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Fantastic Four (2018)
Fantastic Four, Vol. 7: The Forever Gate
A brand-new era for the Fantastic Four begins here and now! New Artist! New villains! New uniforms! And a new, major, permanent status quo change for Marvel's First Family! But who is the mysterious figure called the Helmsman? Is he here to save our reality or destroy it? Plus, why is Victorious in New York - and what will that mean for the Human Torch? And amid all this upheaval, Doctor Doom makes his reappearance- and one of the most important characters in the entire cosmos returns from the dead! Prepare for a major turning point in the history of the FF!
Fantastic Four (2018) 25-29
Fantastic Four (2018) 25-29
160 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2021
15 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Dan Slott
1,680 books453 followersDan 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 27, 2022
There's some solid old-school FF touches in this volume with Reed being behind the creation and operation of the Forever Gate; tech that generates unwanted interest across space with the return of some enemies and some friends. Dan Slott continues to shake-it-up with another re-imagining, this time of Franklin Richards! Even the King In Black tie-in is not that bad, despite an outrageously poor characterisation of Sue Storm. All-in-all, nowhere near as good as his Spidey work, but it does look like he's laying in groundwork for a long haul, which usually gives readers some of the better runs. This one scrapes in as Three Star, 7 out of 12 read.
2022 read
2022 read
July 4, 2022
The Forever Gate arc is my favorite story to date of Slott's run. It's classic Fantastic Four, just with all the extended family they have now. Impossible odds, lots of action and fun times. It's all there to enjoy. It also leaves the FF with a lot of potential for future stories. The last two issues are the King in Black tie-ins. They are fine but nothing special.
July 24, 2021
Well, this latest volume of the FF started really well. The first four issues of the six collected here were great; classic FF against impossible odds while still finding time for the important family moments. It reminded me of the glory days of the Byrne or Waid/Ringo runs.
Then the last two issues got sucked into the King in Black crossover and it all went to shit. This was the worst of the KIB crossover issues I’ve read yet; pointless, boring and, worst of all, everyone seemed out of character, particularly Sue.
The first four issues were almost 5 star material but the last two were lucky to scrape a 3.
My next book: Mr. Lazy
Then the last two issues got sucked into the King in Black crossover and it all went to shit. This was the worst of the KIB crossover issues I’ve read yet; pointless, boring and, worst of all, everyone seemed out of character, particularly Sue.
The first four issues were almost 5 star material but the last two were lucky to scrape a 3.
My next book: Mr. Lazy
July 24, 2022
The Unreadable Fantastic Four.
This is so bad, and what makes it so bad is that the characters in it, instead of helping you escape reality and drag you into their world, they make the worst jokes you've ever heard and they talk like damn robots, saying stupid stuff making no sense having no identity, everyone could say anything, but the only thing that makes them different is that they keep saying issue after issue, the same damn things they said since the 60s, we GET it, the Thing says "clobbering time" and "sweet aunt petunia" and Human Torch is picking on the Thing and Sue compliments Mr Fantastic and the kids are always mentioning how fucking amazing they are and smart and their parents too. Every damn thing from the 60s is in here but worse. Every line every 10 panels again and again.
Stay away. This isn't the FF you wanna read. I'm sorry. Please bring back the Slott who wrote the Superior Spider-Man series. #sadness
PS. You should read this if you want to read a version of Wolverine that he tries to be Wolverine so bad he actually gets to be the most out of character Wolverine you've ever read.
This is so bad, and what makes it so bad is that the characters in it, instead of helping you escape reality and drag you into their world, they make the worst jokes you've ever heard and they talk like damn robots, saying stupid stuff making no sense having no identity, everyone could say anything, but the only thing that makes them different is that they keep saying issue after issue, the same damn things they said since the 60s, we GET it, the Thing says "clobbering time" and "sweet aunt petunia" and Human Torch is picking on the Thing and Sue compliments Mr Fantastic and the kids are always mentioning how fucking amazing they are and smart and their parents too. Every damn thing from the 60s is in here but worse. Every line every 10 panels again and again.
