group, not tremendously different from the regular version, but he's still excited and eager, and not as jaded or douche-y as he can be. Ben as I've mentioned before, is an actual person, not just a dumbass with catchphrases (though we do see the etymology of his famous rallying cry, which is neat), he's self-aware, mournful for his lost humanity, but also a strong and loyal protector to these people.

We also see humour that's not just canned stale jokes, these guys rip into Reed for his naming of things Fantasti-anything, and as a result, Johnny gets to name the Shuttle, which of course, he decides on 'Awesome' which he and Ben love, and the other 2 are mortified about.

The science of the N-Zone is handled in a intelligent way, so that we get what is being talked about; I feel like in the regular FF we sometimes are forced to take things for granted and just accept them, whereas here, there's an effort to understand, like how it's impossible for Sue to be invisible, yet she is...and how Johnny suffers some adverse side-effects from using his powers, but we see a sort of evolution/change in them as things go on.
We see just how FANTASTIC they really are, and can be, when put into the hands of a smart writer who's engaged with them. If I knew this title was so good, I'd have told everyone who didn't like FF to read this. It really makes them fresh and interesting and people I care about.

Of course, what would a trip be into the N-Zone without contact with another life form in a new universe...this one is called Nihil, or as Ben calls him E-Vill. (Annihilus of our universe) the first contact is done very well, I wish I had faith our own first contact would ever be so intelligent...
math forming the basis of communication, the extreme excitement from Reed that nearly blinds him to the dangers that Sue and Ben seem to sense a bit more...it's just so easy to read this without ever thinking the're stupid, or the writing is off, or you're being forced to accept too much weird stuff.

The of course, there's the final action sequence, straight out of Con-Air, and I loved it for that. General Ross as mad as hell, until Reed tosses him a piece of space tech from N-Zone, and then his proclamation of love for young Richards.

We also see Ben missing his family, the public reveal of the team, a bit more of Reed's non-contact with his family, and the bonds of this group getting stronger...

I really was so impressed and enjoyed this, it all came together for me, even if it's not a 5 star book, I enjoyed the hell out of it like one. So what more do you really want in a book but to enjoy it and not have any problems?
(OK, one prob...that was the last of Ellis on this book...SAD FACE!)

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my part I really enjoyed this creepy new version of Annihilus cravenly clinging on to power and life at the end of time in a dying universe.



I'm not sure why they decided to largely sideline the Storm siblings for much of the story but no matter, surely they will do some Fantastic things in the coming volumes.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Score: 3.5 out of 5
Grade: 70% (B-) | Good Fun

Probably the best one yet, but it started to lose steam towards the end. Everything gets wrapped up in a nice, neat bow when the story demanded something grander with real consequences. It almost stuck the landing, but not quite.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues to be one of the better runs of Fantastic Four that I have read.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another SUPER solid volume! I am loving me some Ellis FF! I rue the day that I am out of his volumes. But this... this was the best one yet. But I'm sticking with four stars for now, until I'm so wowed I'm peeing my pants.

The N-Zone has the capabilities to literally be interesting FOREVER. And I love that! I could read issue after issue about the different N-Zones and how they affect the Fantastic Four and what kind of creatures they hold. And this N-Zone, was a fantastic place to visit.

This particular N-Zone is situated right beneath ours. There are species of creatures that are hyper-intelligent. There are monsters that are simply looking for a place to exist. Also, the sun is almost dead (and by almost dead I mean half a million years are left) and people are FREAKING OUT. Enter the Fantastic Four: Reed is like a little boy on Christmas who found out that he received everything on his wish list and then some; Sue is so smitten with Reed and equally smitten with her new found powers that she literally can't think about anything else; Ben is bouncing around in space like he weighs nothing and he is giddy as fuck; but Johnny... Johnny seems to be getting sick. And this starts to hinder a lot of things.

Needless to say, things go badly, and there's a kickass battle. Ben is pretty much a boss at all times. Sue saves asses. And even Reed gets a pretty awesome "FUCK YOU, ALIEN!" moment.

I loved this. But I want more Sue. That is all!

[Shane Stanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Ultimate Year #10

Read for N Zone shenanigans

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Plot: The FF travel to the N-Zone to try to reverse their changes.

I bought/read these books as they came out, so it's been a hot minute since I read them. I remember the book feeling fresh and very accessible to me, a person unfamiliar with FF lore, and still learning about the Marvel universe at the time. The art and storytelling were both very solid, even if I've never really understood why a person given powers would want to get rid of them.

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about as good as the first two volumes; okay, but mostly forgettable. The art has changed, taking on a more cartoony appearance reminiscent of comics from the 90s. That's not a bad thing though, as the art is probably the best part of this comic. The dialogue remains unchanged, so it's still funny at times, hard to follow at other times, and really bad most of the time. Overall, it was an entertaining read with nice art, but that's really all I can say.

