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Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Comics Review: "FANTASTIC FOUR: Full Circle" Celebrates the Past, Present, and Future
FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE
ABRAMS COMICARTS
STORY: Alex Ross
ART: Alex Ross
COLORS: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
LETTERS: Ariana Maher
EDITORS: Charles Kochman and Tom Brevoort
COVER: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6167-6; hardcover with dust jacket (also an eBook); 8 1/2 x 11 (September 6, 2022)
64pp, Color, $24.95 U.S., $31.99 CAN, £17.99 U.K.
Fantastic Four created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
The Fantastic Four #1 (cover dated: November 1961) is the comic book that basically started what we know of today as Marvel Comics and the “Marvel Universe” of superheroes. The Fantastic Four was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, with Lee writing the story for the first issue and Jack Kirby drawing that first issue.
Returning to the Lee-Kirby era, Fantastic Four: Full Circle is a new original graphic novel from writer-artist Alex Ross. Published in an oversize format, 8½ x 11, Full Circle features the Fantastic Four (FF): Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm Richards), the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and the Thing (Ben Grimm). In a story that is a sequel of sorts to a classic issue of the Fantastic Four, the members of the team find themselves fighting for survival in the Negative Zone, an alien universe composed entirely of anti-matter. The rest of Full Circle's creative team is comprised of Josh Johnson, who colors this comic book with Ross, and letterer Ariana Maher.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle opens on a rainy night in the Baxter Building, the Manhattan home of the FF. Ben is making himself a sandwich when an intruder suddenly appears in the team's living quarters. Upon investigation, they discover that the intruder is a man who once masqueraded as Ben Grimm. They soon discover that the man is a human host, used to deliver a swarm of invading parasites – carrion creatures composed of “Negative Energy.”
What is the purpose behind this invasion, and who is behind it? Now, the Fantastic Four have no choice but to journey into the heart of the Negative Zone, an alien universe that is parallel to Earth's universe and is composed entirely of anti-matter. They not only risk their own lives, but also the fate of the cosmos? Is there any hope for this journey, or will they discover hope?
THE LOWDOWN: I like that Fantastic Four: Full Circle has a direct connection to the Fantastic Four's vintage era (as I call it) when it was produced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Full Circle directly connects to and is a resolution of Fantastic Four #51 (cover dated: June 1966). Entitled “This Man... This Monster!,” the story pit Reed Richards against an unnamed scientist who gives himself the powers and appearance of The Thing. The scientist's plan is to kill Richards, but those plans ultimately force him to save Reed's life while condemning himself to a sorry fate.
Full Circle returns to “This Man... This Monster!” in a deeply intimate way, or, at least, that is the way it comes across to me. In terms of graphics, illustrations, and colors, Full Circle is a direct descendant of the Lee-Kirby Fantastic Four. If Fantastic Four #51 is the parent, then, Full Circle is the child. Jack Kirby's dynamic, cosmic infused compositions are newly infused with the modern flourishes of the techno-marvels of software graphics and colors. Alex Ross even gives Stan Lee's chatterbox expositions new life simply by multiplying them in Full Circle, and Ross' take feels authentic. When one of the Fantastic Four speaks, their dialogue reads as if it were written by Stan the Man himself.
Alex Ross’s art in Full Circle is a combination of impressive line work and layers of brushwork that seems to sway like drapery. Ross and Josh Johnson color Full Circle in fluorescent shades: blues, greens, oranges, and purples. Their color choices also recalls the visuals and graphics of the “Pop Art” comic book movement (or moment) of the 1960s, somewhat similar to writer-artist Jim Steranko's work for Marvel, such as Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., in the late 1960s.
For a long time, I have described the comic books published in the 1960s by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, especially Marvel, as having a sense of wonder and mystery, of science/magic and hope, and of discovery and exploration. The modern comic book series that best exemplifies that is the late Darwyn Cooke's 2004 comic book miniseries, DC: The New Frontier.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle is both an homage and a return to a time when Marvel's comic book titles were about discovering the new. [Now, they are about IP maintenance and continuity, which is mostly fractured.] I love Ariana Maher vintage-styled lettering and the throbbing coloring that Josh Johnson commits with Alex Ross. All of it connects past and present.
I love that Alex Ross has presented Fantastic Four in this larger than usual format. Here, Ross' big, almost widescreen art both captures and replicates the big spirit and cosmic yearnings of Jack Kirby's best work on the Fantastic Four. I want to avoid spoilers, but I love Full Circle's ending, with its emphasis on hope, reconciliation, and peace.
