Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 2 (Marvel Essentials)

Customer Reviews:

HULK vs. THING-'nuff said.......2001-08-15

While this issue also contains many great classics such as the introduction of the Frightful Four,a fab X-Men crossover and a couple great Dr. Doom tales,it proudly re-produces the greatest comic-story ever told. FF#25 is,in my opinion,the greatest fight ever produced by the twin towers of Lee & Kirby(I, by the way have,over the years,read every issue of all Avengers,Spiderman,FF,Thor,Hulk,X-Men...all the way down to Dazzler,Spiderwoman and even (ouch) Eternals,titles marvel has come out with, as a great family friend founded and still owns the main comic/book store in St.Paul,Mn.-my hometown). The whole issue is one big knock-down drag-out between aunt Petunias favorite nephew bashful benjamin and old jade jaws, the likes of which has rarely been approached and never equaled in all of comic-dom. Face Front True Believers- this one is a can't miss!

Lee/Kirby build a legend.......2001-01-09

This book has better plotted stories than the 1st "Essential FF". However, the idea of the group fighting/breaking up recurs too many times as a plotline. Other than that, we get several excellent Dr. Doom stories-his origin and the "Battle of the Baxter Building" are classics. The Baxter Building story has a poignant moment when Reed Richards must decide whether to turn Ben Grimm back into the Thing (possibly forever). The Hate Monger, in his 1st appearance is a very provacative character for the era. The stories featuring Dr Storm and Gideon are pure melodrama best read only by completists. Plus we get 5 crossovers with other characters (4 in a row at one point)-Most of them carried by the misunderstanding that leads the FF to battle other heroes. However the Daredevil crossover is a classic. These stories function as filler before the next volume which should feature the premiere appearances of Galactus, Silver Surfer, the Black Panther and the Inhumans.

Great stories, ok format........2000-12-19

The Marvel Essential series of books leaves me with a bittersweet feeling. While I love the stories, think it's great that we get twenty issues reprinted per volume, and can't deny that the price is right, there is always the spectre of the superior Marvel Masterworks series hanging overhead.

Here are the facts: With the Essential series you get about twenty comics reprinted in a paperback format, with black and white artwork, on what seems to be pulpy acidic paper.

The Masterworks series, which cost about three times as much, give you (usually) ten comics reprinted in hardback format, with color artwork, on glossy paper.

The choice is clear for me: Make Mine Masterworks!

Fantastic Four Merely OK..........2000-08-02

Comics fans usually date the Silver Age of the medium from the first appearance of the Fantastic Four in FF#1. By the time the issues collected in "Essential Fantastic Four vol.2" appeared, however, the magazine had lost quite a bit of its initial steam. Jack Kirby's art still retained its powerful punch, but Stan Lee's writing began to show the strain as he tried to crank out multiple Marvel titles every month.

As a result, the FF went through a number of odd mood swings, such as when Sue Storm joined the Thing and the Human Torch in trying to oust her own fiance as leader of the group because he spent too much time working on scientific projects. The stoic Mr. Fantastic responds to this leadership challenge with all the grace of a three-year-old. While the Torch and Thing's bickering has always been part of the formula, Lee usually plays Richards and Storm with some nuance.

There is plenty of good stuff here as well. The first appearance of Dragon Man is a keeper, as are Dr. Doom's appearances (including the legendary "Battle of the Baxter Building"). Of particular interest is a story wherein in the aftermath of a battle with the Frightful Four, the FF lose their powers and develop alternate means of taking the fight to their enemies.

I recommend this collection to die-hard FF fans (like they don't already have it) and Jack Kirby fans interested in the very beginnings of his cosmic style. For all others, pick up the first volume instead.

Fantastic stories at a great price!.......2000-01-24

Another excellent tome in the "Essential" collection, this one covers the "mid" years of the Lee/Kirby run, between the outstanding inventiveness of the earliest material and the legendary run in the #40-#60 range that introduced Galactus, the Inhumans, etc. So what's the highlight here? Well, #20-#40 pretty much are reprinted, and even in black and white they mostly shine - the best stories include the origin of Dr. Doom, a slam-bang battle between the FF, the Hulk and the Avengers, an awesome confrontation between a powerless FF and Doom, and the introduction of the Frightful Four! Woo! Great stuff! I'm only knocking this down one star because of the hideous inking Kirby's pencils got on the first five or so issues included in this collection - it's slapdash and sketchy, awful stuff compared to Chic Stone's great inking in the last 2/3 or so of this mammoth book. Buy it!

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2
This book contains annual #1
Make Mine Fantastic
An excellent collection
Marvel gathers momentum

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2
Stan Lee
Manufacturer: Marvel Entertainment Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785109803

Book Description

The early adventures of Marvel's First Family continues, featuring showdowns with the Incredible Hulk, Namor, Dr. Doom and the shape-shifting Super-Skrull, who has all the combined powers of the FF! Plus Ant-Man, Spider-Man and the mysterious Watcher!

Customer Reviews:

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 2.......2007-09-04

These are great compilation books! My husband is collecting them & he loves them! They are filled with glossy color pages inside & the book is hard cover with a dust jacket. You get 10 comics per book & it is a great way to collect these rare jewels. I will continue to purchase these books for my husband in the future.