Stay away. This isn't the FF you wanna read. I'm sorry. Please bring back the Slott who wrote the Superior Spider-Man series. #sadness
PS. You should read this if you want to read a version of Wolverine that he tries to be Wolverine so bad he actually gets to be the most out of character Wolverine you've ever read.
May 7, 2021
Presumably this volume collects #25-30, since #29-30 are a two-part King In Black tie-in.
#25-27 are the titular Forever Gate story, which brings back the Griever for a reprise of the first arc of the series. Thankfully she brings some of the greatness of that first arc along with her. It also introduces the Forever Gate, which is such a Fantastic Four concept that I can't believe no one's tried it before. When Slott's allowed to focus on the F4 properly without being thrown into crossovers or weird anniversary issues, he really shows what he can do with them and that's definitely the case here; the few scenes with Franklin in the aftermath of this arc are totally heartbreaking.
The King In Black tie-in does it's best to be enjoyable, but it's bogged down by the fact that it takes place between the pages of the main book, so none of the plotlines are actually resolved in Fantastic Four itself, instead sorting themselves out off-panel. It's not a bad examination of the F4, because it allows some members of the family to say some of the things that they don't get to say otherwise, but it definitely lacks the punch of the other issues in the volume, or even the Empyre tie-ins last time around.
The art's pretty great though. Rising superstar RB Silva joins the book as regular artist for the Forever Gate issues, while Zé Carlos pops in for the two KiB issues with some suitably slimy visuals. If there's one thing less consistent than the writing in Slott's F4 it's the art team, but after the last few volumes I'm hoping that that's about to change for the better.
An impressive lead story dragged down by a two issue tie-in that's hog-tied by it's own premise make this another uneven volume of F4. It does look pretty though, so there's that!
#25-27 are the titular Forever Gate story, which brings back the Griever for a reprise of the first arc of the series. Thankfully she brings some of the greatness of that first arc along with her. It also introduces the Forever Gate, which is such a Fantastic Four concept that I can't believe no one's tried it before. When Slott's allowed to focus on the F4 properly without being thrown into crossovers or weird anniversary issues, he really shows what he can do with them and that's definitely the case here; the few scenes with Franklin in the aftermath of this arc are totally heartbreaking.
The King In Black tie-in does it's best to be enjoyable, but it's bogged down by the fact that it takes place between the pages of the main book, so none of the plotlines are actually resolved in Fantastic Four itself, instead sorting themselves out off-panel. It's not a bad examination of the F4, because it allows some members of the family to say some of the things that they don't get to say otherwise, but it definitely lacks the punch of the other issues in the volume, or even the Empyre tie-ins last time around.
The art's pretty great though. Rising superstar RB Silva joins the book as regular artist for the Forever Gate issues, while Zé Carlos pops in for the two KiB issues with some suitably slimy visuals. If there's one thing less consistent than the writing in Slott's F4 it's the art team, but after the last few volumes I'm hoping that that's about to change for the better.
An impressive lead story dragged down by a two issue tie-in that's hog-tied by it's own premise make this another uneven volume of F4. It does look pretty though, so there's that!
July 28, 2021
Pretty fantastically forgettable.
Nice gate, though.
Nice gate, though.
May 9, 2022
We return from the Empyre tie-in to the main plot: yet another overpowered cosmic being has arrived on Earth to kick ass and hunt for a mysterious object. Oddly, the being quickly departs, leaving the extended Fantastic Four crew (extremely extended at this point) with an unfathomable universal force that Valeria rejiggers into the Forever Gate.
Drink! That's the name of the volume.
Why has Reed Richards been sitting on this unfathomable universal force? How does Valeria so quickly conceive of the Forever Gate? These questions are brushed aside as the manic plot continues: alien beings have begun to stream through the gate, all of them from worlds created by Franklin when he had God-like abilities (speaking of Franklin, his powers are now null since he wasted the last of them on that initial overpowered villain). And who else would follow these aliens but the living embodiment of the end-times?
