Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. In vol. 5 issue #4, writer James Robinson goes old-school with a classic Marvel slugfest.

Recap: A bunch of insect-like creatures escaped from a pocket universe Franklin created, and Reed used some Negative Zone tech to stop them. But this had the unfortunate effect of removing Johnny’s super-powers. Now out on the street in NYC, Johnny and Ben are attacked the Wrecker and the Wizard, as part of a new take on the Frightful Four!

Johnny runs for cover while Ben fights the villains, which also include Thunderball of the Wrecking Crew. Reed and Sue fly in on the Fantasticar to join the battle. The Wizard says that someone else “of great intellect” has increased all their powers. Meanwhile, Ben confronts the fourth villain, a teenage girl who is the new Bulldozer. She’s the daughter of the original Bulldozer. The fight threatens to topple an entire building, with Johnny helping get civilians out of the way.

Thunderball strikes the Fantasticar, sending it spinning out of control. Ben gets in place to stop it, and he gets some help. Turn the page, and it’s three of the four replacement FF we just spent time with in Matt Fraction’s run – the Scott Lang Ant-Man, She-Hulk, and Darla Deering. (Medusa is back with the Inhumans, it seems.) Reed says he has a plan, but it requires Johnny’s help.

The two FF teams take on the villains, but this new Frightful Four has their number. Scott grows to Giant-Man size, but then he is forced to shrink back to normal to avoid more property damage. The new Bulldozer proves to be not just strong but quick and agile when fighting She-Hulk. It looks like they’ve won, and they want to destroy NYC based on the orders of the mysterious new boss. Then Johnny confronts them all, saying, “I don’t need my powers to fight you!”

As the Frightful Four face Johnny, Sue and Reed emerge from the wreckage to trap them in a force field. If the villains use their powers inside it, the concussive force will cause a shock wave to go back against them. The Wizard boasts that his client’s agenda is still going to plan, so he’s already won. S.H.I.E.L.D. arrives to take the Frightful Four into custody with them not answering who their secret benefactor is. Scott tells Reed and Sue that his backup FF team will continue to be the backup as needed. She-Hulk tells Johnny he did great, but Johnny just says “See you around.” And he walks off.  

Reed, Sue and Ben return to the new Baxter Building to find it blocked off by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the NYPD. Maria Hill is in charge, saying the entire building is now an active crime scene, as the source of the recent alien invasion. Sue pleads for Maria to let them back inside, arguing that their children and the Future Foundation kids are still inside. Maria says they’ve all been relocated, and that the FF have more important concerns. She hands Reed some paperwork and tells him to get ready for, “Your day in court.”

To be continued!

Unstable molecule: Reed takes a direct hit from the newly powered-up Wizard, but then says his suit was able to absorb most of the damage. Is this justification for the new red uniforms?

Fade out: Sue is weakened during the fight, so the rest of the two FF teams apply pressure to her force field to further strengthen it.

Clobberin’ time: Ben says “Now I’m getting’ mad” on one page, and then “Now I’m really mad” a few pages later. Were they trying to make this his new catch phrase?

Flame off: Johnny narrates this issue via captions, showing that while actions look heroic, his thoughts reveal him dealing with issues of feeling powerless and helpless.

Fantastic fifth wheel: We just left the replacement Fantastic Four a few issues back, so there’s not a lot of catching up to do. Scott and Darla are still an item, and Johnny admits he’s impressed with how far Darla has come in her superhero-ing.

Trivia time: The new Bulldozer is Marci Camp, daughter of original Bulldozer, Henry Camp. So, where is Henry? This issue suggests that he’s dead, but I see that he was shown in prison in a Captain America issue around this time. Considering how often the Wrecking Crew show up to be punching bags in Marvel Comics, it’s weird to have such huge gaps in their Marvel Wiki entries. The identity of Marci’s mother has never been revealed.

Fantastic or frightful? It’s always fun to have entire issue devoted to a full-on superhero brawl, especially as most modern comics do “action” as a splash page or two to make room for more complex plotting. In the midst of the fight, we get seeds planted for future storylines, and continue Johnny’s character arc, so it also works as part of a larger whole. Great stuff!

Next: Lawyer up.

* * * *

Want more? My ongoing series THE SUBTERKNIGHTS is back on the Kindle store! A man searches for his missing sister in a futuristic city filled with far-out tech, strange creatures, and secret magic. Only $0.99 or free with KU!