Classic Review: Marvel Masterworks- Fantastic Four Vol. 14

Quick Summary

Pros: The majority of the book’s stories feel unique and are exciting. Most of the characters are depicted well. The artwork is positive throughout the volume.

Cons: Many of the stories feel contrived and one ends with a deus ex machina. Sue is written poorly for the majority of the book.

Overall: This volume is an interesting change of pace for the Fantastic Four series. It utilizes imaginative storytelling to tell several exciting and interesting stories. However, some of these stories come off as a bit contrived and several of them reflect poorly on Sue as a character. Though it might not be immediately appealing to newer readers, it may appeal to longtime readers who would be happy to see the tone of the series change for a bit.

Story

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 14 starts with a note from the volume’s writer, Gerry Conway, talking about how this particular volume was created by a team attempting to emulate the styles of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. These creators loved the earlier issues of the Fantastic Four series and wanted to do something similar. For better or for worse, their mission was successful.

This volume contains many of the strengths and weaknesses of early Fantastic Four stories. The strengths come from tense and imaginative storytelling combined with great emotions from the characters, a staple of the series from the very start. In addition, a satisfying crossover with the Avengers adds a modern-feeling story to the mix. The weaknesses come from the contrived nature of a few story arcs and a poor representation of the Invisible Woman. In addition, this volume does not have anywhere close to the same historical importance that earlier stories had. In the end, this volume is not the best volume in this series but works as a nice change-up for the Bronze Age era of Fantastic Four stories.

(spoilers start here)

As mentioned above, many of the positives in Fantastic Four Vol. 14 come from the storytelling. The Fantastic Four go on a number of adventures throughout this volume that all manage to be thrilling but feel somewhat different than adventures that came beforehand. The early chapters are constantly concerned with Sue’s departure, the Thing’s fight with the Hulk twists the traditional hero vs. hero formula by swapping the characters’ bodies, and a crossover with the Avengers closes the entire collection on a high note. All of the encounters here are solid and have enough suspense and action to keep things exciting.

Alongside this, the characters constantly add to the unfolding drama. Reed’s pain over Sue’s departure really shows how much he cares about his family, humanizing him even further than before. Meanwhile, Johnny and Ben’s conflicting emotions regarding Reed feel like a development for each of their characters. This development is then furthered for Johnny as he has to officially say goodbye to Crystal, who marries Quicksilver at the collection’s end.

However, alongside these classic positives are some classic negatives, the first of which comes from the contrived nature of many of the stories. The Inhumans’ plan to get Reed and Sue back together is so elaborate and strange that its reveal ends up feeling ridiculous rather than charming. Later on, Franklin’s ability to defeat Ultron and wake from his coma makes the conclusion of the Avengers crossover feel like a deus ex machina. Even Doctor Doom’s plan ends up being a little hard to believe, as it would have fallen apart if Reed didn’t attend the fake reunion, which he almost didn’t.

Adding on to the problems is Sue’s mistreatment by the volume’s narrative. This collection has everyone start by lashing out at Reed’s decision from the previous book but has them all grow to understand it over time, everyone except Sue. Instead, Sue decides to leave Reed and reconnect with someone she has come to know as a villain. This wouldn’t be that bad, but it is coupled with the fact that she stays with him as he literally declares war on all of humanity, making almost no effort to stop him. The overall effect makes Sue appear as flighty and unintelligent as she was depicted in early Fantastic Four stories, which was a major problem from those stories.

(spoilers end here)

Art

Like the story, the artwork in Fantastic Four Vol. 14 feels like a throwback to earlier issues of the series. Rich Buckler presents well-structured pages with a clean look to them. Buckler even uses Kirby-tech to emphasize the science fiction aspect of the series and lays out a few battles in a way that feel very similar to layouts used by Jack Kirby. This type of art style pairs well with the narrative and is appealing all on its own.

It also helps that John Buscema and Sal Buscema provide some great contributions toward the end of the collection. These give a bit more modern flair to the volume and generally add to its overall appeal.

Continuity

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 14 continues the story from Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 13 (Review).

The story here continues in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 15 (Review).

This volume also makes references to other comic books, detailed below:

• Fantastic Four #143 references the Human Torch’s role in Marvel Team-Up #16, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Team-Up Vol. 2. 
• Giant-Size Super-Stars references Hulk’s association with the Defenders, which somewhat began back in Sub-Mariner #34-35 and was shown in a more official capacity in Marvel Feature #1-3. These issues are all collected in Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 1 (Review).
• Bruce Banner previously visited the Fantastic Four in Incredible Hulk #122, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Incredible Hulk Vol. 6. 
• The Thing and the Hulk previously fought in Fantastic Four #111-113, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 11 (Review). 
• Giant-Size Super-Stars references Thundra’s recent Fantastic Four appearances. These are shown in Fantastic Four #128-129 and #133, collected across Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 12 (Review) and Vol. 13 (Review).
• Fantastic Four #147 reference’s Reed’s role in Sub-Mariner #67, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Vol. 8. 
• Fantastic Four #147 also reference’s Namor’s early role in Fantastic Four #4, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (Review).
• Giant-Size Fantastic Four mentions the Watcher’s role in Fantastic Four #49-51, collected across Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Review) and Vol. 6 (Review). 
• Doom’s Time Platform was first seen in Fantastic Four #5, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 (Review).
• Avengers #127 continues the story from Avengers #126, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 13 (Review).
• Avengers #127 references Quicksilver’s hostility toward Scarlet Witch in Avengers #110, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 11 (Review).
• The Avenger/Defenders clash is briefly mentioned. This clash took place across Avengers #115-118 and Defenders #8-11, collected in either Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 12 (Review) or Marvel Masterworks: Defenders Vol. 2 (Review).
• Johnny Storm and Crystal dated until Fantastic Four #105, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 11 (Review). 
• Vision’s connection to Ultron was explained in Avengers #66-68, which was the last time Ultron was seen. These issues are collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 7 (Review).
• Maximus’s mental instability was expanded in Avengers #95, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 10 (Review).
• At one point, Reed and Sue reflect on their own wedding. This wedding took place in Fantastic Four Annual #3, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 5 (Review).
• Thor mentions his failed relationship with Jane Foster. The two broke up in Thor #136, collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Mighty Thor Vol. 5 (Review).
• Tony Stark mentions Pepper Potts’s wedding. She was married in Tales of Suspense #91, collected in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Vol. 4. 
• The Whizzer’s battle from Giant-Size Avengers #1 is mentioned. This issue is collected in Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Vol. 13 (Review).