REVIEWS-Fantastic Four 68

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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (** stars) FANTASTIC FOUR #68, a MARVEL Comics ongoing series CREDITS: Written by Mark Waid. Art by Mike Wierengo. SYNOPSIS:** Doctor Doom begins his 'Unthinkable' plan by attacking the FF at it's weakest link RELEASED: 04/23/03 COVER PRICE (USA): $2.25 YOUR ALTERNATE REALITY PRICE: $1.91	"...Start on a light note then end on a dark one and redefine what evil is within 22 pages"

Review by Lawrence Evans Last issue we saw the travels of Victor Von Doom that ended with him finally embracing the magical aspects of his past and the death of someone we thought he cared for. This issue we see what other horrible acts he is capable of. Waid and 'Ringo start this issue on a light note with another in the series of conflicts between Ben and Johnny. It involves the new responsibilities of Johnny and his using of same to torture Ben. Reed and Sue are off in another dimension searching for a new energy source as they debate what happened in Val's nursery last issue. When they return the kids are brought back from being baby-sat by the Inhumans and everything seems cool but we're horribly wrong. As Valeria plays with her blocks Vic begins to talk to her. We get a quick recap of the end of the Claremont run and discover that Doom has connected himself with Val in a way that a sane man would never imagine. Doom tells her that her father will not see the end of the day and shows her his face before starting his most evil plan. Mystic energy comes from nowhere as she says her first word and when the story ends Franklin is somewhere a child should never be. Start on a light note then end on a dark one and redefine what evil is within 22 pages. The characterization of Doom has always been a controversial one. Some show us a noble man consumed by an irrational hatred of a man who never meant him any harm. Waid has decided to show us that Doom isn't noble he's sick in the head. His vanity doesn't allow him to accept that he's the reason he's the way he is. The experiment that caused the scarring on his face (and there's a lot of debate out there on how scarred he is) was his fault and his alone but his unwillingness to accept that is what makes him one of Marvel's greatest villains.

FANTASTIC FOUR © 2003 Marvel Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.
Review © 2003 Alternate Reality, Inc.