Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. It’s the final two issues for writer Jonathan Hickman. What’s his final word on our heroes?

Gimmie a gimmick: This issue and the following FF issue both have “Final issue” in big bold letters at the top. But this was Marvel’s usual shenanigans, as it had already been announced that a new team was taking over both series with new #1 issues.

Issue #611 begins with Dr. Doom on the other side of the Bridge, Reed’s portal to other universes, where he’s assembled his own version of the Council of Reeds, the Parliament of Doom. And he now has two Infinity Gauntlets from the Dr. Dooms of the other universes. Doom uses the bridge to find an empty reality and creates his own new universe, a world ruled by equal parts science and magic. He even gives his universe life, populating it with strange creatures.

On Earth, the adult versions of Franklin and Valeria are still hanging around. Future Valeria warns Reed that Doom is still alive. They are joined by Nathaniel Richards, who has a working version of the Bridge. They follow it through the old council chamber and then into Doom’s new reality, now called Doomworld. There, we learn that Doom has been overthrown, and there are six new rulers who have divided Doom’s Infinity Gems among themselves. It’s a short negotiation, but five of the six let Doom leave with Reed and the others. The sixth puts up a fight, sending a giant monster after our heroes. The monster almost comes through the Bridge, but he’s stopped by the rest of the Parliament of Doom. The force the beast back through the Bridge, after which Valeria blows it up.

Dr. Doom says he was a god in Doomworld, and adds, “I found it beneath me.” Valeria gives Doom a kiss on the cheek (!), and tells him, “Say thank you.” Instead, Doom only says, “Consider us even, Richards.” Back on Earth, Reed lets Doom return to his castle. Nathaniel and Valeria tell Reed they are not coming home. Instead, Nathaniel wants to continue exploring the multiverse for other Reeds who have been orphaned. Valeria will go with him to help. It’s a tearful goodbye, with the two of them promising to return someday. On the other side of the bridge, Nathaniel calls out Valeria on her B.S., asking what she really wants. We see she’s building a gigantic device of some kind, saying, “Here, I can build.”

FF #23 backs the timeline up a bit, so we see future Franklin and future Valeria discussing her plan to leave with Nathaniel. It’s another tearful goodbye, with her promising to see him again. All alone, future Franklin says, “So this is it.”  Future Franklin meets with present-day Franklin and Leech, laying down some ground rules for young Franklin creating and exploring pocket universes. (There’s an amusing bit with young Franklin hiding a pet universe in his closet.) But then, inside one of these pocket universes, future Franklin tells his young self to chuck out all the rules and do whatever he wants. This is followed by several pages of the three of them letting their imaginations run wild, living any adventure they can dream of.

Franklin doesn’t want to show this universe to his sister, but future Franklin tells him not to worry about Valeria being so much smarter than him, because his creativity will someday match her intellect. “Creating is harder than knowing,” he says.

Later, Valeria is trying to teach complex mathematics to the other Future Foundation kids. She’s frustrated in their lack of interest, and she’s momentarily distracted as future Franklin pokes his head in to wave goodbye. He then shares a drink with Ben and Johnny, as his way of saying goodbye to them as well. He then says goodbye to Reed and Sue, saying there will be repercussions if he stays longer. Reed and Sue ask if they were good parents to him. He says they were perfect, and then he disappears. The last page is young Franklin leaping through the pocket dimension door in his closet for another adventure.

Unstable molecule: While Dr. Doom doesn’t exactly thank Reed as Valeria asked, Reed’s response to Doom is simply “Good enough,” and “Let’s go home.”

Fade out: Sue has a big speech about the doubts of parenting, saying it’s a constant struggle between uncertainty and hope.

Clobberin’ time/Flame on: Adult Franklin tells Ben and Johnny about the Fantastic Four’s last stand in the future. He says Ben got his clothes burned off, so he charged into battle wearing the Impossible Man’s pants. Johnny is, of course, amused.

Fantastic fifth wheel: This would appear to be the end for Nathaniel Richards, except that his final scene with Valeria promises more storylines with them in the future.

One of Franklin’s imaginings in his pocket universe is a “Herb-pocalypse,” featuring gigantic H.E.R.B.I.E.s. Freakin’ H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot.

Four and a half: We get a glimpse of some of Franklin’s ideas he’s written down for his pocket universe. They include “rocket car,” “cloud tunnels,” “olive planet,” “jumping ray,” Moloid jazz,” and “chocolate ice cream mountain toys.”

Our gal Val: Reed questions why the adult Valeria would say Doom is alive while present-day child Valeria insists he died. Future Valeria says her young self is not to be trusted.

Foundational: Each of the Future Foundation kids has their own way of being bored with Valeria’s lesson. Artie is the only one who tries to solve the problem, but he gets it wrong.

Fantastic or frightful? I’ve been awfully critical of Jonathan Hickman as I’ve read all this stuff over the past few months. I see his huge ambition in crafting this expansive narrative with lost civilizations and cosmic grandeur, but I felt his reach exceeded his grasp. But I’m the outlier here, because Hickman’s Fantastic Four was a financial and critical success. These two issues conclude with an essay from Hickman, and I must admit I agree with his thoughts in these, and I appreciate how he gets to the heart of the matter. So, I’ll let Hickman have the final word:  

Next: Four minutes in heaven.

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