Fantastic Four #642 *spoilers*

[SickAlice]

Bentley's moment of truth made the issue for me. Loved that little hellspawn since Future Foundation and would've bought this issue just for that brief bit.

[Kirby Krackle]

Bentley's moment of truth made the issue for me. Loved that little hellspawn since Future Foundation and would've bought this issue just for that brief bit.

That chocolate gun was pretty great.

[xMatt]

That chocolate gun was pretty great.

Yes! The best scene in the issue and Robinson's entire run!

(That gun was something carried over from Fraction's time on FF, right? I'm not just imagining things?)

[Kirby Krackle]

Yes! The best scene in the issue and Robinson's entire run!

(That gun was something carried over from Fraction's time on FF, right? I'm not just imagining things?)

Was it? I feel like it was in FF, but I'm drawing a black. I need to re-read it.

[Ragdoll]

Yeah, it needs to filter out jerks with itchy trigger fingers.

Seriously. Sue should've been all "Hands up, don't shoot!"

[xMatt]

Was it? I feel like it was in FF, but I'm drawing a black. I need to re-read it.

I'm wrong - it was in the first issue of Robinson's Fantastic Four!

[Kirby Krackle]

I'm wrong - it was in the first issue of Robinson's Fantastic Four!

The fact that I forgot about that, makes me ashamed. lol

[Reviresco]

What do you guys think about the revelation of the real big bad? I know Reed called Quiet out on having dumb motivations, but they are beyond dumb. I like villains I can sort of relate to. This guy is too lame.

I don't think his motivations are all that dumb. I mean Doom's basic motivation in the beginning was that he was jealous of Richards. He is a more understated villain, but his mental state is ... stalker disturbing. There's more to the villain than I can put my finger on at this moment.

This has been my favourite issue of Robinson and Kirk's Fantastic Four so far! I thought the characters were written well and the story moved along quickly. What I think really made it great for me though was ... THE CHOCOLATE GUN! Seriously, that was the best thing ever! What a moment! What a victory! Robinson really does have a flavour for comic book history and it was shown right there and then.

The only downside being...



The Quiet Man reminded me of Watchmen's Veidt at the end, there. With how smart he is and how well the plan is coming together.

But when you think about it, the motivation of the Quiet Man is actually very relatable. At the end of the day, the guy is jealous. It's a story about the guy who never gets the girl. Or the recognition. Or the happiness. That's kind of relatable, once it gets brought down to that level but because he's super-smart he should probably know and be better than that.

He's intellectually smart, but he's socially inept and clueless.

Yeah, I'm sure Robinson referenced that for a reason. I have to give this issue more thought.

[xMatt]

Yeah, which is not entirely uncommon. I wouldn't say totally socially inept, although there is an aspect of that - the guy has run businesses and communicated with people for years (decades, even) it just so happens that his mental state is fragile and he's insecure. He needs a "mask" to communicate properly with people. He needs to "change his face" to be confident. The Quiet Man, Eden: these are all personas that he puts on in order to feel in control. I think insecurity is his main problem and his ability to socialise stems from that.

Seriously the Quiet Man's "I'm not some spy movie villain" vs Veidt's "I'm not some comic book villain" haha.

I JUST REMEMBERED. The other thing the Quiet Man reminded me of was SYNDROME from The Invincibles! (Which was based on Hank Pym's plan with Ultron). The whole idea where the bad guy comes up with a bad situation and then "solves" it with his secret weapon. The Quiet Man is like a mish mash of all the cool but totally cliche comic villains. Syndrome and Hank Pym made evil robots and then "saved the day". The Quiet Man is going to create an invasion that threatens the whole world and will then "save the day".

[Reviresco]

Yeah, which is not entirely uncommon. I wouldn't say totally socially inept, although there is an aspect of that - the guy has run businesses and communicated with people for years (decades, even) it just so happens that his mental state is fragile and he's insecure. He needs a "mask" to communicate properly with people. He needs to "change his face" to be confident. The Quiet Man, Eden: these are all personas that he puts on in order to feel in control. I think insecurity is his main problem and his ability to socialise stems from that.

Excellent point. Superheroes use masks to hide their identity, he needs a mask to have an identity.

Seriously the Quiet Man's "I'm not some spy movie villain" vs Veidt's "I'm not some comic book villain" haha.

Hmmmm. In some ways, he's sort of an amalgam of the Watchmen characters, isn't he?

I JUST REMEMBERED. The other thing the Quiet Man reminded me of was SYNDROME from The Invincibles! (Which was based on Hank Pym's plan with Ultron). The whole idea where the bad guy comes up with a bad situation and then "solves" it with his secret weapon. The Quiet Man is like a mish mash of all the cool but totally cliche comic villains. Syndrome and Hank Pym made evil robots and then "saved the day". The Quiet Man is going to create an invasion that threatens the whole world and will then "save the day".

That's also interesting. Though, TBH, I've forgotten most of Incredibles, other than I enjoyed it. Now I have an excuse to watch it again.

[Ozzy]

I really enjoyed it. I am very sorry this book is ending. Loved the surprise appearance of "Obscure 90s character" at the end. Loved the call backs to the Initiative and the previous Ms. Marvel series. Glad other people caught the Watchman reference.

If this book has had a problem I think it's that Robinson loves to bring up obscure stuff. That works great for "quiet" (no relation to the villain) books like the 90s Starman but not so much for books like the FF that are full of bombast. Just my two cents. I mean he even reffed Hyperstorm a while back which I thought I'd never hear about again.

[MyriVerse]

SHIELD needs to stop hiring idiots.

'Bout time Wanda does something truly worthwhile and says, "No more Shields."

[Reviresco]

'Bout time Wanda does something truly worthwhile and says, "No more Shields."

Osborne did that, but it only made things worse.

[Reviresco]

I really enjoyed it. I am very sorry this book is ending. Loved the surprise appearance of "Obscure 90s character" at the end. Loved the call backs to the Initiative and the previous Ms. Marvel series. Glad other people caught the Watchman reference.

If this book has had a problem I think it's that Robinson loves to bring up obscure stuff. That works great for "quiet" (no relation to the villain) books like the 90s Starman but not so much for books like the FF that are full of bombast. Just my two cents. I mean he even reffed Hyperstorm a while back which I thought I'd never hear about again.

Interesting. What kind of bombast are you thinking of? It's not really what I associate with the FF -- I usually think of a sense of wonder and strong emotional connections. I do think Robinson isn't what I call a flashy writer, and bombastic could also work as an adjective. He's a very thoughtful writer with a nice touch on the emotional scenes.

I read a review of this issue at IGN, where they were complaining of unnecessary fighting (which I think is kind of bombastic) and exposition. He's also great at delivering surprise, cliff hanger endings, some which have been pretty bombastic. I'm really surprised there's not more talk / push about elements that he is using. The Galactus reveal in Invaders was mindblowing, IMO.

[Crimz]

Really liked this issue, and happy that the fight ended quickly. I also loved the watchmen reference. The best part of the issue was definitely Bentley helping Franklin and the other kids.

Also some things remind me of the Incredibles like others have said, like the Red uniforms and the villains plan.