macmcentire

Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. The Heroes Reborn event ends (except it doesn’t) with the Heroes Reunited crossover in the volume 2 #12 issues of Avengers, Iron Man and Captain America.

After last week’s blog about vol. 2 issue #12, the first part of the Heroes Reunited crossover, I planned on writing just one paragraph summarizing the remaining three parts, but upon rereading them, they’re so crazy and there’s so much going on, that they deserve their own post this week. In the first part, Galactus and his heralds arrived on Earth. The four heralds – Silver Surfer, Terrax, Plasma, and Air-Walker – set up four capacitor devices on four locations around the globe. The FF, the Avengers, and the Inhumans worked together to stop the capacitors, while Dr. Doom snuck around with a plot to steal Galactus’ power cosmic for himself. Despite all the fighting and action, the heroes were too late, and the Earth was devoured.

Here’s the thing, though. Avengers #12 was published after Fantastic Four #12, but takes place before Fantastic Four #12. This means Dr. Doom can time travel from FF #12 backwards into Avengers #12. This is the type of crazy storytelling structure you can only get from comics. The issue begins with a wrap-up of the “two Thors” storyline in which the original Thor performs an explosive Viking funeral for the now-dead second Thor. Then, aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-carrier, the Avengers and Nick Fury get word of Galactus’ approach. Then Dr. Doom time-travels into the room, saying he’s already seen the Earth destroyed in a previous timeline, and only he survived. He warns everyone to stop the heralds before they set up the capacitors. Once he’s alone, Doom insists that heroes have to defeat the heralds, and only then can he steal Galactus’ power.

It’s time for another globe-hopping superhero battle. The FF in Moscow, the Hulk at the South Pole, the Avengers in LA and Hong Kong. The FF fight the Silver Surfer, with the Surfer again tempted to betray Galactus but still not quite doing so. Reed uses his nullifier tech to boost his teammates’ powers, and they almost stop the Surfer, but it’s too late. S.H.I.E.L.D. bombs all of Moscow (!) to destroy the capacitor, killing the FF along with it (!!). The Heli-carrier then kamikazes onto the second capacitor to stop it, and the Hulk and Vision stop Firelord at the third capacitor, with the Hulk severely injured in the process. Thor, Captain America and Hawkeye team up to fight Terrax. They destroy the fourth capacitor, only for Hawkeye to be killed by Terrax. Galactus arrives in New York, deciding he didn’t even need those capacitors and he uses an “elemental converter” to start devouring the Earth. The Silver Surfer finally chooses to join the heroes, and the remaining Avengers attack the converter. Dr. Doom activates his time machine and disappears again. What happens next is confusing the whole universe getting all weird, but basically both the Earth and the sun are devoured, leaving behind only Thor’s hammer, all alone in space – another Viking funeral.

That’s twice in two issues that the Earth is destroyed, so let’s go for a third in Iron Man #12. This issue takes us back in time again, to just before Galactus’ arrival on Earth, but clearly we’re in a different timeline, because we start with the FF hanging out with Tony Stark and the gang, with the “gang” being a group of heroes who’ve been hit with gamma rays – the Hulk, Doc Sampson, and our very own She-Hulk. After some business of the heroes getting to know each other, the heralds arrive on Earth. The FF fly off to meet the heralds, while Tony is confronted by Dr. Doom, just having time-traveled here from Earth’s destruction in Avengers #12. Tony doesn’t trust Doom, but then Doom drops quite the bombshell. Dr. Doom remembers Onslaught, and he knows he came from the original Marvel Universe. Doom blames Tony for taking him into the portal at the end of the Onslaught crossover, and says Tony owes him for this.

Tony and Dr. Doom board the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-carrier, where they meet up with Nick Fury and the Avengers. Fury reports that heralds have killed the Fantastic Four, complete with a depiction of the heralds standing over the dead FF. From there, the remaining heroes once again split up into four teams to fight the four heralds and destroy the four capacitors. They seem to be winning, while Doom, Tony, Bruce Banner and Ant-Man work together rebuilding Reed’s nullifier to stop Galactus. The big G arrives in New York, proclaiming, “I hunger!” Iron Man and the Hulk fire the nullifier at Galactus, but it fails. As the Earth is devoured again, Doom quickly downloads a bunch of S.H.I.E.L.D. documents from the Heli-carrier and time-travels out of there.