In case it wasn't already clear, The Forever Gate is a lot. It's frenetically paced, frequently one-upping itself with big gimmicky ideas. For God's sake, Silver Surfer arrives with the ultimate weapon in the Marvel universe at one point! Dan Slott manages to include several character moments, but it's next to impossible to catch a breath in this volume. When the main plot is wrapped up and we're served warmed-over King in Black tie-in issues, they seem incredibly dull by comparison. Merely a symbiote-infused cosmic overlord? BOOORRRRING.
Anyway, The Forever Gate was kinda insane, but mostly in a fun way, I guess. Comic books at their most comic book-y.
Drink! That's the name of the volume.
Why has Reed Richards been sitting on this unfathomable universal force? How does Valeria so quickly conceive of the Forever Gate? These questions are brushed aside as the manic plot continues: alien beings have begun to stream through the gate, all of them from worlds created by Franklin when he had God-like abilities (speaking of Franklin, his powers are now null since he wasted the last of them on that initial overpowered villain). And who else would follow these aliens but the living embodiment of the end-times?
In case it wasn't already clear, The Forever Gate is a lot. It's frenetically paced, frequently one-upping itself with big gimmicky ideas. For God's sake, Silver Surfer arrives with the ultimate weapon in the Marvel universe at one point! Dan Slott manages to include several character moments, but it's next to impossible to catch a breath in this volume. When the main plot is wrapped up and we're served warmed-over King in Black tie-in issues, they seem incredibly dull by comparison. Merely a symbiote-infused cosmic overlord? BOOORRRRING.
Anyway, The Forever Gate was kinda insane, but mostly in a fun way, I guess. Comic books at their most comic book-y.
October 31, 2021
I do enjoy my F4 on the more cosmic side of things.
August 31, 2021
The first four (ahem) issues of this TPB are pretty darn good. It's where I always felt Slott's writing could have taken the FF. After two years of rebuilding the team and the series, this story arc pulls everything together. All of the characters are involved, a previous subplot returns resulting in a threat to the whole universe. In the midst of that chaos are some personal moments, specifically with Franklin. It all blends well together, despite still not quite hitting the higher tier of creativity that I saw on his Silver Surfer run.
The second two issues are tie-ins to the King in Black crossover. While it's well done, it's still fairly standard.
Something that I really liked in that first arc was the coloring. Jesus Aburtov chose some eye-popping colors that really highlighted the art by Silva (which is outstanding on its own.) Unfortunately, the third issue (27) was drawn and colored by others, and while it is fine by itself, the difference with the others parts is jarring. Either way, Silva and Carlos' pencils and inks with Aburtov's colors is a phenomenal combination. Lots of details in every panel, emotional expressions are clear and varied, both dialogue and action panels tell the story. I hope that combination continues to be the primary art team on the title.
The second two issues are tie-ins to the King in Black crossover. While it's well done, it's still fairly standard.
Something that I really liked in that first arc was the coloring. Jesus Aburtov chose some eye-popping colors that really highlighted the art by Silva (which is outstanding on its own.) Unfortunately, the third issue (27) was drawn and colored by others, and while it is fine by itself, the difference with the others parts is jarring. Either way, Silva and Carlos' pencils and inks with Aburtov's colors is a phenomenal combination. Lots of details in every panel, emotional expressions are clear and varied, both dialogue and action panels tell the story. I hope that combination continues to be the primary art team on the title.
