REVIEW: Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four - 2 of 3

I got a lot out of the last Secret Invasion Fantastic Four issue. A bunch of surprises, a major cliffhanger and a feeling of quality throughout. So, based on how well the second issue of Invincible Iron Man issue did after a truly stunning start, I was a little worried that SIFF might go the same way.

***SPOILER ALERT***

Last issue's revelation that Lyja was one of the invading Skrulls pretty much made my jaw hit the floor. Looking back, it made a lot of sense, but at the time - Pete met a brick wall very quickly.

Issue two picks up the story very well, taking us through some of Johnny's past loves, quickly highlighting the important ones, and landing finally on Lyja. A mini-battle ensues, with Johnny ultimately saving Lyja's life from a car hurtling through space, only for a giant jellyfish to come between the pair. While this is going on, Ben is squishing space cockroaches as Franklin and Valeria find their very own battle suit...

Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa has done a bang-up job with the series thusfar, as has Barry Kitson in providing us with some top notch art. Happily, this issue is a great continuation from the first. In fact, its so good, that you can't help but wish that Roberto and Barry were on the main Fantastic Four book too...

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5
(recommended on multiple levels - brilliant use of Marvel history and fun throughout)

REVIEW: Fantastic Four - 556

***SPOILER ALERT***

Right - this is going to be a bit hard to explain. I'm going to come right out and say that there was a lot about this comic that I really liked.

I liked the idea of Johnny sleeping with a villain instead of a hero / average girl (something picked up from the last issue), I was impressed when I saw the two page spread of beaten heroes (pummled by CAP), and I even smirked when Ben fell into the sea backwards.

But having said all that - there was so much more that I just didn't like. For example - the shockingly obvious product placement / 'subliminal' advert for Guitar Hero 3 Mobile (I'd be pretty amazed if you miss it - and even more amazed if you think it works), Johnny's ridiculous 'manager' Miguel, or the 'shining knight' cliffhanger.

My biggest gripe by a mile however was the extremely understated artwork. It might just be me - but when I pick up a book with 'Fantastic Four' on the cover - I want my book to be fantastic.

The artwork in this book.... Just isn't. Now before you write a comment of complaint - I'm not saying that Bryan Hitch is a bad artist - because let's face it - he isn't. What I am saying however, is that I think he works at his best when he's not trying to emulate what went before him, but rather when he's creating everything from the ground up. That's when we see the best of him.

And in this issue - we haven't seen the best of him.

Pete's Score: 3 out of 5

(not bad by any means - the script is excellent - but just not worthy of anything higher than an overall three)