This book contains annual #1.......2007-06-01

Some of the above reviews state that this book contains
annual #2. That is not true, this volume has annual #1
with the Sub-Mariner.

Make Mine Fantastic.......2006-02-21

Securely contained in a flat mailer and shrinkwrapped, this hardcover volume arrived perfect and ready to be enjoyed. Oh, and the content is excellent, a genuine Cold War artifact.

An excellent collection.......2005-09-03

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four.

INTRODUCTION:
Although Stan "The Man" Lee is now a legend in the comic book world, he wasn't always thought of this way. Early in the sixties, Lee had already been producing comic books for over a decade, and none of them had become very successful. That was, until he and collaborator Jack Kirby created The Fantastic Four. Although Lee's earlier ventures didn't gain him any real success, this new tale of a crimefighting quartet with super powers and a real world atmosphere won over audiences. And now, the Marvel Masterworks collection has reissued many of the classic Fantastic Four comics! Read on for my review of these collections.

OVERVIEW:
The Fantastic Four was one of Stan Lee's first comics to achieve major success. Although the series is not as well-known as some of Lee's later creations like Spider-Man, the series itself is no less loved by comic die-hards. The basic storyline involves a foursome taking a trip into outer space in a rocket to study a form of light rays. But it's a short-lived trip into space they'll never forget. The effects of the rays cause each member of the foursome to gain powers. Sue Storm becomes the Invisible Woman, with the power to become invisible or visible at will. Her brother Johnny Storm becomes the Human Torch, who can turn himself into a living fireball. Sue's lover Reed Richards becomes Mr. Fantastic, who has elastic-like limbs that can reach great distances and become extremely flexible. And last, but certainly not least, is Ben Grimm. The radiation transformed him into The Thing, a rock-bodied powerhouse whose strength is virtually unrivaled. The foursome agrees to use their powers to fend off the various evils that threaten the world.

REVIEW:
These stores are awesome, and it's great to get so many of them in one quick and convenient place. I'm sure plenty of fans were getting sick and tired of having to hunt down and buy these comics at radically-inflated prices. Each story is reprinted extremely well, with beautifully-remastered color. These reprints, however, do NOT include all the original ads and letters, but if you're just in it for the stories themselves, that's a GOOD thing. On average, each collecton contains ten full-length comics. If you're a fan of the series, these Masterworks collections are a worthy addition to your library.

EDITION NOTES:
There are two versions of these collections available - Hardcover and Paperback. Unfortunately, the less-expensive paperback editions are Barnes And Noble exclusives, which will be a problem if you don't have one near you. I really wish they would release a CD-ROM comic collection for The Fantastic Four, like what they did for Spider-Man. But, that doesn't look too likely. And as it is, the Masterworks are the most effective way to build a Fantastic Four collection.

OVERALL:
The only thing that there is really left to say is that this is a great collection. It's great to have these stories back in print, and all in one convenient location. With roughly ten comics in every collection, the Marvel Masterworks series is strongly recommended. If you're a fan and you don't own this yet, do yourself a favor and add it to your collection. No fan should be without these classic stories.

Marvel gathers momentum.......2005-07-28

Classic villians make their debut in Marvel's second FF Masterworks volume, and as a longtime reader and fan of Stan and Jack's fabulous foursome I thoroughly enjoyed this volume. The FF always seemed like some crazy amalgammation of DC's Challengers of the Unknown and the Justice League to me, and since there were elements of both these titles in FF that appealed to my imagination I have almost never read a disappointing issue collected within the first six volumes of this series.

However, that having been said, the first story in this volume featuring the Impossible Man is utterly ridiculous. Even though it introduces a character that will be handled well by other writers later on in the series, it does not have any of the verve and inventiveness apparent in the nine stories that follow it. Do not let this deter you from buying this collection. It features legendary encounters between the FF and the Hulk, as well as Ant-Man and Spider-Man in later issues. Doctor Doom appears at least twice, as well as the Sub-Mariner, The Mad Thinker and The Molecule Man, not to mention the Super Skrull.

What makes this volume worthwhile is the focus on character development and humour, which certainly makes for some entertaining reading (especially when the FF quarrel amongst themselves). Far better than volume one, this Masterworks collection will not disappoint any fan of the classic Marvel age of comics.

Average customer rating:

A more than solid middle chapter
vols 1 and 2 were very good, 3 was awful and ruined it all...
Warren Ellis at his best.
Gah Lak Tus is Coming!
This series is Ultimate!

Ultimate Galactus Vol. 2: Secret
Warren Ellis , Steve McNiven , Mark Bagley , and scott Hanna
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785116605

Book Description

A new propulsion system devised by the U.S. government puts Mars just days away. It creates interplanetary opportunities unprecedented for the human race. But someone - or something - wants Earth's progression into space to stop. What does that mean to the Ultimates and the Ultimate Fantastic Four! And yes, that mysterious white-and-green figure is Ultimate Captain Marvel! Collects Ultimate Secret #1-4.

