FANTASTIC FOUR #587
Review by: NawidA
What did the
iFanboy
community think?
847
Pulls
Pulls
Avg Rating: 4.5
%7B%22comicdate%22%3A%222011-01-26%22%2C%22comicid%22%3A66711%7D
Users who pulled this comic:
- 0and18
- 23skidoo
- 70namrepuS
- 0157h7
- 360Logic
- aboris26
- abstractgeek
- acamilo
- acbg
- Achaniel
- ActualButt
- adrian
- adrianhosseini
- Agent005
- Aitch2Oh
- Ajacks7
- ajmortys
- AL13N4112
- AlanMooresBeard
- AlanRob
- Alexferrer
- alextastic
- AlphaFlightFan
- AmirCat
- amlah6
- ammcquillen
- Andrew
- andybmcd
- Animalvader1
- anrcampbell
- Anthony
- anthonyscribner
- apoptosis81
- AquaPimp82
- AquariusDog31
- Arrrggghhh
- Art1318
- AshtonAdams
- asigchris
- Askanison
- asmith
- AstonishedMrsPryde
- astoriajohnstons
- atma
- ato220
- AtomicFrontier
- Aurora13
- aussie86
- avejman
- Avistann
- B
- babaoriley
- baggo
- bakakaba
- baker1231
- Bakhox
- BarbarianKing
- Barnabas
- barrow
- Barry1966
- batmanslayer
- BatStewie
- bazhorne
- Ben99
- Benjerimiah
- bigsime22
- bird
- BizDaddy
- bizreal1015
- bjbancroft
- bjohnsonmc
- BladesofJustice
- blaque
- bluedream
- blueenvelope
- blurryleg
- bnicholas1
- BobDigi76
- Bobofthnder
- Bobtrombones
- boguspassword123
- BoldCoffee
- Book
- boostergold4
- Bootmobile
- bozmania69
- Branagin77
- Brian
- brian9699
- brianCarbordo
- brianmaru
- BritishNightwing
- Brother129
- Brotodeau
- BruceLuvsClark
- bryanpittard
- Bryce31
- bschatz
- Bucky
- bulletproof
- BurningDoom
- bursarman
- busboy
- bzzzash
- cabeto
- cactus4million
- cahubble09
- CalaveraDeOcho
- Calis32
- CAM
- CammyKnoxville
- campbell
- canucklehead
- canuckster
- Canyonwalker
- capnho
- CaptainSweatpants
- captamerica101
- captbastrd
- Cartographer
- cav
- ccarney
- ccmilleniu
- CGHER
- chad
- chadbowen248
- chaosmonkey
- charliebf5
- CHERP0
- chop360
- chris
- ChrisB
- ChrisG
- christopheduran
- chrs7637
- chuckles
- Chunkahash
- Cinderelephant
- citizenmilton
- ClasikRok
- clay
- claydawg9418
- ClaytonMoore
- codymander
- ColdWarKid
- comicBOOKchris
- ComicBookGuy37
- ComicGamer
- conallgil
- conanymous
- conor
- conor9935
- Constable
- Cooper
- cooperdraw
- Cormac
- cornflakes
- corpseed
- CountAbyss
- Cranpa
- CrimsonDynamo
- Crippler
- cromulent
- Cropcirkill
- Croz
- Crucio
- csama
- ctrosejr
- cubman987
- cutty
- cyberauron
- D
- Daflash00
- dapperdan
- DarkKnightJared
- darrenjackson
- DarrinH
- DarthDuck
- DarthScooter
- dave
- davek
- daveofthedead
- Davetron3k
- davidd
- DavidMacfarlane
- davidmc968
- DavidRose92
- Dcp
- dcrob
- DDevil1964
- dedzed
- DefConPrime
- defjuan
- Demo916
- DemonBoy
- DenverDave
- Desaad
- devinmccullough
- Dex
- dgazzuolo
- dhartjr25
- diebenny
- Dietz82
- djd
- djgarciarx
- dkbrain
- dneufeld
- DocMartens
- doctorsporen
- Doddsickle
- dogprod
- donny
- Doofenschmirtz
- doomwad
- Doski
- downisthenewup
- DP1982
- drakedangerz
- drakesmith
- DrCatclops
- dredscott33
- drew724
- droll
- droptop80
- droracle
- drummerman1126
- dsaint
- DTBrown72
- DudleyDoright
- dukealoops
- dunefish
- Duraflametree
- dustin
- dworden
- dxhc99
- EAGLEBAUER
- earmuff
- EasyReader
- ed209AF
- Edude
- einstein399
- ElvisPresto
- elwell23m
- emergencyexit
- emissary
- Ender35k
- Endlessw
- Eric
- EricDee598
- ericwilder
- erikduane
- ERock
- ErronSF
- essurfer
- est1864
- esuarez27
- evilerniefiend
- Excelsior2099
- EzSapien
- e_limarenko
- fallonk12
- Fanteisimo
- fearthejake
- Ferrian
- FiascoRodriguez
- firebird
