Fantastic Four, Vol 6: Rising Storm

Fantastic Four by Mark Waid

by Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo (Artist)

Galactus's worst Herald ever - Johnny Storm, the Invisible Man ? - is running out of time. So far, Johnny has been able to stall Galactus from sating his cosmic hunger - but that luck won't hold forever. What planet will be chosen as Galactus's next victim? The re-introduction of a favorite Marvel Universe hero into the battle may have caused more problems than it solved, because not even he can save the Fantastic Three from Johnny's newfound might Who will live, who will die, and how will Johnny ever be the same now that he's tasted the Power Cosmic? Collecting Fantastic Four #520-524.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction, Comic Book

120 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 2005

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine, I guess, this is all the Invisible Woman's fault, it is clearly stated she panicked in the previous volume and this is all her fault. Though the Human Torch and Invisible Woman swapping powers was not her fault because that was going to hide her from Galactus. It is not the worst portrayal of the Fantastic Four - but even Mr Waid has done better.

I mean if not for the bashing of Sue setting the feel in my mind for the story it might have been 4 a star review.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny becomes Galactus's herald and the results are enormous fun. Johnny blathers and blunders his way through in true Johnny fashion, but also puts his noggin to use and learns a few things about family and empathy. The team deals with the aftermath of Galactus's new form, and then have to deal with their powers zapping from person to person all over town, also enormous fun. Each member of the team has their chance to shine.

Grimm's and Reed's struggle with Grimm reclaiming the burden of his powers felt a little been there done that, an old theme rehashed. But I also felt it was well done. Grimm's powers are a significant burden, and the choice to carry them is a courageous one that adds depth to his character.

[c · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you waid and wieringo for your service 🫡 (formally introducing me to the ff and making me fall in love with this family <3)

3.5 stars (read in single issues)

[Omni Theus · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would a Run on the FF be Without Galactus?
OVERALL RATING: 4.25 stars
Art: 3.25 stars
Prose: 4.25 stars
Plot: 4.25 stars
Pacing: 4 stars
Character Development: 4.25 stars
World Building: 4.25 stars
Some nice developments in this one. The Human Torch is the protagonist in this one and really steps up building upon previous arcs character development wise. Galactus was pretty well done too. Definitely unexpected. The final issue leaves the franchise in good stead and plenty of positivity furthering the key themes of family and imaginauts. Well done final arc. Not perfect but strong all the same.

[Payton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite from the series. The galactus plot was a lot of fun and seeing Johnny in the herald role was really cool. It all came together well with the themes of the fantastic four as a whole sort of being what drives galactus to help out everyone and try to delay the inevitable long enough for them to keep inventing, innovating, and progressing to find more solutions. The last issue was super dope too. I kinda wish we got more into each member and how their power affects them instead of just Ben, but I really liked his story and the relationship there with reed. This run totally got me into this sciencey explorer family superhero team and I can’t wait to read more.

[Just_An_E · Rating 5 out of 5]

As time goes on I feel more thoroughly convinced that movies are just not the format for comic book adaptations. These are two storylines that really only work with the shared history 400-600 issues into the title. TV would be the ideal adaptation, a shared universe of TV adaptations that can faithfully portray the comics, whether it be either live action or animated. Throw in a movie for the finale of a season or a short storyline once in a while, but live action can't and won't do these books justice.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s giving:

“I could raise him as my own (he will burn your house and throne)
Or send him far away from home (he'll find you wherever you go)
Make sure his past is never known (the gods will make him know)
I'd rather bleed for you, down on my knees for ya (he's bringing you down on your knees)
I'm begging please (this is the will of the gods)
Please don't make me do this, don't make me do this
The blood on your hands is something you won't lose
All you can choose is whose”

[jcw3-john · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great volume and conclusion to the run - reemphasizing the Four's relationships with one another, while also giving Johnny a great arc as the new Herald of Galactus. Lot of fun, clever, funny stuff in this. Traditional superhero comics at their best.

[Sam Whale · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun story which gives some new information on the origin of Galactus. Thing and Torch are both really well written and the resolution at the end of the story felt satisfying and clever. The art was fine and Read came across as an arse which wasn't great tbh.

