Antebellum Marvel: Fantastic Four #536
Previously in The New Avengers: Illuminati
I’m traveling the road to Civil War with Marvel so I can be caught up by the time this storyline hits the big screen. Please do not comment with spoilers if you’re familiar with this particular story arc, but you are welcome to provide non-spoiler answers to any questions I may ask in the review.
- Issue: Fantastic Four #536
- Title: The Hammer Falls
- Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
- Penciler: Mike McKone
- Inkers: Andy Lanning, Kev Walker, Cam Smith, and Kris Justice
- Letterer: VC’S Rus Wooton
Who’s In It:
Dr. Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Sue Storm (The Invisible Girl), Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (Thing)
What Happens:
Six months prior to the last secret meeting, a strange object fell to Earth from space and landed in Oklahoma. On the night of the last meeting, Reed goes home to Sue and tells her how it went. Even though no one could agree on what to do next, he’s confident they’ll all get on the same page eventually.
The team is then summoned to Oklahoma. A military operation there is under attack by a legion of DoomBots.
After a brief battle, the Fantastic Four learn what the government had been researching in this remote location: Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir. And Victor Von Doom believes he’s worthy of holding it.
Points of Note:
- This is the first issue that felt like it was written with new readers in mind. It felt like an introduction to the Fantastic Four and a bridge to more important events in the upcoming war.
- This is more of an embarrassment of note - I somehow missed the cover, missed the title page, and came to the conclusion after two pages that the mystery item was Mjolnir. I felt really good about myself when I got to the last page and saw I was right. I felt less so when I thumbed back to the beginning.
- Tony Stark is vague with the press when asked about the status of the Superhuman Registration Act and their meetings.
- As I’m not really a fan of the Fantastic Four, this wasn’t my favorite issue. I am curious to see who - if anyone - will be able to wield the hammer.
Predictions:
- No one will be able to lift the hammer.
