Books : Fantastic Four Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 6

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- John Byrne pencils- Jerry Ordway inks
3-1/2 stars. I consider volumes 3, 6 & 7 in this series to be about average to slightly above average in quality. In volume 6, Jerry Ordway takes over on inks to lighten Byrne's FF/ Alpha Flight workload. Really, I'm a *huge* Byrne fan, but this Byrne-Ordway team-up just didn't really work for me. They're both well-respected professionals; I just didn't think they were a great artistic match. The visuals in this paperback seem a little bit flat & uninspired- at least when compared to Byrne's earlier work. Even the colors leave a bit to be desired...

I guess it's the writing that saves the day- it's interesting to say the least. I don't know what got into Byrne here, but here's a sample of what you'll get in this, one of the thickest editions in this series: Mephisto & Doctor Strange; eternal torment; a Ben-Johnny-Alicia conflict; the origin of Dr. Doom; the topic of explicit racial conflict & hate; the destruction of the Baxter building; a hate-filled kid; the Hate-Monger; Malice the mistress of hate; the Psycho-Man; Daredevil- the man without fear (issue 281); the Scourge (Secret Wars II #2); and the general topic of vengeance. Yikes!

The Invisible Girl becoming the Invisible Woman is the overall issue here. This might be my least favorite volume in the series, and it's definitely *not* for kids. Thankfully, the Secret Wars II issue brings us Spider-Man, Power Man & Iron Fist, and some much needed comedy relief. I'm probably not the only person who felt Byrne & Ordway weren't the best combination. In the 1st issue we see, "...And introducing the inking wizardry of Jerry Ordway!!!". In the last issue we see, "...And welcome back to Al Gordon inker". I far prefer Byrne-Gordon to Byrne-Ordway, but I think it's best when Byrne inks himself. I have nicer things to say about Ordway in volume 8.

Included in this volume:
*Issue #276- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Issue #277- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Thing #23- Ron Wilson breakdowns; Bob Layton inks
*Issue #278- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Issue #279- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Issue #280- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Issue #281- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Secret Wars II #2- Jim Shooter writes; Al Milgrom pencils; Leialoha & Rubinstein inks
*Issue #282- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Issue #283- John Byrne writes & pencils; Jerry Ordway inks
*Issue #284- John Byrne writes & pencils; Al Gordon inks

Rating:

- MY Fantastic Four
I was introduced to the Fantastic Four via Marvel's Greatest Comics no. 36, back in the early 1970's; it reprinted the second part of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's introduction of Galactus and the Silver Surfer. I was pretty young at the time and didn't know Kirby from apple butter, but later I learned of the legend of Jack "The King" Kirby and appreciated his and Stan Lee's work on the FF even more. John Byrne's run is considered by many to be second only to the Lee and Kirby run, and this installment in the trade paperback reprinting of his 1980's work on the series sees him firing on all thrusters. This book will make you love the She-Hulk, and it contains the exemplary story of Franklin Richards (Reed and Sue's son) fighting Mephisto, the Lord of the Underworld. Not to be missed.

page 1 of 1