A strong week this week, but my pick of the week is Fantastic Four #12 from Marvel Comics.
Aliens have invaded Earth and been rebuffed by the Fantastic Four many a time before, and finally, one of them got wise and invaded Earth where the FF couldn’t defend it: They’re attacking our world in the past, in ANCIENT ROME. Johnny and Reed are the only two who make it back in time before all of history is erased, but it’s okay!
As long as they can defend Earth, push the aliens back AND reset history to how it once was, everything should be fine, right? Good thing that, when left alone, Johnny and Reed don’t get into ANY sort of problems on the regular. Plus: Reed stretches in a new way in this one! He does that in a lot of our issues, but this one is particularly fun.
Author: Ryan North
Artists: Humberto Ramos, and Patrick Boutin
The Fantastic Four has always been on the edge of my reading. I have read some of their issues and followed their participation in big events, but I have never stuck with a series.
So, when there was a new issue #1, I thought this was a good point to jump on and see what I thought. I enjoyed the Invincible Woman arc of the story, and it seemed to hint at the future. This issue, on the other hand, had a slight link to that arc, but it is good for a casual reader to pick up.
The aliens who tried to invade during the previous arc are trying again. This time back in time, when the Romans were the big rulers. Chucking Johnny and Reed into the past with their powers is interesting, and they can’t do the things that the other two can do, so they have to work around it.
There is some good humour here, with the two trying to blend in more, and there is also some commentary on Johnny’s moustache!
The ending links into the real world - and something to look up!
A fun read, and worthy of the Fantastic Four.