Read
March 1, 2022A run which increasingly feels like it's gone into the sand, with any interesting elements (Ben and Alicia playing foster parents to alien kids; Reed's proud interest in his daughter's inventions) eclipsed by fights that keep amping up the power levels without ever making me care. Which, granted, is an endemic pitfall for cosmic superpower books, but still surprises me here, given how well Slott handled this stuff on the Silver Surfer series which made me so keen for him to bring the FF back. Perhaps it was just that there he had Allred's art to sell it, whereas here the visuals are all competent but unremarkable, house style journeyman stuff. Particularly vexing is the clumsy speed of the plot wherein Franklin Richards is leaning into his mutant identity; squanders the last of his carefully husbanded power in a single, entirely futile attack on a being from a higher order of existence; and then finds that the Krakoan gates no longer recognise him as a mutant, so tears down all his mutant posters and has a sulk. All of this in one issue, all despite how careful he's been of that non-renewable power for the rest of the run, all notwithstanding the fact that we've repeatedly seen in the X-books that Krakoa accepts depowered mutants (and then has a way to reboot them). A further wrenching yet entirely pointless sacrifice will follow, and also an explanation for the Krakoa issue which makes so little sense in any context that it slightly hurts my brain to consider it. As for the idea that Reed has been sitting on the energy that remakes cosmoses – that can't help suggesting the recent Ewing/Rodriguez Defenders run, which actually managed to give this sort of stuff the appropriate mad, brilliant verve, rather than the weirdly rote approach here. It's got to the point where even the hints of the upcoming Reckoning War, which Slott has been trying to make happen and teasing literally since he started at Marvel on stuff like his delightful She-Hulk, aren't grabbing me anymore, because it's just going to sag into another bloody event book, isn't it?
And then inexplicably, after four issues where the most fun to be had is spotting the Doctor Who steals, the story's end attains the sense of cosmic fairytale at which the rest of it has been ineffectually flapping. Is it the Surfer's arrival bringing Slott's mojo with him? Certainly it departs when he does; the last two issues are hampered by the obligatory King In Black crossover, but even before the tedium goo descends, we're back into the unconvincing emotional switchbacks and fiat plotting. Deeply disappointing from a pairing which promised so much.
And then inexplicably, after four issues where the most fun to be had is spotting the Doctor Who steals, the story's end attains the sense of cosmic fairytale at which the rest of it has been ineffectually flapping. Is it the Surfer's arrival bringing Slott's mojo with him? Certainly it departs when he does; the last two issues are hampered by the obligatory King In Black crossover, but even before the tedium goo descends, we're back into the unconvincing emotional switchbacks and fiat plotting. Deeply disappointing from a pairing which promised so much.
September 24, 2021
The insane hijinks of Marvel's First Family continue here in this post-Empyre collection.
Highlights:
- Valeria creates a portal that opens a "Forever Gate", which can go anywhere in the multiverse. She first uses this to visit an alien boyfriend... but when he has more than more consort already.... UGH
- An intergalactic being known as "the Cormorant" comes to attack Earth, destroying the Baxter Building, but Franklin in able to use his powers to fight him off. Unfortunately, this uses the last of his powers. When he tries to go to Krakoa (see 4x), he is informed that he was never a mutant and cannot come to the island again.
- Uatu comes back to life and makes Sgt Nick Fury (who's been watching since Uatu's death) his herald.
- The Griever has continued her reign of conquest across the worlds built by Franklin (while they were gone... catch up on a title before reading Vol 7! LOL) and arrives through the Forever Gate. It takes the help of the Silver Surfer and the Ultimate Nullifier to stop her.... AND the temporary destruction of 4 Yancy St. (though they do get that back by the end)
- We also get their tie-in with King in Black. Torch and Thing have parts in the main book that are alluded to here, but it mostly focuses on their allies fighting alongside the other heroes, and the burgeoning relationship between Johnny and Sky.
Above all, SOMEHOW, this title continues to be good, lore heavy, AND a strong family story. With Dan Slott at the helm, Fantastic Four should continue for a good long time. I can't wait to see how much their popularity grows once they make their MCU debut.
Read this title. It's a fun ride.
Recommend.
Highlights:
- Valeria creates a portal that opens a "Forever Gate", which can go anywhere in the multiverse. She first uses this to visit an alien boyfriend... but when he has more than more consort already.... UGH
- An intergalactic being known as "the Cormorant" comes to attack Earth, destroying the Baxter Building, but Franklin in able to use his powers to fight him off. Unfortunately, this uses the last of his powers. When he tries to go to Krakoa (see 4x), he is informed that he was never a mutant and cannot come to the island again.
