Fantastic Four: #15 and my thoughts on the 'Four'seeable future.

As I write this, it's been two days since I wrote what was a very different post about this subject. However, the more I thought about it, the more I feared I was going to a place I couldn't come back from. I asked the question on Twitter; should I re-write this post and be nicer or should I stick to my guns and post the original opinion.

Post the original opinion won with 100% of the vote!

That really should have been the end of this issue. However, as the vote was ongoing (and even beyond it in fact), it's been preying on my mind. Was I too brutal, too negative? This is a place for my opinions for my own reasons and anyone who reads them is welcome to do so or not (depending on their point of view). However, I realised (with a little help) that I don't want to be negative for negatives sake and I'd really like to find some good points about even the worst comics I read. But also, I lot of my original problems weren't to do with the comic I read, but with underlying issues relating to it.

Fantastic Four #15 cover.

Therefore, I thought I'd try again.

So Fantastic Four #15 came out a week last Wednesday (as of when I post this), which picked up from where the previous issue ended as the FF got into their space ship to complete the original mission they had set out to do in #1 way back in the 60's. However, the planet they were aiming for was not uninhabited, nor were those living there unexpectedly of their arrival as Spyre's (the planet's name) own super team, the Unparalleled, lay in wait for the 'evil' Fantastic Four to arrive and complete their mission to 'destroy' this planet. From there misunderstandings and fisticuffs ensue.

I have to be honest and point out that, while I had been struggling with the Dan Slott run up until this point with the wedding and the first two stories not really feeling like classic FF as I know it, the run had started to feel like it was moving upwards. Thanks to the two Richards kids related issues, followed then by the awesome Thing/Hulk story and finally the previous issue's awesome set up of this new arc, I felt like the series given to me was finally turning into the Fantastic Four comic I love. Therefore, I really felt we'd turned a corner and was gentirely excited for this issue and to see what happened next.

The Thing once again taking down
a bigger opponent.

Unfortunately, I will admit at this point that my enjoyment was sullied a little by the revelations which came from the synopsis for the upcoming two issues.

And this is what brings me to rewriting this post because, while I allowed what I read about the series and my concerns influence my thoughts on this issue, in reality issue 15 isn't as bad as I originally perceived.

Issue 15 did indeed have a lot of things in it that I enjoyed. Foremost of these things is Paco Medina's artwork which continues to look as phenomenal as the last issue, being so colorful and vibrant with some... well, 'Fantastic' character designs (especially Overseer). Then there is the overall introduction of the Unparrelled. I was really thrown when I first opneed the issue to find a recap page from this new teams perspective, but it was a fun change of pace, as were the first few pages as we learned more about them. I thought this was a good choice as it told us that this Justice League analogy (which I'm saying based purely on there are seven of them and they have a 'hall of justice') were indeed the good guys (who I bet will get their own mini series after this arc) and the whole fight was just a big misunderstanding (a staple of comic books).

'Hey, look who's coming to
dinner.'

I also really loved Reed using classic movie lines like 'take us to your leader'!!

That said, beyond those points I really struggled as I read this issue because it just felt very bog standard. That's not to say it is a bad book because it (obviously) had some good ideas. However, I just felt that it suffered from being a mid arc issue where the set up has been done and the second act reveal hasn't quite arrived (that'll be next issue).

However, I think the things which caused to write so negatively previously aren't to do with the issue itself, but what this issue (coupled with those synopsis) hint at going forward.

I think I've made it clear by now that I'm having a problem with the heavy focus on the Thing in this series. Not that the ever loving blue eyed Ben Grimm isn't deserving of time in the spotlight, but it just felt like its been nothing but. Only between issues 10 to 14 (where, admittedly, two issues have been Thing-centric) has it felt that the focus has begun to even out.

Medina's artwork is just 'WOW'!!

Unfortunately, as this issue picked up steam, I felt like it was plainly apparent where the story was going to go; with Ben Grimm leading a rebellion to save this world from the real bad guy of the Overseer while Reed and Sue watch from the sidelines and Johnny forced into a fight to the death for a woman's heart before he returned back to his status quo, all of whom (and the other Unparrelled members) can't help Ben, probably because of some inhibiting by those armbands.

