Fantastic Four, Volume 4: The End is Fourever

Fantastic Four (2014) (Collected Editions)

by James Robinson, Leonard Kirk

The internet-wrecking end of the Fantastic Four is here! The team meets the All-New Invaders as the hunt for Reed Richards and the missing Future Foundation kids continues! Meanwhile, the mastermind behind everything unveils his ultimate plan...but how does young Franklin Richards factor in? With the villain's plans revealed, the invasion of Earth begins -using the creatures from the "ranklinverse"as well as corrupted versions of the heroes from Heroes Reborn! Will the Fantastic Four have enough power to fight them on the streets of New York? Meanwhile, Sue, Namor and Jim Hammond travel to the Franklinverse to combat this threat at its source -but find something more terrifying than they expected! And how does all of this add up to...he end? Guest-starring the all-new Captain America, the Hulk, and Sleepwalker!

Collecting: Fantastic Four 642-645

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

120 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2015

About the author

James Dale Robinson is a British writer of American comic books and screenplays.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the invasion from Franklin's world ravages Earth, the last days of the Fantastic Four are upon us!

Here we are, the swan song for the Fantastic Four, at least until it's revival in August 2018. I'm proud to say Marvel picked a great singer in James Robinson. The End is Fourever is a summer blockbuster of a trade paperback. While I had high hopes going in, Robinson and Kirk surpassed them.

The Fantastic Four are in rough circumstances at the beginning. Reed is held captive by the Quiet Man, who is monologing after pulling an Ozymandias and releasing the invaders from the Heroes Reborn universe BEFORE telling Reed his plan. Ben, Johnny, and Sue are battling the faux-Avengers with the help of Namor, Captain America, and the original Human Torch. And the Future Foundation are watching Franklin get tortured.

Just as Reed himself said, the Fantastic Four's strength is that they rise again. Without going into a ton of detail, there were multiple moments in this issue that I caught myself grinning like a jackass. Bentley and his father, the Wizard, share a tender moment. The Wizard, Thundra, and She-Thing lend a helping hand when the world is on the brink. Hell, Robinson bringing in The Sleepwalker and making him an integral part of the resolution made me think it was 1992 again for a brief moment.

By the end, everything was back to normal. The Fantastic Four saved the world. As a whole, James Robinson's run was the best 18 issues of the Fantastic Four I've read in a long, long time. If the Fantastic Four had to go on the shelf for a while, this was a great way for them to go out. Five out of five stars.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars for the original '4' (plus kids Franklin and Valeria, as they're certainly relevant to the plot). The four-volume series wraps up the adventures of Marvel's first family with lots of action in a decent enough finale, but the icing on this cake was the quintet of short stories that end the book -

Rekindled - Johnny Storm unexpectedly runs into an old flame (ha-ha) who's got his number.

Trash Man! - Thing gripes like Dirty Harry ("Every dirty job that comes along!") while cleaning up battle debris, but helps a young police officer pinned down in a bank robbery shoot-out.

The Real Real - Sue Storm assures her troubled son, amidst the severely-damaged Baxter Building, that their home can be repaired and that family will always take care of family.

Time and Tide - Reed Richards gently shows his like-minded daughter how being outdoors during routine family trips to the beach nurtured his lifelong fascination of science and discovery.

Anniversary - intrepid Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich muses about the impact of the 'FF,' and his brief story features perfect one-panel cameos from damn near all of the heavy-hitters in Marvel.

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW WHAT AN ENDING!

So the Quiet man plans is revealed and we see what he has unleashed on the F4 and the consequences of it and I love the way it happens and the tension and drama. Sue gets Sleepwalker to help go to the reality where all these threats are coming from and fight the Psycho-man over there, The thing along with his friends is fighting the threats in the streets, Johnny safeguarding people and Reed vs Quiet man until it all comes together and its so epic and has cameos all around and leads to a big one fight and unites the FF for an epic adventure and one last at that (at the time it came out)!

Its epic and is really written and you feel for these characters and I love the way it all comes together and yeah its predictable but its that which leads you to love it, the payoff of continuity and then finally a solid ending and then there are backups with each of them and I love the ones with Reed and Val, Sue and Franklin where they hold their kids and really makes you love them and like shows what the FF are at its core: its about family and if this is the last one, it was an epic ending and its just perfect! <3

This was an awesome one and its easily one of the best FF runs albeit its short but the impact it mde was awesome and truly deserves the accolades for giving the team a hard time but them overcoming it and uniting them better than before! <3

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining F4 volume, ties up the Quiet Man storyline nicely and (this really shouldn't count as a spoiler, I imagine) the team and the Richards family is reunited at last, with plenty of guest stars, shout outs, Easter eggs and homages throughout to mark the shocking end to the Fantastic Four comics that started all the way back in 1961 as a "What the Hell?" experiment by Lee and Ditko.