Now we go Captain America #12, set 24 hours earlier, and the score is three points for Galactus and none for Earth. This one begins with Rikki Barnes, a.k.a. the new Bucky, confronting Dr. Doom as he time-travels right in front of her. He says that according the S.H.I.E.L.D. files, Rikki is a “chronal anomaly.” Captain America steps in to save Rikki, and Doom explains that the Earth is in danger and they must act now. In this version of events, the FF are in New York, fighting all four of the heralds at once. The FF are about to die, but Doom and the Avengers jump in to save them. Cap takes the leadership role, keeping Doom and Reed from fighting.

Aboard the Heli-carrier again, Doom tells the other heroes everything, and that his time machine is damaged, so this is Earth’s last chance. Bruce Banner comes up with a plan, to defeat Galactus by giving him exactly what he wants. As the Avengers and the FF mingle, Rikki wanders off by herself, wondering if being a “chronal anomaly” means she was never meant to exist. The Silver Surfer flies down from space and says Galactus cannot be stopped, and he wants Rikki to warn the others. The Surfer flies off with Rikki hanging off of his board, and Cap pursues on his cool flying motorcycle. They fly to Galactus, who blasts Rikki off the surfboard. Cap takes the severely-wounded Rikki back to the other heroes, pleading for them to help her.

The heroes have a vote on whether to use Reed’s nullifier with Bruce’s plan, and the Silver Surfer shows up again, saying he now stands with humanity against Galactus. The plan is to combine all the heroes’ powers through the nullifier, now wielded by the Surfer to overload Galactus’ energy converter. The Silver Surfer attacks Galactus, and Galactus, and the plan works. Galactus absorbs too much power cosmic, and both he and the Silver Surfer disappear from existence.

With the battle won and the Earth saved, Reed offers his hand in friendship to Doom, but Doom wanders off, saying wherever he goes, he goes alone. Captain America and Nick Fury have a heart-to-heart, about how S.H.I.E.L.D. told Cap what he needed to hear so that he’d pick up his shield again. He adds that Rikki is going to be just fine. Turn the page, and there’s the Watcher speaking directly to the reader, saying these heroes do not know that this threat was one they’ve faced before and will again. He concludes by saying, this has been only one of the many tales of the Heroes Reborn.

You’d think that would be the end, but Heroes Reborn has one more crossover in it before it ends, and if you think these issues were crazy, it’s going to get even crazier… next week.

Unstable molecule: There’s a lot of talk about how Reed, Doom, Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Hank Pym knew each other in college, calling themselves the “Knights of the Atomic Roundtable.” I wonder if somebody at Marvel was trying to pitch that as the title of a series.

Fade out: In Moscow, Sue tries to protect her teammates from the S.H.I.E.L.D. missiles, but the missiles succeed in blowing them all the kingdom come. What did S.H.I.E.L.D. put in those things?

Clobberin’ time: Ben says, “Eat my shorts!” at one point, revealing that The Simpsons exists in the Heroes Reborn universe.

Flame on: Johnny doesn’t fare well in these issues, getting defeated in battle by each of the heralds in each timeline.

Fantastic fifth wheel: She-Hulk debuted in Heroes Reborn: Iron Man alongside Hulk and Doc Sampson as the somewhat incongruously-named Hulkbusters. She-Hulk and Ben get all flirtatious with each other, when previously they’d only been friends.

Commercial break: Can we not?

Trivia time: What’s the deal with Rikki Barnes? In Heroes Reborn, she’s the granddaughter of the original WWII Bucky and Agent Peggy Carter. After all the superheroes return to the Marvel Universe in Heroes Return, Rikki stays behind in the Heroes Reborn Universe. She forms the Young Allies to help keep the HR universe from falling into total chaos. After Onslaught Reborn, Rikki finally joined the Marvel Universe proper, calling herself Nomad, and adventuring alongside the Exiles and Arana the Spider. Her surviving outside of the Heroes Reborn Universe is what makes her a chronal anomaly.

