FF #11 Review
‘The Possible Boy’
A review by Jake Morris.
Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Michael Allred
Colourist: Laura Allred
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover Art: Michael & Laura Allred
When Marvel first launched their new line with ‘Marvel Now’, doubts surrounded the choice for such an odd character lineup for the FF but the book has turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and surprising releases each month.
Unfortunately in the past week, fans of the title will be deeply saddened to have learned that Matt Fraction will no longer be writing FF or Fantastic Four come next month as he steps away from the book but will still be credited for plotting up until issue 16.
Like many of the previous issues, ‘The Possible Boy’ is a gallantly structured book that carries over the loose threads while also providing a nice standalone story. The skinny of it is that the FF attempt to travel through time to find the Fantastic Four using Julius Caesar’s space-time ship but in the ensuing journey, are pulled out of their trip and into the world of The Impossible Man. What first looks like a usual bad guy meets good guy story, instead becomes about Impossible Man’s want for the FF to meet and perhaps take his son, Adolf the Possible Boy, back to their world.
Fraction’s dialogue is so full of personality that everyone has an individual voice. Impossible Man is no different, he spews out his idiosyncrasies with terms like ‘cray-cray’ and utilises tongue twisting sentences. It’s wacky, it’s zany and it is what Fraction has been crafting throughout his run.
Outside of the main plotline we shoot back to the Baxter Building where the children of the Future Foundation engage in adventures such as sneaking past robot hall monitors and a Julius Caesar taught class on conquering. Everything about the book is built on a foundation of fun.
The entertainment of it all is only further corroborated by the art and colours of Michael and Laura Allred. Both delivering detail that accompanies and exemplifies the already eccentric nature of the story.
Allred’s attention to the finer details is magnificent to behold as small machinations such as the initial time jump showcases an assortment of hilarity. The panels with Darla Deering and Scott Lang’s facial expressions will be sure to get a giggle out of any reader.
Furthermore, the real hero of the issue, Medusa, has a more pleasant chance to shine in this issue as the character shows a different side that has otherwise been ignored up until now. The tension between the female leads in the story is also an enjoyable factor that provides comical and petty one liners; all the while presenting the three of them as strong-willed and headstrong personalities.
FF continues to be a book filled with laughter, quirky adventures and character growth. It can only be hoped that after Fraction has left the book, the titles continues to entertain and grow as this is a book that Marvel cannot afford to lose. A book that offers something different from the usual superhero genre.
4/5
Jake is a contributing writer for Drunk On Comics. You can follow him on Twitter at @JakeUtd.