Fantastic Four, Vol. 6: Empyre

Fantastic Four (2018)

by Dan Slott, Sean Izaakse

Empyre rocks the world of the Fantastic Four! First, the Mole Man and his biggest monsters return to the surface, with all their righteous wrath aimed at one man: Wyatt Wingfoot! Can the Human Torch and Sky possibly save him? Y'know, this really would've been a good time to have brought all of the FF! Elsewhere, a never-before-seen Elder of the Universe steps into the light! Who is it, and how will they change things for Marvel's First Family...forever? As the FF find themselves in deep space, neck-deep in the events of Empyre, who can the Richards kids Powerhouse and Brainstorm call on to help them deal with a looming crisis back on Earth? How about a couple of former members of the New Fantastic Four -Spider-Man and Wolverine!

COLLECTING: Empyre: Fantastic Four #0, Fantastic Four (2018) 21-24, Empyre: Fallout - Fantastic Four #1

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

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2020

About the author

Dan Slott is an American comic book writer, the current writer on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man, and is best known for his work on books such as Arkham Asylum: Living Hell, She-Hulk, Silver Surfer, The Superior Spider-Man, and Ren & Stimpy.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fantastic Four 'official' return to the Marvel Universe as they team-up with the Avengers in the 2020 Summer event Empyre, which is yet another weak post-Bendis Marvel event. This volume sees the Fantastic Four family grow in size; Johhny looking to grow up!; and Franklin getting closer ties to the Mutants of Krakoa. All-in-all, I struggle with the FF on Yancy Street, but do not to the solid characterisations and my fave character, Valeria :). 6 out of 12.

To be honest, I am probably a tad bit biased, as I continue to savour having the Marvel first family back in monthly adventures.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this volume is a tie-in to the Empyre ‘event’ and while the core Four are off doing their thing in the main Empyre book, Franklin and Valeria are left holding the reins of the main FF book. A little swamped by the Cotati invasion, the Richards kids call in some reserve members for help, namely the Spectacular Spider-Man and the... World-Weary Wolverine?

I had a blast reading this one, and the artwork was fantastic throughout, but the absolute highlight for me was #24, which was the only issue collected here that had nothing to do with Empyre. It’s the first issue dealing with the FF’s new extended family (no spoilers but... squeee!) and finally explains the Iceman thing from way back in #4. Great stuff!

Empyre: FF #0: story 4*, art 4*
#21: story 4*, artwork 4*
#22: story 4*, artwork 4*
#23: story 4*, artwork 4*
Empyre: Fallout: story 4*, artwork 4*
#24: story 5*, artwork 5*

Overall: 4.16 stars, rounded down.

My next book: Giant-Size X-Men vol. 1

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Franklin and Val are left to hold down the fort on Earth while the Fantastic Four galivant through the events of Empyre. They get into some problems with the Priests of Pawa and call in Spider-Man and Wolverine. Slott is really good about calling back to Fantastic Four events of the past. I really appreciate his depth of knowledge of the Marvel universe. Paco Medina and Sean Itaaske handle most of the art and the book looks great.

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is where that phrase people say fits in super well for this one "I want my money back".

Dumb and cliche as hell that if you're 10 you'll like it. If you're an adult that loves F4 ever since she/he was 10 then you won't.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last volume was...rough, to say the least. F4 has been struggling under Slott, which I feel kinda sad about since I'd say it was the second best book for him to write after Amazing Spider-Man (although Silver Surfer was a wonderful surprise when he wrote that). Thankfully, this volume is much, much better than the ones that came before it.

Issues 20 and 24 are one and done stories - 20 introduces Sky (from the previous arc) to the world, as well as picking up on Wyatt Wingfoot's plotline from a few issues back. This one's decent enough. Issue 24 is a flashback issue, filling in some gaps from an earlier issue where we see Iceman replace the Human Torch on the team. This one's alright as well, although it does hew a little too closely to the sixties comics it is trying to emulate because there are a LOT of words in it.

The main draw is the middle three issues however - while the F4 are off world dealing with Empyre proper, Franklin, Valeria, and their new cousins from Empyre: F4 #0 call on some back-up in the form of Spider-Man, Wolverine, and more to deal with a side plot that feeds directly into the conclusion of the event. It's one of those plots that, if you didn't read it, Empyre would still be complete, but having read it, it enhances one of the little plot points into something even more clever than it was before. Plus the dialogue's great - Slott's a master Spider-Writer, and he really nails the kids' voices too, all four of them.