Of course, I neither mean nor want to sound so cynical and, in fairness, this mightnot actually be what happens as Slott and Medina turn this into a true team victory story as all of the 4 have their time to shine. However, I donly feel as though I am on the right track with my theory which I find extremely frustrating. I understand that Ben is a very popular and relatable character and, due to his prior history with the character, I can understand the gravitating to him. That said, this isn't Ben Grimm's comic (despite my constant belief that it'll be renamed to 'the Thing and friends' every month) but the 'Fantastic Four', which has four main characters who are all interesting and relatable in their own ways (for me it's Reed) and so as much focus on this title belongs to Reed, Sue and Johnny as to Ben.

Sadly, I don't see that changing, at least anytime soon. I hope it does and will gladly admit that I'm wrong if and when it does.

That said, it's still a comic I like as I do still get the briefest of moments which I come to want and expect from a Fantastic Four comic.

However, unless it becomes more like what I want, I'll probably tone down the amount I talk about it because, as was mentioned to me, I should talk about the comics I love to tell people and remind myself later why I love them.

And maybe that'll be this Fantastic Four run again soon.

(That's right, I'm dreaming big!!!)

Black Science: Vol. 9 - No Authority but Yourself

We're finally here!!! It's all come to this!!!!

The absolutely gorgeous
cover of Black Science #43

This past Wednesday (as at the time/day that I started to write this, I suspect it'll take me a while) Black Science #43 was released and, with it, came the culmination of a story that Rick Remender and Matteo Scalara have been telling (and, maybe more importantly, I've been reading) for almost six years.

With that much time dedicated to a series which has turned out to be so consistently enjoyable and incredible, I have to admit that I found myself slightly scared to begin reading this final arc, especially once this final issue had come out and I was able to look at the entire final volume as I have been doing with every prior volume over the last few months. What if the story didn't measure up to the prior 38 issues? What if the ending just wasn't satisfying enough? What if we were left hanging for more? These questions and more effectively forced me to not pick these issues up.

Black Science #39 - 43 a.k.a. Volume 9.

However, my invariable intrigue quite easily got the better of me and so I fairly quickly got started on the final story of Grant McKay and the Anarchist League of Scientists.

But, before we begin with the end, I wanna mention how we got here. So, if you are reading this and interested in my thoughts on the story so far, the following links will get you to my previous posts about the first eight volumes of this series:

Volume 1 - How to Fall Forever
Volume 2 - Welcome, Nowhere
Volume 3 - Vanishing Point
Volume 4 - Godworld
Volume 5 - True Atonement
Volume 6 - Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths
Volume 7 - Extinction is the Rule
Volume 8 - Later than you Think

So, now that everyone is caught up let us move on!

Family reunion.

(Note, there is more than likely BIG spoilers below for the last 5 issues. If this is a problem for you, I suggest reading them and then maybe coming back.)

The final five issues of Black Science, it's final volume, see our intrepid anti-hero, Grant McKay and his 'wife' (although technically 'ex-wife', even though they appear to have reconciled in the last volume. It's complicated.), Sara, have finally made it back home to their Earth, where they are reunited with their friends and children. However, while things are not as chaotic as they were left, things are still not good as the Witch, Doxta, has taken complete control of the world with only the Anarchist League of Scientists, now housed in Block Tower, able to resist her. So now, the McKays and their allies must take their fight to their enemy in order to put right all the troubles that they brought to this last Earth. However, Doxta is not the only enemy still around as Kadir has his own plan to defeat Doxta, one which will bring him face to face with McKay for one final time where a choice will have to be made.

A little bit of down time.

(I must confess, I feel I writing a very compelling synopsis, if I do say so myself!)

Anyway, I don't feel it is necessary at this point to state that Black Science has been, quite possibly, one of the greatest comic book series I've read in my life, with Rick Remender and Matteo Scalara (along with Dean White, Moreno Dinisi and the rest of the creative) having nailed each and every issue. In fact, the prior eight parts of this read-through, coupled with my thoughts on specific issues and even some tweets attesting to all this, paint the picture of my love for this series better than I think I could put into words.

the last charge of the Anarchist League
of Scientists.

Therefore, it makes sense why I was so reticent to dive into these last five issues because who wants a story they love so much and are so invested in to fall at the final hurdle?

However, it's now that I feel that I should apologise to messrs. Remender, Scalara and company because I forgot that if anyone was going to invested in this story it was going to be them and, as such, I should never have doubted that they would stick the landing, although I never expected so beautifully.

