I was reading an FF essential last night, thoroughly enjoying Kirby and Stan's work (Joe Sinnott may be the greatest inker that ever lived by the way! But I digress).
The FF feels so stale to me right now, and have felt this way for a loooong time now. If you were to create a new FF, what would your vision be? I remember many years back there was a Hulk-Spidey-Ghost Rider-Wolvie. That team was pretty good.
Then I remember a brief story arc with Valeria and Doom hanging about...that was pretty good...
What say you?
The FF are hamstrung to some degree because they are the FF; it's not a team name like the Avengers or the X-Men. They can't as easily change their roster--not for long.
Assuming they could, I think you'd want to keep the same basic set-up in terms of powers, but change the roles around a little bit.
Here's the four that initially pop to mind for me:
Leader: Doctor Strange (great mind, though in a different way than Reed--and pretty good at dealing with dimensional threats, too)
Muscle: Titania (she's got the muscle, and the attitude)
Energy: Bobby Drake (the opposite of Johnny Storm might be an expected choice, but again, the versatility of his power, and his potential, makes him a great choice here)
Stealth: X-23 (A fun character to turn loose outside the X-books--and far enough away from Iceman's tenure on the team to make this still interesting)
Another option instead of Bobby Drake as the choice for the elemental for the team--it might be fun to do someone like Crystal, since she's got strong ties to the original FF, and was even a member for a short time. That'd make the team awfully women-heavy, but that might be a fun dynamic, too. Sort of a Charlie's Angels vibe...
I like that move they did some months ago: Storm, Panther, Ben and Johnny. That was creative.
I know this story line has been done before, but I always wanted to see like Doctor Doom, Sue, Ben and Johnny, but done really well and maybe in an ongoing series.
Originally Posted by VaultManI like that move they did some months ago: Storm, Panther, Ben and Johnny. That was creative.
I liked that too; I wish it had lasted longer. Reed and Sue really need a break from being on a team for a while.
Staying with the elemental theme of the original Fantastic Four:
Silver SurferAir WalkerFirelordTerrax the Tamer
The interraction between the characters would be interesting and the storylines would be extraordinary.
Who would they fight?
I mean, the Wingless Wizard is going to have a heart attack when he sees the new FF.
Originally Posted by TetragrammatonWho would they fight?
I mean, the Wingless Wizard is going to have a heart attack when he sees the new FF.
It would be nice to see the new and improved team lay waste to the Fantastic Four's enemies.
Um...no. The FF (team members) is fine the way they are. Ben, Sue, Reed and Johnny are not to be replaced simply because the writers at Marvel cannot make this book exciting again.
Lee and Kirby did wonders as well as Mr. Byrne. Hell, art and style wise I even enjoyed the Rich Buckler/ Perez runs in the 70's.
My main beef with the FF is that the whole quot;we are a familyquot; dynamic is far too overused. We know they are a family element and it does not have to be droned upon multiple times every issue. In a similar vein this is what killed me with Spidey (With great power comes...blah, blah, blah...) we know, we know,
every bloody issue. The same with X-Men (Hey look we found yet another mutant this month with yet another forgettable power...let em' join the team!)... ugh! It's just not necessary all the time...every month.
To me the FF is the one Marvel book that should read like a serial. Every last page should end in a quot;can't wait until next month cliffhangerquot;.
The FF can still be a fun and engaging book without sacrificing the elements that make adults want to read about these characters.
Doom, Terrax, Psycho Man, Galactus, Silver Surfer, Black Panther, Wyatt Wingfoot, Annihilus, Super Skrull, Namor and the Inhumans are but a few examples of what makes this book incredible. In my opinion one of the best Rogues Galleries/ Supporting Casts in ALL of comics.
Please do not say that the FF has run its course because the Powers That Be at the House of Once Great Ideas has not found the right fit for this book.
Other than guest stints or minor character replacements due to storyline needs, let the Avengers and X-Men have the interchangeable line-ups. Thanks much.
Originally Posted by sons of setUm...no. The FF (team members) is fine the way they are. Ben, Sue, Reed and Johnny are not to be replaced simply because the writers at Marvel cannot make this book exciting again.
Lee and Kirby did wonders as well as Mr. Byrne. Hell, art and style wise I even enjoyed the Rich Buckler/ Perez runs in the 70's.
My main beef with the FF is that the whole quot;we are a familyquot; dynamic is far too overused. We know they are a family element and it does not have to be droned upon multiple times every issue. In a similar vein this is what killed me with Spidey (With great power comes...blah, blah, blah...) we know, we know,
every bloody issue. The same with X-Men (Hey look we found yet another mutant this month with yet another forgettable power...let em' join the team!)... ugh! It's just not necessary all the time...every month.
To me the FF is the one Marvel book that should read like a serial. Every last page should end in a quot;can't wait until next month cliffhangerquot;.
The FF can still be a fun and engaging book without sacrificing the elements that make adults want to read about these characters.
Doom, Terrax, Psycho Man, Galactus, Silver Surfer, Black Panther, Wyatt Wingfoot, Annihilus, Super Skrull, Namor and the Inhumans are but a few examples of what makes this book incredible. In my opinion one of the best Rogues Galleries/ Supporting Casts in ALL of comics.
Please do not say that the FF has run its course because the Powers That Be at the House of Once Great Ideas has not found the right fit for this book.
Other than guest stints or minor character replacements due to storyline needs, let the Avengers and X-Men have the interchangeable line-ups. Thanks much.
I'm not sure to whom you're responding here, but no one on this thread has said anything about the FF having quot;run its coursequot;. And I made the point about the FF not having the same fluidity of membership as the X-Men and Avengers up in the second post, too. This is all just theoretical. You know...for fun.
I do agree that the FF should always be a thrill ride, with a cliffhanger at the end of many (if not all) books. The team has largely lost that sense of wonder that so characterized it in the early days, and the book would do better to resemble a sort of cosmic Indiana Jones-type story. As it is, the FF are too entrenched in the 616 to be quot;out therequot; anymore.
But maybe the Dark storyline will change that....
Teague, clarifying about the quot;running their coursequot; line, was in reference to replacing the FF with hotter more marketable characters - not ending the book.
Hulk, Spidey, Wolverine, Daredevil, Spider Woman...etc...etc..etc, have their place - just not as my FF or substitutions.
I understand that the topic is intended to be one of fun, and my comments are not meant to be harsh or critical. I have grown up with this being my FF since I was a young lad and I've become kinda partial to what characters I want to see in the lineup.
Though I enjoyed the Art Adams stint with the alternate characters, I was equally bummed that they could not retain Mr. Adams for the FF (proper) after.
In the end I guess I just feel that it's not necessary to change the team for the possible lack of creativity involving the established FF.
Now, in a possible alternate universe... |
Post at 2011-4-16 07:03
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