Fantastic or frightful? It’s a lot having the reader follow Dr. Doom as he travels back in time each issue, and the premise gives the writers and artist leeway to kill of major characters and blow up cities all they want. But it’s all still too much plot in too few pages, and you just feel exhausted by the time it’s over.

Next: Heroes not zeroes.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. We’ve all heard about Heroes Reborn and Heroes Return, but it turns out there’s a middle part of the trilogy, Heroes Reunited. That’s the crossover that puts a merciful end to Heroes Reborn, starting with this, volume 2 issue #12.

We begin in the Lateverian Embassy, where Dr. Doom arrives. His security robots welcome him and report on the FF’s fight against Terrax. Another robot tells Doom his “siphon suit” is ready. An aide reports to Doom that his chronal displacement device, which he got from a future version of himself a few issues back, has arrived and is being assembled.

Cut to Central Park, where the FF are facing off against three of Galactus’ heralds. There’s Terrax, now recovered from his fight against them last issue. He’s flanked by Firelord and new character Plasma. Ben wants to clobber, but Reed stops him and tries to negotiate. He urges the heralds not to let Galactus devour the Earth. Terrax refuses, and he attacks. The heralds put up a good fight, with Terrax shattering Sue’s force fields with his axe and Plasma extinguishing Johnny’s flame with her… cosmic water?!?

Sue then puts herself between Terrax and some civilians, risking her life for them. Terrax is about to slice n’ dice her with his axe, when the Silver Surfer flies in and saves her. Although he too is a herald, the Surfer has switched sides and says he won’t let the others harm his new friends. The Surfer says the FF showed kindness to him, and he survived the fight in Dr. Doom’s castle thanks to them. Before the conflict can continue, the heralds receive a summons from Galactus, and all four of them fly off.

Before the FF can catch their breaths, they’re next approached by two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Dum Dum Dugan and The Countess. They demand the FF come with them right away. They’re then taken on board the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-carrier, where they’re met by Iron Man, Captain America and Nick Fury. Fury says a massive energy signature is headed for Earth and the four heralds are currently flying out to meet it. S.H.I.E.L.D. sends some probes toward the energy, only for them to be destroyed. Then Galactus’ ship appears, and the heroes wonder if it represents a friend or foe.

Aboard the ship, Galactus says it’s time for him devour the Earth, which he calls “Terra Prime.” The Silver Surfer hesitantly suggests that Earth be spared, but Galactus insists that his hunger be sated. In the Heli-carrier, Black Panther and Thor join the party, as Reed explains that everything the FF has encountered, such as the Mole Man’s caves, the Silver Surfer in Latveria, the Skrull who infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Inhumans coming out of hiding, are all tied into Galactus’ oncoming arrival. Galactus’ ship opens up to reveal an alien device that splits up into multiple components, with multiple trajectories on Earth. Reed deduces that the devices are heading toward Attilan, Monster Island, and New York.

The heroes decide to split up, with Captain America and Iron Man leading the Avengers on Monster Island, while Thor and Black Panther will join the FF in NYC. (Attilan goes unmentioned during this part. Are we to assume that the heroes are trusting the Inhumans to handle it?) Reed complicates things further when he says he must stay behind on the Heli-carrier to monitor both teams. Before Sue leaves for New York, Reed asks her to marry him… and she says yes!

Then the story cuts to Attilan, a cut that’s so abrupt I thought maybe my comic was missing a few pages. Firelord is there attacking the Inhumans, and Johnny flies down from the sky to rescue Crystal. I turn the page and OOPS! The pages are out of order! Now Firelord arrives in Attilan with one of the three alien devices. The Inhumans believe Firelord is one of their ancient gods, but Johnny shows up to insist that he’s bad news. The device starts trashing the mountain, and the Inhumans fight Firelord. Black Bolt destroys the device with his powerful voice, while Johnny tells Crystal he’ll stay with her until the end, no matter what happens.

Then we go to Monster Island where the Avengers confront Plasma, only for the Mole Man to show up and declare them all as trespassers on his island. Also, look in the background and you can see Namor is here as well. Everybody fights, with Hawkeye defeating the Mole Man and Thor (wasn’t he part of the New York group?) zapping Plasma with lightning. The alien device is damaged and is about to implode. Namor carries the device down into the depths of the ocean so that the others are not harmed in the implosion.

