Colours: 
Editor:

At first, I was apprehensive about Claremont's FF run; his S7 issues had done little to inspire confidence in me.  And early on, I feared that my fears would prove to be well-founded.  But . . . the more of it I read, the more I begin to like it.  (Which is the reverse of my feelings about The AVENGERS and IRON MAN ...)  Whereas at first it seemed like Claremont was doing a piss-poor job of handling the characters and making grevious errors with their characterizations . . . I now begin to see that there is a method to his madness.  The plotline of the FF acting out-of-character has slowly won me over, possibly because of its subtlety (a Claremont rarity).    

In #8, the FF's battle with the Captain Britain Corps concludes, as the Human Torch barters with Roma for the custody of Franklin Richards.  In #9, Spider-Man and the Human Torch team-up to investigate rumors of a monster sighting beneath Four Freedoms Plaza.  And in #10, Reed Richards angsts over the puzzle Roma has given him and is ambushed by the Genoshan Press Gang.  

I will say, however, that if Claremont doesn't start using more traditional FF foes I will become a tad peeved.  I enjoyed the appearances of the Technet and the Captain Britain Corps quite a bit, but the Press Gang ?!  Ugh.  Gimme the Frighful Four over those idiots any day.  Speaking of ex-X-Men characters ... it was a real treat for old-timers (like me, I guess ... Sigh.) to see Neal Conan and Manoli Wetherell (the duo who followed the X-Men around during the "Fall of the Mutants" cross-over.    

One thing in #10 bugged me, above all others.  How could Reed defeat three physical holograms of Blastaar, Annihilus and Terrax (three of the FF's toughest foes), but struggle so with the Press Gang and eventually get *beat* by the Trapster ... I had trouble believing that.  

The other thing I dislike about Claremont's writing (well, *one* of the other things) is the ever-expanding cast.  It's bloating like Homer Simpson at an all-you-can-eat buffet.  For instance, how much do we really need this faux- Alysande Stuart ?!  I'd much rather see Johnny going after Wilma the postal worker than this Irish lass with a godawful accent.  Do we really need another romance among super-peoples ?!  I think not.  Which is probably why Ben's budding relationship with Alyssa seems so good to me.    

The *other* thing I dislike about Claremont's writing is some of the dialogue.  Some (most, in fact) is quite all right ... but every once in awhile, there's a panel where the character engages in completely unnecessary exposition.  Do the characters *really* need to explain what it is they're doing, while they're doing it, *out loud* ?!  I think now.  A simple thought balloon could easily remedy this problem, IMO.  

Larroca's art is lovely, but I can't help but feel that he would be better used on one of the Spider-titles (perhaps instead of Byrne ...).  His rendition of Spidey in #9 was superb, far out-stripping any of his work on the FF members.  He also drew the Captain Britain Corps well.  Gotta love that Captain Britain duck, too.  I also loved that "Neon Genesis Evangelion" cameo Larroca slipped in in #10 ... ;)  

Liquid!'s colors remain, as usual, fantastic.  They really do add a lot to Larroca and Thibert's art.    

Over all, I'm really enjoying Claremont's FANTASTIC FOUR ... but maybe that's because right now it reads like the second-best X-title (behind X-MEN) ... ;) 
   

Score: B     
   

Back to First Impressions Main Page  

Back to Main Page  
   
Contact Ross Binder