- firstnamenathan
- flashfloyd35
- Flounder
- flounder56
- Franktiger
- FRCHUD
- freakzilla
- fredsolo
- Freelancer
- Friedmiester
- froggulper
- Fvckstick
- Gabe
- Gabrielogan
- gandalf25
- GarHoch
- Garrett
- Gary4362
- gat0rl1vebeatz
- Gaumer
- geekmonkey
- GeeSpot
- genelaw9
- GENX
- geoffcuddy
- georgeXjr
- gettsr
- ghettojourno
- GhostGrifter
- ghostwriter
- GigaShrimp
- Gimpace
- girvan
- Glassford
- GLJoeW
- glunders
- glwarm76
- Goaler31
- gobo
- gollygosh03
- GorillaTodd
- Graysonite
- gree0245
- greenbillblue
- greendart32
- greenlantern202
- grizly
- gruvenreuven
- GungaDin
- Habakkuk
- hakaider
- HammHamm81
- HannahClaire
- har13quin
- Harske
- harwellpkg
- HassanT
- Haupt
- HaZaa
- HBD
- headless
- Hellblazer
- hellblazer101
- hellzaphat
- Henry
- HeX
- hidefjohn
- Highball
- HipHopHead
- hoaznod
- hobley
- homeboy2000
- HomeTeam790
- Hoobeiss
- HumphreyLee
- husdis
- IanF
- IanX
- iGotKittyPryde
- Ilash
- imakereality
- Impossibilly
- Impulse
- irock316
- ironandre34
- IroncladMerc
- iSteve
- izzy88
- j206
- jabroniunc
- Jack239
- jackietam
- JacksonAlexandr
- jag2004
- james
- jamesschneider
- JamesSeals
- JamesTheFourth
- jashcraft1014
- jason245
- JasonColorado
- jasonwest
- JayEll
- jbaran82
- jbradley
- jdnan
- JdRavnos
- JedeyeSniv
- Jediaxle
- jedijunkie
- Jeffc
- JeffR
- JesTr
- JesusChrysler
- jfontana
- JimBilly4
- JimmyD
- JimmyF1982
- jimmyg
- Jimski
- Jinnpo
- jisrael
- jjkish7
- jjoe23j
- JKExar
- JLAvenger
- jlddlj11
- JLupo
- jmack
- joawmeens
- JoeyDoughnut
- JohhnyNormal
- John42
- JohnCorrigan
- JohnnyStooge
- johnorlandella
- johnthrax
- JohnVFerrigno
- jonclifton
- JonJames
- jonloveless
- jonnyd83
- jono87
- JonSamuelson
- Joppe
- Jordan0061
- Joshrector
- Journal
- jovianlab
- jpeters1221
- jrodine
- JRoUKno
- jsbigman
- jsbx
- jtrigg13
- juand182
- jubal1
- junoro
- justderek
- justincresswell
- JWilliamson
- jwimmer
- jwlanglois
- JZga
- k5blazer
- Kamilo
- kaonohi
- kcekada
- kellansmith
- Kellboy
- KevinAB
- kevinscomics
- KickAss
- kidsodapop
- Killraven
- kingpinII
- kingsynthithis
- KISSlover101
- kitsunedreams
- kmob181
- kndoubleu
- Kodaiji
- krypto
- ksamara
- Kwertee
- kwilli
- LanceTX
- lantern4life
- Lantern1025
- Lawless
- Lebahn
- Legend
- leigh
- leonardshoh
- Leprechaun
- LeviHunt15
- levitakis
- lifeinmoments
- lilmikeegee
- liquidfiction
- lmiller31
- Loneski
- lorddowney
- LorryDrivingeek
- Loshem
- Lotuslaw
- LoydDandy
- lucero
- LueZuve
- Luthor
- Luvmuscle
- macdad34
- magnetowasright
- magnum240
- malakilii
- MandyBu
- marcushill73
- MarkBiz
- Mart
- Martholamew
- matt
- mattfox7669
- mattgarcxc9
- mattmlpdx
- MattyJets
- Maukingbird
- MayorMitch100
- Mazscottf
- mblackshear
- MBurnsOH
- mc9457
- Meanmrmustid
- mguy77
- Mi7eM
- Michael1025
- michaelscott75
- midwinter
- mikeandzod21
- MikeD
- MikefromGotham
- mikegraham6
- mikel411
- MikePositive
- mikeromo
- milez42
- MiloPo
- misterckent
- misterdestructo
- MisterShaw
- mitchster
- MLHay
- mmtic
- Mochi75
- mongo
- monkeeeboy
- monkeypaw787
- Mookiblaylock
- Mooseman
- Mordecai
- moron
- mosszilla
- MountNJ
- MrBeebs37
- mrlogical
- mrmister
- MrNoahBdy
- MrPhases
- mrtonk
- Mrusfl
- MrWilson
- MrWrong
- msryke
- mulletpeep
- mumva
- munocard
- Murakami
- musicologist86
- Mustbedamned
- MutantSentry
- mwoods2000
- Mxyzptlk
- Mykey
- Myrlyn314
- MysteriousIcon
- nabus19
- naeger51
- nathanhicks
- NathanNicdao
- NawidA
- nchuong
