Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Fantastic Four #565

For some reason Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch haven't enjoyed their usual sales success during their run on the Fantastic Four.

It's difficult to say why - they've certainly been telling big stories, and the art is as amazing as ever - but for some reason it hasn't clicked with readers the way The Ultimates did.

Perhaps it's the covers, which lack a distinctive title logo (the one it carries is small and at the bottom of the page). Perhaps it's because the covers have been busy - you have to examine them closely to tell what's going on. Perhaps the stories, with their PG nature, just seem too sanitized for Millar and Hitch.

Whatever the reason, they're actually doing good work here, and it's a shame it's not getting more recognition. Hitch's art is especially amazing, with an insane amount of detail on display.

This issue turns a beloved Silver Age Marvel concept on its head - that of the monstrous invader from another world - and recasts it as a modern horror story. It's a very good story, and the final page serves as a prelude for the next storyline, which promises to be a real blockbuster.

If you haven't been reading this one, you've missed out.

Grade: B+

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