Thing Rings... Do Your Thing!!!

Cover Artists:  Michael Allred & Laura Allred

FF #5 (2013)

"Spooky kids"

or

"Merrily into the eight arms of Durga the invincible we all go"

FF #4

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Michael Allred

Before jumping into the fun that is this issue, things get very serious for a moment in the Baxter Building, when Alex Power confronts Ant-Man about his real motivations for wanting to strike Dr. Doom. It would seem that a scene like this is out of place given the campy theme of the book, but it actually grounds it, and reminds everyone what's really underneath the otherwise light mood of the title. Then there's the fun stuff. She-Hulk goes out on a non-date with her old flame Wyatt Wingfoot, while the moloids, aided by Bentley-23, try in vain to ruin the evening for the pair. In the best style of a sitcom, the evil plan of the little ones not only fails miserably at every step, but makes things turn out even better for "The Jen" and her beau. The whole thing is a hoot that visually peaks on the dancing floor; Allred is simply a genius. The issue ends with the focus on another odd couple, but if you know your history well, it makes total sense.

Medusa, Ant-Man, and Ms. Thing by Michael Allred and Laura Allred

FF #3

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Michael Allred

Move away Fantastic Four, because here's the third issue of the world's new greatest comic magazine! What was at first an unfounded concern is now a somber reality: The Fantastic Four are gone, and it's up to Ant-Man, Medusa, and She-Hulk to make things right. Top on their list is bringing Darla Deering back into the fold, and to do that, Scott Lang has to go through the Yancy Street Gang first. Nothing in the past few years has channeled the works of Lee and Kirby, or that 60's vibe like this little scuffle with the gang; an absolutely magical sequence. I will be frank: Years ago, during the X-Statics days, I was a big detractor of his work; cut to today, and I cannot imagine a world without Michael Allred's fascinating and unique style. His and Laura Allred's pages have beautiful finishes; they look as if done on animation cells, rather than the conventional Bristol board, and that's just one of the many features that make their art incomparable. FF is by far the funnest Marvel title in the market.

Darla Deering and Scott Lang. Art by Michael Allred and Laura Allred.

Marvel Now! Point One :: Ant-Man

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Michael Allred

With the Marvel Now! initiative underway, the publisher teases readers with a preview of upcoming titles in this week's .1 issue. Presented in an anthology format, one of the segments features Ant-Man in a prequel to the soon-to be-relaunched FF series. Scott Lang died during Disassembled and came back to life during Children's Crusade, only to see his daughter Cassie a.k.a. Stature die at the hands of Dr. Doom. Now Ant-Man is trying to overcome his loss the only way he knows how: exacting revenge. Fans of the current Daredevil and Hawkeye titles need to check this one out. Matt Fraction -who also writes Hawkeye- has found a niche where he clearly thrives, and thanks to the fact he knows which specific talents to exploit in the artists who illustrate his stories, the final product is a true delight. Michael Allred's art is the ideal complement to a plot that starts in an obscure place but ends on a lighthearted note.