Retro Read - Meet the New Fantastic Four!

The new Fantastic Four team is made up of The Thing (Ben Grimm), Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Crystal and Ms. Marvel (Sharon Ventura). At first I didn't see the connections for this team, but Crys has been in the FF before and Sharon has an odd, strange past with Ben involving super powered wrestling.

It was nice of them to send Dr. Doom a team photo and letter. 

I'm not sure what happens when Ms. Marvel shows up to the join the team, but Crystal's arrival sets off all sorts of fireworks. I was never really a fan of Crystal, or the Inhumans, but after reading her introduction into this new team I changed my opinion a bit.

            "Thing vs Torch. 'Nuff said!"

Teammates battling it out, especially two as close as Johnny and Ben, are always fun covers. Makes you wonder how it plays out in the story.  Is it mind control?  Is it a simple misunderstanding gone to far?
Is it just a bait and switch cover to get you to buy the comic?

We'll get to the reason for them fighting later, but lets start at the beginning and see how things develop.

Ben has set himself up as new team leader and seems quite pleased that Reed and Sue have left.   Especially Reed.

The Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic are taking a break from the team to spend more time with their son Franklin. The kid seemed to be forgotten and left behind a lot. Once with an old lady, Agatha Harkness, that ends with the team battling Mephisto. We may get to that story another time.

Back to Ben and his real reason for wanting to lead the FF - Bossing the Human Torch around.

Johnny has married Alicia Masters, Ben's blind ex-girlfriend. They started a relationship while Ben was off world. He stayed on the planet created by the Beyonder after the Secret War, there Ben was able to control changing into the Thing. That was something Reed could never do for him.

Johnny has also had a relationship with Crystal, when she was on the team before.
Now she's come to Four Freedoms Plaza to see her husband, Quicksilver. The FF have him in a holding cell after he attacked them in the previous issue.

Crystal and Pietro have always had a strained marriage. They seemed to be apart more than together. She's pretty upfront about not wanting to see him too. Crystal even refers to him as her "crazy husband". Ben and I are thinking along the same lines, she's not the same innocent, sweet Crystal.

Here is where two characters I've never really liked become very interesting.

Crys and Pietro's marriage seems to be coming to a boil in 3,2,1...

                        "Oh, shut up!"

Those three words made me sit up and notice Crystal, I was finally interested in her.

How was Pietro going to respond to that? He isn't known for his cool temper and had just accused Crystal of ruining his life, of being "The woman who seduced my purity with the errors of the flesh!!!"       Ouch

Quicksilver comes across as an angry asshole most times, but I didn't see him becoming so physical with Crys. I didn't expect him to attack her, grab her by the arm and twist. Crystal does fight back though, but using her elemental powers against him only escalates the battle.

If they weren't super heroes and I didn't enjoy seeing them fight, this might be considered domestic violence. Hey, it's not like its Hank Pym slapping around Janet van Dyne.

Crys has to really think fast to counter Quicksilver's super speed. Using the water from the sink and toilet was smart, funny, and insulting all at the same time. Crys just keeps surprising me.

After Pietro shouts a few more platitudes about his "glorious mutant heritage" Crystal has had enough. She seems to win, if you consider beating your husband in physical combat winning.

Now that that little business is done what's going to happen when Crys runs into Johnny and his new bride? Not much it seems, they have a nice, pleasant enough conversation but that could be changing soon. Before Crystal can leave Ben decides it's the perfect time to ask her to join his FF team.

This couldn't be a way to get back at Johnny, hurt him in some way, could it? Johnny certainly thinks so and decides he and Ben need to have a talk, on the roof, of course.

Johnny can't believe Ben, asking his first love to be part of the team. He's just gotten married! Of course he did marry Ben's first love, but I don't think Johnny's concerned about that. Ben reminds Johnny that he's in charge now and Johnny can leave if he doesn't like it. I do believe Ben was hoping to pick a fight and he got his wish.

      "Flame on!"
Finally we get to the why for Johnny and Ben fighting on the cover - bruised egos. That could lead to a civil war between heroes. At least it's not the over used first-meeting-misunderstanding-battle.

Johnny gets to shout out his catch phrase, but no "clobberin' time" from Ben? Instead he jumps right in and questions Johnny's feelings for Alicia and Crys. Another surprise by a character I don't care for.

Not quite the "nuff said" battle promised on the cover, but we got two hero v hero battles in one book. This new Fantastic Four team is off to a good start so far.

There had been rumors that Crystal slept with another man, and seeing her relationship with Pietro that isn't surprising. I'm not sure who or when this happened, but Sue is certainly interested. She's kind of accusatory and "I'd never do that" towards Crys. Has Sue forgotten her Malice costume - leather and hooker heel boots?

Love Crys' comeback - "I'm not Tigra!" Not sure what she means by it but its bitchy and I like it! Tigra does run around in a bikini but thats her costume.

Now Sue is going to question Crys about Luna, Crystal and Pietro's daughter? Who will take care of her? I like Sue, sometimes more (see above Malice comment) than others, right now is not one of those times. Crys just replys she'll do the same that Sue always did with Franklin, have someone else do it.   Ha! Crystal really is starting to grow on me.

Does Sue think that Crystal will try to break up Johnny and Alicia? Was that the point of her little girl talk with Crys?  If she's so concerned she should be talking to Johnny too. I don't think Crys is setting out to come between them, but there is a great dinner party coming up in another issue.

The book wraps with Johnny and Alicia apartment hunting and Dr. Doom arriving, but thats so blah. The best parts, I think were above.

Steve Englehart did a great job getting me interested in and caring about some characters I typically skip over. Crystal and Pietro certainly jumped to the front of the line. When I read their scene I was really blown away, I think I even let out a gasp. Ben and Johnny fighting was enjoyable, but that happens a lot. I read the Fantastic Four off and on, each time really wanting to enjoy the book, this time I did. I'm already thinking about the next FF post.

Fantastic Four #305

Writer: Steve Englehart

Art Team: John Buscema / Joe Sinnott