FANTASTIC FOUR #252
(Cover by John Byrne)
Published and © by Marvel, Mar. 1983
“Cityscape”
Synopsis: Somewhere in the Negative Zone, the Fantastic Four encounter an oppressed people living in the shadow of a mighty city.
Writer: John Byrne
Penciler: Byrne
Inker: Byrne
Review: John Byrne’s restless experimenting turns out a winner here, with a horizontally read issue that’s a precursor to the widescreen comics of the late 1990s. What’s even more impressive is the fact that Byrne didn’t pencil this issue, instead skipping straight to ink (see “A word from the writer/artist” below). The technique would add energy to the artist’s work, at the cost of precision and refinement. Story wise, this is a fun, done-in-one sci-fi tale, reminiscent of Byrne’s early work on Charlton’s Space: 1999. The twist ending is a good one, though it could have been played with more gravitas.
Grade: A
Second opinion: “ … a visually impressive but imperfectly plotted issue… 7/10.” — Matt C, Paradox Comics Group.
Cool factor: The horizontal format had huge “wow” factor at the time.
Not-so-cool factor: Murder. (Or at least cityslaughter?)
Collector’s note: Beware, this issue is supposed to contain a “Tattooz” insert.
Character quotable: “It … it’s almost obscene! Look at the way the colors flow, the way it … pulses!” — The Invisible Girl.
A word from the writer/artist: “… the first one that wasn’t done in breakdowns was the Sideways Issue, which most people don’t realize ’cause the people who heard that I stopped doing breakdowns and was going straight to ink and came at me would usually pick an issue about ten issues after it happened as the starting issue to complain. The Sideways Issue was the first.” — John Byrne, in Comics Interview #25, 1985.
Collected in:
It’s been a while since I read this one, but I believe the baby Sue lost was conceived during this issue. Following that story as a 12-year-old was surprisingly emotional.
nerddad:
Thanks for stopping by Comics Bronze Age. The sex scene you’re talking about actually took place in Fantastic Four #254 (check out that review here). I was also 12 when this issue came out, and was quite shocked by the Invisible Girl’s forwardness. Scandalous! (Of course, married, adult me sees the scene much differently : ) As for the pregnancy arc, that one did pack a lot of emotional punch. At the pace I’m reviewing these — five issues a month — I won’t get the last issue of that storyline (#267) until Feb. 2010.
Cheers,
Andrew
I recently re-read this issue and enjoyed it quite a bit. Byrne has a real knack for these science fiction/superhero hybrid stories. That’s where he really excels, in my opinion.
The sideways deal was kind of neat as a one-time gimmick. It made it tough to turn the pages, though!