Fantastic Four

Ghost-Spider #7

/ / Comics

Ghost-Spider #7 comic reviewGhost Spider takes a break from both the Miles Warren storyline and Gwen’s sabbatical in the regular Marvel Universe to offer a look at familiar characters whose lives are quite different in Spider-Gwen’s dimension. In Gwen’s world, Johnny Storm and Sue Storm were social media celebrities rather than fantastical heroes. They disappeared four years ago only to show up suddenly when no memories of where they’ve been all this time.

Like her father, and the world, Gwen has questions about what happened to the pair and if their return is also related to some kind of Human Torch who has suddenly appeared in New York. One thing is clear, the pair’s sudden appearance has been noticed by this world’s Reed Rickards who is known as The Thinker.

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Black Cat #4

/ / Comics

Black Cat #4 comic reviewAfter making it out of Doctor Strange‘s home with her prize, Felicia Hardy pushes her luck as the next address on the list of targets turns out to be the home of the Fantastic Four. My favorite moments in Black Cat #4 are Black Cat’s inner monologues involving the top two reasons no one in their right mind would ever break into 4 Yancy Street (while, of course, doing just that).

It helps that Felicia manages to sweet-talk an invitation from Johnny Storm, hoping to make out with one of Reed Richard’s books without the Human Torch noticing (and before the Invisible Woman returns). What doesn’t help is, for the second job in a row, all hell breaking loose as first Sonny Ocampo shows up and then Blastaar opens a door from the Negative Zone into the FF’s living room. Oh boy.

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Fantastic Four #1

/ / Comics

Fantastic Four #1 comic reviewThe Fantastic Four don’t actually appear in the first issue of their new series, at least not together. Nearly the entire issue takes place on Earth where the sudden appearance of the Fantastic Four logo in the sky causes very different reactions for the Human Torch (whose hope is dashed when he discovers the entire episode was nothing more than a prank of local kids) and the Thing (who knows all too well that his family is gone).

There are some nice moments here including a flashback to an earlier adventure where Johnny sang the family home from deep space, a long-overdue proposal and Johnny getting the sign he demanded (even if it is produced in the most cliched and hamfisted way possible moments after his temper tantrum). Even if they aren’t together yet, it does appear that the family is ready for a reunion.

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Still Craptastic

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Fantastic Four (2015)
  • IMDb: link

Fantastic FourThe first pre-screening I ever attended as a critic was 2005’s Fantastic Four. It was, in retrospect, a brutal rite of passage. One would hope that after a decade full of comic book films (the good, the bad, and everything in-between) 20th Century Fox would have learned their lesson and seen fit not to unleash such a travesty onto an unsuspecting movie-going audience yet again. One would be wrong.

Fantastic? After three movies somebody really needs to sue Fox for false advertising. The series made substantial improvements with 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer but still could only squeeze mediocrity out of one the best stories Marvel Comics has ever published.

Choosing to wipe the slate clean by adapting the Ultimate Marvel versions of the characters (an alternate timeline of the Marvel Universe I had little interest in going into this screening and even less on exiting), screenwriters Simon Kinberg, Jeremy Slater, and Josh Trank weave a tale of boy geniuses, alternate dimensions, and maniacal villains who are evil solely because the plot is dependent on them to be.

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Top Ten Avengers Who (Likely) Won’t Be Part of the MCU

/ / Top Tens & Lists

Top Ten Avengers Who (Likely) Won't Be Part of the MCU

For those of you who have seen Avengers: Age of Ultron you know by the end of the film the team has a few new recruits for future Marvel movies going forward. Several characters are also getting the TV treatment including Daredevil, Mockingbird, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones. We know Spider-Man is on his way, and it is growing more and more likely that Carol Danvers will be making her way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the next few years. But what about all those 50+ years of Avengers who don’t fit into Marvel’s master plan for the big (or even small) screen? Here are the Top 10 Avengers Who (Likely) Won’t Be Part of the MCU.

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