FINAL VERDICT: 2.75 stars

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

exploring a new space...

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good we romp helped with having Warren Ellis writing in a scenario which he is comfortable that of space travel and exploration. Fun and cheerful what the fantastic four should be.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this series. So much fun. Can't wait to read more.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of the energy from Ultimate universe comics comes from replaying tired old scenarios with fresh energy and new angles. It’s fun to see a big ol’ What If replay the story, getting it better (and getting to see new variations on making tragic mistakes).

What’s striking me now, in this variation on the Annihilus story, is how slow and plodding it can sometimes feel, when the reader knows exactly how it’s going to play out, and we’re watching a slow-motion car crash play out. Tension’s there while we wait to find out if this variant is going to be as evil as the original.

But once the trigger is pulled, it’s a little frustrating to see our heroes not “get” it.

One of the reasons I started re-reading this series was because Anne had read it as a way to find out how Reed becomes The Maker, and she saw the steps to hell play out. What I’m seeing so far, three books in, is:
- Reed is a man child, prone to emotional outbursts
- He’s ready to flirt with death and killing when it suits him
- He’s still aloof enough to let his pursuit of scientific discovery come before his closest friends

Sooooo… seems like a recipe bound for slo-mo disaster? Works for me.

[Ninjer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hodnotím druhou a třetí knihu

Scenáristické otěže byly předány Warrenu Ellisovi a tomu se s ultimátní Fantastickou čtyřkou vede velmi dobře. Stejně jako u Millara je jeho FF velmi filmová a působivá. Taky hodně respektuje původní předlohu, ale nebojí se přidat nějaké změny.

U Dooma je možná trochu zvláštní, že jeho tělo je více vnořené do záhadného kovu, už je víc robot. A ještě k tomu má kopyta. Na to mám spíš neutrální názor. Hodně zajímavé mi ale přišlo to, že zde jde o jakého si guerilla teroristu, který využívá liberální práva v Dánsku, aby si vytvořil své malé legální ghetto plné přívrženců. Na druhou stranu žádná velká psychologie a sociologie se tam nerozjíždí, protože Doom svým lidem vymývá hlavu pomocí nějakých udělátek.

N-Zóna je hodně slušný temný sci-fi. Annihilus je povedený monstrum, opět je o chlup reálnější, například je tam hezky vysvětlené, proč rozumí angličtině nebo proč má takovéhle béčkové jméno.


Celkově jsou tohle zábavné a hodně filmové komiksy.

8/10

[Rocío · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho y eso me sorprendió, porque el volumen anterior medio que fue un poco decepcionante.

En este volumen tenemos a los FF viajando a la zona negativa, o n-zone, como la llaman acá, para aprender un poco más del lugar y así poder revertir sus poderes. Pero cuando llegan al lugar se encuentran con que el universo está muriendo y hacen contacto con uno de los seres de ahí, Annihilus.

Me gustó muchísimo. Siento que mantiene mucho la esencia de los cuatro, y las relaciones entre ellos. A pesar de todo lo que están pasando todavía podemos ver un poco de esa relación familiar.

Pudimos aprender un poco más sobre los poderes de Johnny, como funcionan y sus efectos negativos, algo que me encanto. Tengo mucha curiosidad en cómo van a explicar los de Sue.

También me gustó leer sobre la zona negativa. La verdad es que no leí mucho de Annihilus en el 616, salvo por los primeros issues de los FF de los 60, pero me gustó lo que hicieron.

En fin, me encantó, y le tengo mucha fe a el siguiente volumen, espero que no me decepcione.

[Nate]

Definitely the best volume so far. It’s well-written, with strong characterization, plotting, and art. The story’s nothing new: our heroes go exploring in the N-Zone and meet an alien species whose intentions aren’t what they first seem. But it’s the dialogue and details that make this story a winner. For instance, Ellis letting Kubert’s are breathe when it needs to, particularly in regards to splash pages; they all appear in exactly the right places for the story, establishing scenes and giving a sense of scope when appropriate. And Ellis gives the FF such natural voices. They actually act like people in their late teens/early twenties, each character speaking just how you’d expect them to given their backgrounds. All told, “N-Zone” has the main ingredients of a good Fantastic Four story: exploration, adventure, and family. And those ingredients mix together very well.

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of my reviews weigh a story more heavily than the art that accompanies it. It takes really poor understandings of anatomy, drastically wrong camera angles, or an inability to translate facial grammar for me to deduct points on art (or have Greg Land trace porn instead of drawing, and i'm happy to knock off a star or two). It's rare for me to enjoy the art of a book when I hate the narrative.