They might be everyone's fourth-favourite superhero team, but that doesn't mean their adventures won't be missed.

Fourever, indeed. Bye guys.

[Jesse A · Rating 2 out of 5]

What started with some promise ended with a flop.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it's tough to say anything about the 'end' of the Fantastic Four that hasn't already been stated and re-stated ad infinitum across the howling planes of the Internet. Suffice it to say that I've been around the block more than a few times with comicbooks and I don't believe for a nanosecond that the FF are gone for good. To even entertain the idea is absurd.

If, however, this story had actually been the final FF story 'Fourever', it would have been a worthy ending. I've really enjoyed Robinson and Kirk's 18 issue run on the Fantastic Four and dearly wished it could have lasted longer. I suppose 18 issues is a pretty long run by today's standards, so I shouldn't complain.

I'm so, so happy that the team didn't split up at the end of this volume. I was totally expecting the ending to be tragic and to see the team members go their separate ways. To see Johnny re-powered, Ben's name cleared and the whole family still together at the final curtain left me with a huge grin on my face and a small tear in my eye.

This isn't goodbye, guys... It's see you around.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of the same. A few good moments, some nicely written action, unfortunately used in service of a story I just don't really buy. I guess it's worth pointing out that every last issue of this run was all taken up with the exact same storyline, and that the end result is... not much, honestly. Right back to status quo.

But. Included in this volume is a story that was published in a special issue for the 75th anniversary of Marvel. And it's actually pretty great. It does go back to the FF origin, but it does so in a way that made a well-worn story feel fresh. Riffing off the FF's status as Marvel's first family, the actual focus on the story is what other Marvel heroes were doing at the exact moment the FF got their powers. So there's a panel where Steve Rogers is still frozen in that iceberg, one of Namor in a soup kitchen, young Peter Parker sharing his photographs with his uncle, and tiny Kamala playing outside. It's a cool story, and well worth the read.

[Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big, big fun: imagine being invited to end a fifty-five-year-old series. James Robinson and artist Leonard Kirk succeed in telling a big story with great character touches. One of my favorite moments involves one of the lesser villains... but that would be telling.
The short-story vignettes here are first-rate, too.
Maybe my favorite, as a FF fan since 1970 and issue #102 (of 645) in August, 1970, is a five-page selection of favorite comics covers with paragraphs from FF writers and artists. This, in particular, tributes the great Jack Kirby, but also the late Mike Wieringo and (gone this year) Paul Ryan.
Highest recommendation.

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end of the Fantastic Four. Or for now, until fox finally makes a deal with Marvel so the book can come back. I am not going to whine about why this is happening to the first family of Marvel. But I will say between Jonathan Hickman, Matt Fraction and now James Robinson this series has been in good hands. I know this book doesn't sell as good as Avengers and X-men but I just think that the public just do not understand that this superhero team has always been about family. Now that I have a family of my own I really can connect with this book. Most of us are working parents who desperately want to balance our work life with out time with our family. That is to me what is always key to a good Fantastic Four story. they are just a family that gets caught in their adventures but so desperate want to spend time with their loved ones. Leonard kirk has been amazing with the artwork and James Robinson really gets these characters. I am not going to spoil how this story ends but I will say it was exciting. I hope this series will return soon.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collects Fantastic Four (2014) issues #642-645 and material from Marvel 75th Anniversary Celebration #1

This is the end of James Robinson's run, and the end of the title for a while. As of this volume, Marvel is putting the FF on hiatus. I thought this was a pretty good ending to a run, but not as good as Jonathan Hickman's ending. It was probably better than Matt Fraction's ending, but not by a lot.

There were a lot of surprise appearances by people that I haven't seen before, but that's not Robinson's fault. I bet that this may have been a nice payoff for really long-time readers.

My favorite thing about this volume was the continued use of the villain, The Quiet Man, and the use of Franklin Richards' pocket universe characters.

[Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.6

[Mr. Stick · Rating 2 out of 5]

"OH, I DID. (cure) CANCER. AND THEN I DECIDED THAT THERE WERE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, AND WHY SHOULD THEY BE HAPPIER THAN ME? SO I DESTROYED THE CURE "
- John "the quiet man" Eden, answering Reed Richards as to why he didn't use his brilliance and wealth to do something positive, such as cure cancer.

Finally, a villain even more insane than Dr. Doom, and he's wasted on this sorry attempt to justify the plot of the worst universe reboot of all time, Heroes Reborn. Sadly this story was just as disappointing as the above mentioned 90's event.
The fourth book in the series, this was supposed to close any loose plot lines with a clean and simple explanation (a universe created by the imagination of a super-powered, child-genius, Franklin Richards, which metastasized beyond correction like a cancer). Instead it ended more like a hastily cauterized amputation. I don't know how it would've appeared otherwise, but they rushed to stop the bleeding and now it looks like a burnt stump. Wow, a lot of medical comparisons, did you just binge Grey's Anatomy? Well, it has a real botched surgery vibe going, so yeah maybe!
In point of fact, there were so many flaws, perhaps I should name something that I did like. Leonard Kirk's art was excellent. Like, Mark Bagley good. But a fresh coat of paint on a haunted house will only please the HOA. It won't improve the neighborhood.
This volume concluded with bits from the Marvel 75th anniversary issue, which was actually nice. Short stories about the FF and a brief look at the other Marvel characters were doing when FF first went into space. Cute. Kind of sweet. Almost cover up the bitter taste of the rest of this book.
Overall, two stars. It'd be less if not for the art.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4.
The Quiet Man and Psycho Man have brought the Fantastic Four low, with Reed captured, Johnny depowered, Ben framed for murder and Sue desperately seeking her missing children. The villains then unleash a worldwide attack from monsters and duplicates of heroes stolen from the pocket 'Reborn' dimension created by Franklin Richards.

This is clearly billed as the last ever Fantastic Four story. And if you believe that, you'll believe anything. Nevertheless, the writers set out to send Marvel's First Family off with a bang, facing a world-threatening disaster that can only be overcome with their teamwork. Basically, the bread and butter of what FF comics have always been about.
Throw in the Avengers, the Hulk, surprising help from old enemies, plus a welcome return for the Sleepwalker (you might not have heard of him, but I used to be a big fan) and what you get is a really enjoyable all-action romp.

I also liked that, after the main event is over, we get a series of more thoughtful and heartfelt vignettes focusing on the FF and their family. The book then ends with journalist Ben Urich writing a retrospective 'Where were you when...?' about the formation of the FF, which shows various Marvel characters in their lives before the dawn of the Age of Heroes heralded by Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny being exposed to those cosmic rays.

* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *

[James Lawner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great and satisfying conclusion to the storyline James Robinson started, and I loved how each cover of each issue utilized different fonts from past Fantastic Four titles. What I didn’t like was that they went back to original numbering, which really doesn’t make much sense to me. Also, it’s kinda bittersweet when Johnny Storm says, “We’re back to stay and we’re not going anywhere”, considering this is the final issue for the series and the team wouldn’t come back for like 3 years.


Overall, I liked James Robinson’s run of Fantastic Four way more than I did with Matt Fraction’s now that I’ve read both series. Matt Fraction’s run had some good moments and good ideas, but this series had more going for it in terms of characterization and character dynamics. Also, there was a tender moment between The Wizard and Bentley-23 that was a far cry from The Wizard’s thinly-veiled transphobia in Matt Fraction’s Future Foundation run. And if there’s one major complaint I have about this series is that the Future Foundation kids had barely any “screen time” or any development throughout the series and their side of the story barely added anything here.

[Sayak Chowdhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good read and a love letter to the Four... the one-shots at the very end need a special mention especially the Marvel anniversary special wherein Ben Urich chronicles the dawn of the age of Marvels with the question where were you ? when the miracles happened in the same vein as people who ask where were you when JFK died or when Armstrong took his small step. It did literally make me fantastic out loud ( #noregrets ). The family felt very real and each and every one of them likeable and like someone whom you know intimately. A testament to the author's love for the characters and what make them unique in a world of Marvels. Really liked how Mr. Fantastic was portrayed. Although maybe it seemed a bit corny at times this issue and by extension the three issues that came before remains must read for any FF fan or comic book readers in general.

[Josh Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all collected volumes, you need to know what's going on in the previous volumes to fully understand what's going on here.

