I wasn't sure what to make of this issue. I definitely liked it, but trying to figure out what the initial incentive to write it was makes my brain hurt. At this point, I am convinced North came up with a cool use of powers and went from there figuring out a threat that could be stopped by it. It was a normal issue, with the standard one issue threat which is backed by nice characterization and the science backed dealings which the FF excel at. But unlike many of previous issues, there are developments that have been plopped in our laps which will (well, should be...) dealt with in future issues.
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We knew Franklin has a secret; now we know what it is. The annual thing makes sense in that it was a Franklin creation and not some cosmic thing that just happens to coincide with an Earth revolution.
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Nicholas Scratch is around and spying. Might be a one and done, or a longer story. I would like to see something a bit longer from Ryan North on occasion.
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SHIELD is still around and with a seemingly logical view. Funny books say that kind of behavior never lasts though.
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Where did those asteroids come from? Pretty well hidden and a considerable threat. I'm guessing more on this later.