Fantastic Four: Full Circle is published as the launch of “MarvelArts,” a new collaborative line of books between Marvel Comics and Abrams ComicArts. Abrams tells us that in MarvelArts “nothing is impossible and anything can happen.” I hope that this means that Abrams ComicArts will not just publish anything. Future publications should be as ambitious and as classically Marvel as this debut.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of the Fantastic Four and of Silver Age Marvel Comics will want Fantastic Four: Full Circle.
A
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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Monday, August 8, 2022
DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for August 9, 2022
Batgirls #9 (Cover A Jorge Corona), $3.99
Batgirls #9 (Cover B Sweeney Boo Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Batgirls #9 (Cover C Rian Gonzales Card Stock Variant), AR
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Batman Vs Robin Road To War TP, $16.99
Blood Syndicate Season One #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Dexter Soy), $3.99
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Dark Crisis Worlds Without A Justice League Green Lantern #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Fernando Blanco), $4.99
Dark Crisis Worlds Without A Justice League Green Lantern #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Mario Foccillo), AR
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DCeased War Of The Undead Gods #1 (Of 8)(Cover A Trevor Hairsine), $3.99
DCeased War Of The Undead Gods #1 (Of 8)(Cover B Kael Ngu Acetate Card Stock Variant), $4.99
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DCeased War Of The Undead Gods #1 (Of 8)(Cover F Sun Khamunaki Card Stock Variant), AR
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DCeased War Of The Undead Gods #1 (Of 8)(Cover H Jay Anacleto Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Deathstroke Inc. Volume 1 King Of The Super-Villains HC, $29.99
Fourth World By Jack Kirby Box Set, $120.00
Future State Gotham #16 (Cover A Simone Di Meo), $3.99
Future State Gotham #16 (Cover B Mike Bowden Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Harley Quinn #19 (Cover A Jonboy Meyers), $3.99
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I Am Batman #12 (Cover A Christian Duce), $3.99
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Jurassic League #4 (Of 6)(Cover A Daniel Warren Johnson), $3.99
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Kamandi By Jack Kirby Volume 1 TP, $39.99
Naomi Season 2 #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Jamal Campbell), $3.99
Nubia Queen Of The Amazons #3 (Of 4)(Cover A Khary Randolph), $3.99
Nubia Queen Of The Amazons #3 (Of 4)(Cover B Juliet Nneka Card Stock Variant), $4.99
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Sandman #1 Special Edition, AR
Superman Son Of Kal-El #14 (Cover A Travis Moore), $3.99
Superman Son Of Kal-El #14 (Cover B Rafael Sarmento Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Superman Son Of Kal-El #14 (Cover C Travis Mercer & Danny Miki Card Stock Variant), AR
Wonder Woman #790 (Cover A Yanick Paquette), $4.99
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Tuesday, March 15, 2022
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Absolute Fourth World By Jack Kirby Volume 2 HC, $150.00
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Batman The Knight #1 (Of 10)(Cover A Carmine Di Giandomenico), $4.99
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Batman The Long Halloween Dark Victory The Deluxe Edition HC, $49.99
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Batman Vs Bigby A Wolf In Gotham #5 (Of 6)(Cover B Brian Level & Jay Leisten Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Black Manta #5 (Of 6)(Cover A Jorge Fornes), $3.99
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Blue And Gold #5 (Of 8)(Cover A Ryan Sook), $3.99
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Catwoman #39 (Cover A Jeff Dekal), $3.99
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Crime Syndicate TP, $17.99
Detective Comics #1049 (Cover A Dan Mora), $4.99
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Icon And Rocket Season One #5 (Of 6)(Cover A Taurin Clarke), $3.99
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Nightwing #88 (Cover A Bruno Redondo), $3.99
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Robins #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Baldemar Rivas), $3.99
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Suicide Squad King Shark #5 (Of 6)(Cover A Trevor Hairsine), $3.99
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Supergirl Woman Of Tomorrow #7 (Of 8)(Cover A Bilquis Evely), $4.99
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Superman Son Of Kal-El #7 (Cover A John Timms, $3.99
Superman Son Of Kal-El #7 (Cover B Travis Moore Card Stock Variant), $4.99
Wonder Woman #783 (Cover A Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson), $4.99
Wonder Woman #783 (Cover B Will Murai Card Stock Variant), $5.99
Wonder Woman Evolution #3 (Of 8)(Cover A Mike Hawthorne), $3.99
Wonder Woman Evolution #3 (Of 8)(Cover B Juliet Nneka Card Stock Variant), $4.99
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Friday, November 5, 2021
Review: "ETERNALS" is Endlessly Fascinating
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 65 of 2021 (No. 1803) by Leroy Douresseaux
Eternals (2021)
Running time: 157 minutes (2 hours, 37 minutes)
MPAA – PG-13 for fantasy violence and action, some language and brief sexuality
DIRECTOR: Chloé Zhao
WRITERS: Chloé Zhao, Chloé Zhao & Patrick Burleigh and Ryan Firpo & Kaz Firpo; from a screen story by Ryan Firpo & Kaz Firpo (based upon the Marvel Comics by Jack Kirby)
PRODUCERS: Kevin Feige and Nate Moore
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ben Davis (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: Dylan Tichenor and Craig Wood
COMPOSER: Ramin Djawadi
SUPERHERO/DRAMA/ACTION
Starring: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Barry Keoghan, Lia McHugh, Bryan Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Haaz Sleiman, Esai Daniel Cross, and David Kaye (voice) with Salma Hayek, Kit Harringston, and Angelina Jolie
Eternals is a 2021 superhero film directed by Chloé Zhao and produced by Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series. The film is based on the Marvel Comics stories and characters created by Jack Kirby and first appearing in the comic book, The Eternals #1 (cover dated: July 1976). Eternals the movie focuses on a race of immortal beings who have lived on Earth for millennia, protecting and shaping its people.