Thor uses his hammer to teleport the Avengers to New York (he can do that?) where Galactus has arrived in person. The S.H.I.E.L.D. weapons can’t penetrate a force field around Galactus, and Terrax is going nuts fighting the FF. The Heli-carrier fires its plasma cannons at Galactus, only for Galactus to blow a hole in the Heli-carrier. Nick Fury orders everyone to evacuate the Heli-carrier before Reed can get a chance to fully test a “nullifer” he is hastily constructing. Fury forces Reed into an escape pod and sends him flying. Before the Heli-carrier goes down, Fury gets a message that another bogie is headed to Earth from space.

The Heli-carrier crashes into Galactus’ ship, destroying them both – and apparently killing both Nick Fury and the Countess. Galactus isn’t fazed, and instead telekinetically dismantles a bunch of New York skyscrapers and rearranges them into a new ship, and a new world-destroying capacitor. Reed reunites with the other heroes and catches them up to speed on how and why Galactus devours entire planets. Ben is ready for action, wanting to use Reed’s nullifier. The conference is cut short when Terrax attacks again, and he and Ben fight. Black Panther spots the Silver Surfer setting up the capacitor.

The nullifier works on Terrax, rendering him powerless and therefore vulnerable to Ben’s fists. When Ben tries the same trick on Galactus, though, Galactus is too strong, and the feedback throws the heroes for a loop. The nullifier nullifies the cosmic rays inside Ben, turning back into a human. Terrax comes to and wants to kill Ben, but Reed, Black Panther, and Thor step in to help him. Terrax then reveals that a fifth herald, Air-Walker, has secretly set up a fourth capacitor on Earth’s south pole.

Silver Surfer decides he’s had enough, and he attacks Terrax again, this time fully siding with the heroes. Before we readers can even process this, Dr. Doom shows up in his new armor to siphon the Power Cosmic from the Surfer. It works, and the now-cosmically powered Doom turns his attention to Galactus. It doesn’t last, as Galactus swats Doom aside like a bug. Reed, however, says Doom’s new armor could nonetheless be the key to defeating Galactus. Reed talks to immobilized Dr. Doom, saying they must combine the nullifier and the siphon suit. Dr. Doom refuses, saying he’ll never share glory with Reed.

They’re too late, however. Galactus and Air-Walker activate the two capacitors. Reed sees Sue vaporize right before his eyes, and then Reed vanishes in front of Doom. Doom says the world is truly coming to an end, so he activates his chrono-displacement device. Then the last panel of the comic goes the distance and shows the Earth being completely destroyed.

To be continued?

Unstable molecule: Reed’s final words, declaring to Dr. Doom “May God have mercy on your eternal soul,” doesn’t seem very Reed-like, as he’s never been shown to be particularly religious. Much later, though, we will get a Heaven/Hell/afterlife story featuring Reed and Doom.

Fade out: Sue’s pregnancy is not mentioned in this issue, but it coming up last issue and Reed’s proposal in this issue are clearly tied together. Remember that Heroes Reborn is all taking place in a world created by Franklin’s reality-bending powers, could this be Franklin taking steps toward merging the Heroes Reborn universe with the Marvel Universe?

Clobberin’ time: In the original Galactus storyline, it was Johnny who went to space to recover the Ultimate Nullifier. In this version, Reed builds the nullifier as a backpack for Ben to wear with devices attached to his fists. Ben can nullify via punching!

Flame on: Johnny’s fight against Firelord only lasts three panels, and Firelord defeats Johnny easily. Maybe Johnny should have just beaten Firelord senseless like Spider-Man did in that one infamous Spidey story.

Fantastic fifth wheel: Crystal and Johnny are reunited, and Crystal is able to embrace Johnny while he’s flamed on. I guess that’s her elemental abilities at work.

Medusa gets defeated by Firelord pretty quickly, and not by his fire powers but by the blinding light he outputs.

Commercial break: Is this Screech’s comic book debut? And why is he dressed like Triplicate Girl from Legion of Super Heroes?

