4ever

I've been away for a week: a couple of days in the West End of Glasgow, where it was uncharacteristcally sunny and everyone seemed good-natured. Also, three days in the Borders: Selkirk, well-heeled Melrose and St. Boswells; Jedburgh; fortified Berwick Upon Tweed in England and picturesque St. Abbs Head. I almost bought three mid-70s Star Trek paperbacks by Alan Dean Foster but resisted.

So, today's post is the 250th and, as such, I wanted to celebrate the first comic series I really followed with any interest: the Fantastic Four. I was keen on the Thomas/Roth X-Men and the Shooter/Swan LSH but the fabulous foursome really caught my imagination through the " kosmic" sweep of Lee and Kirby. Through reprints initially, in 1968's Pow and Wham; a little later in UK colour albums and annuals and in Marvel's Greatest Comics.

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A wildly mis-coloured softcover I got in Stonehouse as a kid. Introduced me to the Panther and the Inhumans.

A hardback annual circa 1970. I would've had to go to Aberdeen to see "the popular tv series".

A terrific early 70s giant from East Kilbride

A couple of summers ago, I was talking to my PT about how I longed to be in the Grampian ITV region as a kid. "Because the Fantastic Four cartoon?" he said with alarming acuity.

I went to see the new Fantastic Four movie yesterday afternoon, at the Moray Playhouse. I wasn't expecting much since it has been lambasted on the internet for months. I read rumours that the cast hadn't even seen it; that it had a running time shy of 90 minutes; and of studio interference. Is it right that film makers should have to second-guess audiences and shape material in response to bloggers and Tweets?

In any case, it wasn't nearly as bad as the rumour mill suggested. The first two thirds owe a great deal to the Bendis/Miller Ultimate FF of a decade ago.The relationships between the think- tank quartet and the antisocial Victor are clearly established and believable. The friendship of Reed and Ben is well-drawn and rather sweet, in fact.  It's only in the escape and rampage of the masked malcontent that the film really becomes tedious and uninspired. Up to that point, it's no worse than its predecessors and better in some ways. The Thing and the Torch are realised spectacularly well- and they overcame the portrayal of the Chris Evans Johnny Storm who was deeply aggravating.

Doc Doom is one of Marvel's greatest achievements of the 60s- far more interesting than the bleating Silver Surfer- and one day, perhaps, someone will make a decent film about him. This isn't it. I was reminded more of the monstrous Dr. Smith in the 90s Lost in Space movie. However, while FF is nowhere as well-made or entertaining as Ant-Man, it's not the abomination it's made out to be.

For the remainder of this post, I wanted to highlight comics from the long life of the FF that have resonated with me. Marvel recently cancelled the title, as you may know , and there are all sorts of rumours about rights. But if we know one thing about Marvel, it's that nobody dies forever ( not even Bucky). The FF will return. Someday. In the meantime, here are some moments- four for each decade- on their wild ride in space and time:

Circa June 1972. Hairmyres Hospital. The oldest, original issue I owned. Predated though by the next two comics- the hospital canteen could be a time warp. Sue wears mini-skirt here.

The Skrull gangster planet story. Bought in what is now Beaches tea room, Seafield, Ayr

Universal movie riff but I love the holiday snap atmosphere of the cover. So believable.

Of the three Inhumans stories I'd read up to this point, this one gave a sense of the remoteness of the Great Refuge.

 Introduction to Annihilus and his monstrous, deadly universe. THIS is the plot of a movie.

This was my introduction to Galactus. Doomy & hysterical atmosphere

The previous four comics were all bought in Strathaven, I think this is from the High Street in Glasgow at the Trongate end. First of the three US Marvels I read with Medusa as Sue's replacement

Strathaven Academy days. Perez. Tigra. Texas Twister. And Kirby's back!

Frankie Raye and Byrne brought me back after about a three- year absence. Bought in Virgin Megastore, Union Street, Glasgow.

By 1983, FF and Alpha Flight were unmissable to me. Possibly bought in the Science Fiction Bookshop in Edinburgh.

 

Next five comics are all from Forbidden Planet in Buchanan Street. Englehart's New FF is a crazy soap opera- sometimes too crazy. But I was fascinated by this line-up.

Simonson's run picked up on his Avengers series, which I liked very much.

One thing I liked about the Jim Lee FF was linking the Cosmic Rays with the Power Cosmic of Galactus.

Fun galore with Alan Davis. 

Welcome to the FF, Chris Claremont- hope you survive the experience. I liked alternate-Val as Marvel Girl.

 

Probably the last time I followed the series closely: a real shake-up again.Bought a year or so ago in Plan 9, Aberdeen, as a trade paperback.

I shall post a few more on my Wordpress blog, Materioptikon..

Coming soon: The Drosten's Curse
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