Eternals begins with the story of the “Celestials,” the great beings that created the universe. They also created a race of immortals, known as “Eternals,” to do their bidding. Seven thousand years before the present day (5000 BC), ten of these Eternals arrive on Earth from their home planet, Olympia. They are Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Thena (Angelina Jolie), and Ajak (Salma Hayek), their leader. They are human-like and have super-powers.
The most powerful Celestial, Arishem (David Kaye), has sent these Eternals to Earth to protect humanity from monsters known as “Deviants.” Over several millennia, the Eternals protect humanity from the dangers posed by Deviants, but they are not allowed to interfere in the development of the humans and their civilizations. In 1500, after believing that they have killed off the last Deviants, the Eternals break apart as a group because they have different opinions on what their responsibility is towards humans going forward.
In the present day, Sersi and Sprite live together in London. One night, they are attacked by a Deviant, but the powerful Eternal, Ikaris, arrives to drive the creature away. Sersi, Sprite, and Ikaris decide to reunite their group in order to be prepared for the renewed threat of the Deviants. However, not all the members are willing to reunite as some have new lives and others hold old grudges. Meanwhile, dark secrets from their past and about their future hinder the Eternals ability to deal with “The Emergence,” an event that threatens to destroy the world.
Eternals is Marvel Studios most unique film to date. For all the talk of there being a formula to Marvel's films, Eternals is like nothing else that Marvel has done and like no other superhero film, for that matter. The costumes, special effects, technology, art direction, and graphic design are key to creating a film that is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also feels separate from it, in a way.
Eternals co-writer and director Chloé Zhao won two Oscars for her work on the 2020 film, Nomadland, a film filled with characters that are fiercely independent, unique, and contrary. Eternals is a film about a group of ten people who essentially form a family, but these ten are individually disparate people. After their mission is complete, the Eternals discover that they have very little in common. They know enough, however, as they saying goes, to hurt the ones they love.
Zhao deals with the ramifications of being a hero confronted by the question of which is more important in a mission – the orders or doing the right thing. Zhao reveals that it is not so easy because individuals have differing views on the mission and what it means to “do the right thing.” Zhao also delves into the complicated nature of a family unit, how the bittersweet can become downright sour when there are secrets and lies and also betrayal. Eternals is a film about difficult relationships and about the heartache and pain that can come when differences cannot be bridged.
Some may find Eternals too long and boring. There may not be enough action for fans used to the humongous action set pieces of the Avengers films. Also, the film's ostensible lead, Gemma Chan's Sersi, is a female superhero that is nuanced in ways not seen in superhero films, especially compared to Marvel heroines like Black Widow, The Wasp, and the Dora Milaje. Chan creates a Sersi that is beautifully gentle and compassionate, while being vulnerable in a way that makes her a better hero. Even Angelina Jolie's Thena, an elite warrior, is as vulnerable as she is fierce and violent.
That is not the formula for girl-hero kick-ass and that is fine by me. I find Eternals endlessly fascinating, and while I watched it, I always wanted more of it. After all, each Eternal has 7000 years worth of stories to tell, and that's just what happened before they arrived on Earth. Whether there is another Eternals film or not, Eternals 2021 is important to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, simply because it is the kind of entry that will stand out and show that there can be truly different things in that cinematic universe. Eternals is one of the year's best films.
9 of 10
A+
Friday, November 5, 2021
The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
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