Customer Reviews:

A more than solid middle chapter.......2007-02-27

As far as I was concerned, Ultimate Nightmare, the first chapter in Warren Ellis' re-imagining Ultimate Galactus trilogy, was spectacular. While Ultimate Secret doesn't live up to the first chapter of the trilogy, it is a more than solid middle chapter that sets up the pivotal things to come. Taking place briefly after Ultimate Nightmare, Ultimate Secret picks up with Nick Fury recruiting the Fantastic Four to help with a big problem: something called Gah Lak Tus is coming to destroy the planet and obliterate all mankind. What helps make this TPB good is Ellis' reinvention of Captain Marvel (or Mahr-Vell); an alien soldier posing as a human and fighting on our side. Iron Man, Thor, and Hawkeye are also here for the ride, as the stage is set for the apocalyptic events of Ultimate Extinction. Steve McNiven and Mark Bagley provide great artwork, and Ellis manages to churn out a compelling story while further fleshing out the relationship between Reed Richards and Sue Storm like he has during his run on Ultimate Fantastic Four. All in all, if you picked up Ultimate Nightmare, consider this a must read as the end is clearly in sight.

vols 1 and 2 were very good, 3 was awful and ruined it all..........2007-02-14

in vol 2, the kree try to prevent mankind from gaining efficient space travel because they want us to remain earthbound for when the big g hits. vol 2 is very good, however i would not recommend this trilogy because vol 3 is so incredibly awful it made reading the first two volumes a waste of time. in addition, i hate the robot hive galactus idea. yes galactus is supposed to be a world eating force even when he's a big purple dude, but the big guy galactus is way cooler than this stupid idea. i just hope they don't stink up the fantastic four movies with the robot galactus idea (as rumored), but since the first ff movie was pretty bad i really have no hope.

Warren Ellis at his best........2006-11-10

This series was great, the best of the ultimate titles.

Gah Lak Tus is Coming!.......2006-06-29

Coming on the heels of Ultimate Nightmare, Ultimate Secret continues the Ultimate Galactus saga. Ultimate Secret features the Ultimates again, this time teamed with the Fantastic Four and Mar Vehl (the Ultimate version of Captain Marvel), a Kree warrior who decided to help Earth survive Gah Lak Tus's arrival, instead of watching the planet die, as the rest of the Kree are content to do. In fact, the Kree are so determined to see Earth die that they send a horde of robot/alien/bad guys to sabotage the space program (that Mar Vehl helped with) to ensure no Earthlings escape the coming doom.

I'm not typically a fan of the cosmic storylines, but this is the Ultimate Universe so I had to at least check it out. Writer Warren Ellis does a fine job with this series, particularly with the dialogue. The scenes with Thor, the Human Torch, and the Thing literally had me laughing out loud, and Ellis's take on Tony Stark and Carol Danvers is spot-on. The background information Ellis provides on Gah Lak Tus and the death of civilizations is pretty grim stuff, so the snappy dialogue helps keep the story fun. Also, since this is a middle chapter, the ending didn't offer much in the way of a satisfying conclusion, but that is to be expected.

The artwork, as always, is top notch. Steve McNiven (one of the best artists to come along in quite some time) did a fantastic job on the first two chapters, and Tom Raney's work on the last two chapters was excellent as well. It made me nostalgic for the classic Ellis/Raney Stormwatch run (which deserves the Absolute hardcover treatment, in case anyone from DC is reading this).

All told, Ultimate Secret is a worthy addition to the Ultimate Galactus saga and the Ultimate Universe as a whole.

This series is Ultimate!.......2006-06-23

My favorite Ultimate volume, this first issue will literally blow you away!

if you look in the dictionary for the definition of "cool" you will find "Ultimate: Secret."

If you liked Ultimate Nightmare, get this, NOW!

Average customer rating:

Brilliant
Unthinkably enjoyable

Fantastic Four, Vol. 2
Mark Waid , Howard Porter , and Mike Wieringo
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 078511775X

Book Description

It seemed like a simple enough idea at the time. Now that their arch-enemy, Doctor Doom, had seemingly perished, the Fantastic Four would journey into his nation of Latveria, disassemble its war machine and set its oppressed citizens free. But what appeared to be a black-and-white situation quickly turns a murky shade of grey, and Reed Richards and his family find themselves besieged on all sides - both by those they thought of as their allies, and by the very people they are trying to save. And in the awful aftermath of their authoritative action, three of the Four must contend with the defenses of the afterlife - and storm the gates of Heaven itself to rescue a fallen teammate. They've faced Galactus, the destroyer of everything; now, they face the creator of everything, as the FF are reunited in the hereafter. Plus: The Fantastic Four have a lot to answer for - and when you're trying to regain the trust of cynical New Yorkers, is associating with a certain misunderstood wall-crawler really a wise move? Collects Fantastic Four #503-513.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2004-01-03

Arguably the best storyarc to hit the Fantastic Four in years, Unthinkable solidifies Mark Waid (Flash, Kingdom Come) as one of the best comic writers in the business today. Doctor Doom returns to face the Fantastic Four, but unlike every other time he fought them this time he is using magic as opposed to his scientific prowess. He starts off by sending Reed and Sue's son Franklin to Hell to be tortured, while giving similar punishment to the rest of the FF. All this while Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards tries to find a way to stop him and save his family. Waid's characterizations of the FF and Doom respectively are nothing short of brilliant; Reed isn't just the super genious as he is known for as we see him blaming himself for the events because he thinks he's too idiotic to work magic. Waid's characterization of Doom is great as well as we see how hell bent for vengeance against the FF he is, and the shocker of an ending is brilliant as well. The art by Mike Wieringo is great as well, even if it looks a little cartoony. All in all, Unthinkable is one of the best storyarcs to hit the FF in years.

