This second entry (read the first here) in the initial Fantastic Four-centric arc of the Phil Wrede Marvel Action Figure Comic Universe brings with it another entry of my opinions about the Fantastic Four! I told you I had a lot of them.
While what resonated with me about the FF initially was the drama of the designs, the language, and the Jack Kirby character poses, but what was really connecting with me was the characterization of our heroes.
Each of them embodies traits that we all share, to varying degrees, but that I feel buzzing in the back of my head at constantly shifting volumes. In Reed, we see focus and drive, which can motivate you to do amazing things, but can also pull you away from the people who love you when you need one another (the first arc of Jonathan Hickman’s run on the book, “Solve Everything,” dug into this in a way that forever endeared it to me). In Sue, passion and responsibility, which can reinforce one another just as easily as they pull you in opposing directions. In Johnny, the recklessness of youth that you don’t precisely recognize when you’re young, but when you’re older, both scares and compels you. And, in Ben: anger, the kind you think you can use to armor yourself from feeling hurt. Fear, too, you think you can use to protect yourself, by keeping yourself distant from the people who can hurt you, and whose loss would hurt you even more.
Maybe the arrival of Miles Morales can help them reinforce their strong points, and recognize when they’re retreating towards their weaknesses!
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