Trivia time: Who is this Countess character? That would be Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. In the regular Marvel Universe, she’s been a regular supporting character in numerous Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.-related comics. Recently, she was revealed to be working deep, deep undercover as a villain this whole time, and she became the new Madame Hydra. We’ll never know if she was also undercover in the Heroes Reborn universe, as the Marvel Wiki states that she died aboard the Heli-carrier in this issue.

Fantastic or frightful? An exhausting issue with tons of characters, action, and plot. It’s perhaps a little too overstuffed, though, making it hard to keep track of which characters are where and what is happening. On the other hand, the creators know Heroes Reborn is ending, so that gives them freedom to go big and do thing, like, you know, destroy the Earth.

Next: They’re heroes, not zeroes.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. Here’s vol. 2 #11, and how much was Marvel done with the Heroes Reborn event by this point? Skip to the end of the issue where there are three pages of ads promoting the upcoming Heroes Return retcon, going so far as to spoil the twist about Franklin in the ads. Before that, though, our heroes fight Terrax.

We begin with the Silver Surfer in orbit around Earth. He knows he must summon his master Galactus, but he also remembers a few issues ago, where he met some kindred spirits on the planet’s surface. Against his better judgment, the Surfer decides to contact his new friends. Flying down to New York, he senses the presence of the Power Cosmic, and hopes he is not too late.

Cut to Central Park, where Alicia is crafting a sculpture based on Ben as part of public event for charity. Reed and Sue are picnicking nearby, as Reed ponders how most of their previous adventures have all had something to do with the mysterious space anomaly that gave the FF their powers. Sue changes the subject in a big way by announcing that she’s pregnant. They were previously told Sue couldn’t get pregnant, making this something of a miracle baby.

Sue gives Johnny a quick call, revealing that Johnny has been spending all his time in the FF’s danger room, working out his frustration over being separated from Crystal. He pushes himself harder and harder, ultimately using his super-powerful nova flame to wreck the room. He admits to himself that he’s in love with Crystal and there’s no getting around it.

The fun at Central Park is interrupted by Terrax the Tamer, another herald of Galactus. Terrax says the FF possess a threat to the Galactus’ Power Cosmic, so he’s sought them out personally. Terrax attacks Ben, using his axe open Ben’s rocky hide. Ben admits that Terrax actually hurt him. Reed and Sue join the fight, and are easily subdued by Terrax’s earth-bending powers. Sue tries to contact Johnny, but he left his communicator in the Danger Room, and is in another room still pining for Crystal.

In space, we see Galactus wake from slumber on board his ship. Checking the info received from his heralds, Galactus decides that Earth is ripe for harvesting, and that if he must live, Earth must die. Back on Earth, Johnny sees the Central Park fight on the news, and flies to the scene just in time to save Sue from Terrax. With Johnny’s help, Ben is able to recover and punch Terrax away from the scene.

Sue was injured in the fight, and Reed carries her off to help her, with Ben learning that Sue is now pregnant. Before Ben can react, two more of Galactus’ heralds show up, Firelord and Plasma. Johnny asks for a moment to catch their breath before the next fight, but Ben says he doesn’t think it would make much difference.

To be continued!

Unstable molecule: Terrax refers to Reed as “Elastic Man.” Poking fun at DC characters again, are we?

Fade out: Sue’s pregnancy raises a lot of questions when we remember that Heroes Reborn takes place in an alternate universe created by Franklin. Maybe the creators knew this, because the pregnancy will be more or less written out after this issue.

Clobberin’ time: This issue confirms Ben’s powers work similarly in the Heroes Reborn Universe as they do in the Marvel Universe, in that his rocky exterior surrounds a vulnerable interior. (Also a metaphor.)

Flame on: Johnny’s nova flame power appears to be less powerful in Heroes Reborn than it does in the regular Marvel Universe, since it only destroys the FF’s Danger Room. In the past, we’ve seen it level entire buildings.

Fantastic fifth wheel: Johnny has a photo of Crystal that he says he took while they were together in the Himalayas. I’ll buy that, but why is it a photo of her with that weird helmet on?

Commercial break: Do the Time Warp again.

Trivia time: The reporter who captures the FF/Terrax fight on live TV is Jack Johnson of Channel 9. This guy has no entry in the Marvel Wiki, so I’m going to assume he doesn’t go on to become a regular supporting character.