Unthinkably enjoyable.......2003-11-29

Well, where to begin?

I went into 'Unthinkable' thinking that Mark Waid, wahtever he had planned, was going to do this one just right.

I used to think Wieringo's art was too cartoonish, much like Ed McGunness, but then I wised up.

'Unthinkable' was by and far, one of the most wonderfully crafted Marvel books I've yet read. Ive only recently jumped on the Marvel bandwagon bgecause I realized that DC still writes stories that are ordained and meant fro children--despite the greats like Green Arrow's ward's drug addiction, the brutality of the Joker on killing Jason Todd and others. But Marvel's dogma is simply more adult.
Example: How many DC villains would voluntarily (much less inhernetly know how to) banish thier nemesis' son to Hell?
But all comparisons and contrasts aside, Unthinkable gave the reader a wonderful insight into the mechanics of Reed Richards mind--his disdain for magic, his analytical nature, his utter disgust at Doom. Waid himself said that 'Unthinkable' is one monumental character flaw--Reed Richards-wise.
Doom was, as always, impeccably well-written and drawn. Hard to believe his newest armor is made from his dead lover's skin!
The new spins on Susan, Ben, and especially Johnny were great. It's so nice to see Johnny and Ben just horsing around instead of actually fighting and ruining the good ol' Baxter Building. Plus, Ringo has a certain way of making Johnny look more...educated, yet adolescent...welcome additions all around.
Stephen Strange's presence was nice, and the segway by Grimm when the FF are on their way to Latveria is a good thing to establish character.

Book Description

This deluxe hardcover collects Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 3: N-Zone and Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 4: Inhuman, plus a hefty helping of DVD-style extras! In N-Zone, it's the beginning of the FF's exploration of the mysterious N-Zone! Young Reed Richards wants to duplicate the accident that changed the four into the bizarre beings they've become and thereby reverse the process. But will their noble attempts at redress cause more harm than good? And in Inhuman, a classic Fantastic Four villain makes his debut here in Ultimate form, turning the Baxter Building into a virtual trap set to capture and eliminate the fledgling adventurers. And what of the other denizens of the skyscraper, including Johnny and Sue's father Dr. Storm? And who has the power to outthink even the most brilliant man alive, Reed Richards? Plus: the first appearances of the Ultimate Inhumans! From a hidden race, she came to steal the heart of the FF's youngest member. She's the beautiful elemental called Crystal! Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #13-20, Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #1.

Customer Reviews:

"Why did you have to be a jerk?".......2006-09-19

Ultimate Fantastic Four (Hardcover) Vol 2 collects three stories: N-Zone, Think Tank and Inhuman.

The first is the 6-issue "N-Zone" storyline written by Warren Ellis and illustrated by Adam Kubert. I've never been a big fan of Ellis, although I do have a certain amount of respect for his intelligence and cynicism. The reason is that I've often found his work "too clever, too cold". But somehow his style seemed to fit Ultimate Fantastic Four, as shown in this tale, the previous one ("Doom") and his "Ultimate Galactus" trilogy. The FF comic of the 1960s by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby is a mixture of clever pseudo-science, family soap-opera and the grandest cosmic cornucopia this side of Arthur C. Clarke. Ellis' take is very much all of that but updated for a more sophisticated 21st century audience. It's not enough to have the FF rocketted into space to be blasted by cosmic rays (after all, we no longer live in the Space-Race generation). Instead the FF are part of a Think-Tank project coming up with tomorrow's technologies today! One of the most spectacular of these experiments was young Reed Richards' studies into the mysteries of the N-Zone (the universe just "below" ours). In fact, it was during their first foray into the N-Zone's unstable-physics realm that gave the FF their powers. Our tale here begins with Reed wanting to explore the N-Zone in detail. His excuse was to look for a cure for their genetic alteration - in truth, he was simply trying to satisfy his scientific curiosity. En route, we are given interesting explanations as to the nature of the Human Torch's "spontaneous combustion" powers and the reason why biologist Sue Storm refuses to be "cured" - all done in the Marvel pseudo-scientific manner albeit with more sophistication than before. Finally, we have Reed and company coming face-to-face with a denizen of this other universe, Nihil (or E-Vill, according to Ben Grimm, or "Ultimate Annihilus" according to Marvel Zombies like myself). Manipulating the FF, Nihil managed to come to our universe and landed in Las Vegas. The FF defeated Nihil and his army of Jawas (no kidding!). The tale however ends with the typical Ellis-irony: Reed had been longing for contact with life in the N-Zone since he was a kid. It was his pet project, his obsession. It was why he didn't play football like the other kids and why his super-jock dad alienated him. Here was his chance to prove that his obsession was worthwhile. Here was when he finally made contact with a being from this other universe and he turned out to be a "jerk"! I had to smile at that. Thinking back, most of the early Marvel villains were nothing but "jerks". Ellis merely showed us all this with all his cynical absurdist touch.