- Uatu comes back to life and makes Sgt Nick Fury (who's been watching since Uatu's death) his herald.
- The Griever has continued her reign of conquest across the worlds built by Franklin (while they were gone... catch up on a title before reading Vol 7! LOL) and arrives through the Forever Gate. It takes the help of the Silver Surfer and the Ultimate Nullifier to stop her.... AND the temporary destruction of 4 Yancy St. (though they do get that back by the end)
- We also get their tie-in with King in Black. Torch and Thing have parts in the main book that are alluded to here, but it mostly focuses on their allies fighting alongside the other heroes, and the burgeoning relationship between Johnny and Sky.
Above all, SOMEHOW, this title continues to be good, lore heavy, AND a strong family story. With Dan Slott at the helm, Fantastic Four should continue for a good long time. I can't wait to see how much their popularity grows once they make their MCU debut.
Read this title. It's a fun ride.
Recommend.
November 14, 2021
4
It's taken me a while, but the title has grown on me. An interesting thing burn that has become interesting as a lot of disperate storylines start to converge in interestijg ways.
It's taken me a while, but the title has grown on me. An interesting thing burn that has become interesting as a lot of disperate storylines start to converge in interestijg ways.
July 26, 2025
I liked it the earth was being attacked but the FF stoped all of them. Firs one alien was looking for a special box that Reed Richard’s found and his son Franklin Richard’s used up all of his cosmic power and became powerless later he tried to go to Keroka where the mutants live because he thought he was a mutant, but professor Xavier gave him sad news that he was never a mutant and they only thought he was because his cosmic powers enhanced his body and made it look like he had the x gene. Then aliens came to earth for help because a very violent alien was going to kill them all and they thought Franklin was still a God since he was in other planets doing Godlike things. And after he told them that he lost his powers they still believed in him (they thought he was testing them). When the destroyer came Franklin was in a iron man suit designed for Ben grim (aka the thing) when he lost his powers, but when ben got his powers back the suit was just there so they let Franklin use it and after a long battle silver surfer with cosmic powers went to fight and brought a device that would defeat the destroyer and the one who uses it but Franklin was special and could use the device and beat the destroyer.
August 18, 2022
The covers are lovely. The insides - well, it’s the FF against a ‘cosmic principle’ who acts very much like a generic supervillain, with an ending that feels like a shrug. The plots move forward, but there’s a suffocating aura of cosiness that makes it hard to feel any of it matters. In fact the best thing about the whole book is that the unstoppably powerful alien in the first story (who uncovers a macguffin then just wanders off) rejoices in the gloriously random name of The Cormorant.
March 11, 2024
7/10:
Some really solid storytelling here, but yet again two issues of this run are dedicated to ANOTHER crossover event. King in Black is a decent event, but the role played by the Fantastic Four gets spread too thin. I wish the Forever Gate had been utilized further in the defeat of Knull on Earth.
Some really solid storytelling here, but yet again two issues of this run are dedicated to ANOTHER crossover event. King in Black is a decent event, but the role played by the Fantastic Four gets spread too thin. I wish the Forever Gate had been utilized further in the defeat of Knull on Earth.
March 21, 2022
So much going on & to explore in this volume! Love Susan’s arc so far in this & her secretive/protective side coming out more often. Liked Franklin’s storyline too, intrigued to see what happens next. Enjoyed appearances from the Griever, Doctor Doom, Silver Surfer & Knull. Great action throughout!
October 17, 2022
I so badly want to like this I am giving it another chance but it is so uneven. Some issues are good and then some are just silly. I totally groaned when I saw the Future Foundation crew show up…..ugh. Not sure what I want to see here but so far this is not it.
September 7, 2022
Enjoyable. Really like how Ben and Alicia are stepping up as parents to the Kree and Skrull children.