Long story short: a jealous enemy of Reed's has a plan to destroy the FF and prove his superiority over Reed. Now we've reached the endgame, and things aren't going to go the way he thinks. At the end of the third volume, Reed had confronted him and been captured. That's where this volume picks up.

Reed captured. Franklin being tortured. The kids captured. Sue and Ben under attack. Johnny powerless. Can they really win the day and make things right?

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I've read A LOT more than I've reviewed, so it's time for some knee-jerk reactions!*

I put of reading this book mostly because I feel like I JUST got into the FF and this book is all about their story coming to a close. (Temporarily! Of course, but it's not like the writers knew that at the time.) Still, as a send-off to this comic book staples, this was satisfying. Lots of heart, lots of family, and lots of each character just embracing what makes them heroes, and...well, fantastic.

[Tim B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection for a big event. The end of the F4 run. This is on the Captain Britain shelf for a few cameos. My favorite part was a short towards the end with Val and Reed on the beach. This short was touching and inspiring and read more like an X- title. The rest of the book was a fairly solid story, with some hiccups and Deus ex Machinas. Overall, enjoyable and not quite forgettable.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Robinson and Kirk's run ends with a jumbled whimper. So many things are thrown at the wall and very few stick. There are a couple good ideas but they're hard to spot through all the mess. Added to that is the first chapter of this book is Part 2! Incredibly poorly done. I enjoyed Kirk's artwork but there was too much going on. Overall, a mess that is an okay read but only for FF fans.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending to the story of the Quiet Man and the Heroes Reborn universe. Lots of fighting. Sleepwalker. Psycho Man. Some Avengers. More destruction, which you'd think people would be mad about given the previous volumes of the story. And then a few character-focused short stories to end the series.

I was disappointed by this story arc, so I wasn't invested in the ending.

[Néstor Vargas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t a bad run, just a mid-tier one. My main gripe is the overuse of multiverse stuff, especially alternate versions of other heroes. We just saw that last run and guess what? We have evil Avengers as the villains again. The art was solid throughout the series. I really enjoy the FF kids moments in this book, they’re always a blast!

[Julian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit better than Volume 3, but this run felt very inconsequential for me. Whereas most comics go for the money shot very quickly (AKA, writing for the trade), this just waited too long, and the payoff wasn't all that worth it.

My favorite issue of this entire run was the Annual with Sue, Valeria, and Doom.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The overall story (4 volumes) ends up being pretty good despite the very slow start in vol 1. The big reveal of the villian is somewhat disappointing, but the rest of the story is well worth reading.

[Frans Kempe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The family is teaming up to stop the Quiet man and has to take the fight back to Franklins pocket universe. Great ending to the series

[Jdetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really thought this last volume would either make me love or hate this run of the Fantastic Four, but instead it felt like the other volumes....just ok.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good ending for a while.

[Christopher]

Full of daring do, great world building from the start, vibrant art that leaps off the page, three-dimensional characters from right from the beginning and epic plot twist you won't see coming! :D

[Omni Theus · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Myah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Mouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, it's sad to see them go...but give it time cause I'm sure they'll be back. They're major characters in the Marvel Universe so they'll be around from time to time. Personally I blame that recent horrid movie....p.u...it stunk! I would've read more FF if they released more in trade paperback since single comics are not the way to go in today's times.
All that being said after reading this book I can kind of see why they pulled the plug because this is mostly confusing gibberish! This is not how you end a run of a legendary comic of over 50 years!
You can't read this if you haven't read any FF in a while because things are all over the place! I don't even know what's up with this Captain Ameri-Falcon guy?! Or Green Mohawk-Wannabe Hulk Guy?!
There's a bunch of rugrats fighting the Wizard, then Sleepwalker shows up (80's flashback) and he's acting like a dick and they spent waaay too much time on him. Then there's the Avengers but they're not the normal Avengers we all know and love but then the real Avengers show up but they're not real...they're corrupted versions of the Avengers cause y'know that happened I guess! Then the Frightful Four shows up lookin all tough but they're quickly followed by the Salem Seven...and then the Nerdy Nine and the Timid Ten....*Phew!
Man, this book is long winded...blah blah blah and the last 4 stories were just weird: Torch becoming a rock star, Susan crying over pictures, Thing picking up trash, and Mr F reminiscing! I did very much like the cover gallery tribute and Willie's Mailbag!