- Neb
- neftones
- nehrujack
- newmutant
- newtype1089
- nick0606
- NJBaritone
- NoahPlaysNintendo
- NoFX4021
- noni
- notadultyet
- Notahiro
- Noto
- Ntpmcrtp
- nuages
- nuckolhead
- Number8crunchy
- nyrock
- odare77
- odino1
- okc
- oldmanlogan88
- olliejudge
- OnASunday
- OniDante
- oopsxlandmine
- optra08
- origamikid
- Orykayd
- oscarsouth
- OttoBott
- overcommitter
- paeryn
- Paradiddle
- Parker
- party
- patch11001
- Patriotsun
- PaulMontgomery
- Peterparker18102
- Petro09
- petropeterson
- PhantomPhrenemy
- phess1
- phizeta564
- Pilled
- Poddington
- Pompster
- Poopmonster
- PostMan87
- powerdad
- PozrDu
- pppiquer
- pr3f1x
- PraxJarvin
- Prime
- ProfessorVonBismarck
- ProjectX2
- PTAhole
- punisher36
- punisher666
- purplehulk
- PV
- quenbyh
- Quinn
- RABinRVA
- RadConsv
- Ragnarokker
- Ragtime
- Ragu73
- ramonschenk
- Ramulux
- Ranma
- Ratenef
- RavagerWolf
- rawb
- rayclark
- Rchapoteau
- redbluejam
- redcracker
- redline925
- RedMoses
- reg5000
- ResurrectionFlan
- Retet
- reversematt
- RevolutionarySounds
- richal13
- RickyStardust
- rivendell3
- rjl
- RKB
- robbiethegeek
- RobCarmack
- RobFather
- Robotpaul
- RobotZombie
- RocketRacoon
- rockingeek
- roejamsey
- Rofo
- RogueWarrior76
- RoiVampire
- Roly
- ron
- Rooney
- rubra
- RudeBoy5
- rudeboy134
- Ruo21
- Rustyautoparts
- rwpos
- ryan555
- ryanhoffman45
- ryanorr
- ryn2o01
- Saltyoldnavy
- SamIAm
- SamMorgan
- Sammy
- saturnmda
- SBomb232
- scallionsncreme
- scansvc
- schark
- ScottH
- scottlyles
- Scotty
- Scout
- Scratch113
- Scrawl
- SeanStockton
- seNoj1
- serge
- sethkushner
- shenanigans
- ShowNunBatToe
- SilentRob
- Sinestroll
- siraim
- sirdave101
- SkinnyStompin
- Skyfire124
- slc830
- slee77
- slippyfist
- smeeeeee
- snappants
- SnrFrijole
- sodapopNinja
- Soma
- SomeCreepyDude
- somethingblue13
- sonnysumo
- SonorousStar
- SPEEDBALL
- Spiffy
- SplifEOC
- spndx
- spydermon
- srh1son
- stephens92a
- stevoarome
- Stringer
- stustap
- SummerSleep
- Supascoopa
- supermanfan
- supersnac90
- supertrackmonkey
- tazz
- tdjohnson1116
- techbot
- televisionsavant
- telltarget2
- Templar
- tenblack
- TexasZombie99
- TheAskanison
- thebear
- TheBigG27
- THEBRODYMAN
- thebudman2008
- Thechangingman
- TheChosen
- TheDespicableGent
- TheDetective
- TheDoctorGeek
- theegreatone
- TheFutureMadScientist
- thegardner
- TheGrunger
- theIDENTITY
- thelonelight
- themanagement
- TheNextChampion
- thepowerout
- theshadetool
- TheTaken
- thewalrus1235
- TheYanni
- thinwhiteduke
- ThomasKaters
- thompsonlive
- throughthebrush
- Thursday
- THX7168
- TimmyWood
- Tiocore
- Titan72
- tjerrod
- tjnewton
- Toadmeister
- toadstyle
- toddkelley
- tomdpimp
- tomistommy
- TommyC
- TommyMonaghan
- tomobrien20
- Tomotov2
- topkat74
- torgelfi
- torippu
- Towerofam
- trailofdead
- Trichon
- TrueBeliever616
- Truthseeker
- Tsifox
- turaho
- twistedkaijuu07
- twopossums
- TylerDurden
- UMFskibum
- ungaro
- USPUNX
- uvayankee1
- vadamowens
- viewaskew117
- Viewt
- vinh
- VisionGX
- WadebeforeSlade
- wallythegreenmonster
- WaltKellysGhost
- wampasause
- wanner16
- warlock
- warmachine15
- wayne823
- WeaklyRoll
- Webhead
- wellthatsalright
- WeRideToFight
- Wetbrains84
- WetWork
- WHATTHEDAST
- wheezerhc
- WhiteLantern
- WhiteRedBlack
- whitespyder9
- whyda
- WildSeven
- willcrimson
- WilliamKScurryJr
- wingsfan757
- WinTheWonderboy
- Wolfdog
- Wood
- WoodenSpoonVersusShiv
- Woody1201
- x2cwaldr
- XManRyan
