FANTASTIC FOUR #249
(Cover by John Byrne)
Published and © by Marvel, Dec. 1982
“Man and Super-Man!”
Synopsis: Sh’iar guardsman Gladiator follows Skrulls to Earth, where he thinks they’ve gone into hiding as the Fantastic Four.
Writer: John Byrne
Penciler: Byrne
Inker: Byrne
Review: First, the story: This is a fine first half to a two-part slugfest including the Skrulls and Gladiator. For fans of John Byrne’s X-Men work, it was a huge thrill seeing the artist tackle the Sh’iar guardsman again — but not nearly as thrilling as the final-page appearance of what seems to be the X-Men themselves. On the art front, this issue marks the beginning of Byrne’s gradual decline on this title: While still quite nice, there are several panels where the backgrounds are noticeably missing. Sadly, that would be a trend that would continue in issues ahead.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: “As with many two-parters in Byrne’s FF run this first installment is mostly setting up the main event next time, but as set-ups go this is pretty damn exciting … 8/10.” — Matt C, Paradox Comics Group.
Cool factor: Byrne drawing the X-Men again. (Or so it seems.)
Not-so-cool factor: Where did the backgrounds go?
Character quotable: “By all the devils of the nine circles, I swear if he has succeeded in pursuing us through hyper-space, you will know the torture of a thousand agonies!” — A Srull Supremor, showing off the vaunted Skrull management style.
Collected in:
Not sure that I agree with you that Byrne’s art declined on his FF run, there was an obvious evolution but I never saw it as being inferior to his earlier stuff. (I am not one of those who think that his earlier stuff was better)
FF# 249-250 is my favourite FF story
Dale:
I’m not sure I agree with me yet, either! One of the things I try to do with Comics Bronze Age is keep an open mind, and give each comic a fresh chance to win me over. I know I have a preconceived notion that Byrne’s art went down hill on FF, but, if that opinion holds up, I hope to figure out why I think that. I agree his work evolved, and I like much of his work through today (his run with Roger Stern on JLA: Classified last year was gorgeous). But along the way he tried some things that ultimately didn’t work. This is the first issue I noticed his detailed backgrounds disappearing, and it’s quite noticeable. I’m guessing he’ll find the right balance later in this run.
Cheers,
Andrew