Review: Krakoa Comes To Yancy Street In ‘X-Men/Fantastic Four’ #1
by Tony Thornley
At the beginning of House of X, Cyclops confronted the Fantastic Four about their mutant son, the Omega-level Franklin. Ever since that moment, a confrontation has been looming over the heads of both the X-Men and Fantastic Four. Now X-Men/Fantastic Four #1 brings that confrontation to a head.
Chip Zdarsky, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Dexter Vines, Karl Story, Laura Martin and Joe Caramagna bring the two flagship teams face to face.
Franklin Richards’ powers are fading, and his family doesn’t know how to help him. However, the X-Men might and Xavier feels Kate Pryde might be the best chance to convince the Four. However, where two of the Marvel Universe’s most powerful families are concerned it’s never that simple…
Zdarsky has proven himself as one of the most skilled character-centric writers in Marvel’s staple. Here he takes a story that could just be a simple hero-versus-hero-versus-Doom slugfest and elevates it to an emotional story. Franklin is coming of age, Ben is grappling with the fact that his condition is still the only problem Reed can’t solve, Sue is having trouble letting go.
The story also has multiple layers. There are many different ways the reader can interpret Reed’s actions and all of them are valid based on the reader’s experience. Really, the story’s biggest fault is that outside of Kate, the story is underdeveloped on the X-Men side, but considering the volume of mutants in the story that’s understandable.
Dodson’s line art is great for the scale and scope of the story being told, especially paired with Martin’s colors. He’s able to show the emotional depth the characters are experiencing, especially Ben and Franklin. The two share lunch in a diner midway through the issue, and he’s able to time the reactions and beats between the two perfectly. Some of the inks are a little rougher in places through the issue, which often happens with three inkers, but overall, it’s a great looking issue.
Krakoa has finally collided with the rest of the Marvel Universe, and it’s already off to a great start. I’m excited to see what’s next!
X-Men/Fantastic Four #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.