Two for One: FF #14 + The Future of Peter Parker and the FF

 History Note: Hickman’s run can get confusing at times, so I’m going to do a little bit note on a character each issue. This one is on The Celestials.

Powers: Considered the Gods of Space, they draw their powers from the Hyperspace, a source the powers all of the Marvel Universe. Like Franklin Richards, they can manipulate reality, but to a much larger extent, able to seal and destroy universes as they please. The only known entity that can kill a Celestial is the Phoenix Force, but Sue Richards has harmed one in the past.

Importance to FF: The Celestials seen in the FF comic are actually alternate version of the 616 Celestials, driven mad by their own power and believe themselves to be the masters of everything. They began to hunt down the Reed Richards of the universes after 616 Reed gave them firepower to fight back against the Celestials. Now only two remain and the Celestials plan to destroy Earth 616 to achieve their goal of killing all Reeds.

27 Minutes:

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Artist: Juan Bobilo

Inks: Marcelo Sosa

Cover: Mike Choi

Colors: Chris Sotomayor

Letters: Clayton Cowles

Editors: Lauren Sankovitch, John Dennings, and Tom Breevort

We only got 27 minutes to save the world, so grab a boy and grab a girl: While Doom and Alternate Reed battle the Celestials on The Bridge, Nathaniel and the Future Foundation struggle to close the portal between worlds jarred open by the Celestials. Franklin realizes he can alter the state of the Celestial remains holding the gate open, but they spring to life and attack the Future Foundation.

Going back in time, Nathaniel and Valeria realize they need to buy the world an additional twenty seven minutes, until Galactus will arrive to fight the Celestials at Sue Richard’s call. Valeria realizes how to save the world; All Hope Lies in Doom. Just before she leaves Doom to fight the Celestials, she tells them that she tricked him into becoming humanity’s savior and he admits he is impressed by her deceit.

Alternate Reed believes he can use the Ultimate Nullifer to stop the Celestials, without dying by focusing, but his arrogance is misplaced and the Nullifer consumes him, leaving Doom to fight the Celestials alone. Doom realizes his arrogance might be the death of him, but he faces the Celestials none-the-less.

Kristoff watches his father’s perish at the hands of the Celestials, but Doom managed to buy the world twenty eight minutes, so Galactus can face the Celestials as they come through the gate. Nathaniel Richards announces the final play is in motion and this one is “For Everything.”

Much like Fantastic Four #600, FF# 14 has a theme running through it’s issue and this time around, it’s the theme of arrogance. Doom, Alternate Reed, and Nathaniel are all betting on their own skills to alter the future and in two of the three scenarios, it turns out badly for those involved. However, when taken as a whole with the rest of this storyline, this issue also serves as the heroic sacrifices of  Victor Von Doom and Reed Richards, though both went down fighting for their own motivations. Doom’s sacrifice was especially powerful as he admitted he had bitten off more than he could chew, but kept on a brave face for Valeria and sacrificed himself to buy her the time she needed.

The titular characters, the Future Foundation did a good job of differentiating each other this issue, although it felt like Alex Power was sidelined this issue in preparation for the return of the Power Pack next issue. I loved Bentley’s little side comments as he offered absolutely nothing to the physical aspects of the issue and I was a little disappointed to see Dragon not break his peaceful nature this issue after being attacked, but I suspect we will see him fight back before the conclusion of this arc.

On the art side of things, Bobilo still nailed the fantastical, futuristic elements, but we spent a lot of time talking this issue and this issue had weaker art than the second issue, but he’s made the characters different enough from one another to tell whose who. The way Bobilo frames this issue though is fantastic, with images blending into each other and using different designs than the usual rectangular panel. For those tired of Bobilo, he’s off the book for the next issue and I don’t think he’s coming back for this story arc or the next.

Looking to the Future: First off, let me state that I do not think Victor Von Doom died this issue, despite what everybody but Valeria seems to think. That being said, it does not lessen the impact, for me, of his sacrifice much like Johnny’s heroic sacrifice in Fantastic Four #587 that didn’t stick; the fact he bough them twenty eight, instead of twenty seven minutes makes it just that much better. The use of the theme of arrogance this issue works well and unlike it’s mother title, you feel like things are getting accomplished in this title. With the Power Pack entering the fray next month, I really have no idea where this could go. 4/5

THE FUTURE OF THE FUTURE FOUNDATION AND PETER PARKER:

So Marvel’s April Solicits showed us our first look at the title after Forever/All Hope Lies in Doom and whether or not Peter Parker would still be a member of the Future Foundation now that Johnny has made the Fantastic Four whole again.

FF #17
Jonathan Hickman (W)
Nick Dragotta (A) Cover by Mike Choi
Avengers Art Appreciation Variant by Gerald Parel
• “Roomies”
• Now That He’s Back Among The Living, The Human Torch Moves In With Spider-Man! Can Two Super Heroes Share An Apartment Without Driving Each Other Crazy?
• What Secret Lies Behind The Door To Annihilus’ Closet?
• Who Throws A House Party Like The Light Brigade?
32 Pgs./Rated T …$2.99

Well it looks like Peter Parker is around to stay in the FF title and I don’t know about you, but a book about Peter Parker and Johnny Storm living together, starring the children of the Future Foundation as well has me excited as hell for April. The Future looks mighty bright indeed.