Marvel Comics 2017
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Illustrated by Valerio Schiti
Coloured by Frank Martin
Lettered by VC’s Joe Caramagna
Doctor Doom alerted Ben Grimm, A.K.A. the Thing, to a message Reed Richards left behind in the event of his death. It contained directions to the Multisect, a device that would allow the remaining members of the Fantastic Four to explore the wonders of the Multiverse together. But when Ben tracked down Johnny Storm he found the Human Torch ravaged by grief and losing his powers. Unable to hurt Johnny further, Ben lied about the contents of the message and said that Reed and Sue might still be alive. Now that they’ve located the Multisect, will the truth come out?
If there is one thing to be said for this is that each issue so far has included someone from the Marvel Universe that isn’t quite expected. This issue the ever-loving Thing has gone and sought the help of an old friend who once lost his powers only to regain them again, without the whole father returned them drama. I do love the wordplay here and by that I’m referring to the dialogue and what Chip does with it. I mean seriously the fact that an alcoholic is in a bar was almost upsetting until he revealed that he was drinking a non-alcoholic brand made by Stark.
Figured out who this Prince of Power is yet? Well as it so happens he takes them to meet Ms. Koul who helped him to regain his powers. Turns out that we already met Rachna in issue one so once again Chip manages to weave the story together in ways that something that once appeared has major consequences later on. It is here that some very strange aspects of the story are coming to light and raises the questions as to the future of the Fantastic Four. I mean is this ultimately to bring the team back or is this it’s death-toll, once again?
I’m all for figuring out the answer to Johnny’s power loss issues and leaving Reed and Sue deceased thus having to add Doctor Doom in his Iron Man suit and my preference for She-Hulk to round out the team. I mean granted in comics no one ever dies and stays dead but it would be nice if they did a Barry Allen and stayed dead for quite some time. After all neither Ben or Johnny have the smarts to really figure things out and well Victor isn’t so inclined to want him back so soon. So for all intents and purposes this is something that is on everyone’s mind.
Chip’s ability to tell this story and include many different angles and points of view so that we don’t know for sure what the books true intentions are is simply magnificent. He has made this one of Marvel’s best go-to series in three issue and that’s a feat no one else has been able to do. He has had help of course in Valerio who’s work is exemplary. Still the way the book is structured and how the Chip transitions between various parts of the story is so incredibly good.
The use of the page layouts so that we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a strong solid eye for storytelling. His attention to detail here is fantastic, though lose Herc’s manbun already, and he along with Frank as they depict Hydro-Man well it’s some great wow moments. I love that vibrancy and life they bring to this. When backgrounds are used they do so much to expand the story, the moment and the scope of what’s happening so much so that I wish that we’d see more of them used with the kind of attention to detail that makes things so nice.
While I don’t know how long this is scheduled for but I am hoping that this will be an ongoing monthly since it is one of the company’s best, in my humble opinion, book to date. There is an opportunity to get some of those lesser known characters back in the spotlight for a story and that concept is more thrilling than the powers that be might imagine. With the Ever Lovin Thing leading the way as Marvel’s most likeable character this wouldn’t be a hard sell.