Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. Issue #553 is the last one for famed writer Dwayne McDuffie, full of time-twisting cosmic craziness.

Where were we? A future Dr. Doom time-traveled to the present, saying that Reed’s “idea 101” for improving the future will instead wreck the future with Reed becoming a tyrant. The FF fought Doom, not knowing what to think of this. Then an older Fantastic Four appeared, seemingly from the future as well.

This issue begins with diagrams of time travel, concluding that traveling to the past creates a new branch of timeline rather than altering what’s going on now. Then we’re back on the streets of NYC where the future FF confronts the present FF. Reed again quotes “You can’t change the past.” Doom disagrees saying that this timeline in particular can be changed. There’s a lot of back and forth about the present and the future, including future Ben’s ability to change into a human and back at will. Then there’s even more talking about possibilities, and the choices characters make when they do or don’t know the future.

The FF wonder who is telling the truth, future Reed or future Doom. Sue gives a big speech about how the whole Civil War thing has her seeing Reed’s flaws in a new light, but that she still loves him. Sue then argues that Doom told the truth, because while Doom might indulge in trickery, out-and-out lies are against his code of ethics.

Then more debating. Future Doom says future Reed will create utopia in the future, only for Reed’s ego to overtake him. Future Johnny disagrees and says Reed isn’t interested in power or leadership. When future Reed tries to take Doom back to the future (heh), Doom blasts him and requests asylum from the present FF. Ben and Johnny want to let the future FF have him, but Reed says they must agree to the asylum until they know what’s really going on. Reed’s teammates reluctantly agree.

The future FF won’t have this, so they fight. Future Ben’s strength has increased over the years, allowing him to overpower present Ben. Future Johnny is able to absorb the flame out of present Johnny. Future Reed and present Reed debate while they fight, with future Reed saying it’s about more than stopping Doom but also preserving the timeline. Reed attacks them to stop them talking, so both versions of Sue team up to pin Doom to the wall. Present Sue says to present Reed, “Tell us what Victor didn’t want us to hear.”

Present Reed gives a big speech about the “conservation of causality.” He says that minor disruptions in a timeline will work themselves out, and branching timelines only result from major disruptions. The two FFs then conclude that the future FF were just trying to keep the future the way it is, while Doom was the one actively trying to change history.

Sue confronts Doom about what the future is really like. Again, he cannot lie, and he admits the future is a paradise. There’s a big speech about all the ways the future is better. Doom loses it, insisting that these should be his accomplishments, not Reed’s.

Later, the two Reeds find a branching timeline where all the superheroes are dead. It’s a whole world ready for Doom to tame. Doom says he’s not a monster, and he adds, “Neither are you.” Future Reed and present Reed share a handshake. Reed asks how the future really turns out. Future Reed doesn’t offer specifics, but he says that there will be many challenges ahead, but love, family, and friendship will get them through it.

The future FF returns to the future. Sue revisits what was said during Civil War, that Reed’s future predictions were based the actions of groups, but not individuals. He says he’s recalculated the number of individuals needed to change the world. “Four,” he says.

Unstable molecule: When the two Reeds fight, one stretches his hand into the other’s face in a weird way, kind of like they’re phasing into each other or something.

Fade out: The two Sues don’t fight, but instead communicate in a way none of the others do. Future Dr. Doom’s cool battle armor can’t withstand the combined strength of their force fields.

Clobberin’ time: While future Ben is stronger, he has the old-fashioned “lumpy” Thing look, which traditionally has been considered the weaker version of Ben’s exteriors. (Generally speaking, the “rocky” Thing is the standard, and the “spikey” Thing is the strongest.)

Flame on: Future Johnny burns with white flame, claiming to have greater control over his powers.

Trivia time: Not surprisingly, the future FF were never seen again after this. Likewise, we never learn how future Dr. Doom fared in his new superhero-less universe. Despite all this talk about preserving the timeline, the Marvel Wiki is quick to point out that these future characters are indeed from an alternate future.

This business about the “conservation of causality” is also called a “law of Kang.” This is a direct reference to Avengers #267, which introduced the infamous Council of Kangs, and argued about creating alternate timelines in place of outright changing the past.

Ben references “that Skrull business” among recent crises the heroes have recently faced. Except this story came out before the Skrull Invasion crossover. He could be referencing all kinds of “Skrull business” that’s happened over the years.

Fantastic or frightful? We writers obsess over the phrase “Show, don’t tell.” This almost all-dialogue issue is all telling rather than showing. This plot could have been stretched out across several issues. Act two could have been the FF granting future Doom his asylum, and then having to live with him, with the future FF being a constant threat the whole time. I feel terrible saying these things, because Dwayne McDuffie remains one of my favorite writers. Yet I can only conclude that his Fantastic Four isn’t his best work. Perhaps Marvel editorial is to blame, making him rush through the story to make way for a new, higher-profile creative team.

Next: We’re the Millars.

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