The other main complaint I've had about this series is that the artwork's been all over the place. Thankfully, it seems that these five issues all share the same two artists, Paco Medina and Sean Izaakse, both of whom I love. Giving the book some visual continuity goes a long way towards making it more enjoyable.

A wonderful return to form for F4. And all it took was Slott being busy with Empyre stuff and giving his characters something to do in the meantime. Whodathunk?

[Blindzider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of a mixed bag. You get a slow development of the new character Skye, as well as a reintroduction to Wyatt. Also included is the preliminary of the Empyre event and the obligatory tie-in which is primarily about the kids (and guest starring Wolverine and Spider-Man to ensure people will read it.) Lastly, the final issue was a fun story about how Iceman became a member of the Fantastic Four, much to the dismay of Johnny.

Keep in mind, if you haven't read the main Empyre event, this volume will certainly spoil the ending for you.

Overall, the art's not bad, there were some fun moments and some funny parts. This feels more like Slott is continuing to build the cast list for the book. I don't know if I agree that the FF always need to have a huge secondary character set. He's certainly working off the "family" aspect part and that does make this book unique in that way.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
The Fantastic Four Empyre Tie-Ins were pretty decent. These were mostly about Fraklin and Valeria's adventures and how those tied into the bigger picture. I wasn't a huge fan of the story overall, but the consequences and fallout from the story are interesting. I really like and appreciate when comic book events (big and little) have a lasting impact on the characters and Marvel Universe at large.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disjointed collection that relies heavily on the Empyre event. Great art and a fun final issue that emphasises the FF as a family unit help to save this book from the doldrums.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This finally has some glimmers of goodness. I figured Dan Slott would be a great FF writer, but his work up to this point has been rather dismal. Not so this time around. And in the midst of a crossover tie-in to boot. I also liked the issue with the flashback to the day when Iceman of the X-Men became a member of the FF (very briefly). The artwork is decent throughout this as well. Hopefully, things will continue to improve.

[Rylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay it was just Empyre tie-ins nothing that special that really adds anything to the event. I did like the kree and skrull kids they are nice additions to the family. I loved the flashback issue with Iceman it was a lot of fun.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being that Empyre had a large portion of the story attributed to the Fantastic Four, I figured we might get a tie-in Volume. While it does directly tie into the events, it also stands quite well on its own and could be read with only summarized knowledge of the main crossover title.
Highlights:
- N'Kella (Nikki), a Skrull child, and Jo-Venn (Joe), a Kree child, are put to battling each other in the fighting pits on a casino world. When the F4 get involved, they buy out the kids contracts and take them home to Earth (This story is shown in the main Empyre title.)
- Upon their return to Earth (with Val and Franklin), these two alien children refuse to stop fighting and it greatly escalates. Seeing no other option than to call for help, the kids activate a beacon that calls all reserve members of the Fantastic Four. Showing up to help? Wolverine and Spider-Man.
- Their fighting has drawn the attention of the High Priests of Pama, an organization whose worship of plants makes them natural allies of the Cotati. The Priests are able to take Nikki and Joe and plug them into a device called the Omni-Wave Projector, which amplifies the hate in their hearts for each other's race and forces it to spread throughout all Alliance forces. Val and Franklin help them overcome the hate and it bonds the Alliance army together stronger than before.
- The aftermath issue is also included in the main title, but it is important to note (for possible connection in future Volumes of F4) that Uatu has come back.
- The final issue is very funny and deals with whether or not Iceman (based on the events of one day while Johnny was being a jerk) was a part of the Fantastic Four reserves.

Overall, Dan Slott's run on this title has been very good. Enjoying this title greatly, and I think you would too. If you also read the main Empyre title, this Volume might be a good jumping on point if you want to pick this up.
Recommend.

[Tom Ewing · Rating 2 out of 5]

At some point “they’re not a team, they’re a family” became the dominant take on the Fantastic Four, and it’s one Dan Slott has taken to its furthest extent, alternating multi-part stories with stretches where the book is essentially a sitcom. What’s more, it’s the kind of hugs and learning sitcom they don’t make any more, because audiences ultimately got tired of the formula.