Art was very good in this volume. Marvel house style but beautiful to look at with vivid colors.
I thought the storylines were good overall except for the King in Black tie-in that finishes things up.
Art was very good in this volume. Marvel house style but beautiful to look at with vivid colors.
I thought the storylines were good overall except for the King in Black tie-in that finishes things up.
July 12, 2021
*Lots of reading + no time review = Knee-jerk reactions!*
I never thought I would really, truly LOVE Fantastic Four, but in Dan Slott's hands... Well, thank you, Mr. Slott, for perfectly writing family dynamics; interesting and lovable, but still flawed and relatable characters; and solid and engaging action... Thank you for introducing me to the First Family of comics in the best possible way. This book was fun, engaging, and full of great what-ifs. Oh, and my favorite part: When Reed is giving a press conference and goes off on all the possibilities of the Forever Gate and Susan leads him away, and he asks, "Did my voice go all mad-scientist?" And she says yes, and he says, "Yeah, I could kind of hear it." I laughed out loud and even shared that moment with a fellow librarian--who doesn't even read comics but got a nice little chuckle out of it too.
I never thought I would really, truly LOVE Fantastic Four, but in Dan Slott's hands... Well, thank you, Mr. Slott, for perfectly writing family dynamics; interesting and lovable, but still flawed and relatable characters; and solid and engaging action... Thank you for introducing me to the First Family of comics in the best possible way. This book was fun, engaging, and full of great what-ifs. Oh, and my favorite part: When Reed is giving a press conference and goes off on all the possibilities of the Forever Gate and Susan leads him away, and he asks, "Did my voice go all mad-scientist?" And she says yes, and he says, "Yeah, I could kind of hear it." I laughed out loud and even shared that moment with a fellow librarian--who doesn't even read comics but got a nice little chuckle out of it too.
June 10, 2021
Dan Slott is still one of the best writers to tackle FF, one of the most misused superhero teams out there. My problem with this particular collection is my problem with most Marvel comics these days - the need to serve the big crossover, multi-book storylines. This used to be a once-a-year, summer kind of thing, but now it seems to be happening more and more. While Empyre was fine, I have no interest whatsoever in King in Black. Venom was never one of my favorite characters, and the succeeding branching of several symbiotes held even less interest from me.
December 8, 2021
It was on a 4 path to me with the gate…but honestly tacking on the King in Black tie ins took we out of the story and what was next.
October 4, 2021
I've tried and tried over the years to get into the Fantastic Four. They're so "classic," etc. and I've lived through some very, very well-received runs on the book: Jim Lee's Heroe's Reborn run in '96-'97, Mark Waid's run, and Chris Claremont's was one that was especially well-received if I remember correctly.
I never stuck with the book for very long though. Just. Didn't. Click.
That said, my reaction was always a "Well, I can see why people love it, but it's not for me" reaction which is probably why I came back so many times over the years to try again.
Well, I've found a run that I'm truly loving. Slott's work started a bit slow as he reintroduced the FF to the MU for the first time since Jonathan Hickman's Secret Wars event that remade the MU a few years ago and combined the MU and the Ultimate MU (something I'd been predicting since Quemas launched it back in the day, but I digress). The stories were just good enough to keep me going in those first few volumes, solid characterization, growing layer-by-layer his own plot and story line and feel for the characters as any solid writer does issue-by-issue and volume-by-volume, and now here with vol. 7 Slott wrote a five star volume that I just had to review.
The story here cracks the code for me. I've run into the FF aren't really superheroes thing over and over, and Slott plays that card a few times here, but he shows how inevitably these people and those around them are drawn into all kinds of massively cosmic stuff by their nature as explorer of the unknown, super-scientists, etc. I definitely recognize the long-established basics of the core-four: Mr. Fantastic, Sue, Johnny, and Ben--all are written in a way that fits with the baseline for the characters but is still more and more distinctly Slott's with each issue. He's laying on some family dynamics in new ways (he's married off Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters a few volumes back, given them children since then, had Johnny Storm the ultimate superhero playboy find a soulmate, and done some great stuff with the interactions between the core four as well), and he's been writing enough issues now to begin cashing in some of the chips he played early and this volume sees several of those pay off.
