The prequel comics was released on July 9th with the film opening on July 25. The comci has the Marvel blocky logo seen in the movie and the faces of all of the four, a classic faces in the logo box, a welcome return! Then, we have the comic “authorized by the Future Foundation”! Love the in universe comic detailed events glimpsed in the film. This has the cover artwork that is a tribute to Jack Kirby’s cover for Fantastic Four #1 (1961)! It was a mostly blank cover with a building and citiens to the side, Giganto bursts from the street, Kirby had him titled to the right annoyed by the Human Torch’s flame. Then, grasping Invisible Woman, in the original she had turned her legs invisible, but here she has put up a force field bubble!
Next, the Thing was seen from behind, here he is bashing Monstro’s face! Then, Mr. Fantastic who was struggling with ropes for some reason and now has his arm wrapped around Monstro’s wrist. A terrific cover by Phil Noto! The comic with a page from the Future Foundation on the back page has Marvel Comics credits with writer, Matt Fraction and artist, Mark Buckingham. Fraction was consulting producer for the 2021 Hawkeye mini-series and had runs on the Fantastic Four comic. Buckingham was writer and artist for a story in this year’s Fantastic Four Fanfare #2 and also art for the two part story in Fantastic Four #65-66 (2003). There is an introductory letter from Lynne Nichols, chief of staff of the Future Foundation, played in the film by Sarah Niles.
She says the comic recounts their first adventure, features commentary by the FF, and builds reading and visual skills for S.T.O.R.M. (Science, Technology, Organizing, Reading, Mathematics), a great 818 universe version of STEM. I wonder if these students are in the Fantastic Sciene with Mr. Fantastic show. We get an introduction to the team with a White House photo with Jackie and President John F. Kennedy. Interesting to see their qualifications, Ben Grimm, commander, USAF, Dr. Susan Storm, Phd Archaeology, and Johnny Storm, Eagle Scout, BSA? No language specialization? Great likenesses of the actors by Buckingham! The narration has the flowery descriptions and aliterations "meticulosuly monitored by miracle technologies" of Stan Lee.
We see the Excelsior rocket on its first flight, the blast of “celestial radiation”, and then the return with Reed wrapping his arm around Ben’s rocky transformation, and Susan turning her legs invisible, a nod to the Kirby cover? It looked like they transformed with the rocket in the sea, but here they are in the comics’ rendition of the rocketship resting on a grassy area. We move to “Rocket City, USA!” This is the Huntsville, Alabama’s nickname that has NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. In our world, fairly flat land, but the 828 universe has it in a crater surrounded by futuristic buildins and a white box in the center, Building Q. Robots that look like H.E.R.B.I.E. monitor them. We get a quote from Reed Richards, with a veritcal panel and Reed's face, from Science Dad Magazine #91!
The others are restless, but Reed has them self-quaratine when he thinks it's safe. Ben takes his frustration on the robot! Then, we get Ben's comments saying Reed worries like his Aunt Petunia! This comic is filled with comic references and fun parts of the 828 world. Ben tells the others to calm down and smashes the robot he calls K.E.R.B.I.E. (Kinetic-type Experimental Robot Biomimetics-Integrarted Electronics), Kirby! If the K.E.R.B.I.E. are not regulars in the comic, I'm not buying any issues! Ben gets into an argument with Johnny since his rocky transformation changes him permeanantly. Then, we get a two page ad for the Flaming Hearts Fan Club! We have photos of Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm. These retro ads are like the staple of pre-modern comics with X-Ray Glasses and the like. This is similar to ads that were in Alan Moore's 1963 limited series that was his tribute and hilarious send-up of the early Marvel Comics.
Fraction is able to take the concept and tie it into the movie, perfect! Reed tries to tangle his arms around the two battling team members. He tries to get Sue's attention, but she is busy on the comnputer. She sees what is happening and then sends force bubbles on their heads to have them gasping for air! Her comment is that even Fantastic things need oxygen. Her telecast is Kids of S.T.O.R.M., a rival to Reed's show? She stands as the others are recovering on the floor. Sue says there's "trouble in Manhattan."! We move to Delancey Street in Mid-Town Manhattan where Mole Man's Drilling Machine shattering the street. This makes me think of the Iron Mole from Edgar Rice Burroughs' nvoel, At the Earth's Core (1914). the Moloids start to attack Wall Street. Then, Mole Man, his Harvey Elder name is not used, takes the microphone declaring war on the surface world!
Perfect likeness for Paul Walter Hauser!
Five+FantasticCars out of Five!
#FantasticFourFirstSteps, #MattFraction, #MarkBuckingham, #PhilNoto, #LynnNichols, #ReedRichards, #BenGrimm, #SusanStorm, #JohnnyStorm, #MoleMan
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