- xmanslade
- Xomneon
- XsandOhs
- yetihands
- ytsan
- yyzKyle
- zach
- zachtruitt
- zakcaldwell
- Zarathos81
- zattaric
- Zedilon
- zhedin
- zlbenson
- ZombiePoo
- ZookZoltn
All users who pulled this comic
Hide users
Users who reviewed this comic:
Art by Steve Epting
Size: pages
Price: 3.99
This review contains spoilers, click here to read
This is a weird review to write and as such I feel that the score below should be ignored because I had no idea what to put there.
Comics have always straddled the line between marketing and storytelling. Comics, like children's TV shows, had toys and such lined up in their conception stages. The cover of the famous X-Men cover with Cyclops holding Jean Grey's body is defaced with a massive "YOU COULD WIN $2500!" banner. Comics are not typically the most lucrative of storytelling mediums, but they're used as marketing tools to sell a film to Hollywood. With Fantastic Four #587 and the entire "Three" Fantastic Four story arc, the marketing has taken away any ability I have to judge the story at all.
I mean, I suppose I enjoyed the book. I thought it was well done. But what fun is looking at something well crafted if what you really want is a story? Marketing destroyed that for me. I already knew somebody was going to die. There was no shock. There was no real mystery, we clearly know that Reed and The Thing are far too involved in the (lucrative) Avengers to be killed and Sue was far too obvious (and was done before). When you know exactly what's going to happen (one person dies, the others are okay) and know the specifics (who is going to die) and you're telling that all in such a brief way, without surprise a lot of emotion is removed.
Something that really bugs me is not knowing whether this book would even be tense if we weren't (crassly) marketed a death (this story arc may be called Three but I think I'll remember the tagline of "Countdown to Casualty!"). Would Eptings art convey the desperation? Would Hickman's writing actually think some really bad shit was going to happen months in advance had we not been told so? I'll never know. The only people who will know are people who live under a rock and maybe ten years down the line, buy the collected edition. I envy them way more than I should.
Ron Richards has repeatedly stated that "it's not what happens but how that's important". That's wrong. A story is made up of the "how" (everything that makes up the story that isn't the very distilled brief plot) and the "what" (the plot). I refuse to support comics as a handicapped storytelling form but that's exactly what I just did by buying this book. That's what the marketing of the book did to it.
Fuck that.
There should be an apology. An apology to Hickman and Epting for tainting their story. An apology to us for ruining our experience of the story. It will never happen, but that doesn't it mean it shouldn't happen. There is such flagrant disrespect of storytelling going on here that it makes not want to read Marvel comics. And I simply don't want to quit reading them. I like a lot of the work they put out. My favorite superhero comic of last year was Remender's Punisher. But the company doesn't care about what they put out, and if they want to disagree with me, than I'll point them at this (pseudo) review.
And it's a damn shame, because Hickman has been writing a hell of a comic up to this storyline.
