It’s that thing where Doctor Doom’s bride admits at the altar that she kind of slept with the Human Torch, and… you know what happens next. Your Major Spoilers review of Fantastic Four #34 from Marvel Comics awaits!

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FANTASTIC FOUR #34

Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: R.B. Silva
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 28, 2021

Previously in Fantastic Four: Victor Von Doom’s wedding has not gone the way he would have hoped. This issue, Doom’s actions will change the life of one of the members of Marvel’s First Family in a profound way. Do not miss this final, fateful chapter!

THE ONE RULE OF WEDDINGS

The previous issue ended with a shocker, as Victorious, the titular Bride of Doom, admitted to her liege and would-be husband that she enjoyed a night of foolish passion with The Human Torch! Doom’s response was to send his army of droids to destroy every single person who witnessed her admission, including Namor, The Black Panther and the Fantastic Four! Worse still, he twists the knife by telling his almost-wife that the whole thing was merely for show, and that her admission meant nothing to him, but the public humiliation means a lot. The guests are all under Doom’s mental compulsion to be unable to attack him, forcing them to play defense while he specifically targets The Human Torch with concentrated attacks of cosmic rays, overloading his powers and turning him into a living sun, unable to turn off his powers, while Victorious is ordered to never show her face to him again.

COMPLEX AND COMPELLING CHARACTERS

I have been enjoying this run of Fantastic Four from the beginning, but even I have problems getting past the idea that Johnny Storm, bonded to his universal soul-mate, would sleep with a super-villain in the midst of a combat situation, much less one that works for Doom. But, if you get past that moment of rock stupidity, Fantastic Four #34 is a pretty good read. Slott addresses a great many of the character interactions, with T’Challa and Namor’s dislike for each other appearing, along with Namor’s “thing” for Sue, The Thing’s protectiveness of the Torch and other fascinating moments. Best of all, though, it Doom’s cold-blooded explanation of the entire affair, claiming for the press that it was nothing more than a ruse to shake out an attack, leaving Victorious crushed. Silva’s final page, ending with the revelation that Victorious has hidden her face behind a Doom-style mask is both beautiful and heart-rending, but the entire issue looks quite good. A panel where The Thing smashes the hell out Doom’s latest doomsday device with tangible glee is worth the price of admission by itself.

BOTTOM LINE: OH, JOHNNY

There is one big storyline issue with Fantastic Four #34, requiring that you accept Johnny Storm doing something more juvenile than he’s seemed capable of in some years, but even with that stuck in my craw, I enjoyed this comic book greatly, thanks to strong pacing, characterization and very good art, earning 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. The story of Marvel’s first family just got even more complicated, and with the big anniversary coming up soon, I’m ready for more from this creative team.

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