Comic Book Review: Fantastic Four #555

The Revolution was extremely excited for Mark Millar’s debut issue on the Fantastic Four. Now, I will admit up front that I have simply never been much of a fan of the Fantastic Four. I have tried it off and on in the past and it has failed to hook me each and every time. However, I enjoy much of what Millar cranks out so I decided to make this leap into the waters of the Fantastic Four once again.

I have to admit that I was rather unimpressed with Millar’s debut issue on this title. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t find it particularly interesting either. It was kind of like eating rice cakes. It won’t make you gag, but you can’t say that you are dying to eat them again. Having said that, I still have faith that Millar will make Fantastic Four an entertaining read. Let’s go ahead and do this review for Fantastic Four #555.

Creative Team
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: Bryan Hitch
Inks: Bryan Hitch & Paul Neary

Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10.
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10.

Synopsis: We begin with a flashback to twenty years ago at the University of Vienna where Alyssa and Reed are having lunch together. Alyssa comments that the two of them can’t be a couple because they are both geniuses. That dumb people breed like rabbits and that if Reed and Alyssa hooked up then they would be limiting the number of future geniuses compared to if they hooked up with other lesser intelligent spouses.

We shift back to the present with Reed impressed by Nu-World. Alyssa explains how Nu-World is an exact replica of the planet Earth. That a group of very wealthy men concerned about the future of the Earth joined together to form the Earth-Trust in order to finance the construction of Nu-World. Alyssa’s husband, Ted, says that the Earth-Trust estimates that the Earth will be uninhabitable in less than ten years.

We fly through new New York where Alyssa says that they took hundreds of trillions of photos to capture the city details in three dimension to capture the exact dimensions right down to the graffiti. Reed suggests that instead of running away, shouldn’t they try and figure out a solution to prevent the Earth from becoming uninhabitable. Alyssa answers that they are eight years too late for that course of action. That it is simply too late. That the Earth is doomed.

We shift to the Lab inside of Nu-World. Alyssa tells Reed that they have an opportunity to start afresh and build a world with none of the vices that have plagued humankind. That they have created maintenance machines to keep the environment stable and healthy. That they will not replicate deserts or depleted rainforests.

Alyssa and Ted also state that weapons won’t be allowed on Nu-World. That they created “CAP” which stands for “Conserve and Protect” to be Nu-World’s night watchman. He will make sure that there are no armies, guns or nuclear material on Nu-World. That CAP is as ruthless and as powerful as he needs to be. That all the soldiers and SHIELD agents will be retrained and have to learn new skills. That the police will only exist in a social support capacity. That anyone with a weapon will be classified as an outlaw.

Alyssa shows Reed the Nightingales which will be stationed at every major hospital. They exist within a bio-electrical aura that realigns your atoms and cures most illnesses. Alyssa then shows Reed the World Bank that is in charge of the money supply and guarantees a balanced global economy for at least a thousand years. Alyssa says that these projects are just the tip of the iceberg. That they have a billion projects that they haven’t even started yet.

Alyssa says that they want Reed to join them in the creation of Nu-World. That they don’t need a superhero in a costume. That they need Red to be a scientist again. We then see a man in the Lab giving Reed the evil eye.

We cut to the Baxter Building where Reed tells the Thing that he has decided to join the Earth-Trust in their effort to construct Nu-World. Reed says he has to leave immediately in order to catch the next wormhole to get to the other end of the universe. Reed says he has no time to stay and tell Sue about his decision.

Thing suggest that Alyssa wants to get her hooks into Reed. Reed dismisses any possible interest Alyssa might have in him. Reed says that Sue and he have worked out their problems and that a little space is good for a marriage. Reed then leaves.

We shift to Johnny late for a band practice and streaking through the air trying to get there as fast as possible. On his way to band rehearsal, Johnny comes across a hottie super villainess breaking into an armored truck carrying a diamond shipment. The girl immediately recognizes Johnny Storm. The two of them begin brawling.

The girl tells Johnny to back off. That she wasn’t hurting anyone. Johnny says that stealing is a crime as is destruction of property. The two continue fighting and end up with the girl straddling on top of Johnny. Suddenly, the two begin kissing. The villainess exclaims that she can’t believe that she is doing this. That Johnny is even more gorgeous that he looks on TV. Johnny answers “I know.” The two proceed to have some enjoyable dirty sex.

We hop over to the Earth-Trust North Pole Station Alpha. We see Ted telling Alyssa that he believes that she still loves Reed. That she doesn’t like Sue playing with Alyssa’s little toy. Alyssa totally denies Ted’s assertion.

Suddenly, the alarm goes off and Ted is informed that CAP has escaped. That CAP heard Ted talking about the real-world soldiers when they were giving Reed the tour of the facility and that CAP has broken out and gone looking for these soldiers. Also, that CAP deactivated his emergency shutdown. Alyssa says that they have tracked CAP heading south looking for soldiers.

We zip over to Alaska where a team of soldiers are trekking through the snow. Suddenly, a massive giant robot emblazoned with Captain America’s colors and logo appears before them. End of issue.