Often I'm frustrated by contemporary comics' tendency to put any story that matters into an event comic (or an event tie in mini-series) and leave the regular monthlies for only the small stuff, or telling larger stories in such an either chopped up or squashed fashion that they don't work. Slott overcomes both these problems, and that mastery shows especially in this volume where we see the the impact of Valerie's super-genius getting her into trouble ala her dad, the return of the Griever from earlier Slott FF volumes, major changes for Franklin that completely redirect the character, the return of the Future Foundation kids, who were left traveling the universe back in FF vol. 1 : Fourever, plus a flashback to the Uatu, the Watcher, tie ins to Knull the Black King of the symbiotes from over in Spider-Man, and all of these stories big and small are told with masterful pacing and touch that never leaves the scale of the book feeling off, and never abandons the ongoing threads of Slott's run. It's a masterclass in comic writing.
I never stuck with the book for very long though. Just. Didn't. Click.
That said, my reaction was always a "Well, I can see why people love it, but it's not for me" reaction which is probably why I came back so many times over the years to try again.
Well, I've found a run that I'm truly loving. Slott's work started a bit slow as he reintroduced the FF to the MU for the first time since Jonathan Hickman's Secret Wars event that remade the MU a few years ago and combined the MU and the Ultimate MU (something I'd been predicting since Quemas launched it back in the day, but I digress). The stories were just good enough to keep me going in those first few volumes, solid characterization, growing layer-by-layer his own plot and story line and feel for the characters as any solid writer does issue-by-issue and volume-by-volume, and now here with vol. 7 Slott wrote a five star volume that I just had to review.
The story here cracks the code for me. I've run into the FF aren't really superheroes thing over and over, and Slott plays that card a few times here, but he shows how inevitably these people and those around them are drawn into all kinds of massively cosmic stuff by their nature as explorer of the unknown, super-scientists, etc. I definitely recognize the long-established basics of the core-four: Mr. Fantastic, Sue, Johnny, and Ben--all are written in a way that fits with the baseline for the characters but is still more and more distinctly Slott's with each issue. He's laying on some family dynamics in new ways (he's married off Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters a few volumes back, given them children since then, had Johnny Storm the ultimate superhero playboy find a soulmate, and done some great stuff with the interactions between the core four as well), and he's been writing enough issues now to begin cashing in some of the chips he played early and this volume sees several of those pay off.
Often I'm frustrated by contemporary comics' tendency to put any story that matters into an event comic (or an event tie in mini-series) and leave the regular monthlies for only the small stuff, or telling larger stories in such an either chopped up or squashed fashion that they don't work. Slott overcomes both these problems, and that mastery shows especially in this volume where we see the the impact of Valerie's super-genius getting her into trouble ala her dad, the return of the Griever from earlier Slott FF volumes, major changes for Franklin that completely redirect the character, the return of the Future Foundation kids, who were left traveling the universe back in FF vol. 1 : Fourever, plus a flashback to the Uatu, the Watcher, tie ins to Knull the Black King of the symbiotes from over in Spider-Man, and all of these stories big and small are told with masterful pacing and touch that never leaves the scale of the book feeling off, and never abandons the ongoing threads of Slott's run. It's a masterclass in comic writing.
August 1, 2021
This volume started on an unusual but still very Fantastic Four note - with unknown aliens raiding different secure locations to search for something. And surprisingly it's Sue who first gets pulled into things since she apparently does missions for Nick Fury on the side. But this is just the intro to the greater adventure.
And things really come to a head when the titular Forever Gate is created - a portal that makes it possible to travel to pretty much anywhere in the known universe. And this naturally becomes a very valuable resource. But what no one expected was for different aliens from the different worlds that Franklin had created to start pouring in because they are trying to escape a cosmic threat.
