Am I nuts ?  Because why else would I list FANTASTIC FOUR as my favorite HEROES RETURN title ?  The safe selection would be either CAPTAIN AMERICA or AVENGERS, which I'm sure 90% of most comic fans would list.  But I am truly enjoying FANTASTIC FOUR more than either one.  Claremont is definitely going somewhere interesting with the plot (and the scripting isn't near as bad as S7) and Larroca's pencils get better with each issue.  

The Invisible Woman, the Thing, and the Human Torch head to Genosha to investigate Reed's kidnapping by the Genoshan Press Gang.  Upon arrival, the Terrific Three run afoul of Crucible (from FF #5) who captures them and exchanges their minds into the bodies of three Genoshan mutates. Unfortunately, the mutates don't know how to control the trio's powers, whatsoever . . .  
 

Well, I still don't like Crucible (he still reeks of being a cheap Doctor Doom rip-off, hell, even the FF thinks so !), but I really like the idea of him using Genosha as a testing ground for weapons and tactics.  A very practical idea, since who's going to give a damn about Genosha ?  However, I hope that the ever-continuing subplot of the Genoshan civil war is resolved one way or another by the end of next issue.  

I don't care for Crucible, but I am intrigued by Ayesha (labeled as "Her" on the cover).  She seems to be an interesting new foe for the Four, so I hope she isn't done away with by the end of next issue.  However, given Claremont's propensity to keep villains alive forever ... it seems likely that she will survive.  

One of the biggest complaints hurled against FF is that their isn't any teamwork between them.  That isn't the case in this issue, as Sue, Johnny and Ben work together quite well in their quest to find Reed.  Speaking of which, where was Reed ?  Last issue, the focus was palced squarely on Reed, whereas, in this issue, he's only found in the flashback sequences.  Odd pacing by Claremont.  

The flashback sequences were also pretty interesting.  I like the idea that Claremont may be trying to explain why the "Smartest Man on the Planet" Reed Richards would design a spaceship so inadequately shielded and also how Reed could allow his girlfriend and her brother onboard such a dangerous mission. However, I'm not sure that I like the retcon of the FF's powers manifesting while they're in the ship.  I was under the impression that they manifested after the crash landing.  Regardless, it's a fairly small retcon, one that's easy enough to overlook.  

 
One the artistic side of things, Larroca continues to get better and better. He and Thibert, along with Liquid!'s utterly gorgeous colors, are transforming FF into one of the best-looking books at Marvel.  Very nice stuff.  He has every member of the FF down pat, and the costumes of the mutates that took over the FF's bodies were also rather intriguing.  The only visual I don't care for is Crucible's, but I'm not sure if that's Larroca's fault or Alan Davis's.  

Call me crazy if you must, but I stand by my claim that FF is the best HR title.  
 

Score:  A-    
  

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