Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. We go from a funeral to a jail to… a wedding proposal? No, this isn’t a ‘90s Hugh Grant romcom, it’s issue #562.

Most of this issue is dealing with fallout from the previous storyline, so here’s the recap: Reed’s ex-girlfriend Alyssa Moy and her new husband Ted Castle constructed Nu World, a recreation of Earth in another dimension. Meanwhile, the New Defenders arrived from a disaster-ridden future with a plan to relocate millions of future refugees to the present. After much fighting and conflict, it was decided to relocate the refugees to Nu World. Also, little Valeria Richards was revealed to be a super-genius just like her dad.

We begin with Sue saying, “Thanks for coming to my funeral, everyone.” This is actually the funeral for future Susan Richards, who was leader of the New Defenders. A whole bunch of Marvel heroes have turned out for the event, including the Watcher. The New Defenders are also there, now allied with the FF. Sue gives her own eulogy, praising her future self for fighting to save the future.

Johnny reconciles with his Psionics of the New Defenders. They were dating before the big fight began. He says he understands why she did what she did. She invites him to visit her on Nu World, and he says that after his new band is done touring, he’ll definitely be there. The New Defenders thank the FF again for Nu World, and Reed says Alyssa is the one they should thank. Alyssa says giving Nu World to the refugees hasn’t made her popular, but she’s glad she did it.

Later, at the new Baxter Building, Reed and Valeria have a chat. We’re skipping over how and when he learned she’s a super-genius. Instead, he tells her about how he’s attending a hearing about Dr. Doom to plead against execution, despite everything Doom has done. Valeria shows Reed a new trailer she’s invented for the Fantasticar, which, like a T.A.R.D.I.S., has a bigger-on-the-inside two-story living space within it. She then admits that Franklin has been acting differently know that her secret is out. Reed says the family dynamic is in flux, and to give Franklin time.

Later, Reed visits the Hague, where Army goons let him in where Dr. Doom is being kept in a high-tech cell. Remember that Doom murdered future Sue as revenge for the New Defenders abducting him. Doom makes a remark about sending flowers to the funeral, and then asks if Reed is there to gloat. Reed says he will defend anyone’s life, even Doom’s. Doom says Reed is weak because Doom will always make the final blow. Then there’s some confusion over why he was arrested, not necessarily for the death of future Sue, but general crimes against humanity.

Doom further adds that he has powerful friends who are working on getting him released. He says this includes his “master,” whom he describes as “the first super-villain” who taught him everything he knows. Doom says his master is getting closer and closer, with big plans for the future of humanity. He concludes with a threat, “I wonder if that wife of yours can die twice, eh?”

Later, Ben and his new girlfriend Debbie Green are enjoying a romantic flight over NYC in a Fantasticar. They pass by Avengerse Tower (rebuilt after World War Hulk, apparently), they see a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, and even Spider-Man swings by. She talks about how outrageous his life is compared to hers. She adds that she hasn’t seen her ex-boyfriend Jason in six months (we readers know that isn’t true, as he’s been following her).

He jokes about whether she’s a Skrull or some other villain in disguise, and she assures him she’s just an ordinary girl from Brooklyn. He says he’s glad for that, because it’s been a long time since he’d met someone like her. He then hands her a ring and asks, “What’s it gonna be?”

Then we cut to “New York City, one dimension away,” which looks just like our New York. The captions repeat Doom’s dialogue from earlier about his master while blue electricity crackles around the city. Two figures appear in the shadows. One asks if they should start with people or insects this time. Turn the page for an extreme close-up of gross mouth with nasty teeth, answering, “People.”

To be continued!

Unstable molecule: Reed tells Valeria that he plans to defend Doom in court against execution, because every life is precious. But he tells Doom that, in place of execution, he will argue to keep Doom in prison for “a long, long time.”

Fade out: After the funeral, Sue has a moment with Alex Ultron of the New Defenders. He tells her that although they haven’t technically met, she was the biggest influence on his life. She responds, “That means a lot.”

Clobberin’ time: Ben has had quite a few girlfriends since he and Alicia amicably separated (more than 300 issues ago, remember), so why does Debbie get the engagement ring? This issue suggests it’s because of her normalcy, and how she’s not wrapped up in any superhero business.

Flame on: The funeral concludes in dramatic fashion as Johnny flies up and creates the “4” symbol in the sky with his flame.

Fantastic fifth wheel: Alternate fifth members of the team seen at funeral are She-Hulk, Luke Cage, Storm, and Black Panther.

There was a meme going around Fantastic Four fandom this week with a so-called definitive list of the FF’s alternate fifth members. It’s a good list, including a lot of the ones that people forget, like Tigra and Kristoff. But it also includes Iceman as an official team member, based on his appearances in issues #28 and #36. I went back and re-read those issues, and it looks to me like Iceman is only there in the context of being part of the X-Men. He doesn’t show up Fantastic Four again until Reed and Sue’s engagement party and wedding, and not after that until the Fall of the Mutants crossover. As for any fifth members I would add to the meme list, the only one I can think of is Bounty, the intergalactic bounty hunter who ran with the team vol. 3 issues #14-23.

Four and a half: While Reed and Valeria discuss Franklin’s reaction to her genius, the comic shows a very sad Franklin playing with a Fantasticar toy and looking over his Christmas list for Santa. The list includes “Super-powers like the rest of my family.”

Our gal Val: Valeria’s newly built Fantasticar trailer being like a T.A.R.D.I.S. is no coincidence. She says she got the idea by watching Doctor Who. She specifies it was on the Sci-Fi Channel, which only showed the ninth and tenth Doctors.

Trivia time: Can we sort out the chronology of Dr. Doom during this time? He was arrested for crimes against humanity in Mighty Avengers #11. He was locked up in the Raft, which is where the New Defenders abducted him, minus a side visit to the Baxter Building, in Fantastic Four #558. Now he’s locked up again, this time at the Hague. Is that it? I think that’s it.  

Wolverine is at the funeral, and he and the Hooded Man give each other menacing stares. Remember that the Hooded Man is Wolverine from the future.

The big guy at the funeral with the big skull on his chest is not the Punisher. That’s Ares, the god of war, who had recently joined the Avengers. Also, Spider-Woman at the funeral is not really Spider-Woman but a Skrull in disguise, so the series still hasn’t caught up to Secret Invasion.

Fantastic or frightful? A classic “in between” episode that follows up on the previous storyline and setting up the next. It’s maybe a little incredulous that this funeral gets all this attention, unless the world at large is aware of Nu World and saving all the refugees. But there are a lot of nice character moments, and the characters are what makes Marvel stand out.

Next: Smile time.

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