The Good
I didn't understand the significance of the cover until I read this issue -- and it's fantastic. Ronan stands before a fire, holding his wife Crystal -- Medusa's younger sister -- in his arms. It's best to have some background on the Inhumans when you first dive into this issue. During the War of Kings, Ronan (leader of the Kree Empire) married Crystal in order to establish an alliance between the Kree and the Inhumans. Although the marriage was arranged, the two eventually grew to love one another. This issue, essentially, is about their love and about love in general and is appropriately titled "Ronance."
The story opens in the present day with the Foundation who witness the arrival of the Inhumans. It shifts to a scene where Black Bolt stands before the Supremor, and something drastic changes. If you're a fan of the Inhumans and of War of Kings, you absolutely need to pick up the latest issue of FF. Not only is it an incredibly well written sci-fi story featuring the talents of Nick Dragotta; but it's an incredibly important issue as it changes the status quo of Black Bolt, the Inhumans, and their relationship with the Kree Empire. The events in this issue are significant and really change everything; but they are also very sad.
It is interesting, however, to see the evolution of a marriage that is built on the idea of bringing peace between two races. How it can grow to become much more than that, and how sometimes it needs to be sacrificed for political reasons. It will be interesting to see what happens in the coming issues of FF and what this will mean for both the Kree and the Inhumans.
I thought it was sweet to see the scene with Sue and Reed prior to the big reveal later in the issue. The two are still, even so many years later and after having children, in love with one another. It's a sweet moment that they rarely get to share.
The Bad
There was nothing I didn't like about this issue.
The Verdict
I love the fact that Hickman reverts back to past events in his stories and brings them back to the surface. He creates interesting parallels between the relationships of different characters, and you see a lot of that in this issue. As sweet as this is, this issue changes a lot of things too. It's a sad story that definitely opens doors to possible story lines and interesting outcomes. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens next.