Reviewer: James Hatton
Story Title: Foes (Part 1 of 6)
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Cliff Rathburn
Color Art by: Bill Crabtree
Lettered by: Clem Robins
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Before we begin this review, let me just tell you a brief anecdote about this comic. As some may know, my roommate owns a comic store (Wild Pig Comics, for those interested)… anyway, he always asks me what books I’m going to be reviewing. In trying to reiterate that I am reviewing THIS title – I stuttered over the title through at least three attempts to say it. Try saying it nonchalantly “Fantastic Four: Foes” it’s a royal pain in the ass! If I was to rate a book on title alone, we would be walking the lonely street down ‘Zeroville’, but alas we are not.
Let’s find out if Kirkman’s newest attempt at writing for Marvel is any better than his last few attempts…
STORY!
What is amazing about Kirkman’s Fantastic Four, right off the bat, is that it is exceptionally generic. Sue Storm is the witty one when it comes to her dry, overworking husband. Johnny is the ladies man, and Thing is a big hulk of a guy. Well in this story, the Puppet Master and the Mad Thinker have concieved of a plot to take down the Fantastic Four.
The plot involves the DNA of most of the Fantastic Four’s Rogue Gallery (who, honestly, need some hardcore updating, these guys all look like throwbacks from the 60’s… because they are). The two most obviously famous villains are not present, Doom & Galactus – but it would have been amusing that in the meeting hall if you just saw a big foot. Ah well, I guess he’s not going for comedy.
Anyway, the idea is that if all of the villains team up, they could all take out the Fant. 4 together. None of the villains agree with this and bail post-haste. This, though, was just what Puppet Master and Thinker expected – because they have collected, from little pinpricks in the seats, the DNA of every one of the aforementioned Rogue’s Gallery. The Puppet Master will now control them ALL!!! MUAHAHA-*cough*
Now, in the next pages, the Puppet Master takes control of the “Dragon Man” (see, totally lame villain), goes after Alicia Masters and the Thing stops them. After the battle, the rest of the family show up, and find all of the DNA that the Puppet Master was using. So this plan seems null and void. What? A six issue mini-series and Reed’s stopped it by issue #1. How very odd.
I’m going to do something I generally don’t do with Kirkman, and that is give him the benefit of the doubt. This story is ringing very similar to the voice he uses for Invincible, and I am a big fan of that book – so we’ll give it another issue to see what’s up. It wasn’t a bad start-off, just nothing exciting. The voices were all the voices you expected these characters to have, nothing more, nothing less.
ART!
I really enjoy Cliff Rathburn’s work in this book. Then again, I dig Rathburn – you might remember him from other such gigs as ‘Penciller on JLA for a bit’ and ‘Inker on Walking Dead’ (another Kirkman book). What is amazingly interesting is that his inkwork on Walking Dead is very moody and deals with strong lines, but hazy backgrounds. He goes for an entirely diferent approach with this book, having some exceptionally solid (sometimes nonexistent) backgrounds and very clean linework, but they all fit that excellent cartoony feel this title has.
Overall!
Kirkman hasn’t been well regarded when it comes to his Marvel books, at least not from me. 2099 and Jubilee weren’t anything special. (one of which has inspired ire in me that few books ever have), but I’m not the type of person to shoot down a guy for writing one book I don’t like. Completely on the other hand, I love his Walking Dead and Invincible – I just feel that he might not be the guy that can write characters with long histories. This though, where a bit generic, has potential. I can’t give it a stellar rating, but it might turn out to be a real fun story.
