Fantastic Four Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 6 Paperback – January 1, 2006

I was introduced to the Fantastic Four via Marvel's Greatest Comics no. 36, back in the early 1970's; it reprinted the second part of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's introduction of Galactus and the Silver Surfer. I was pretty young at the time and didn't know Kirby from apple butter, but later I learned of the legend of Jack "The King" Kirby and appreciated his and Stan Lee's work on the FF even more. John Byrne's run is considered by many to be second only to the Lee and Kirby run, and this installment in the trade paperback reprinting of his 1980's work on the series sees him firing on all thrusters. This book will make you love the She-Hulk, and it contains the exemplary story of Franklin Richards (Reed and Sue's son) fighting Mephisto, the Lord of the Underworld. Not to be missed.

3-1/2 stars. I consider volumes 3, 6 & 7 in this series to be about average to slightly above average in quality. In volume 6, Jerry Ordway takes over on inks to lighten Byrne's FF/ Alpha Flight workload. Really, I'm a *huge* Byrne fan, but this Byrne-Ordway team-up just didn't really work for me. They're both well-respected professionals; I just didn't think they were a great artistic match. The visuals in this paperback seem a little bit flat & uninspired- at least when compared to Byrne's earlier work. Even the colors leave a bit to be desired...I guess it's the writing that saves the day- it's interesting to say the least. I don't know what got into Byrne here, but here's a sample of what you'll get in this, one of the thickest editions in this series: Mephisto & Doctor Strange; eternal torment; a Ben-Johnny-Alicia conflict; the origin of Dr. Doom; the topic of explicit racial conflict & hate; the destruction of the Baxter building; a hate-filled kid; the Hate-Monger; Malice the mistress of hate; the Psycho-Man; Daredevil- the man without fear (issue 281); the Scourge (Secret Wars II #2); and the general topic of vengeance. Yikes!The Invisible Girl becoming the Invisible Woman is the overall issue here. This might be my least favorite volume in the series, and it's definitely *not* for kids. Thankfully, the Secret Wars II issue brings us Spider-Man, Power Man & Iron Fist, and some much needed comedy relief. I'm probably not the only person who felt Byrne & Ordway weren't the best combination. In the 1st issue we see, "...And introducing the inking wizardry of Jerry Ordway!!!". In the last issue we see, "...And welcome back to Al Gordon inker". I far prefer Byrne-Gordon to Byrne-Ordway, but I think it's best when Byrne inks himself. I have nicer things to say about Ordway in volume 8.Included in this volume:*Issue #276- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Issue #277- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Thing #23- Ron Wilson breakdowns; Bob Layton inks*Issue #278- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Issue #279- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Issue #280- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Issue #281- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Secret Wars II #2- Jim Shooter writes; Al Milgrom pencils; Leialoha & Rubinstein inks*Issue #282- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Issue #283- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks*Issue #284- John Byrne writes & pencils; Al Gordon inks

John Byrne after some lame stories the monster story with Ben Grimm and the time travel cowboys and indians mess makes a erecovery in this collection. One improvement is better art Al Gordon's inks in the later issues of volume 5 were overdone too many lines that were probably not in Byrne's pencils. The stories are better they are darker but they work for me especially the Mephisto story arc and the Psycho man story arc that occurs when they go to the Microverse in 282-284 ending with a more assertive Sue and her becoming theInvisible Woman.One of the few flaws of Lee and Kirby FF was that after the marriage Sue was still Invisible Girl. Girls dont get married women do at least it should be that way,The name change shouldve occured then with Sue announcing to everyone include the guests that she was not agirl anymore and she didnt want the label. Agood volume dspite mamest the lamest FF Doom story which keeps it from 5 stars

Like a previous reviewer said, I don't know what was going through John Byrne's head during this volume. I think he was working out some personal issues here (It might have had something to do with Marvel's editors at the time). Here's a quick rundown of the issues in volume 6:Issue #276: While living their secret life in Connecticut, Reed and Sue are attacked by a witch hunterIssue #277: Reed, Sue and young Franklin wind up battling Mephisto. The Thing returns to Earth, and finds out that Johnny and Alicia are dating. Uh-oh. Guest-starring Doctor StrangeThe Thing #23: In a bout of rage, The Thing officially quits the Fantastic FourIssue #278: Doctor Doom's young apprentice Kristoff is appointed the new Doctor DoomIssue #279: After the Baxter building is shot into space by the new Doctor Doom, the Four must escape!Issue #280: The Hate-monger spreads his influence across New York, and Sue Storm becomes Malice!Issue #281: While New York burns, Reed and Johnny battle Malice on the roof of Avengers Mansion. Guest-starring DaredevilSecret Wars 2 issue #2: The Beyonder comes to earth to understand humans.Issue #282: The Fantastic Four travel to the Micro-Verse to seek vengeance against the Psycho-ManIssues #283-284: Our heroes must overcome their own fears in order to stop the Psycho-Man. The Invisible Girl becomes the Invisible WomanI'm not gonna lie here. Out of the first six volumes of John Byrne's F.F run, this is my least favorite. It just seemed like the series was heading away from the fun adventures of past, and slipping into dark territory. It just doesn't fit for a title like this. But, I guess that was just the way it was back in the 80's. On a side note, I also wasn't a fan of Sue's mullet

This is absolutely the zenith of John Byrne's run on Fantastic Four, featuring the superb Hate storyline. It is a story that deconstructs the Fantastic Four in the course of one issue/chapter and ends with one of the team members a much stronger character. It is also the first Fantastic Four story I read as a kid, and went a long way to hooking me on comic books. Basically, a mystery foe from the Fantastic Four's past manipulates one of the team, turning them into an enemy by playing on that member's unconscious anger at the team. Then, when the member is freed, the team follow the enemy back to his home dimension, where they escape his traps in true heroic fashion, leading into an unsettling but totally fitting climax.It does have shades of the Dark Phoenix saga, which Byrne also worked on, but I feel this is a much better storyline and deserves much more love, so buy this volume if only for this story.But if you need more, before we hit Hate, we start with an encounter with an exorcist and Marvel's version of the devil, Mephisto, the Thing returns to Earth but it's not a very happy homecoming and the team lose their home when Doctor Doom reaches from the grave in a distinctly creepy manner, that ties in with the idea of possession that seems to permeate this volume. These are great stories with good character work and excellent action pieces that involve inventive uses of the Four's powers.The art is also kicked up a notch when Jerry Ordway starts inking Byrne's pencils. Ordway is a man with a fine eye for shadows and a fine line that fits the more serious storylines here. Also, the colouring which has seemed a little garish and flat in earlier editions looks much better here.All in all, this is a book you have to own.