I think this volume was written by Warren Ellis's cat, while he was away doing other things. The story is mind numbingly boring. It's barely an issue's worth of adventure stretched into six agonizing issues. Except Adam Kubert absolutely nails every frame of this collection. There are six silent pages of scientists reconstructing a space shuttle for travel into the N-Zone and they are, by a wide margin, the best pages in the book. His representation of the N-Zone is also really cool.

But you should totally skip reading this book and see if you can buy the art as posters because the story is an almost offensively dull waste of Kubert's talents.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

N-Zone (#13-18). Warren Ellis' second and final UFF arc is the better of his two, and I think that's because he really leans into the scientific discovery that helped to define the 1610 version of the Fantastic Four. We get a beautifully illustration excursion into the Ultimate Negative Zone (N-Zone) and a first contact with a version of Annihilus that's very scientifically believable.

The first part of this story is a little slow, with a lot of sound of fury, but once we get into the N-Zone it really takes off, with Ben's fight against Annihilus being particularly amazing. And at the end we get a game-changing finale that really opens up the story for the next authors. The question is whether they'll continue with what makes the UFF great or turn it into more typical superhero fare [4+/5].

[Benjamin Kimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. Warren Ellis did a good job and giving us a very science based take on going into the N-zone and exploring what is ultimately a very bleak and sad reality meant to be a warning of what the main universe could become. Adam Kubert did a good job at delivering weird and creepy artwork of the inhabitants of the N-zone and I was really impressed with what he did, I’ve never seen much of his art before but he’s good. What didn’t work was a lot of the dialogue from Ellis. There were some decent interactions between Ben and Johnny, but Ellis does not get how to write believable teenage characters. He’s very much an old man trying to sound cool and hip. They don’t feel like the family they are in 616, but this is some decent sci-fi stuff.

[Colin Rapp-Ellis · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters, mainly Reed Richards, make dumb decision after dumb decision. Decisions that are so stupid and devoid of logic, especially for the ‘smartest man in the universe’, that it becomes impossible to remain invested in the story.

Bland, boring, with humor that isn’t funny. It’s not a terrible story being told, the writing isn’t awful, the art is fine, but there’s an absence of any creativity or fun. This title needs to find a direction. Thus far each of the three volumes has felt separate from the others. We need a big bad or a sharper focus on a single objective (in this case it would likely be the desire to return their bodies to normal).

[OMNIBUS GOD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume contains issues 13-18 and I gotta say I loved it! We still have Warren Ellis as writer but Adam Kubert returns with the artwork. I think that’s what makes it for me. Ellis is a natural writer but I wasn’t a big fan of the last volume mainly due to the art and pacing. Ellis does a similar job with the slower pace in the beginning issues but this time around the team is going on a full out adventure. So the journey we take with them into the N-zone is interesting as we see them react to new life. Adams artwork helps by 10 fold. Showing big shots of the new world and the team traveling in their “Awesome” ship. (Johnny gets to name the ship) We meet the ultimate version of Annihilus. He takes on a very scary and interesting look. I do think he went down a little too easy and that’s where I take some points from Warrens plotting. This is supposed to be a very big baddy. However he’s probably the most interesting villain we’ve seen so far in this run. Loved this volume. MVP goes to Adam Kubert, who is slowing becoming one of my fave Artist.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review / all my reviews available on my blog

Very important things are happening!

They’re coming up with names?

But more seriously, it’s time to go back to the N-zone. And just maybe, find some answers. Or perhaps…

New “allies”?

It’s a fun adventure, if certainly a bit out there. The other Aires are all much more grounded.

Now I just want to know what’s next!

Onward.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Reed is pretty interesting. I mean, we all know what he becomes. But he seems to be more textured than main universe Reed.

On the other hand, he seems pretty largely indifferent to the other characters in the book.

I thought it was Marvel canon that all negative zones were connected somehow? Is the N-Zone different?

[Marloges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof, I don't know. When I heard they were going to visit the N-Zone in this volume I was pretty thrilled to see an unknown world with interesting new beings and so on but I was kind of let-down by the short encounter they've had in this universe. Not bad in any way, but not that exciting either. Still waiting for the one story arc that blows me away and wins me over.

[Christian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was really good but couldn't stick the landing. Reed and crew go to the N-Zone where they met a lovely man named Nilus who is definitely not a crazed dictator of a dying world.
I pretty much loved until the contrived Vegas fight in the final issue which felt tacked on. That being said, I'm still sad to see Ellis leave the book so soon.

[Kyle Spishock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than Warren Ellis portrayal of Dr. Doom in the previous arc.

Reed takes the team to explore the N-Zone that originally gave them powers. They find a refuge camp ship run by Annihilus and end up battling the inter dimensional creature and his cronies back on earth.

Solid fun and a return to form for the series.