Where can we go after the events of One World Under Doom? The Fantastic Four may have spent the last year fighting the dictator turned Sorcerer Supreme, but writer Ryan North is giving them no time to rest. Fantastic Four #6 is an entertaining opening chapter, full of kinetic team-ups, warm family interactions, and the high-concept sci-fi ideas North does best. The groundwork has been laid for a major encounter, with a certain member of the team squarely in the crosshairs.
We start in the thick of the action as a group of alien invaders terrorizes Central Park. Our heroes arrive on the scene but quickly realize brute strength isn’t going to cut it. That’s when Sue Storm comes up with an ingenious solution. Using her powers to bend light, she creates the illusion of a night and day cycle, while invisible cones amplify the sounds of tectonic plates to simulate accelerated planetary rotation. North continues to find creative applications for these powers, and seeing the fresh ways he uses them is one of the book’s greatest strengths. This demonstration of power soon scares the Invaders off, but before the team can celebrate their victory, they are approached by SHIELD’s Maria Hill with an offer. She knows they haven’t always seen eye to eye, but with this new incarnation of the agency, she wants to work with metahumans, not against them.
Back at the Baxter Building, the team is pondering Hill’s offer when they’re suddenly attacked by the Wingless Wizard. The C-lister has hacked into their security systems, immediately setting off alarms for Reed, who soon discovers that the random nature of the Cosmic Radiation he’s been using to generate his security algorithms has changed. Somehow that energy has stabilized into a singular, foreboding message from a familiar adversary. Three simple words sent by Galactus himself – “Find Susan Storm.”
Galactus is always going to demand attention, and North wisely holds him back until the end, letting the mystery build before dropping the bombshell. The reveal instantly raises questions. Is Galactus trying to find Sue to get her help, or is she ultimately going to be a roadblock for his plans? Does Hill know anything about this? The SHIELD director’s inclusion may feel forced, but North rarely includes details that don’t pay off later. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that she’s going to take on a bigger role as well.
It’ll be interesting to see what this story will ultimately say about Sue. She’s the star of the show here, and you can tell North relishes writing her. The way she’s been positioned as not only the team’s leader, but its heart as well, continues to develop her as one of Marvel’s strongest characters. It’s no mistake that Galactus is seeking her out. Reed’s genius and Ben’s strength may be formidable, but it’s Sue’s dynamic powerset and quick thinking that make her the true threat. She’s earned this new status quo after being underestimated for years, and it’ll be exciting to see her step into a larger role.
That being said, this issue reads very much like a setup. We have two big action pieces loosely tied together by some exposition, with neither the space invaders nor the Wingless Wizard feeling like credible threats. It’s functional rather than essential, serving to move our major players into place instead of positing anything new.
As mentioned before, North is always finding new ways for the team to use their powers, and Humberto Ramos is the perfect artist to bring his vision to life. Whether it’s Sue using her powers to create invisible objects or Reed manipulating his fingers to spell out the alphabet on page twenty-one, each panel is rendered in his signature, cartoony style. It may not work on every book, but his art seems tailor-made for the Fantastic Four. Reed, in particular, gets a lot of the best panels as his elasticity seems to pop off the page every time he appears.
Edgar Delgado’s colors harken back to the early days of the book, with each blue, green, and yellow popping off the page. The panels where the family is all together, like the dinner scenes on page eleven, are bursting with personality, and each member gets their chance to shine. VC’s Joe Caramagna handles his job with his signature professionalism. Reed does a lot of explaining in this issue, but it never feels like it’s bogged down or overtaking the art, which is a real testament to how good a job he does.
Ultimately, Fantastic Four #6 is an enjoyable opening to a new arc that’s sure to capture the attention of any longtime fans. Galactus is coming, and he’s gunning for Sue. North and Ramos have set the stage; now it’s Sue’s time to shine.
‘Fantastic Four’ #6 Review: Galactus Wants Sue Storm
Fantastic Four #6 is an enjoyable opening to a new arc that’s sure to capture the attention of any longtime fans. Galactus is coming and he’s gunning for Sue. North and Ramos have set the stage, now it’s Sue’s time to shine.