Comments
The Good: What a great issue! Fantastic Four #553 was a such an enjoyable read. Millar moves this story along at a tightly measured pace. This certainly isn’t a fast moving story. However, it isn’t a dull dragging story, either. Instead, Millar is taking his time properly laying the foundation for this story arc as well creating the proper amount of tension within the reader. Fantastic Four #555 was a well plotted issue as Miller has always demonstrated the ability to create grand cinematic story arcs that play out like enjoyable summer blockbuster movies.

Millar serves up some well crafted dialogue. Millar has quickly established a fairly good, if not stereotypical, feel for each of the members of the Fantastic Four. At this point in the story they are all a bit more like caricatures than fully fleshed out characters. There is no doubt that Millar looks to the Fantastic Four movie versions of these characters rather than the traditional comic book versions for inspiration. Particularly in the case of Johnny who is practically identical to the version that we get in the movies.

Still, all the characters have nice unique external voices. I particularly enjoy how Millar writes Reed’s character. Millar plays up Reed’s natural detached and clinic personality whether it comes to a technological wonder like Nu-World or his own marriage with Sue.

I absolutely love Millar’s Nu-World. What a fantastic plot device. This is a wonderful literary structure to be able to use as the backbone for this current story arc. All the different unusual and morally questionable projects that make up Nu-World provide almost endless fodder for interesting small plotlines.

The goals and philosophy behind Nu-World are thoroughly chilling, creepy and horrifying. And that is exactly why this concept is so captivating. Millar’s Nu-World is the perfect creation for the basis of an anti-utopian story in the vein of “Brave New World” and “1984.” As always, like Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein showed, whenever man attempts to play God horrible results usually follow.

I also like the concept of an Earth-Trust. A one world organization composed of wealthy men making the decisions for the entire world goes hand in hand with the generally creepy feel of Nu-World. It also makes sense that an organization like the Earth-Trust as well as Nu-World would obviously fascinate and interest Reed.

I dig that Millar emphasizes Reed as a scientist over Reed as super hero Mr. Fantastic. That clearly Reed’s mind would be an invaluable asset to the Earth-Trust. This is the role that I much prefer Reed occupying. Mr. Fantastic the super hero leader of the Fantastic Four has never held much interest for me. However, Reed Richards, morally ambiguous scientist and genius is completely engrossing.

I’m curious to see what Alyssa is up to concerning Reed. Of course, Reed is oblivious, but there is no doubt that Alyssa is up to something. I have only had two issues of expose to this character, but she certainly comes across as a manipulative and untrustworthy character.

Personally, I’m waiting for the moment when Sue gets to punch out Alyssa. And honestly, it is no contest which one is hotter! C’mon, Sue is a total MILF and hasn’t gone the route of the asexual soccer mom despite having two kids while Alyssa is a total poochie with a soccer mom haircut.

I absolutely loved the scene with Johnny and the villainess. Personally, if I was a super hero I’d probably act pretty much the same way Johnny does in this issue. It is odd, but I was just debating with Tenzil this week that it only makes sense that super heroes and super villains having sex should happen more frequently. Metahumans, both good and bad, all are incredibly good looking and physical people. They all dress up in fetish outfits of either spandex, leather, latex or vinyl.

Honestly, I have thought to myself that calling a time out during a fight with a villainess like, hmmm, let’s say Mystique, would be a natural urge. I’m glad to see Johnny realizing that making love and not war is always a much more enjoyable experience.

Millar dishes out a kick-ass hook ending to this issue. I absolutely love CAP already. CAP is a pretty cool concept that should provide for plenty of action and destruction. With CAP on the loose I’m sure that we will be in store for a much faster and more action packed read with the following issues.

Bryan Hitch provides plenty of excellent artwork. I like that Hitch gives us a versions of the Fantastic Four that looks more like the movie version rather than the traditional comic book version. Hitch’s Human Torch is particularly well done. Hitch provides a gritty and realistic feel to the Fantastic Four that is a nice change of pace.

The Bad: Sue has been practically invisible (sorry I couldn’t help myself!) over Millar’s first two issues. The Thing only makes a cameo appearance in this issue. And Johnny has gotten a little bit of attention, but it has consisted of mostly superficial treatment. I know that due to the nature of this Nu-World story arc that Millar has had to focus more attention to Reed. Hopefully, this is merely a temporary situation and that Millar will give the other three members of the Fantastic Four a bit more attention.

Overall: Fantastic Four #555 was an enjoyable read. Millar certainly picks up the intensity a rogue CAP in the loose. This issue probably won’t appeal to fans who demand more action and a faster paced story in their comic books. However, I believe that a little bit of patience on part of the reader is about to pay off.

I would recommend this title to readers who have never read Fantastic Four before. Millar has done an impressive job giving enough background to all the various characters as well as keeping thing simple enough for new readers to hop aboard and not feel lost or confused. If you like science fiction based comic books then you will probably enjoy what Millar is crafting on Fantastic Four.