Written by Jonathan Hickman
Illustrated by Nick Dragotta and Mark BrooksFollowing the death of XXXXXXXX, we spend a month
seeing how the remaining members of the Fantastic Four, the extended family, other heroes, and prominent villains react to the loss of this legendary hero. It’s the epilogue to THREE: A Month of Mourning. PLUS: The Amazing Spider-Man consoles Franklin Richards in a second all-new tale!
So I’d say it’s safe to say we all now know that – wait, huh? Maybe everyone doesn’t know? Ok, fine. I won’t say anything. But as a brief synopsis, someone died, everyone is upset, and we get to read about it in the last issue of Fantastic Four ever (i.e. for now).
Check behind the cut for my thoughts on the final issue. Oh, and for those who somehow may not know who died, spoiler alert.
I love silent issues. If there’s one thing that can really show the artistic collaboration in a comic book, it’s a silent issue. If there’s one thing that can truly get the emotional depth of a story to the forefront of an issue, it’s a silent comic. If there is one kind of comic book that stays in the back of my mind, usually making it to the top 10 list of the year, it’s a silent issue. And with this, the last issue of Fantastic Four, the rules certainly do not change.
The issue follows all of our various heroes as they all deal with Johnny’s death. The Avengers arrive too late to save him, and the news is left as an utter shock to the rest of the Fantastic Four. It leads to dismal reactions from everyone. Sue shuts down, Ben gets depressed and gets in a fight with other heroes, and Reed locks himself in his “Solve Everything” room, staring blankly at his list of things to do and trying to figure out where to go from there. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom is apparently outed as monarch for Latveria, and Val leads the way for the children to their next big mission while Franklin has a touching chat with Spider-Man. All in all, it’s a rather packed issue, leading up to one final line that sets the way for FF.
While a lot of this issue sings the praises of the writer, Jonathan Hickman, the issue would not be half as powerful if not for the excellent artistic talent he collaborates with. Dragotta does the main (silent) part of the issue, and the devastation he manages to capture on the character’s faces is excruciating. Val’s face in particular when she reveals her new plan is filled with such hatred. In conjunction with the previous issue as well as a different scene (to be discussed later) makes for one of the top moments of the issue (of many). Dragotta, along with colorist Paul Mounts, gives the issue such a dark moodiness to it that the lack of words simply draws the eyes more to the dreariness that is so embodied in this issue, and as dark as it is it makes for one for the most entertaining issues of the run (especially as a segue).
Meanwhile, in the second half Mark Brooks follows the story with an elaborated sequence between Franklin and Spidey that not only preps Spider-Man to join the team as a member but also helps to center Franklin’s character, especially given the reveal that everyone knows his powers are back. The relation between the two characters, which Hickman had slowly been working on before during Franklin’s birthday issue, is really one of the stronger moments of the issue, as well as a great tie to the themes Hickman has been weaving since he began his run. Brooks gives out great Epting-esque art here to more refined scale in a wonderful follow up that helps the segue between 3 and FF even more.
Hickman pretty much sets the bar for all future Fantastic Four stories, though. His run has been about putting the family back in the group, and this issue more than most has really brought that to light. Most every scene is noteworthy, in particular Doom’s arrival at Johnny’s funeral. The fact that Doom is now a broken and beaten figure who has come to honor a fallen foe says a lot about the character relations that Hickman is weaving, and to an extent it gives a very brief hint at what Hickman has planned for Doom in FF. On top of that, one of the best (and even worst) moments of the issue is when Reed does attempt to interact with the N-Zone, only to be met by a chilling face and the rags of his former brother-in-law. The issue is absolutely full of memorable scenes, but these two stand out at the top of two of the most poignant and telling, and if these little bits and pieces are an indication of what’s to come then FF might be the greatest adventure the Fantastic Four has ever embarked on.
Hickman and company have certainly created a Fantastic Four run to remember, and every issue gets more exciting when it comes to the future. Of course, when it comes to battling for issue of the year, or even book of the week, Fantastic Four is definitely given a worthy challenger in rather morbid Amazing Spider-Man #655, but aside from that this is by far one of the top comics of this year. A wonderful epilogue to an amazing “first act,” A Month Of Mourning is all that you’d want from a comic like this and more, and at this point the excitement for FF #1 next month is fairly indescribable. Here’s to the future.
Final Verdict: 9.9 – Buy