Fantastic or frightful? After ten issues of building up to Galactus, we get a wheel-spinning fight against Terrax taking up most of this issue. Terrax overpowers the FF abruptly, and then is defeated just as abruptly. This lacks the cinematic quality of the multi-issue Terrax fight from the John Byrne days.

Next: A touch of silver.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. In less than a year’s time, Heroes Reborn crashed and burned. Here’s vol. 2 issue #10, and the writing is on the wall. Superstar artist Jim Lee came back to Marvel to reboot Fantastic Four, but as of this issue he only gets a co-plotter credit, leaving the scripting to Brandon Choi and art to Ron Lim.

In this alternate universe take on our heroes, the FF have traveled to the Himalayas, where they’ve become reluctant allies with the Inhumans. Maximus the Mad has traveled into caves beneath the Inhumans’ hidden city of Attilan to take control of the Terrigen mists that give the Inhumans their powers. Before catching up with that plot, though, we spend a few pages with Galactus as he devours a small planetoid. He tells his herald Plasma that it isn’t enough, and he still hungers. He sets course for Earth – or as he calls it, “Earth Prime!”

In the Himalayas, Maximus does the villain monologue thing, saying the “great devourer” is coming to Earth, and only the strongest will survive. He’s gathered his own army, made up of Terrigen-powered Alpha-primitives and some of the Mole Man’s Moloids. Medusa tries to negotiate with him, saying this conflict could destroy Attilan. Maximus insists that only he can rule the Inhumans, so everybody fights. Medusa keeps trying to reason with Maximus, even as he surrounds himself with his monsters, so the FF and Inhumans can’t fight their way to him. Reed deduces that Maximus is controlling the monsters telepathically and they must break the mind-link.

By working together, Ben, Karnak and Gorgon (who, let’s not forget, once singlehandedly defeated the entire FF) clear a path to Maximus. Crystal is the first to reach him, only for him to knock her out with a mind-blast. Maximus takes Crystal deeper into the caves, saying he’ll make her his bride (dude, she’s your sister-in-law). Johnny attacks with rage, and Maximus nearly drops a tunnel on him. Johnny says Crystal risked her life to save him when they first met, and he’d do the same for her.

Black Bolt uses his super-destructive voice to open the collapsed tunnel. He does so with “the merest whisper,” although we’re not privy to what he might have said. Maximus takes Crystal to his lab, which is somehow also in this forbidden tunnels. He attaches Crystal to his “creation device,” which he says will advance her “evolutionary power.” The FF and the Inhumans smash through the nearest wall, but everyone hangs back for a Johnny vs. Maximus showdown. Johnny dodges Maximus’ psychic blasts (?) and punches out Maximus.

Crystal is removed the device and is rushed back to Attilan for medical attention. The FF and Black Bolt stay behind as Black Bolt ponders what to do with the creation device. Reed narrates, saying if Black Bolt destroys the machine, he’s putting the survival of the Inhumans at risk, but if he allows it stay, the whole world might be in jeopardy.

Cut to later, when the FF are honored guests at an Inhuman celebration, complete with scantily-clad dancing girls. Medusa says the FF have their freedom, as they’ve proven themselves to be friends of the Inhumans. Johnny and Crystal have a romantic kiss goodbye with Ben, Karnak and Gorgon spy on them. Then we see Maximus in a straightjacket in what appears to some sort of Inhuman hospital. He’s ranting about how it’s too late, and the great devourer is coming.

Then there’s an epilogue in Latveria, where Dr. Doom is nearly recovered from injuries following his fight with the FF and the Silver Surfer a few issues back. A second Dr. Doom, with more technologically advanced armor, teleports into the room, gives Doom a keycard and then vanishes. Doom realizes that this is an improved version of a keycard for his newest project, a “chrono-displacement mechanism. “Most intriguing,” he says.

To be continued!

Unstable molecule: While it’s normally Medusa who speaks on behalf of what Black Bolt is thinking, Reed does it in this issue. I guess we can chalk that up to his genius deductive reasoning.

Fade out: Sue is the one calling out orders during the battle, saying she’ll cover her teammates flank.

