Issue- 1
Issue- 1
Title- Are you Sure?!
Writer- Chris Claremont
Art- Jon Bogdanove
Summary:
Franklin Richards awakens from a nightmare where he sees all of the Fantastic Four and X-Men dead, seemingly responsible is his father, Reed. The catalyst for the events is apparently a book which transforms Reed into the image of Doctor Doom. Waking up from the dream, Franklin is consoled by his mother Sue. However Sue suddenly finds the book from Franklin's dream in a box recently taken out of storage. The book is Reed's journal from state university. Meanwhile on the other side of the Atlantic, the X-Men face a tragedy as Shadowcat is on the verge of death. Magneto determines that her only chance is to receive treatment from a device of Reed Richards invention. Later, after a run in at a downtown library, She-Hulk and the Thing rush to avert a disaster when a nearby building collapses. Their brute strength is not enough but fortunately Magneto arrives and uses his control over metal to set things right. Magneto then visits the FF headquarters to ask for Reed's help. Reed is reluctant to leave with Magneto because Sue has become disturbed by something she read in his journal however he eventually agrees. During the journey to Muir Island, Reed becomes increasingly filled with self-doubt about his abilities. Finally after examining Shadowcat he decides that he cannot take the risk that his device will kill her instead of saving her. The X-Men become enraged by refusal to try and attack Reed, She-Hulk, Thing, and the Human Torch. Ultimately Wolverine threatens to kill Reed is he doesn't save Shadowcat.
Comments:
An excellent start to a great limited series. Although Doom only appears as an apparition here, it is a very thoughtful one. Claremont begins here his fascination with examining the close similarities between Doom and Reed. Claremont's point and perspective on the two is never more clear than when he writes, "Victor von Doom and Reed Richards are but opposite sides of the same coin - twins in spirit." Bottom Line: Buy It!
Issue- 2
Title-
Writer- Chris Claremont
Art- Jon Bogdanove
Summary:
Dr. Mactaggert and Storm manage to quell Wolverine's rage, however Storm is severely and inadvertently burned by the Human Torch in the process. The X-Men ask Reed and the FF to leave since he will not assist them but he stays long enough to see that Doctor Doom appears as a hologram and offers to reproduce the device which Reed will not lend them. While the X-Men debate Doom's offer, Sue at last reveal what she discovered in Reed's journal. According to words written in the book, Reed took them into the cosmic storm on purpose in order to create a team of super-powered beings. This knowledge creates an outrage among the team who each promptly go their separate ways. Back on Muir Island, Storm decides that they will accept Doom's offer.
Comments:
Since I don't consider myself a Fantastic Four fan, I wonder if fans thought that the way the team turns against Reed is in-character? As a relative outsider I found it more or less believable. It all seems somewhat reminiscent of their early conflicts where it was not too uncommon to see one of them storming off in a fit of rage. Doom's intro here as a hologram is nice and Claremont seems to have a good command of Doom's voice. A nice continuity nod is that Dazzler mentions that she has had a run in with him as well as an allusion to the X-Men's encounter in Uncanny X-Men #145-147 (also by written Claremont). Bottom Line: Buy It!
Issue- 3
Title- By the Soul's Darkest Light
Writer- Chris Claremont
Art- Jon Bogdanove
Summary:
The X-Men have arrived in Latveria and accepted Doom's aid. Doom extends his help by also healing Storm's arm burnt previously in an accident by the Human Torch. Back in New York, Reed sulks in the halls of the FF building until he finds Franklin upset from a nightmare. Reed then begins to tell him a story, this catches the eye of Sue who observes them while invisible. Elsewhere, Ben visits his old neighborhood and begins drinking in a bar. He ponders his life and the possibility that Reed could have made him Thing on purpose. Eventually he leaves and comes across a overturned gas truck that has trapped a baby girl in a car accident. He successfully rescues the girl much to the delight of the mother. Johnny meanwhile reveals to Alicia that he's not angry at Reed because for him becoming the Human Torch was a blessing and not a curse. Ultimately the four reunite with Sue revealing that she no longer believes that Reed wrote those entries in the journal.
Comments:
A very character driven issue. Little to no action. Claremont is in top form. The art by Jon Bogdanove is also excellent. I particularly like scenes between Reed and Franklin, very touching. I've often read that people don't like Claremont's verbose style. Its doesn't bother me at all. On the contrary I find that his writing and plotting are very much character centric, which I suppose is what I enjoy the most. Doom really hasn't done much in the series. The focus is clearly on Reed and the relationships within the Fantastic Four, however this is still great reading in my opinion. Bottom Line: Buy It!
Issue- 4
Title- A Matter of Faith
Writer- Chris Claremont
Art- Jon Bogdanove
Summary:
The reunited Fantastic Four travel to Latveria in order to be present as Doom tries to save Shadowcat. Their arrival however only sparks another battle. Raising the risk that the experiment fail, Doom reveals that Magneto's power can disrupt his computers during the crucial phase of the process. Magneto seemingly disregards this, focused only on halting the FF's progress. The Fantastic Four and X-Men begin to battle anew until Franklin appears and reminds them that Shadowcat's life hangs in the balance. The two teams cease their fighting and turn their attention to Doom's cure. Reed observes Doom's actions and identifies a fault in his calculations. Doom and Reed quibble until once more Franklin intervenes and convinces them to work together. They determine that Magneto's use of his power has disable a crucial circuit of the computer and that the remaining calculations can only be done manually. Reed still reeling from his bout of self-doubt is unsure if he can do it. Ultimately he does and Shadowcat is saved. Later, Doom holds a party to commemorate the success. There, the FF and X-men reconcile. Sue also realizes that the journal is a forgery by Doom, planted years ago in order to cripple Reed's self esteem. Doom denies it. Meanwhile, as Franklin sleeps, he visits a now recovering Shadowcat in his astral form.
Comments:
A fine end to what for some reason is one of my favorite limited series. I think the characters get a lot of good lines. This issue also has one of my favorite moments which is when Franklin intercedes between Reed and Doom. I think it a classic moment. The only dangling plot thread is that if Doom planted the journal, when, how, why? Its a minor quibble, and the journal is little more than a Macguffin. I don't consider myself an FF fan, and I am definitely not a X-Men fan, but this story makes want to read more of both. I've always been left curious if Franklin and Kitty ever meet again. I imagine that would make for an interesting story. Anyway, of note is that in this issue we learn a little about Doom and Reed's rivalry. Doom's characterization here is I think top notch. For me Claremont is one of the best when it comes to writing Doom. Bottom Line: Buy It!