Fantastic Four #7- All The Thing(s) Concerned

Fantastic Four #7 is here, and Sue Storm is front and center again for The Invincible Woman Part Two. This second part of the Invisible Woman saga is big enough that I’m teaming up with the incomparable Janelle to give you this week’s Nerd Initiative review. Reed has decoded the message, and Galactus is looking for Susan Storm. The problem? No one knows why the cosmic entity needs Sue.

Creative Team

Writer: Ryan North
Penciler: Humberto Ramos
Inkers: Victor Olazaba and JP Mayer
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Writing

Shawn: Ryan North continues to amaze with the Fantastic Four. North marks just the fourth writer for Fantastic Four since 2012, but it becomes increasingly clear with each issue that North is on the path to number amongst the historically great runs on Marvel’s First Family, joining names like Hickman and Byrne.

I loved the shift from issue 6, which saw Sue narrating, to issue 7, where Ben takes over. Through pretty much every version of FF across all writers, Ben tends to be the most laid back and grounded and North really shows that here. Ben is a character that wears his heart of his sleeve so while the focus of the story arc is Sue, this issue is really about Ben.

North’s reveal of Ben’s lunch companions feels fun and fresh, while still being surprising. It doesn’t feel like a cheap gag to move the story along, but something that fans familiar with Ben Grimm can absolutely see him doing.

Janelle: I really enjoyed this issue of continuing the Fantastic Four story. This issue features Sue Storm, who knows that people are looking for her. So together, with Johnny, Ben, and Reed Richards, they are committed to helping her. Alongside their children, they can go on a quest to find the person after Sue. I love the pacing and the action going on in each panel. I felt a rush to read the next panel, and the issue’s conclusion left me asking more questions. I also love that the children were willing to help the Fantastic Four on their mission, but they are quite young.

Art

Shawn: Humberto Ramos remains one of my favorite Marvel illustrators. As much as I enjoyed North’s Fantastic Four with Corey Smith, I was so excited to see Ramos’s name attached to the post-One World Under Doom run of Fantastic Four. Through seven issues, Ramos hasn’t disappointed. The lines are clear and crisp. Ben Grimm feels unique in every panel he’s in. Speaking of panels, a huge shoutout to VC’s Joe Caramagna for an amazing job on this Fantastic Four run with lettering. The Invincible Woman story, particularly across issues six and seven, has really allowed Caramagna to shine.

Inkers Victor Olazaba and JP Mayer, along with colorist Edgar Delgado, really do great work in bringing the pencils to life. The shading, crisp lines, and colors help convey the characters’ emotions. North’s run on Fantastic Four, in particular, has featured many close-up panels of the famous family, with the characters front and center, taking up the panel. While some artists may shy from this, Olazaba, Mayer, and Delgado have shone. Everything from the lines and shading on Ben Grimm to the waves in Sue Storm’s hair are flawless. Now, if we could only convince the creative team to have Johnny Storm shave off that horseshoe mustache, we would be in business.

Janelle:I love the art in this issue. It gives vibrant colors, like Sue’s hair, to Reed’s grey hair on the side. It becomes apparent that the art team really takes its time. I also love how the action is displayed in each comic panel. I feel like it leaps off the page, and I enjoyed seeing it as I was reading. The art to me is a staple for Marvel Comics, and it gives a satisfying visual representation of these character in a comic book.

Overall 9/10

Shawn: 10/10

I really enjoyed this issue. The Thing has long been my favorite member of the Fantastic Four, so I will always appreciate a story that shows us a little more about him. The fact this issue lets us see him as a husband, father, and friend gives us the best parts of Ben Grimm even as we brace for the impact of Galactus meeting with Sue Storm.

Janelle:8/10

Enjoy this review? Check out more from Janelle and Shawn

Are you enjoying Fantastic Four so far? Let us know in the comments below