Blogathon 48: From Hell to Heaven Part Three

[Concluding my discussion of the Mark Waid/Howard Porter/Mike Wieringo Fantastic Four stories "Authoritative Action" and "Hereafter."]

With Ben dead and the Fantastic Four branded traitors to the US because of their actions in Latveria, things look pretty down when "Hereafter" begins. One of the most heartbreaking moments I've ever seen in a comic is a scene showing what happened after Ben died: Reed using a giant defibrillator to try and save him and, when he's pulled off, he talks about how they don't have much time only to be told that he's been trying for an hour. He has this look of disbelief of his face in a silent panel; in a repeat of the panel he simply says "What?" The effect of Ben's loss is profound on the group, but Reed sees only one solution: storm the gates of Heaven and get their friend back.

It's such an absurd idea and one that really only works in a comic like Fantastic Four. They've been everywhere else, why not Heaven, too? They push through every obstacle: angels, a broken path, even Ben and his big brother who are waiting for them, because Ben can't actually enter Heaven itself. Reed is keeping a tiny part of his body alive and that's stopping Ben from moving on. Now, that's probably for the best, because what are the odds that you're going to convince someone to come back to Earth once they've actually been to Heaven? There's something incredibly touching and selfish about them even going to get him. When Ben breaks through the door seemingly made by Reed's technology keeping him from crossing over, there's orange rock underneath and Ben realises that he's been keeping himself out. He's not ready to die, he's not ready to leave his family behind.

And, then, the Fantastic Four meet their creator... Jack Kirby.

That moment is why I consider this the high point of the Waid/Wieringo run on the book. You can't top the build of Doom's attack/Reed's response/Ben's death/the trip to Heaven/the team meeting Jack Kirby where he fixes Reed's face, turns Ben back into the Thing, and sends them all home with a drawing of their eventual happy ending as old people. Like I said, I enjoyed what came after, but this may just have been a 'get off the stage' moment. Waid and Wieringo delivered some nice adventures and funny moments, none of which matched the power of these issues. These comics we so steeped in emotion and character, so tied into who the Fantastic Four and what they mean to one another in such a big story that I'm not sure anything on the title could top it. For my money, these two stories (maybe with the actual encounter with Doom) comprise the best Fantastic Four story. The Lee/Kirby stuff was great, but even they could hit the emotional heights that are hit here.

Sure, it's a return to the status quo, but it's an earned return to the status quo. It's the logical end point of the story. And damned if it isn't fantastic (pun intended).

In 30 minutes, I take my bow and get off the stage.

[Don't forget to donate what you can to the Hero Initiative! (Details in this post.) After you do, let me know via comment or e-mail (found at the righthand side) so I can keep track of donations -- and who to thank.]

Blogathon 47: From Hell to Heaven Part Two

[Continuing my discussion of the Mark Waid/Howard Porter/Mike Wieringo Fantastic Four stories "Authoritative Action" and "Hereafter."]

Reed's plan in Latveria is much more extensive than simply disarming Doom's castle: he installs himself as the new leader of the country and sets about doing his best to destroy everything Doom had left: his reputation with his people, his wealth, his weapons, even the portrait of his mother isn't safe from Reed's wrath. And, make no mistake, it's pissed off anger-fuelled revenge that drives Reed here. He's had enough of Doom always coming back and screwing with his family and he's going to make sure that never happens again. In the process, he alienates Sue, Ben, and Johnny, and pisses off the global community who simply can't allow a private citizen to take over a country like that.

It's easy to see why this story appeals to me so much. It's exactly what I want out of a superhero comic: smart writing that breaks out of the usual superhero mould. A hero actually thinking about the patterns he's been locked into and doing something to break free of them. You know it won't last or work entirely, but that's doesn't matter. It's that brief moment of 'enlightenment' that makes it worthwhile. And had Waid stuck with the above, I would have been satisfied. Instead, he pushes things further...

Reed purposefully drove his family away so he could enact the final part of his plan: rescuing Doom from Hell and locking them both in a room with no exit for eternity so he can make sure Doom never threatens his family again. The ultimate sacrifice and, as both men seem willing to recognise, the ultimate act of hatred. I don't know if Reed was even shown to absolutely hate Doom like this before. Doom had gone too far and was stuck in a room with no escape for etern--

Oh shit, the rest of the Fantastic Four just opened the door so they could rescue Reed from his foolish decisions. Doom uses a mental trick to transer his consciousness to Sue and escape. Then, it becomes a fight where one of the FF is always at risk while Doom's consciousness may not be. Ultimately, he takes over Ben and Reed is forced to kill him. Yeah, kill him. Doom managed to hurt Reed and his family even more. How could Waid possibly follow that up?

(Unfortunately, this story was drawn by Howard Porter instead of Mike Wieringo. That will always bug me...)

In 30 minutes, I'll discuss how Waid, teamed back up with Wieringo, manages to follow up on "Authoritative Action" with "Hereafter."

[Don't forget to donate what you can to the Hero Initiative! (Details in this post.) After you do, let me know via comment or e-mail (found at the righthand side) so I can keep track of donations -- and who to thank.]

Blogathon 46: From Hell to Heaven Part One

[Beginning my discussion of the Mark Waid/Howard Porter/Mike Wieringo Fantastic Four stories "Authoritative Action" and "Hereafter."]

I won the Waid/Wieringo run of Fantastic Four in those three hardcovers that Marvel put out and, for me, the best stuff is the second hardcover if you ignore the final two issues included, which comprise an entertaining Human Torch/Spider-Man story albeit one that's forgettable and doesn't stand up to the two storyarcs included in that hardcover. The third hardcover feels a little more throwaway. Again, nothing gets bad; it's that none of it feels essential and necessary. A horrible word, I know. The first hardcover is a nice build to the Dr. Doom story, particularly the issue focusing on Doom and the love from his youth. I can see why some would see that Doom story as the high point. I liked those comics. I didn't love them and got the second hardcover because that first hardcover was good enough to keep up with it. The second hardcover, though, was when Waid really hit his stride and put his mark on the book for my money.

I'm actually surprised that I even picked up the first hardcover, because I wasn't a fan of the first issue of their run, the nine-cent issue. Like much of the first hardcover, I thought it was fine. It was inoffensive and left me fairly cold. It must have been all of the positive word of mouth. Enough people talk something up and you're bound to check it out. I'm glad I did.

The first hardcover culminated in a story where Doom attacked the Fantastic Four with an emphasis on magic. That alone was a smart idea. The magic of Doom has been around for a long time, but never really played up in his fights against the Fantastic Four. His skin armour was genuinely creepy and more than any other time, Doom came off as a threat. He really seemed like he was a dominant force that may be too much for the Fantastic Four. Although defeated and sent to Hell, he had a lasting effect on the family when he sent Franklin to Hell and left Reed's face scarred. While there were two issues between that story and "Authoritative Action," the kick-off story for the second hardcover is a definite follow-up to Doom's attack.

In "Authoritative Action," Reed Richards takes the Fantastic Four to Latveria seemingly to disarm Doom's castle and make sure if he returns he won't have the same resources that he always has. I love that idea. It's an active way to approach the problem of Doom, something right up my alley. Where the story goes after that, pushing things even further, made me love it even more.

I'll talk more about this in 30 minutes...

[Don't forget to donate what you can to the Hero Initiative! (Details in this post.) After you do, let me know via comment or e-mail (found at the righthand side) so I can keep track of donations -- and who to thank.]