Comics have always straddled the line between marketing and storytelling. Comics, like children's TV shows, had toys and such lined up in their conception stages. The cover of the famous X-Men cover with Cyclops holding Jean Grey's body is defaced with a massive "YOU COULD WIN $2500!" banner. Comics are not typically the most lucrative of storytelling mediums, but they're used as marketing tools to sell a film to Hollywood. With Fantastic Four #587 and the entire "Three" Fantastic Four story arc, the marketing has taken away any ability I have to judge the story at all.
I mean, I suppose I enjoyed the book. I thought it was well done. But what fun is looking at something well crafted if what you really want is a story? Marketing destroyed that for me. I already knew somebody was going to die. There was no shock. There was no real mystery, we clearly know that Reed and The Thing are far too involved in the (lucrative) Avengers to be killed and Sue was far too obvious (and was done before). When you know exactly what's going to happen (one person dies, the others are okay) and know the specifics (who is going to die) and you're telling that all in such a brief way, without surprise a lot of emotion is removed.
Something that really bugs me is not knowing whether this book would even be tense if we weren't (crassly) marketed a death (this story arc may be called Three but I think I'll remember the tagline of "Countdown to Casualty!"). Would Eptings art convey the desperation? Would Hickman's writing actually think some really bad shit was going to happen months in advance had we not been told so? I'll never know. The only people who will know are people who live under a rock and maybe ten years down the line, buy the collected edition. I envy them way more than I should.
Ron Richards has repeatedly stated that "it's not what happens but how that's important". That's wrong. A story is made up of the "how" (everything that makes up the story that isn't the very distilled brief plot) and the "what" (the plot). I refuse to support comics as a handicapped storytelling form but that's exactly what I just did by buying this book. That's what the marketing of the book did to it.
Fuck that.
There should be an apology. An apology to Hickman and Epting for tainting their story. An apology to us for ruining our experience of the story. It will never happen, but that doesn't it mean it shouldn't happen. There is such flagrant disrespect of storytelling going on here that it makes not want to read Marvel comics. And I simply don't want to quit reading them. I like a lot of the work they put out. My favorite superhero comic of last year was Remender's Punisher. But the company doesn't care about what they put out, and if they want to disagree with me, than I'll point them at this (pseudo) review.
And it's a damn shame, because Hickman has been writing a hell of a comic up to this storyline.
Story: 5 - Excellent
Art: 5 - Excellent
Art: 5 - Excellent
This is the saddest review I’ve ever read on here.
Good review but like your review I don’t really know what to say about it.
I read a few comics for a good decade without participating in any comic media or community.
I never knew what was happening.
You could always do that.
I wholly disagree. The tension of the “3” storyline is enhanced by the fact that you know one of the FF will die, but you do not know which one. The family is split and paralell storylines each present deadly peril. The story is written in such a way as to fold the knowledge of a death, but not which death, into the arc. THis is by design.
In the Harry Potter series, we we told well in advance that important characters would die, but not which ones. Indeed, the technique of “and one will die” is a time-honored plot technique. In comics, toward the end of the Silver Age, there was a graphic novel “The Death of Captain Marvel.” Spider-Man 121, the penultmate chapter of the arc with Gwen Stacy’s death, has the famous cover with Petey saying “SOMEONE CLOSE TO ME WILL DIE!” and pictures showing various supporting cast. You don’t know who will die until you read the issue, but you know someone will.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night_Gwen_Stacy_Died
Does it really make a difference that you know at the beginnig of the arc instead of the issue? Sure, a shocking death is a storytelling technique as well, but not the *only* one.
I disagree with your disagreement. 🙂
If the story is reliant on it’s marketing to raise tension then the story isn’t that great.
There are several stories in which you know a character will die prior to you seeing the story play out (Carlito’s Way, the new season of Spartacus, anything with Life and Times in the title). But this one was structured like a mystery and it’s arguable that without the marketing, the tension would not be there. I can’t know for sure because of the marketing.
Are you asking Marvel not to double sales on the book? I know marketing can be an annoyance, but it seems crazy that Marvel should be asked to not crow about something that will make them a lot of money. One might complain about decisions that start and marketing and pushed onto creators, which always read that way, but I am fairly certain this originated as a story idea and marketing ran with it. Marvel would like nothing more than to make FF a flagship title again, up there with Avengers and Uncanny X-men in sales. Hickman’s run deserves it. Maybe this kind of marketing blitz, combined with Hickman delivering of course, will help. Maybe not, but it would be criminally stupid for Marvel not to try. And yes, the story was structured around the foreshadowing of a death. That is why it was split into three parts. I liked the structure.