Marvel 1602: Fantastick Four #2 (of 5)
Published by: Marvel Comics
Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Pascal Alixe
Inks: Livesay
Colorist: Rob Schwager
Letterer: Todd Klein
Production: Rich Ginter
Assistant Editor: Sean Ryan
Editor: Nick Lowe

Rating: 3 out of 5

We will be continuing in today’s trend of second-issue letdowns. I don’t know if this is more or less of a letdown than The Lone Ranger. The first issue of 1602:FF wasn’t as good as TLR, so there was less room to fall, but on the other hand, the second issue of 1602:FF is much less enjoyable than TLR. It probably all washes out.

Anyway, Alixe’s pencils are still annoying me. I’m trying to move beyond that, but it’s just hard. The dialogue breaks in parts so that I almost felt like I was reading something by Giffen & DeMatteis (not in a good way - more of in a Planetary Brigade kind of way). I find myself caring less and less about the characters, and that’s not really a good thing. Yeah, I’m still going to get the next issue. It’s only a 5-issue series, right?

Before I go, here’s my quick 10-second breakdown of the F4:

• Reed Richards: World’s smartest man, but has no clue about women. Still manages to bag super-hot woman before she goes clear.
• Sue Storm: As if she wasn’t invisible enough to loveable super-nerd Reed, she goes transparent. Now, she need to prove herself that supercedes the well-being and safety of her and her (in this book) unborn child.
• Johnny Storm: Girl-chasing booze-and-glory hound. Yeah, that’s it.
• Ben Grimm: Easily the most interesting character. Hard exterior, but a big softy inside. I just wish he’d punch the other male members of the team in the face.

The most annoying thing about the book? The 5-page ad spread in the middle of the book that completely jerked me out of the story. Marvel, if you’re listening (and I know you’re not), don’t ever do that again. Thanks.