Krolar had some really good
moments in this arc.

I really loved this final arc, I think as much as any issue throughout this entire run (which, in itself, speaks to the amazing consistency of quality that I think Black Science has had throughout). Given my lack of knowledge on artistic processes (me being one of those 'picture looks pretty' kind of people), I'm just drop right here my thoughts on Matteo Scalara and then leave it at that (not that he deserves less focus, but because my words couldn't justify his input).

The truth is from issue one to issue 43, I have absolutely adored the art that has made up the world(s) of Black Science. It's continually been pulpy looking goodness that, even at its worst (which was rare) still looked absolutely awesome. I think an idea of how good this art is comes in the final cover of the series, which absolutely blows me away (and is the reason I took that cover instead of issue 39) and is but a taste to the similarly impressive visuals found within the covers.

Matteo Scalara, I salute you!!

Kadir to the rescue?

Meanwhile, the story within these last five issues..... well, the story equally blew me away as Remender, one again, bounced his characters back and forth (sometimes quite literally) and seriously had me wondering just how this series was going to end.

These last five issues seemed to be to have been broken into three acts/parts. The first was in issue 39, with the reformation of the Anarchist League of Scientists, which was a nice break from the seriousness of saving the eververse for the cast to just hang out, enjoy each others company and discuss both the larger problem of what to do as well as the comics (seemingly) ongoing debate about the meaning of life.

I want to say that this is my favourite issue, but there have been so many. However, seeing this calm, friendly almost 'relaxed' setting (or the best you could maybe get with Hell outside your door) with everyone together and not fighting for survival was a nice change of pace. Of course, it was obviously a case of 'the calm before the storm' but the chance for these characters to enjoy each others company was great to see. It was also interesting to have the various theories on the meaning of life, as I did wonder if these (or one of them at least) were going to come into play by the finale. As I've continued to read Black Science, I've come to realise that while it may have started as a wacky 'Time Tunnel' of sorts, it's really become a story about one man battling his habits and trauma.

A whole new world (sort of)

Well, two men actually as Kadir returned again, although I was surprised by his and Chandra's almost anti-climatic exit at this point as I really thought he would be against Grant right until the end.

But, alas, this didn't appear to be the case as issue 40 seemingly began the finale proper as the whole team (who appear in a gorgeously epic double full page spread) speed towards their target in order to save the (final) world. Now, I have to admit that this issue has to have been the most superheroic I've seen of the since the start of the series, and the first since issue 16 (I consider volume 6 and 7 more of a reactionary action event). That said, it did seem a little against the grain for the team as they've always been the guys to stumble through any encounter rather than diving into it with grace (or a form thereof).

Those talking coffee machines sure
are annoying!

That said, it still didn't take my enjoyment away from this issue as I did love the league utilising this newly found grace. Chief amongst them for me was Krolar who, maybe for the first time since his introduction, really feels like an integral, fleshed out character (although, granted, I'm not mentioning his battle with the Dralns). That said, his dialogue and interactions in issues 39 and 40 felt like a great (re-)introduction to his character. Of course, this is all about Grant and so I wasn't surprised that the focus would be all on him, although I was surprised by the story's return to his mindscape and the traumas which haunt him given that he has gone through and resolved many of his issues during two arcs during this story. That said, I know as well as anyone that emotional and mental problems can't be resolved so easy and so it made sense that they be used against him, leading to his apparent defeat and Doxta's ultimate victory.



Ever the Anarchist!

And that brought us to issues 41, 42 and 43; the final arc (that I could see) of the story as Grant McKay wakes in a perfect world with everything he could possibly want. Now, I have to confess, I found the beginning of these issues to be a little jarring given that we went from the worst moment in Hell to something closer to Paradise without the reason behind why this had happened. Of course, I can totally understand why it was omitted, because it isn't what's important about the story. Also, it allows me to drum up my own conclusions as to what happened (personally, I think Kadir offered to make McKay suffer forever if Doxta gave him the power necessary, at least far better than she could manage).