The best word for the stories here, playing around in the margins of the Empyre crossover, is *twee* - the wider FF cast (including Slott’s own new additions) as a bunch of loveable goofballs whose adventures end happily when people - or dinosaurs or moloids or skrulls - learn to work together. Cosy, wholesome stuff which wouldn’t be a criticism if the various character bits didn’t feel recycled from earlier FF incarnations, especially Hickman’s Fantastic Force. It feels like an approach that’s running its course even as the stories make it harder to back away from.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.
An Empyre crossover sandwiched between two pieces of white bread filler. We also get a few more new permanent characters to add along with Sky. Soon The Fantastic Four are going to be the Terrific Twenty. The inclusion of Spider-Man and Wolverine was a nice touch, though.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, if forgettable. I guess it’d make more sense if I read EMPYRE.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn’t quite work as well on its own, but when read in conjunction with Empyre it is pretty darn good. And even though the last story is a retcon, and creates some inconsistencies, it was pretty darn fun - I’ve always enjoyed any Human Torch / Iceman team-ups (almost as much as I love the Human Torch / Spider-Man bromance).

[Logan Harrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10:
While pieces of this story are good, I hate the splits that happen yet again. I understand that these big crossover events occur in the Marvel multiverse, but when you’re trying to read a run for a specific character/team, it gets really frustrating.

Wolverine and Spider-Man coming in to fill out the remainder of the Fantastic Four roster (with Franklin and Valeria) was a brilliant move. Two inexperienced heroes fighting alongside veterans who have been known to be great mentors.

I really look forward to seeing the aftermath of the Empyre event, but I’m hoping it stays contained (mostly) to this run!

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big even tie-in books aren't always the best things out there, but sometimes you at least get decent stories that support the larger narrative. The Fantastic Four tie-in felt a lot like that despite the fact it stayed away from the "main" story by having the regular issues follow the adventures of Franklin and Valeria as they bring their Skrull and Kree charges to Earth in order to avoid the larger fighting. But of course, not even Earth is safe with Coati-aligned human forces actively seeking the Skrull and Kree children under their care.

The books are still on the lighter side, despite including Spider-Man and Wolverine to support the kids, but the little "side story" is pretty solid on its own and doesn't leave you wishing you were in the main book.

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slott was better on Spiderman imo

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty fun read, and wow it was long but the story starts with FF reaching some planet controlled by Profiteer and here they rescue two children N'kalla and Jo-venn, last of the Skrull and kree who're still fighting for profit and thus FF are here to rescue them and I love the story especially Ben's reaction on how he is like he will rescue them and fight anyone and that was awesome!

Then the rest of the story ties in with the "Empyre" event and how the heroes aided by Spider-man and Wolverine fight off against the dark harvest aka priests of Pama (think cotati worshipping people) and thus the 3 issues are focused there and that was cool I guess and there are some cool moments here and there and I love the focus on Jo and Niki and how they are protected by these heroes and like their change in stance for each other as both have known the other through their childhoods and that was fun to see also Peter getting some good moments here!

Its one of those volume which on the surface may seem unimportant but ties in heavily with the main empyre event and does a massive status quo shift for FF which I freaking love!

One of the best books there is!

Also I love that iceman adventure, its a retcon yes but who cares, its a fun story and shows Bobby at his best and adds him to the ever growing cast of FF and hey I am all in for that! So definitely a fun read!

[Al Swainger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crossover time again… Stop what you’re doing and look at this!

I’ve come to really hate crossovers over the years. I get that the goal is to sell more comics but narratively they almost always suck. Even if you read everything the bulk of the time is taken up with fight sequences and signposting where to go for the next battle. In short they don’t tend to add much other than confusion if you don’t follow it all through.

This volume pretty much interrupts the FF flow to introduce a couple of new (albeit cool) characters which you need to know about for the next volume to make sense of their presence aaand - that’s it?

I haven’t yet read Empyre as an ‘event’ but did accidentally read FF vol. 6 before this one. The confusion that arose there can be cleared up in a couple pages from this one realistically. It’s fine and you’ll need it for completism but it also feels the most like filler of the volumes so far.

