FANTASTIC FOUR EPIC COLLECTION: THE MORE THINGS CHANGE... Paperback – June 18, 2019

Always have always will love the FF

I love this run, because Englehart dares to embrace what's special about the FF family in a way that NO OTHER FF writer dared (excluding Lee/Kirby, of course): exploring new, far-reaching, original avenues and adventures for the FF to explore WITHOUT repeating and/or recycling previous stuff ad nauseum. He shakes things up severely by moving Reed and Sue off-stage, for the most part, and examines the strained and strange relationships amongst the then-new foursome - Ben, the new FF leader; Johnny, recently married to Alicia, Ben's former girlfriend who he still loves; Crystal, Johnny's former Inhuman-sweetheart who is now divorced from her psycho mutant husband Quicksilver, and recent rape victim Ms. Marvel, who turns into a lumpy She-Thing. Ben does her one better by further evolving into a spikier Thing. Englehart also does what he always does best: ties various, seemingly unrelated plot threads from all over the Marvel universe together in a fun, believable way. When directed by then-editor Ralph Macchio to end the Shooter/Secret Wars/Beyonder saga (which Macchio hated), Steve delivers a comic book masterpiece involving the convincingly wily and devious Dr. Doom. And after all the cosmic craziness, he and Peter David deliver a really cool Thing-Hulk fight/crossover. Dynamic John Buscema and Keith Pollard art, polished by Joe-FF's best inker-Sinnott, create fantastic art to accompany this great run. Read and savor this underrated run seemingly dismissed by some just because it was different.

Fantastic.

A somewhat Bleh period in Fantastic Four from the late 1980s with Reed and Sue gone and the Thing leading the team. The villains are mostly forgettable, and the drama (such as it is) is overly soap operatic. The main thing I picked this up because of The Thing/Incredible Hulk graphic novel by Jim Starlin. It was disappointingly unremarkable and bland. There are a lot of issues in here and there are some decent battles, but overall, this doesn't come close to living up to the motto of, "World's Greatest Comic Magazine.

The comics collected in this volume are honestly not worth your time, except maybe if you wanted to write some good criticism about how poorly Steve Englehart handled female characters during his long career in comics. The Starlin-Wrightson Hulk/Thing graphic novel that’s also included is honestly good enough to warrant simply tracking down an original copy at your favorite comic shop, as it can be had for practically a song these days.To make matters worse, as is often the case, I regret ordering this through Amazon because it arrived with a massive crease across the front cover.

Bought as a gift and they seem to like it!

This latest Fantastic Four Epic Collection is Volume 18 (they are released non-chronologically for any new readers joining the Epics now), covering issues from 1987 and 1988. It's an interesting time for the FF, with Reed and Susan on sabbatical and the Thing in charge. It really shakes up the dynamic of the team, and naturally the stories in this volume focus on the complicated relationships between the 'new' Fantastic Four - Ben and Johnny are on shaky terms due to the latter marrying Ben's longterm paramour Alicia during the Thing's absence, Inhuman Crystal, as an ex of Johnny's, threatens said marriage, and Sharon "Ms. Marvel" Ventura's own feeling for Ben are conflicting with her own past trauma... and that's before another dose of cosmic rays hit the pair...Writer Steve Englehart and artists John Buscema and Keith Pollard are sure hands at the helm of the book, introducing new villains such as Fasaud as well using old enemies like Doctor Doom and the Mole Man to great effect. The stories collected here build to a bravura storyline that manages to tie together Secret Wars, Englehart's run on West Coast Avengers, short-lived Marvel title Comet Man, and the various Cosmic Cubes from throughout Marvel history. It's great fun, always supported by the deep character interaction.Also included is a graphic novel by Jim Starlin and Bernie Wrightson, a lightweight but enjoyable romp that teams the Thing and the Hulk on an intergalactic adventure with very high stakes. Fittingly, the volume also finishes with a Hulk crossover, as Doom manipulates the pair of superstrong heroes into clashing yet again.Extras include a Marvel Age article on the new team, a promotional story page from the Marvel Age annual, and promotional art from Pollard and Mike Mignola. It's a good collection, and something a little different which proves that the FF CAN work, and work well, without adhering to the classic four members.