The adults have been given their time to shine in Fantastic Four, but now the kids get to show what they made of in FF. It’s not just a coincidence that those titles could have the same meaning is it?
FF #15
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously, in FF:The Celestials have arrived to destroy/annihilate/execute the final Reed Richards, but Val Richards and her Grandfather are putting together a plan to stop them. To by enough time, Doctor Doom is convinced by Val to sacrifice himself so the bridge can be closed, locking out the Celestials. Doom gives himself up but the Celestials still force their way through!
THOSE CRAZY KIDS
Even though the remaining Celestials made it through the bridge, they soon disappear thanks to Val’s time saving plan. After being picked up by the Power Pack, the group is headed to The Hub in an attempt to destroy the Celestials. On arrival Franklin knows that a trap is in place thanks to a mysterious figure he has been communicating with in his mind.
When the Evolved Moloids descend upon the kids my favorite part of the issue happens. As the fight starts, Nathaniel figures out that if the Evolved Moloids helmets are broken they revert back to their Moloid state. While the rest go about smashing helmets, Val starts creating, like any genius would. As Val unleashes a high frequency pitch breaking open every helmet, I can’t help but think that she and I share a fondness for Mars Attacks!. Now back to more important matters.
From there the kids are reunited with the adults and the double story telling takes over as we skip the teams use of Sol’s Anvil and go right to Celestials blasting down upon them all. The big reveal at the end was built up really well in this issue and, I think, made more of an emotional impact than in Fantastic Four.
PLEASE DO MORE
Nick Dragotta took over art duties on this issue and I’m hoping that he is around more in the coming issues. What sold me on his art is how he did Franklin’s eyes. He conveyed more emotion through those than the words on the page could. Nothing else jumped out at me in the art department, for better or worse, it was just good visual story telling. On a side note, Kirby dots are cool.
BOTTOM LINE: JUST ONE BIG FAMILY
The intertwining story between this and Fantastic Four has be a seriously fun, worthy of a few re-reads, if for nothing more than to fully grab the story. With both books ending on the same splash page reveal the significance could be seen from two different perspectives and puts both at the same moment for coming issues. FF #15 continues the trend of character building while keeping with the action and pacing moving forward and that is why I’m giving it 4 out of 5 stars.
[rating:4/5]