The second tale is the 2-issue "Think Tank" by Mike Carey and Jae Lee. This tale is actually your typical comic-book-character-turned-villain-because-of-envy-towards-hero that Stan Lee and company turned out by the dozens in the 1960s. But again, it's updated with a quirky, "Vertigoesque" 21st century touch. Here we have a female Mad Thinker exerting her vengence by turning the Baxter Building into a cornucopia of traps for Reed Richards and company. Jae Lee's art is dark, moody and quirky enough for this type of tale. Seeing that Mike Carey is the new regular writer of Ult. FF, we can be sure that we'll be seeing more of the Mad Thinker in the future.

Finally, we have Mark Millar and Jae Lee to serve up the final tale that introduces the Ultimate Inhumans. This story is really Millar's take on the word "Inhuman" showing a highly-evolved hidden race so committed to their own ideals and rules as to be "inhuman". Millar tried to show this by contrasting the Crystal-Johnny Storm romance with the Crystal-Maximus marriage of convenience. I like this story quite a bit but it's not without its problems. Chiefly, this story should have been stretched out a little more. There's far more to be explored about the Inhumans (an entire race and civilization) compared to even the earlier N-Zone story and that took 6-issues! The end result is that the Crystal-Johnny romance is too abrupt (when did it even start?) for it to resonate with readers. As for the art, Jae Lee is justly famous for his collaboration with Paul Jenkins on the Marvel Knights "Inhumans" maxi-series and I believe that's the reason he was chosen to illustrate this Ultimate Annual. However, the end result is a little too blurry and incoherent to be much good. Crystal's ethereal beauty is a little too clouded by all the dark shades and quirky pen lines.

All in all, Ult FF 2 is a good read and I'll be looking forward to volume 3 that collects Millar's 12-issue run on the title with artist Greg Land.

Still Fantastic.......2006-08-27

While I've never been a fan of the Fantastic Four, I gave the first Ultimate Fantastic Four hardcover collection a try and was pleasantly surprised. Bendis, Millar, Elllis et al's re-imagining of the Fantastic Four as a group of teenagers led by a pair of science prodigies breathed new life into some otherwise tired characters. Volume 1 was enough to hook me on the series, so I've been eagerly anticipating this second hardcover collection.

This volume collects the 6-issue N-Zone storyline by Warren Ellis and Adam Kubert, the 2-issue Think Tank storyline by Mike Carey and Jae Lee, and the Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #1 by Mark Millar and Jae Lee.

The N-Zone storyline basically has Reed & Company piloting a heavily modified space shuttle into the N-Zone in an attempt to figure out what caused their powers to emerge and whether it might be reversed. Along the way, they encounter Nihil (the Ultimate version of Annihilus), who follows the Four back home so he can take over Earth (naturally) with his army of what appear to be Jawas...seriously. It's a relatively simple storyline, but as usual Warren Ellis makes it special. His exploration of each member's abilities is enlightening, and his character development and dialogue are priceless. Adam Kubert's artwork is excellent as always. No one draws the Thing quite like he does.

The Think Tank storyline is pretty unremarkable. A psychotic student who was turned away from the Baxter program decides to take it out on Reed Richards and comes pretty close to destroying the team. It was interesting enough, but not on par with the previous storylines. Jae Lee's artwork makes it worth the price of admission though.

Last but not least, you get the first Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual, which was also reprinted in the Ultimate Annuals trade paperback. In this issue, Mark Millar and Jae Lee introduce the Ultimate version of the Inhumans. This was a (dare I say it) fantastic way to close the second hardcover. The brief look we get at the Inhumans is enough to make you wish for an Ultimate Inhumans series. Millar's characterizations are spot-on, and Jae Lee...let's just say nobody else should ever be allowed to draw these characters.

It may be a bit uneven, but the second Ultimate Fantastic Four hardcover contains more than enough quality material to make it worth the cover price (or at the very least Amazon's discount rate). I know I'll be on board for volume 3!

Average customer rating:

tiny tots FF vs classmate von doom, er i mean van damme...
This is book THREE, people
Justin Timberlake? Even better, volume two: "Doom"
Old stars, new style and personalities, it works
Some of the worst work by Warren Ellis probably ever

Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 2: Doom
Warren Ellis , and Stuart Immonen
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785114572

Book Description

After a bizarre experiment unexpectedly imbued them with extraordinary powers, high-school genius Reed Richards and his fellow adventurers must learn to adapt to their amazing new situation. But before they can even begin to get accustomed, former classmate Victor Van Damme - who was caught in the same experiment that gave the Fantastic Four their superhuman powers - returns to exact his revenge!

Customer Reviews:

tiny tots FF vs classmate von doom, er i mean van damme..........2007-01-23

1. i don't like the ultimate universe idea at all. i dislike the infinite earths dc junk also. when you have iconic characters i don't think it's good to confuse the average non-comics fan (or even the average comics fan) with earth-2 superman, superboy prime, ultimates nick fury, etc. they water down the legacy and the impact of the great classic storylines and characters.
2. this is nowhere near as good as the lee/kirby fantastic four.
3. despite the above, this is a pretty good comics collection. it's not mindblowing like the lee/kirby ff, and it's a totally different ultimate universe take on the greatest team in comics. it's still a good read though. but just don't confuse the alternative ultimate universe with the real 616 universe.
in vol 2 the FF find their missing fellow classmate van damme, who's started a mind control cult in europe. in my opinion, the ultimate ff books are the best of the marvel ultimate universe.
in vol 3 the FF go into the N-Zone and meet up with Annihilus, who follows them into Earth. A big battle ensues.

