Review of Fantastic Four #18
The Skrull show back up in this issue and they’re determined to take over the Earth but this time they know they need to take out the Fantastic Four first. Their play is to send a Super Skrull to Earth to destroy the Fantastic Four and make the world safe for invasion.
Issue: Fantastic Four #18
Name: A Skrull Walks Among Us!
Published: 1963 by Marvel Comics
Blurb:
Creators:
Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers
Colorist: Stan Goldberg
Letterer: Artie Simek
Characters:
The Good: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch, The Thing
The Bad: The Super Skrull, The Skrull
My Reading:
We last saw the Skrull in Fantastic Four #2 but they haven’t been idle in all that time. Instead, they’ve created a Super Skrull who has the powers of every one of the Fantastic Four in addition to the normal Skrull abilities of shape shifting and hypnosis.
But while that was going on, the Fantastic Four are enjoying watching a news broadcast of their latest victory over Doctor Doom and things seem to be so quiet that Reed and Sue decide it’s time to take a trip on the passenger ICBM to Hawaii for a little vacation. And while they’re gone, Johnny heads out on the town and Ben heads for a date with Alicia.
But as the team, relaxes the Skrull enact their plan and a week later the Super Skrull shows up on Earth. The team hears about his arrival but that (and solid concrete) doesn’t stop the alien from planting a flag and declaring Earth as Skrull territory. And when the team shows up they quickly realize they’re in trouble as the Super Skrull has all their powers but to a greater degree. Johnny, Ben, and Reed get the crap kicked outta them and only Sue manages to escape from a butt kicking.
Fortunately the team gets back to the Baxter Building to assess their loss and try to strategize how to beat this threat. And Reed figures it out – there’s no way the Super Skrull can be this powerful without outside help. So he devises a device to block the power rays that are supercharging the Skrull. With a plan in place, the team challenges the Super Skrull to fight on Crater Isle.
As the team arrives on the island to confront the Skrull, things seem to be going as in the last encounter. Ben, Johnny, and Reed each try to go toe-to-toe with the Super Skrull and each fails. This time he even hypnotizes them and makes sure they’re outta the fight for good. But Sue jumps in at the last moment and afixes the device to the Skrull. He loses his powers and Sue is able to get away, tripping the Skrull and making him fall into the crater. With the weakened Skrull trapped down in the volcano, Johnny seals up the opening and the Skrull is trapped forever.
Once again the Fantastic Four are victorious and this time it’s Sue Storm who saves the day.
What did I learn:
- We actually see the team use the Passenger ICBM and the POGO Plane in this issue…finally.
- Sue is pretty fearless in this issue.
- Not even a Super Skrull can plant a flag in concrete with brute force.
My Thoughts:
I really enjoy how the inclusion of the Skrull villains and references to the vanquishing of Doctor Doom from the last issue are included to show that this comic maintains a consistency within the universe Stan and Jack are creating. And as far as continuity, I wonder how those cow-Skrulls from issue 2 are doing.
In any case, this issue was pretty cool and I enjoyed watching each of the team display their abilities. I think this is something Stan and Jack are getting better at as the series goes on. They really are showing that this is a team effort and no single hero could win these encounters on their own. They’re also getting better at demonstrating that brute force and straight forward tactics don’t usually work against super villains. Strength and super powers definitely help but teamwork and strategic planning are needed to create a winning team.
My Rating: B+
This comic can be found on Marvel Unlimited, Comixology or at your local comic book shop.
Daily Ramble 279.3 | Comics – Marvel 1963 – Fantastic Four #18