Instead, I soon got over that missing plot point as all three final issues really had me engrossed as we got to see Grant McKay, the eternal anarchist, seemingly trapped in a life of conformity and order with a stable family, a (apparently) 9-5 job and everything else which goes with such a 1950's domestic fantasy (something ironically pointed out earlier in the arc). What's more, however, is that Grant is the only person to remember what came before and so his anarchist, adventuring lifestyle is no more than a distant memory, as he lives a possibly mundane life within a Kadir-led society.

One final Confrontation.

And it was this idea that I really enjoyed, the notion that Grant, for all his effort and sacrifice in saving the eververse as well as all he did to live his life according to his own creed that there is 'no authority to yourself', he is now resigned to a place where his authority is now other people. It got me wondering if Grant's struggle to accept this new reality was more than knowing it wasn't how it should be, but was instead suffering some sort of mid-life crisis, wishing for the past where he mattered in some fashion.

As a result, it got me wondering if Grant obstinate actions were really a resistance to what Kadir had done or if in fact, it was the change to him and his circumstances just so he can accommodate others. Was his biggest gripe Kadir winning or even living a lie, or was it a case that he can't stand the conformity thrust upon him so he can have a normal life? If that's the case then I get it, not living as your full self is chafing, so it explains why he'd want to lash out, which Grant certainly does by the end of the third (or more accurately forty-first) issue.

Decision Time!!

From that point, the finale gets REALLY interesting as (like the recap points out), Grant is forced to make a choice; Continue to fight or to let go of the past. What's really great here is that, while a choice is made, Remender uses the concept that's been the centre of this series since the beginning, the eververse, to let use see the results of both options. Of course, both choices result in extreme opposite circumstances to each other, with Grant's decision to continue fighting as the anarchist causing the worst of the two (both portrayed gorgeously by Scalara).

Looks like an old friend
came back.

In truth, I think this was a deliberate decision by the creators that both branches end the way they do. Throughout these series we've seen numerous Grant McKay's (not just the one we've been following) making the same mistakes on every conceivable world, causing more and more damage and chaos, all because he was 'programmed' to do it.
We've seen numerous Grants making the same mistake because they were 'programmed' to do so by the McKay of the first universe. Therefore, he really had no choice in doing the things he did; building the Pillar, facing off against Kadir, hurting his family (although that last could be up for debate). So, when was Grant given a chance to make his own choice, I think it makes sense that doing what he's always done would lead to even more chaos and destruction and, eventually, death while letting go and learning from what happened before gives him the chance to be happy (even if he doesn't want it).

Like Father, Like Son?

Also, it is equally important to point out that this reflects Kadir's journey too. Like Grant, Kadir Aslan often repeated his mistakes, mostly by underestimating and antagonising Grant, which appeared to be 'programming' from his first universe counterpart. However, like Grant, when the time came that he had free will, it's nice to see that his plans don't go awry when he offers more of an olive branch to his 'nemesis', maybe seeing that together they could do better things than they ever did separately.

In the end, I have to wonder if this was what Black Science was fundamentally about. Beyond the outlandish Pulp and sci-fi settings, the attempts to return home, to rebuild one's mind, to find those you love, to battle alien creatures, to repair your marriage, what Black Science was really trying to say through all these arcs and stories and ideas was that you can never go back, you can simply look at all you've done and make a choice; learn from your mistakes or repeat them?





 

Or maybe it was simply about a group of people travelling to different realities and having crazy fun adventures (and I've read WAY too much into it).


And so it begins again?

I've gone about this for WAY too long by now so I'm gonna wrap up (because I don't know what else to say). Black Science has, to me, been a modern day masterpiece and this finale did it so much justice. The final scenes, where we saw the final outcome of both 'choices were both beautiful and tragic in equal measure as Scalara really nailed the respective emotions on the set of characters and Remender got the narration down perfectly. It truly is a beautiful conclusion that really got me in the feels and, although it feels as though the story could continue (in a rather dark manner in my opinion) I certainly hope that it really is the end, and a happy one at that.

A Happy Ending?

However, I'm just not sure where to go from here? With Black Science over, I have one less book for my pull list but I fear that I may not find anything which had me as excited ever month or eager for the next issue with every last page. So, I guess I can either try and find a comic series which can live up to Remender and Scalara's extremely high standards here, or accept that I probably won't and not bother trying to find something to fill that gap in my pull list?


But, I guess that's the beauty of what I took away from reading Black Science....
...That, in the end, that'll be my choice to make (and another me will take the other one).