Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. Writer Matt Fraction keeps connecting the dots between the two dual comics he’s writing, as a familiar face from Fantastic Four vol. 4 #6 returns in FF vol. 2 #9.

Recap: The Fantastic Four left for a journey through time and space, but they did not return on schedule. A replacement Fantastic Four – Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk, and newcomer Darla Deering – have taken their place, overseeing the genius children of the Future Foundation. A future version of Johnny, renamed Old John Storm, returned with dire warnings about what’s to come. And now, pool party!

We begin with a camera POV, as Bentley-23 is making his own documentary. It’s called “Unseen Depths,” about the two Atlantean members of the Future Foundation, Vil and Wu. He narrates about how they are reclusive and unknowable, and then he catches on film Ant-Man, Darla, and She-Hulk announcing that a wealthy CEO, Charles Cotta of Julian Enterprises, has invited the entire Future Foundation to his place for a pool party.

Turn the page, and the group is at Cotta’s place for a Roman-themed pool atop a skyscraper, the headquarters of Julian Enterprises. Bentley has his camera on hand to film everything for his movie, especially as the two Atlanteans are first to dive into the pool. Most of the kids get involved in splashing each other, but Medusa’s kids Luna and Ahura are reluctant to join in the fun. Ant-Man, Medusa, Darla, She-Hulk, and Old John Storm are whisked away to Cotta’s private office. He wastes no time, immediately telling them that he’s an immortal alien who once met the Fantastic Four in ancient times while impersonating Julius Caesar. (From Fantastic Four #6, as noted above.) He tells them that he met the Four in the distant past, but also after they left this “anchor point” in time. The heroes don’t buy it at first, but then he shows them his ship.

Bentley continues to interview his classmates about the Atlanteans, emphasizing how aloof they are. The kids’ roughhousing in the pool gets out of hand while Bentley films it all, asking who the weird ones really are. Inside, Cotta reveals his true form, which is a gas-like form, and he says his wealth and power have all been in service to this moment. He says he’s unable to enter the timestream, but the replacement four can, with John Storm joining them. The adults then head outside to break up the fight at the pool.

Vil and Wu are the final interview for Bentley’s film, talking about all the wonders they’ve seen in the ocean, and how one day they will be rulers for their kingdom. Later, Bentley shows his completed movie to the others. Alex Power chides him for a downer ending, and Bentley takes this to mean that they’re all growing up. In the lab, Ant-Man is at work on Cotta’s time machine, saying it’s time to venture into the timestream and rescue the Fantastic Four.

Unstable molecule/fade out/clobberin’ time/flame on: Cotta tells the replacement four that the Fantastic Four’s bodies are breaking down. This should come to big news as only Ant-Man knew about Reed’s condition.

Fantastic fifth wheel: Medusa seems more interesting in watching the kids than in Cotta’s revelation. She encourages Ahura to join the fun and help his little sister Luna feel welcome.

Cotta may be a new character for readers, but She-Hulk is familiar with him, knowing just how rich he is.

It takes a minute, but Old John Storm remembers meeting Cotta back in ancient times. Cotta says it’s good to see him again.

Foundational: Bentley compares himself to Werner Herzog a couple of times, saying his movie is his personal Fitzcarraldo.  Make of that what you will.

Artie uses his holographic powers to summon the image of a storm cloud, which then zaps Alex Power with a tiny lightning bolt. How do Artie’s powers work, again?

Speaking of Alex, he’s grown a fuzzy teenage boy mustache, which the others joke about.

Trivia time: This issue reminds us that Vil and Wu are not just Atlanteans but Uhari, an offshoot of Atlantis that was sealed away from the rest of the world for centuries. Given that Wu says he’s gone places the others can’t imagine, it seems the Uhari kingdom must be unusually vast.

Fantastic or frightful? Very little story happens in this issue, but this is the lighter, funnier of the two series, so it’s good to let everyone goof off for a bit, especially since the main plot is about to kick off.

Next: The retcon of Doom.

* * * *

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