FANTASTIC FOUR #254
(Cover by John Byrne)
Published and © by Marvel, May 1983
“The Minds of Mantracora”
Synopsis: Continuing their exploration of the Negative Zone, the FF encounter a people subjugated by an alien posing as their ruler.
Writer: John Byrne
Penciler: Byrne
Inker: Byrne
Review: This multipart Negative Zone arc continues to give John Byrne the writer a chance to shine. Like earlier installments (see Comics Bronze Age’s reviews, this first half of a two-parter is tightly plotted and offers excellent world building in a short number of pages. But, as usual, the story really shines because of Byrne’s strong characterization. Things aren’t as good for Byrne the artist, who continues to experiment with a straight-to-inking technique. The results look increasingly rough, and there are even a few panels where the underlying art is a little off (i.e., the machinary on Page 12).
Grade: A-
Second opinions: “I was just absolutely captivated by the story; there was friendly repartee among the FF, a villain they didn’t/couldn’t just wallop into next week, an alien dimension, pop culture references, a good action sequence …” — Sean Kleefeld, Kleefeld on Comics. … “… Byrne has the ability to keep readers on their toes. 8/10.” — Matt C, Paradox Comics Group.
Cool factor: The Invisible Girl sends the rest of the team away so she and Mr. Fantastic can sneak a quickie. This scene — which would actually turn out to be a major plot development in a later story arc — was quite shocking to your Comics Bronze Age editor when this issue first hit the stands.
Character quotable: “I’d sure like ta know what yer usin’ as a scale of what’s odd an’ what ain’t.” — The Thing. (After all his years as Mr. Fantastic’s buddy, you’d think he’d know there was a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in place on that one.)
Collected in:
A phrase I picked up from this issue that I have used all the years since is to talk about the “local house of ill-repute” Johnny was surrounded by girls and Benji thought aloud that they might be in a whore house.
Dale:
That’s what Torch and the Thing were doing while Reed and Sue were off getting busy. There was a crazy amount of sex in this issue for a circa 1983 comic. As I said, 12-year-old me was quite shocked at the time!
Andrew
The Reed and Sue scene, it’s like discovering your parents have sex, it’s another chink in the childhood innocence!