Fantastic Four 3, Avengers Arena 3, Scarlet Spider 13, Thor: God of Thunder 4

Fantastic Four 3
Fraction (w) and Bagley (a)

As I stated in my pre-game post this week, I was looking forward to F4 this week as both a fan of Fraction and a non-fan of the Fantastic Four. The premise of the book was exploration, a return to form for the Fantastic Four. The first two books, necessarily, were set-up to get us on our way and now the third book introduces us to exploring and a little bit of a more claustrophobic look at the team. It's particularly nice because, of late, the Fantastic Four books have focused on the family AND the future foundation, even when FF was released concurrently with the long-running F4. This new formula Fraction is instituting will give readers a better look at the family as a family, their biggest historical advantage. The Avengers are mostly pals, The X-Men kind of run like a family that's too big so reunions are awkward, the Defenders typically don't care for each other (OKAY, there's not a Defenders book out right now but whatever, Defenders are pretty cool). The Fantastic Four IS a family and that is what has always set them apart.

That said, this book delves into a lot of family stuff (i.e. parental relationships, siblings, etc.) while also taking a look at the biggest outsider to the group. This view of the Thing is exactly where I think the Thing can be a good character. He's often played as the kind of dopey but loyal and quick to anger hard-headed guy, which I don't think is necessarily all out of his character, but there is a deeper sense to him that really could pervade his entire personality. Everyone got sweet and/or useful powers (Reed's powers do NOT count as sweet) that don't harm the users in day-to-day living. Also, everyone is actually related some way or another. Ben Grimm, as Reed says in this book, is a rock. There is some sulking in this book and I have to think that'll lead to some of the more interesting character things in this book.

As a not particular fan of the group itself (I say that, but I have Human Torch and Invisible Woman figures hanging from my rearview mirror), I'm happy with this issue and this book so far. As I've said, I like Fraction's style a lot and he's clearly got things working here. I say that a lot in these reviews but I'm kind of forced to, thanks to Marvel NOW!'s start-up. Nothing is fully developed yet, everything is just in the starting stages. I have a feeling there's going to be a couple weeks of reviews in some time that are just all hectic, all the time. That will probably still be fun and good, but for now, the building is just as exciting as any climax.

Avengers Arena 3
Hopeless (w) and Walker (a)

I can't stop talking about how much I like characters. I get that. I apologize (kind of, but not super sincerely). But it really is what I come to comics looking for so OF COURSE a comic review blog I write would be loaded with me saying "characters." What I've liked so far about Avengers Arena is that it is just loaded with characters I don't know or don't know particularly well. It is so loaded with characters I don't know very well that when an issue focuses on a character I DO know, but haven't seen in a while, I assume I don't know her. This issue focuses on Cammi, a human girl who is just very well trained. Might as well be a baby Nick Fury. I was reading the issue going "good, we're going to learn about this girl now!" In the midst of her backstory, we see her with the Guardians of the Galaxy from Abnett and Lanning's run. "Oh shit," I said. "Cammi. I know Cammi!"

Anyway, on to the book. Each issue we've seen through a new set of eyes and this one, as you may have figured out, is seen through Cammi's eyes. We glimpsed her last issue as previous host Rebecca Ryker ran into her before being pushed on her way to the Braddock camp. Now we get her story, letting us know what's happened between Guardians of the Galaxy and now, and we get a couple more characters thrown in. Darkhawk pops in, Juston pops in, X-23 pops in, but no one really sticks around. This issue is about Cammi. It's fine by me; I know who she is (now) and I love Nick Fury-esque action.

I'm admittedly unsure of where this series is going but it has already been something of a fun ride. There's a lot of people to learn about and a lot of personalities and psyches to examine. I love that X-23 has appeared a few times but not yet played any sort of major role, as she must be the character we know most. I like the way this whole book is staged in that sort of Lost way of "there is this big island, there are a lot of people on this island, we're not going to force every character into every spot because we don't want to rush things." So far, so good.

Scarlet Spider 13
Yost (w) and Pham (a)

How many dead Peter Parkers am I going to have to see this month?

Thor: God of Thunder 4
Aaron (w) and Ribic (a)

This books just keeps

Okay, wait. I'll review Scarlet Spider.

I like this side of comics, the build into an arc, when it's done correctly. In this case, I think it is. I like that Kaine isn't Peter or Iron Man or something, someone who can see the top through all the middling. Like I said in yesterday's Superior Spider-Man review, I only just realized that Peter is very much a "beat it up first, think of a long-term solution second" kind of guy. Where Superior Spider-Man shows Doc Ock as the opposite, Kaine is the extended version of it. Kaine is "beat it up first, keep beating it up, try to figure out why it won't stay down, beat it up, then maybe come up with something." It makes sense. Kaine himself says that he's not as smart as Peter so all the things I said yesterday about Doc Ock vs. Peter hold, but Kaine is still a ways down the Spider-Man spectrum. Aracely continues to be interesting and insist on a swear jar for Kaine, and werewolves from Mexico make their way into the book. Solid book overall. The strength comes from Kaine's frustrations trying to understand a plot bigger than gangs and his need to be more than a monster. It's funny, with Peter Parker currently gone, there are two Spider-Men running around the 616 who are both notably more violent and angry. One of the most moral superheroes around has been replaced by two anti-heroes. What does that say about us?

Thor: God of Thunder 4
Aaron (w) and Ribic (a)

This book just keeps getting better. The most interesting bit of Thor to me has always been his maturity. From the arrogant and brash powerhouse to the more contemplative and stoic...well, powerhouse and now, in this book, to the tired and broken...look, he's probably still a powerhouse, he's the god of thunder. Whatever, he's become one of the stronger characters (personality-wise) when written well in the Marvel Universe, something I know I wouldn't have said when I was starting into comics, wading into all those original Avengers title when Thor would burst in and solve every problem by swinging his hammer at it. On top of that, it is a tough thing to write for Thor because he's just about the most powerful superhero. You can't put him up against a Sinister Six or a mugger. He'll murder them without even trying. So you need a villain who threatens Thor but isn't big enough for the Avengers. It's a very small middle-ground and usually relies on finding threats to Asgard.

The God-Killer Gorr is one of those threats to Asgard but also a threat to every god, hence "god-killer." It's a good premise with a lot of meat on it and, as he's not a god but seems similarly timeless, we're able to examine all sides of Thor in one delightful and beautifully illustrated book. Ribic's art is non-stop breathtaking. The time changes, flashing between past and present and future, are all seamless and I'm thrilled to say that we're about to do some timeline bending in the next issue. Gorr may not be timeless after all, he might just be jumping in time. Or he might be timeless. I guess we'll find out.

Either way, this book has everything someone who reads comics should love. There's conflict and great action, there's a powerful main presence facing off against an equally powerful villain, there are layers of personality to look at and three different versions of the same character to understand, there are moments of humor largely coming from support characters who don't overstay their welcome, and there's absolutely gorgeous art. I'm excited about this year in comics as a whole and this book is a large reason why. Between this and New Avengers to start the year off, I'm extraordinarily happy about what we could see.