This is book THREE, people.......2006-11-29

I'm not sure what's up here; the other reviewers seem to be writing about volume 2, but this, my friends, is volume 3.

I'll admit, writer Warren Ellis didn't snag my attention with his treatment of Doctor Doom in the second Ultimate Fantastic Four story arc, Doom, but he got it for sure with arc three, which takes the young team into a whole 'nother universe. There, in a ragtag city in space, they meet Nihil (the Ultimate revamp of Annihilus), whose universe is dying; cue the supervillain soundtrack, as Nihil spies a route to a younger universe to sustain him.

Granted, Nihil's spaceship looks like a giant, bony pterodactyl and his minions are basically fierce Jawas. But the story is sterling, with the inexperienced heroes dealing with multiversal issues even as they struggle to grasp the extent of their new powers. The dialogue is quick, fresh and witty, and the fights are epic. The Thing in particular does some clobbering on a mighty scale.

Adam Kubert continues to wow readers with his art, which in this book includes numerous one- and two-page spreads that are simply breathtaking.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles editor

Justin Timberlake? Even better, volume two: "Doom" .......2006-03-04

February 21st, I picked up volume two of "Ultimate Fantastic Four," sufficed to say that I was wowed by volume one. The story picks up here just a little more, revealing more about our genetically altered teenage scientists. The writer, Warren Ellis basically picks up where Bendis and Millar left off and adds more personality to the foursome and a nice conclusion to Reed's "estranged family backstory" melodrama. Reed is practically beating himself over what happened to himself and his friends, more in particular Ben Grimm, and wonders still where Victor Von Damne has vanished.

Sue basically tries to deal with Reed's determination to run himself into the ground, while trying to drag him into the Bio-scanner, Ben mopes in quarantine area and Johnny flaunts his good looks to girls and impersonates Justin Timerlake (without acting like him). We discover during Sue's bio-scan that Reed has no internal organs and his body utilizes another way of supporting itself (Reed is promptly freaked out by this discovery). The story progresses when a back story of Van Damne is introduced along with himself, quite affected by the mishap of Reed's giant machine. On the sidelines he gathers a group of people, willing followers or curious friends of followers, in an abandoned part of town in his own homeland. Enraged by his transformation "Doom" unleashes a horde of android insects to take care of Reed, unaware of his own changes.

The book's storyline is nicely played out through all collected issues #7-#12, the focus being much on Doom's plot to kill Reed and Reed's determination to change his friends and himself back to normal, as the old lore goes. There are defiantly funnier things in this TPB than the "Sue wanting to see Ben use the toilet" joke; For instance the revealing of the "Fantasticar" and Ben and Johnny's reaction to it was hilarious, Johnny's need to give himself a superhero name and Ben intimidating one of the soldier's posted at the Baxter Building got a sure giggle outa me. However, once in action, the fantastic four really shine as immature would be heroes. Sue and Reed take initiative as leaders, while Ben and Johnny's usual "muscle" and background banter shines in this volume. Doom basically shows that he's not afraid to kill the Foursome (perhaps borderlines on "gone-mad" just a bit) and with some measure of impressive "firepower" to say the least. He ends up getting a good time Beat-down by "Mr. Fantastic" when he touches his girlfriend. One small character problem: Dr. Storm has went from slightly interesting to "annoying adult" in a span of six collected issues, truly sad.

It took some time to get used to Stuart Immonen's style of artistry, but all in all his style does fit the chosen storyline if anything. The action is described nicely in each frame, the emotions of each character are displayed greatly in the frames as well. And the action that takes place throughout the issues is better than its predecessor. But all in all The "Doom" Trade Paper back turns out to be a winner in my book also. Highly recommended reading. --- [a 5 out of 5]

Old stars, new style and personalities, it works.......2005-04-28

In the original fantastic four, the members of the group achieved their powers by being bombarded by cosmic rays while on a space flight. In the new version, their bodies are altered by a physics experiment that went wrong. Furthermore, in the new version, Victor van Damme (Doctor Doom), was also involved in the experiment. Finally, instead of being an independent group of superheroes, the fantastic four are under military "protection" in the Baxter Building. The soldiers are under orders to shoot to kill if any member of the group tries to escape and when they leave the building, it is only with a significant armed escort.
The personalities of Reed Richards and Susan Storm are dramatically different from the original characters. Sue is aggressive and somewhat domineering, (a bit of a sexpot), and Reed is no longer the supremely confident scientist. In many ways, Sue is now the leader of the group. While I approve of the changes in Sue, I think the changes in Reed are too extreme. He is of course still an incredible genius, so he should act more like one.
The best part of the story is the asides regarding the changes in their bodies. Susan is also a scientist and she is tasked with examining the changes in their physiologies. For the sake of politeness, Reed interviews Ben Grimm and asks him if he still goes to the bathroom. Ben responds in the affirmative and so Reed says that Sue may need to witness it. Ben responds with, "Sue can bite me", to which Reed replies, "She'd break her teeth." That was hilarious and is a continuation of the humor track that was such a delight in the original stories.
Despite some reservations, I enjoyed this story of what I have always considered the best superhero team of all time. The cartoons are artwork and the story is well written and entertaining.