[Alex Sarll]

While the FF proper were off playing a central role in the disappointing space crossover's main title, their kids and partners draft in Spidey and Wolverine as guest stars for a few issues of wheel-spinning side-quests. I might not have minded so much if it weren't for the weirdly static art, where the Kree/Skrull forces engaged in a pitched battle with marauding plant-monsters look more like they're parading outside Buckingham Palace on a grey Tuesday for all the animation the panel conveys. Every so often there's a glimpse of what Slott can do, as when we glimpse some mutants getting animated over a tabletop on Krakoa - "This isn't real life, Pixie. It's a game. I could die!" But for the most part that cover puff about him being one of the best FF writers seems so far off the mark that it would be funny if it weren't so sad.

[José Ignacio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun tie-in to Empyre

Fair warning, as the title says, this book is almost entirely composed of tie-ins to the 2020 Event: Empyre, so it might be advisable to first read that story and come back here.

That being said, it’s still a fun ride. This has to be one of the few examples of really solid tie-ins that (for the most part) don’t affect the main event narrative and are just fun side stories that come about because of it.

That said, I do have an issue with the pacing, the entirety of issue #21 felt like nothing was happening until the very end and then it kicked into something interesting; hell, one could argue that issue's cover is a straight up lie.

That aside, writing's still solid, art is still freaking dope. So yeah, still a great continuation of Slott's run.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came here just for the Empyre related content, after skipping the last few FF trades. I was curious to see what happened to the Kree and Skrull kids, but it really wasn't necessary. Their relationships with Ben and Alicia aren't really developed beyond what you see in the main Empyre book. And if you're avoiding Empyre, this entire book is not going to make a lot of sense. Skippable, unless you're both a regular FF reader and you care about Empyre. It's not a bad book, though the inclusion of Wolverine is blatantly mercenary. At this point, it simply doesn't make sense for him to drop everything on Krakoa and play FF when there's a planetary level disaster going on.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

About half the content in this Fantastic Four volume is included in the main Empyre event publication, so that's a mark against Empyre. Though, I'll admit the intro and outro one-shots did tie this volume together.

Empyre focuses on Franklin, Valeria, and the two Kree/Skrull kids they picked up on the casino planet. With the help of Wolverine and Spider-Man, they all survive (and perhaps thrive in?) the Cotati invasion and the human cult supporting it. Lots of characters, lots of actions - it's much like the Empyre event itself. It's a diverting read with solid artwork, but not memorable.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

COLLECTS FANTASTIC FOUR (2018) 21-24, EMPYRE #0: FANTASTIC FOUR, AND EMPYRE: FALLOUT - FANTASTIC FOUR #1

As tie-ins go, this one seems to be slightly more important the main "Empyre" event than some other tie-ins that I've seen. I enjoyed this collection more than some of Slott's previous "FF" volumes, but I loved the final issue in this collection which featured Iceman.

This is just a character design note, but I really liked the FF suits that Wolverine and Spider-Man got in this volume.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once you find out the 'secret' of the Kree & Skrull characters featured in this arc, it becomes glaringly obvious that they were drawn different for each part of their story. They then get the opposite artistic treatment after. As a guy who likes to draw, these type of things probably annoy me a lot more than than it does other people. At least they managed this story arc with only 2 artists instead of the 7 from the last book.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Empyre overall and this collection of the FF's role in it was super fun. Jo-Venn and N'Kalla breath no life into the book and I'm looking forward to see how they'll mesh with their new family. The Richards' kids calling in reinforcements makes complete sense and was fun as well. Dan Slott's run continues to be entertaining and he's not afraid to change things up. The art was very good throughout. Overall, Fantastic Four is a book about family and adventure and this has both.

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vol. 6: Empyre didn't do much for me. Part of the problem was the FF children were separated from the FF adults. The children are not interesting enough to me for the spotlight. Also I've never had much interest in the Kree-Skrull War which figures heavily here. Substitute FF members (Spidey, Wolverine, Ghost Rider, and Hulk) show up in the second half but even they aren't written very well here. I have no complains about the artwork, but the story just never grabbed me.

[Keef Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started strong and ended weak. The beginning was pretty fun and engaging while the end felt like they were killing time for the story. Spiderman and wolverine look cool in the blue and that was fun. The bad guy strength is inconsistent where they beat the good guys at first but then get beat later on for not a really good reason. Just felt like it was because it fit the story.

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite often things that happen in the fringes of the main event are more fun the happenings in the main event. I liked this more than I did like the Empyre itself.
And Slott writes the funniest Spider-Man.