Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. We’re still in the beginning of writer Matt Fraction’s mega-long story arc, preparing for a journey and assembling the new team in vol. 4 #2, legacy #613.

Recap: Reed learned he is dying, that his own powers are slowly killing him. He has devised a plan to take his family on a year-long trip through space and time as a ruse for his search for a cure. They will only be gone for four minutes in Earth time, but the team is nonetheless rounding up a temporary replacement Fantastic Four in case a crisis arises during those four minutes.

This issue begins with Ben back on Yancy Street again, shouting out for the Yancy Street Gang, saying this is his last will and testament. He says that if he dies during the trip, then everything he owns will go to the gang, so they can use it to protect the neighborhood. In Reed’s lab, Ant-Man (Scott Lang) has shrunk down to go all Fantastic Voyage inside Reed to take some cell samples. Reed makes him swear absolute secrecy about Reed’s mission. Nearby, Sue introduces Medusa to the Future Foundation kids, and it’s awkward.

Ben and She-Hulk horse around inside the FF’s gym, until they get notice for a senior staff meeting. Reed has called everyone to the “Omega Room,” the new Baxter Building’s version of a panic room, where the FF can go in case of an extreme emergency. He’s brought the new team and the original team there for a proper introduction to the FF headquarters. But someone is missing. Johnny never properly recruited a replacement for himself.

Cut to later, where Johnny visits his new girlfriend, pop star Darla Deering, and finally asks her to take his place on the team. He insists that it’s only a P.R. stunt, but she’s busy preparing for a nineteen-country world tour (!) and can’t do it. Johnny asks her to let him show her just how amazing the FF is.

At the Baxter Building, Reed and Johnny show Darla an ape-like primitive human from millions of years ago who followed the FF back from yet another time travel adventure. Darla insists they return him to his home, 2.6 million years in the past. Johnny, Darla, and the primitive return to the past. He tells her that this is just another wonder that the FF gets to experience. Then the primitive human attacks with a giant red dinosaur. Johnny fights them for a bit before he and Darla return to the present. Darla responds with “Wow.”

This takes us right into the next scene, where Darla is alongside Ant-Man, Medusa, and She-Hulk as the new FF. Reed asks Johnny if Darla is up to this task, and Johnny says not to worry, because it’s only going to be four minutes. Reed, Sue, Ben, Johnny, Franklin, and Valeria all board the space-time machine and prepare for takeoff. The ship flies through a portal, and the Fantastic Four are off on their adventure.

On the rooftop, Ant-Man says, that for the next 240 seconds, he, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Darla are the Fantastic Four. He reads the countdown. At the two-minute halfway point, he assures the others that everything is going fine. “Be over before we know it,” he says. “We won’t even know they’re gone.”

To be continued!

Unstable molecule: Reed is still hiding his condition from his family, but he’s also still wearing the high-tech metal cast on his injured arm.

Fade out: Sue arranges the meeting of Medusa and the Future Foundation in the living quarters, hoping a more intimate setting would go over better than in the classroom.

Clobberin’ time: Ben naming Yancy Street in his will might seem altruistic, but he also threats that if anything happens to the neighborhood while he’s gone, he’ll find his way back and make everyone pay.

Flame on: Johnny spends the staff meeting listening to music on headphones until the others demand his attention. He insists throughout the issue that the replacement Fantastic Four is only a PR stunt.

Fantastic fifth wheel: We see Ant-Man using his new “coil” devices for the first time, using them to fly around while ant-sized. It seems that they work as a sort of anti-grav cross-country skiing.

Medusa wonders why none of the Future Foundation kids bow upon meeting her, what with her being queen of the Inhumans and all. Sue says it’s enough that they all held still for a minute.

Our old friend The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition states that She-Hulk can lift or press 75 tons, but in this issue she pushes herself to life 85 tons, the same as the Thing’s limit. Ben suggests reaching the mythical 100 ton limit, but they don’t get there.

We’re told that Johnny and Darla have been dating for months, but he’s just now seeing her apartment and meeting her roommates for the first time. We only get to know one of her four roommates, Julian, who appears to be a punk rocker type, so rebellious that she’s wearing a Superman T-shirt in a Marvel comic!

Four and a half: Sue does Franklin’s seat belt for him on the ship. Isn’t Franklin old enough to that himself now?

Our gal Val: There’s a joke about whether Valeria will “boot” during takeoff. I assume “boot” means throwing up in this context, but this is some slang I’ve not heard before.

Foundational: Turg, the Moloid who’s just a head in a floating jar, is the only one impressed by Medusa, addressing her as “Your majesty.”

Trivia time: Do the primitive human and the red Tyrannosaurus seem familiar? The Marvel Wiki confirms that these are cult fave characters Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur. After running around the present-day Marvel Universe for a while and eventually finding a home in the Savage Land, the pair returned to their original timeline in the miniseries Skaar: King of the Savage Land.

A four-armed robot named Coachbot assists Ben and She-Hulk in the gym. The Marvel Wiki has no entry for Coachbot.

Fantastic or frightful? Again, I’m impressed with the patience of this storyline. Three issues in, and we haven’t gotten to the big surprise yet about the whole “only four minutes” thing. But I like all the little character moments, and the fact that writer Matt Fraction is taking the time to let things breathe a little. Reed keeping this big secret from his family is still my sticking point, but for now it’s exciting to see how all this unfolds.

Next: Suit up.

* * * *

Want more? Check out my novel MOM, I’M BULLETPROOF. It’s a comedic/romantic/dramatic superhero epic! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XPXBK14.