The Terrific Three Is A Terrible Name... Welcome Back Ms. Thing
The Overview: You know what? This series isn't always running through my mind or something that I rush out to pick up when it releases but in all seriousness, when I do pick it up, I find it to always be just good solid fun. In the weeks that this book has come out it has always made it to the top of my stack and this week's issue is no different.
In this next installment, we pick up right where we left off; right where the last issue had us dazed from a major cliffhanger. Here we are starting to see what the team will actually stand for now that they realize that the original Fantastic Four might not come back. This issue is the first of the series to stand on its own two legs without tying into Fraction's other story over in his Fantastic Four run and we are finally able to see what his plans are for this new team.
The Good: I'll be damned if Mike Allred's work does not put a huge smile on your face. His art is this pop 80s fun style that just captures the zaniness of this book. If you have seen his other work like Madman or X-Statix, you know what I'm talking about. This book is in the same vein and fans of Allred will not be disappointed. It is like watching a wonderfully bubbly animated sitcom. Mike Allred just captures the faces in each panel so perfectly, every emotion, every character detail, it is just absolutely sublime. Also, the man's got chops when it comes to action scenes. I loved the fun little chase between Ant-Man/Ms. Thing and the Yancy Street Gang. So much fun. And of course his art wouldn't be as stellar if it didn't have the beautifully rendered colorings of his wife, Laura Allred. Those New Year's panels were just gorgeous and wonderfully vibrant with color.
Aside from the art, Matt Fraction's writing is nothing short of superb in this issue. His style in this book is a consistently balanced mix of whimsical while still having an element of drama that keeps the story moving in a logical direction. Fraction just seems to be having so much fun with his Marvel work lately and it is such a treat to read. His witty dialogue, smart comedic timing, and playful captions make this book too easy to read and enjoy. The way he can do all that while still orchestrating a grand, mysterious plot with an equally mysterious subplot is just unreal. His issues are getting better and better and after the amazingness of the last issue I was actually afraid if Fraction would be able to keep up the momentum or not. He definitely does not disappoint here and I'm curious to see how long he can keep this fun ride going.
The Bad: I feel like we are still in the setting-up phase yet we are already three issues in. Matt Fraction is the kind of writer who likes to put all of his pieces on the table before delving into the thick of it (for example take a look at his Uncanny X-Men run and his Invincible Iron Man run) so it won't be until next issue, which will already be issue #4, where we will finally see the team actually tackling their very first mission. Now, this technique is kind of a double-edged sword because while it allows for a grander story to be put into motion, which is a good thing in the long run, it does take a long while to actually get the ball rolling and be captivating. Fraction's work has a nice, slow burn to it and for some, he may be taking too long to cut to the chase.
The Verdict: You know, with how fun this series has been for me personally, I don't understand why it keeps slipping my mind. I feel like this is a series that may be slipping under other people's radar as well and that's a shame because they are missing out on some fantastic storytelling. It is very easy for a title like this to get lost in all of the hoopla of Marvel NOW! but in reality, in my honest opinion, this has got to be in the top tier of the current lineup easily and that's really all there is to it. Matt Fraction and Mike Allred's creative minds are jiving so well together that it really makes me wonder why these two have never partnered up before. Their zany styles compliment each other so well that other creative teams better watch out. This may be the next dynamic power pairing, people! This issue is fun, dramatic, and all of the above so just run out and pick this up already.
5/5 stars. The original Fantastic Four can take their sweet time coming back. The FF is in good hands.