Some of the worst work by Warren Ellis probably ever.......2005-03-09

Let me clue you in, just in case you're of the uninitiated - Warren Ellis hates superheroes. Warren Ellis hates writing super hero comics; or as he calls them, Fight Comics. Warren Ellis' disdain for the genre shows bright and clear through this collection of the already amazingly bland Ultimate Fantastic Four. The ship not even Bendis could save, this series has been genuinely bad since day one. Warren Ellis took the book over as what he said was "a favor" to his friends Bendis and Millar who both left the book to pursue other writing endeavors.

Granted, its not ALL bad, hence the two stars. Some of the dialogue is funny (example: Reid asking The Thing if he can still go to the bathroom and Ben Grimm's reaction to the question, though the layout of the panels is really what makes it funny as you as a reader can see the awkward silence) and the art is TOP NOTCH. Stuart Immonen is amazing, and as soon as Marvel keeps him on Ultimate books, I feel his talent is wasted.

All in all, I'd say skip this book and check out The Ultimates, which is the Ultimate universe's Avengers, and is pretty much the best book of the entire Ultimate line, though fans of Spider-Man might disagree. If you want to see Warren Elllis write superheroes he actually cared about, go check out The Authority.

Fantastic Four Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 2

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Graphic SF Reader
The Best of the Bunch
Fantastic truly is the word for this second collection of John Byrne F.F. stories
This is a fantastic (pardon the pun) book!
Vol. 1 = get on with it. Vol. 2 = much, much better.

Fantastic Four Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 2
John Byrne
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785114645

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Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Not as cheesy as the last one, the moving of Attilan to the blue area of the moon was good to see, as wsa the evolution of Frankie Raye. While seen as a big time important run, it is certainly fairly dated now. However, the Fantastic Four basically is supposed to be silly, to start with, so can't fault it for that part.

The Best of the Bunch.......2006-11-21

The second year of Byrne's legendary run on the Fantastic Four is some of the best American superhero stories, bar none. John Byrne was able to write compelling comics without veering from the formula that makes the FF great. He's also the master storyteller. The amount of information conveyed in a single panel continues to astound me, densely but clearly showing the actions and reactions all at once. Issues 241-245 are the standouts, but all of them are SWEET! In twelve issues they fight Galactus, a hippy with a surprising identity, and some X-Men who don't seem to be acting quite right.

Fantastic truly is the word for this second collection of John Byrne F.F. stories.......2006-04-19

Want some good, old-fashioned superhero storytelling, with adventures that are truly imaginative, innovative, and full of heart? Then get this second volume of Fantastic Four stories written and drawn by John Byrne. In this collection, writer/artist Byrne continues making the F.F. his own, but he also more fully embraces the goings-on in the Marvel Universe at large, resulting in some memorable appearances by Thor, Captain America, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and the like. The multi-issue Galactus story is a particular stand-out (that's where most of the superhero guest appearances just mentioned take place), and for those who like big, epic fights, the battle with the shape-shifting Skrulls at the end of the volume will nicely do the trick. There are still some great John Byrne stories to come in future "Visionaries" collections (I'm mainly thinking of "The Trial of Reed Richards" here), but this particular volume arguably contains the best stories of Mr. Byrne's run.

This is a fantastic (pardon the pun) book!.......2004-08-17

I grew up reading the byrne F4, it was one of the grandest reads, it was epic but he kept it down to earth by makign the connection with the characters.

unlike many superhero teams such as the JLA or avengers the F4 are not a team at all, they are a family, it's what makes the book so great, your seeing a family cope with all these problems..sure the problems are alien invaders and such but it works!

Byrne has lost his art and writing talent in recent years, some people may be scared off by that, so if you read his recent JLA tenth circle or spider-man year one don't worry, this was back when he was the best man around, he was writing the best superman, F4, and co-writing x-men among others, it was like he could do no wrong, he understood what made them tick.

also this book is great for kids and adults, i would give this to a kid just was my father gave me the byrne issues so long ago, now reading the issues again i see there is much more there to enjoy like bens struggle with being a monster, reeds struggle with having caused it...and much more.

also you should buy the first volume since it sets up characters for this volume and they have more impact when read together but this can be read alone and enjoyed greatly if you only get this one.

Vol. 1 = get on with it. Vol. 2 = much, much better........2004-06-21

Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 1 left me with the feeling that Byrne was really keeping his good stuff in his back pocket until he had established himself on the FF. In Volume 2, you get a much better sense of the kind of Fantastic Four Byrne was trying to create. His art is its usual outstanding self, but the "just get on with it" feeling you got from most of the short vignettes of Vol. 1 is nowhere to be found.

