'X-Men Fantastic Four' #3 Review: The premise is muddled, but still has some individual moments that stand out
Spoilers for 'X-Men Fantastic Four' #3
This issue, the X-Men follow the Fantastic Four to Doom Island and attempt to liberate the mutants held there. Of course, it's all a trap to give Doom an excuse to capture the X-Men, though to what end is hard to say, especially as killing several of the leaders of Krakoa would mean all-out war.
Despite Doom having been a part of the story from #1, with the Doom Island arc developing in #2, this story feels abruptly different from the issues that came before.
The Fantastic Four and the X-Men have set aside their differences to help Doom help Franklin get his powers back, and all the contrived enmity of the first two issues is all but abandoned.
It all makes sense, given the circumstances, but at the same time, it feels jarringly sudden. In fact, what the comic feels like is the start of an all-new arc without the resolution of the previous one — something that would feel off in an ongoing title, much less a four-issue mini-series.
The issue does, however, have some stand out moments. Franklin Richards finally stands up to his father in a way that not even Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm have.
The hilariousness of Doom calling Reed Richards' "Godpower" the "Von Doom Particles" — whatever they're called, may just change the way energy-based powers are looked at in the Marvel Universe for years to come.
Doctor Doom and Charles Xavier have a brief, but intense discussion about Doom's disapproval of a nation-state where all are equal and superior to the rest of the world because of the abilities they were born into.
There's a lot of credit to Terry and Rachel Dodson for bringing life to at least three characters who have the majority of their faces hidden — Doctor Doom, Professor X and Cyclops — through body language emphasizing the dialogue being told.
The brief chase scene at the start of the issue was especially notable for how fun it was. If this had been a straightforward comic about characters fighting each other while having a variety of feelings about it, it feels like it might have been a lot more fun.
The premise of the story, however, feels muddled. Whether it's about autonomy, of manipulation from authority figures, or just a look at the response from other major figures in the superhero community to the rise of Krakoa, none of it feels like it's as fully explored as it can be.
There's one more issue left to make that happen, but this late in the series, it doesn't seem likely. The next episode of 'X-Men Fantastic Four' releases on April 29, wherever comics are sold.