Clobberin’ time: Ben’s plan for breaking through Maximus’ defenses is to throw a monster at Karnak and Gorgon, so that the two Inhumans can then punch it towards Maximus. It’s a new variation of the X-Men’s classic “fastball special.”

Flame on: A new artist usually means tweaks to the characters’ looks. In this one, Johnny is back to his blue FF uniform instead of the orange-and-yellow one, but he keeps his bright red headband for some reason. Were headbands “extreme ‘90s”? I don’t think they were.

Fantastic fifth wheel: Johnny and Crystal’s instant romance might seem out of nowhere, but remember that’s how it was when they originally met back in the Lee/Kirby days, in which they had a deep, intense love after barely meeting.

Four and a half: This is the first appearance of Galactus’ herald Plasma. Further, Plasma only appears in the Heroes Reborn universe, and nowhere else in continuity. Because Heroes Reborn was created by Franklin’s reality-bending powers, this makes Plasma entirely a figment of Franklin’s imagination.

Commercial break: The cover advertises “Featuring your new guide to the Marvel Universe.” I guess this refers to a three-page preview of Marvel’s short-lived Quicksilver solo comic, a text-with-illustrations rundown of Quicksilver’s history. The Quicksilver series lasted 13 issues before it was cancelled.

Trivia time: What are Maximus’ powers, again? For this, we turn once again to our old friend The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition. The handbook tells us Maximus can “override the thought processes of other brains around him.” This isn’t exactly mind control, but the power to numb minds and sometimes influence behavior. This is why he’s often surrounded by the Alpha-primitives. Because they are so animalistic, he can mentally command them much easier. As far as this issue goes, I think we can assume he went through his own machine to amplify his powers so he can throw around psychic blasts. Of course, Maximus also has a genius-level intellect. Maximus’ portrait in the Handbook was drawn by Tom Palmer.

Fantastic or frightful? I like Ron Lim’s artwork, but the switch from Jim Lee to him is jarring. The Image crowd who bought this issue for Jim Lee were no doubt disappointed. The big fight had some fun bits, but Maximus wasn’t much of a threat this time around. Only one more story arc to go before we’re back in the good ol’ Marvel Universe.

Next: Heraldic.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.

Reading the Fantastic Four comics from the start. It’s Volume 2, issue #9, as superstar artist Jim Lee is nearing the end of his time with the series, and there’s only a few issues left of Heroes Reborn.

We begin with Firelord flying through space, with captions explaining that he is the herald of Galactus, currently on another task. He’s searching for planets with “catalyst pods,” devices Galactus left on lifeless planets to alert Galactus should the planets ever become life-sustaining – so Galactus can then devour them. Galactus contacts Firelord and says the Silver Surfer, one of Firelord’s “fellow heralds” has found a suitable world for harvest. The planet is Earth, and the Surfer and another Herald, Terrax, are on their way to Earth. Firelord flies off to join them.

On Earth, Reed, Sue, and Ben have been taken prisoner by the Inhumans. Our heroes traveled to the Inuhmans’ secret home in the Himalayas in search of Johnny, who disappeared along with the Inhuman royal family last issue, as well as a possible clue to the mysterious space anomaly that gave the FF their powers. Reed tells Sue and Johnny to let the Inhumans take them prisoner for now, in hopes of a peaceful solution.

The FF are led into the Inhuman throne room. They meet up with the royal family and a whole bunch of other Inhumans. Also, the throne room contains giant sculptures of Galactus and his heralds, with Reed theorizing that the sculptures represent the Inhuman gods. Medusa speaks on behalf of Black Bolt, saying that Johnny is safe with the Inhumans’ healer, and that he and the FF have jeopardized the secrecy and sanctity of the Inhumans’ home, which has been safely hidden for two thousand years. Sue promises that the Inhumans’ secret will be safe with the FF. Medusa isn’t buying it, and says the FF must never leave the city.

Ben wants to start a fight, but is throttled by Gordon (who, let’s not forget once singlehandedly defeated the entire Fantastic Four). Ben breaks free and the battle begins. Ben goes after Black Bolt, who throws Ben around with awesome super-strength. Reed and Medusa are evenly matched with the stretching/hair powers. Karnak can’t break through Sue’s force fields, and then Gorgon goes after Ben again. Reed and Ben do the old slingshot routine to drive back the Inhumans, and then Sue turns all three of them invisible for a quick escape.