[Stephan van Velzen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this story!

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was nice. Not perfect, but nice. Good, fluent art, Galactus is always fun with his arrogance and almighty power.
Good fun

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather fun story with great art

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to end Waid's run on the Fantastic Four.

[Benjamin Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is it, the final volume of the Waid Wieringo Fantastic Four run, so how do they end it: with an epic Galactus tale. In the aftermath of the previous arc Sue and Johnny Storm have had their powers swapped and Galactus took Johnny up to be his new herald. Johnny has the power cosmic and he has to learn how to control that and what it does to his new invisibility and force field powers while also trying to stop Galactus from destroying a planet. It’s some really great stuff and the character work on Johnny is great. Waid makes him so cosmic but everything Johnny does feels so personal to himself. The remaining three on Earth have to figure out how to stop Galactus so they fly to him as fast as they can. Ultimately they get there and Johnnys new cosmic knowledge shows them how. It’s such a unique idea on how to deal with him and it ties in so nicely to the previous stories it was fantastic. A very good and unique, humanizing take, on Galactus. Then after all that the FF have their powers scrambled and they start leaping around different people in New York. It’s a fun adventure that gets to the heart of them and their problems and relationships. This run has really been something else. Waid and Wieringo perfectly understand what the Fantastic Four look, sound, and feel like. Masterful storytelling.

[Kaya Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

i had no idea this was the last volume of the run but i really enjoyed it anyways, i love ben he’s my favourite member

[Aiden Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've never read any of Mark Waids FF before this and thankfully, I didn't have to. Waid does an incredible job reiterating what happened in previous issues without making it seem repetitive like in the 80s style writing. I will say his sentences get a little wordy sometimes, but the story and art make up for it. The story is just a massive love letter to Galactus fans, taking us back to Galactus planet Taa and even seeing him as a human in the current Earth era. A must read for Galactus fans and a really solid FF book!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a Marvelous book (pun intended)! I haven't picked a Fantastic Four comic since the mid-seventies, and I was surprised to them in such fine form. The character interplay is as light-hearted and charming as ever, the dialog often hilarious, and the story a very inventive one. I especially enjoyed the twist on Galactus here, and the final chapter with our heroes running around trying to chase down their powers was a hoot. Great stuff.'Nuff said.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, Waid and Wieringo...they brought a lot of fun back to the Fantastic Four, and delivered some good stories. In this volume they serve up an origin for Galactus, send him off to another dimension, and deal with a power swap gone wrong. In the process the FF save several worlds...not a bad job, all told. Plus, there's a lot of heart here = yes, much of it is old themes repeated, but Waid does well with them anyway.

[Aaron Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo's run on Fantastic Four was nothing short of fantastic. While it does have its faults (the entire doom story), it's still solid all around. Waid brought back the concept of family over superheroes, something the series has been lacking for quite some time. The Waid/Ringo era is up there with Lee/Kirby, Byrne, and more recently Hickman.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun tropes in this volume, and interesting if slightly shallow explorations of the characters. I don't think it explored anywhere near the full potential of the central conceit, but was enjoyable nonetheless. I think it could have been improved by lengthening the arc and delving deeper into the effects on various characters, instead of staying relatively surface-level.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story, excellent artwork, great dialogue, intriguing premise. Just great stuff all around. The power switching bit was a particularly amusing ride. And everything with Galactus was really really cool and a new way to look at the character. I'd never thought of him that way before.

[Matthew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has that lighthearted feel that I always associate with the Fantastic Four. Fun read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, Johnny becomes Galactus' herald, and high jinks ensue. A rather light story considering the dark subject matter, you even learn a bit about Galactus' past. A good read.

[J.M. Guillemette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Galactus defeated? The Fantastic Four in a strip club? What will they think of next?

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end of Waid and Weiringo's run. I loved the family, friendship, and sense of moral responsibility the team has.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good solid Fantastic Four stories. A lot of good moments for the Thing, especially in relation to Reed. Johnny gets some really cool moments dealing with the Power Cosmic in combination with Sue's invisibility powers that makes him able to truly see things as they are. That leads to an interesting realization that Galactus really is a cosmic being and not just a giant person, but that gets played with an a way that I didn't really care for.