You can't talk about FF Visionaries: John Byrne Vol. 2 without talking about the Galactus epic. Galactus' rebellious herald Terrax comes to Earth, battles the Fantastic Four, and then holds the entire island of Manhattan hostage unless the FF kills Galactus. It's pretty much everyone versus Galactus in a melee that most of comicdom wanted to see happen for years. The panels with Spiderman and Daredevil deciding to sit this one out ("We'd just be in the way.") are priceless. One note, though: I should call it a half-epic, as the Trial of Reed Richards, and the fate of Terrax that happened after issue #250 are not included in this volume (hopefully there will be a Vol. 3). A bit disappointing, but only mildly so.

There are other good tales here as well - the fate of Frankie Raye, Dr. Doom enlisting the FF's help to reclaim the throne of Latveria, the revelation of Franklin Richards, etc. However, the other jewel in this volume is the finale - issues #249 and #250 - which features Gladiator (of X-men and Imperial Guard fame), as well as guest appearances by Spiderman, Captain America, and the aforementioned X-men (sort of).

Book Description

All adventure, all action, for all ages! Join Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing for a wild ride of all-new, unforgettable exploits. Collects Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #5-8.

Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 2: The Stuff of Nightmares

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A Fantastic Fantastic Four

Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 2: The Stuff of Nightmares
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa , and Jim Muniz
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785114726

Book Description

While New York freezes in the icy grip of winter, an old foe resurfaces with a grudge: Namor! And the crown prince is demanding Sue make good on a old promise - even if it's over Reed's dead body. Meanwhile, closer to home, Johnny may be the only person who can help a Washington Heights woman find her missing son. Plus: Something very, very strange is happening to New York's First Family of Super-Heroes. Their deepest fears and doubts are spreading from their dreams - their unconscious minds - to the waking world. What's real and what's not? The FF's old villain Psycho-Man may hold the key, but he's...dying?!

Customer Reviews:

A Fantastic Fantastic Four.......2005-07-25

John Byrne's run on the Fantastic Four set one of the high marks on the title that for years was fondly remembered by fans, well the Marvel Knights run of FF stories is right up there with them.

This collection contains two story arcs. The first deals with Reed and Namor fighting over Sue and ends with a tragedy that brings humanity to the entire cast.

The second story is about a dying Psycho Man and the terror he brings to New York. The story is tense with a dark Twilight Zone feel to it and a clever solution that nobody will see coming.

Its not just the big plots that make this collection work it is all the little touches (Reeds powers are used in ways nobody else thought to during the F.F.s 40 year run).

Needless to say the art is top notch with one of the sexiest renditions of Sue ever seen on a comic page.

I say buy it, read it and then pick up the other volumes in this reprint series and pity those who had to wait to read these one month at a time.

Fantastic Four Visionaries - George Perez, Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Marvel is really reaching with this one

Fantastic Four Visionaries - George Perez, Vol. 2
Len Wein , Roger Stern , George Perez , Marv Wolfman , Doug Moench , Mark Gruenwald , Ralph Macchio , Joe Sinnott , Chic Stone , John D'Agostino , Mike Esposito , and Gene Day
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785120602

Book Description

One of the FF's top talent gives Mr. Fantastic a really new look... as the Molecule Man! Once the team deals with this ultimate infiltration, they still must face sorcery, Skrulls and super-powered statues! Plus: the power of Franklin Richards! Guest-starring the Texas Twister and the Impossible Man! Collects Fantastic Four #187-188, 191-192, Fantastic Four Annual #14-15, Marvel Two-In-One #60, Adventures of the Thing #3.

Customer Reviews:

Marvel is really reaching with this one.......2006-11-14

Marvel adds another misleading entry to their series of Visionaries trades with FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES: GEORGE PEREZ VOLUME 2. Once again focusing solely on an artist, instead of a writer/artist, they trumpet the work of George Perez, apparently claiming that he, a fresh face at Marvel at the time, was a "visionary" who made these FF stories worthwhile... as if the writers had nothing to do with it. Don't get me wrong, I am a big George Perez fan, but what did he really accomplish artistically with these characters that had not already been done by Jack Kirby? Labeling Perez' work on the FF as visionary, especially when it was from so early in his career, is ludicrous.

Anyway, I gave Volume 1 a 2-star review, due to the above problems, along with the fact that stories were often incomplete due to Perez rotating with other artists. Volume 2 gets the dreaded 1-star review due to more of the same, plus some worse: the fact that it contains some non-Perez work - not to provide complete stories, but to bulk up the page count. It seems that Marvel didn't have enough FF work from him to make it as big as volume 1, so they included some additional random bits from the Annuals. This is just stupid... really, this trade paperback defies logic. I mean, Volume 1 at the least could claim to be exclusively the work of George Perez, but Volume 2 can't even claim that. So what we have here is a compilation with no point whatsoever.

But let's get to the stories. This volume includes FF #187 - 188, 191 - 192, and Annuals 14-15; Marvel Two-In-One #60; and Adventures Of The Thing #3. They feature the Molecule Man, Agatha Harkness and Salem's Seven, those nasty Skrulls, the Texas Twister, the Impossible Man, the return of the Terrible Trio, and living statues of Diablo, Blastarr, and Dr. Doom. So there are some fun stories here, and the gaps aren't as obvious as in Volume 1; however, I have too many problems with this book to give it a passing review. This is not a bashing of George Perez, but of Marvel for releasing such a weak trade collection.

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