As Reed, Sue, and Ben sneak out of the city, they’re found by Johnny and Crystal. Johnny is dressed in weird Inhuman robes that match Crystal’s outfit. At first, the others believe Johnny has betrayed them and sided with the Inhumans. Johnny cautions his teammates not to jump to conclusions, and that the Inhumans don’t want to imprison the FF. Instead the Inhumans want the FF’s help.

Cut to later, where the FF and the Inhuman royal family are gathered around a conference table. Medusa again speaks for Black Bolt, saying the Inhumans gain their powers from Terrigen mists, safely concealed in caves deep beneath the Earth. Black Bolt’s brother Maximus recently ventured into underground caves in search of the mists, a violation of Inhuman law. Maximus disappeared, and deadly mutatants (not mutants) have been attacking the city ever since. Medusa says they believe this is an omen of “the great devourer.” Black Bolt wants to lead an expedition into the caves, but do that the Inhumans need the Makula tablet. You’ll remember this was the tablet prominently featured in the previous issue, containing the symbols that correspond Reed’s space anomaly.

Reed checks out the tablet, and deduces how to translate into a map of the caves. Crystal is impressed, but the rest of the Inhumans remain skeptical. As the two groups venture into the caves, though, Ben and Gorgon become pals. Venturing further into the caves, the heroes pass by some dinosaurs who are not attacking but running from something even bigger. The heroes are then captured under what looks like an ordinary net. Maximus emerges from the shadows, saying he’s not there to find the Terrigen mists, but to control them. He proclaims that he is the “great devourer” of the Inhumans’ myths come to life.

To be continued!

Wait, there’s more: This issue contains a four-page preview of 1998’s Alpha Flight #1, a flashback scene of AF’s leader Guardian training Wovlerine, back when Wolvie was in Alpha Flight as “Weapon X” before becoming a fugitive and finally ending up with the X-Men. Guardian thinks he has the upper hand on Wolverine, only for Wolverine to surprise him and almost lose control and kill him. If this is a flashback, why is Guardian called Guardian and not his original codename, Vindicator? Because the final panel reveals this is a dream Guardian is having. He fears that although he is alive again and Alpha Flight is back, there might be bad times coming. (And, in case anyone’s wondering, this series took place in the regular Marvel Universe and not the Heroes Reborn universe.)

Unstable molecule: Reed earns the Inhumans’ trust not just by translating the map off the tablet, but by doing so in mere seconds.

Fade out: Karnak, who can find the weakness in any object, can’t find one in Sue’s force fields, which is a big win for Sue.

Clobberin’ time: Reed tells Ben to execute plan “Romeo-Charlie-Able,” which a caption tells us is “retreat and counter-attack.” Ben has no idea what this is, though, revealing he hasn’t been paying attention in the FF’s training sessions.

Flame on: Johnny is able to spot his teammates while they’re invisible because he can recognize their heat signatures. That’s like a Daredevil power.

Fantastic fifth wheel: Crystal is the first Inhuman to come to the FF’s defense, hinting that she and Johnny have gotten to know each other, but that isn’t really seen on screen.

This issue suggests that in the Heroes Reborn universe, Medusa’s hair is not just alive, but can stretch with equal power as Reed’s, so that she can keep up with him in a fight.

Commercial break: The Badger is back!

Trivia time: What’s going on with Alpha Flight? The preview advertised volume 2 of their series, in which the Alphas discovered an evil conspiracy operating within Department H, the organization that oversees (oversaw?) the Alpha Flight teams. Alpha Flight vol. 2 sold poorly and ended with issue #20, with some of the subplots remaining unresolved to this day.

This issue’s Bullpen Bulletins page announces the production of a brand-new Blade movie to be released in 1998! The article says the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and even Venom will also eventually get movies. Not wrong!

Fantastic or frightful? This issue is pretty much all plot and exposition. The more interesting bits are the FF/Inhumans fight and the Star Trek-ish opening with Firelord, but, again, the Heroes Reborn thing is mostly repeating what others have done and not much else.

Next: Jim be gone.

****

Want more? Check out my book, CINE HIGH, now available for the Kindle and the free Kindle app.