And did we mention that this is the volume where Franklin's powers finally reach their end? I know it's a bit of a spoiler, but it was also an inevitable situation since this particular book started. And I've been looking forward to this next chapter in his character journey as we explore the implications of him no longer having his reality-altering powers.
This book also crosses over into the King in Black story, although the focus was definitely a lot more personal and too essential to the greater adventure involved in that crossover. I appreciate this since the FF has always tried to put more focus on family, which in itself is a loaded term with a lot of good and bad things. Plus the continuing saga of Johnny's "soulmate" may turn out to be more complex than initially projected.
On the whole, a fun book with a lot of great character moments.
And things really come to a head when the titular Forever Gate is created - a portal that makes it possible to travel to pretty much anywhere in the known universe. And this naturally becomes a very valuable resource. But what no one expected was for different aliens from the different worlds that Franklin had created to start pouring in because they are trying to escape a cosmic threat.
And did we mention that this is the volume where Franklin's powers finally reach their end? I know it's a bit of a spoiler, but it was also an inevitable situation since this particular book started. And I've been looking forward to this next chapter in his character journey as we explore the implications of him no longer having his reality-altering powers.
This book also crosses over into the King in Black story, although the focus was definitely a lot more personal and too essential to the greater adventure involved in that crossover. I appreciate this since the FF has always tried to put more focus on family, which in itself is a loaded term with a lot of good and bad things. Plus the continuing saga of Johnny's "soulmate" may turn out to be more complex than initially projected.
On the whole, a fun book with a lot of great character moments.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2023
I loved this volume!
This gotta be one of the most epic and best Fantastic four story easily!
This one starts with the introduction of the forever gate, this gate that allows the user to travel to any location n space and time and how that brings in new enemies for eg. "The cormorant" which is such a cool name for a villain and then the new status quo of Franklin which was surprising but makes sense ad actually gives an intriguing status quo to him and like re-examining all his previous stories.. but maybe others won't like it but it does its work.
I love how it reintroduces "The Griever" from the first arc and then showing how the fantastic four have to defeat her and it also brings in Dr Doom and Silver surfer which was just so awesome! It does well to show the magnitude of her threat and posing interesting ideas and questions and I kinda knew how it would end but reaching there was just another great story!!
So yeah a cool story nonetheless and also the 2 part tie-in to Knull and symbiotes maybe some of my favorite tie-in and it examines the dark side of the family and things they shouldn't have said but did because of this and it actually makes you feel sad but then again increases the drama and also a fun position of Sue and Johnny, the brother/sister bond and it actually just shows Sue in such a great light an I love it!
I will probably re-read it again sometime in the future but for now suffice to say.. I love this!
This gotta be one of the most epic and best Fantastic four story easily!
This one starts with the introduction of the forever gate, this gate that allows the user to travel to any location n space and time and how that brings in new enemies for eg. "The cormorant" which is such a cool name for a villain and then the new status quo of Franklin which was surprising but makes sense ad actually gives an intriguing status quo to him and like re-examining all his previous stories.. but maybe others won't like it but it does its work.
I love how it reintroduces "The Griever" from the first arc and then showing how the fantastic four have to defeat her and it also brings in Dr Doom and Silver surfer which was just so awesome! It does well to show the magnitude of her threat and posing interesting ideas and questions and I kinda knew how it would end but reaching there was just another great story!!
So yeah a cool story nonetheless and also the 2 part tie-in to Knull and symbiotes maybe some of my favorite tie-in and it examines the dark side of the family and things they shouldn't have said but did because of this and it actually makes you feel sad but then again increases the drama and also a fun position of Sue and Johnny, the brother/sister bond and it actually just shows Sue in such a great light an I love it!
I will probably re-read it again sometime in the future but for now suffice to say.. I love this!
March 1, 2022
Empyre is finished. Ben and Alicia Grimm have finalized their adoption of the two alien children that were featured there. A Skrull and a Kree kid trying to kill the other...hilarity ensues.
Most of this arc is focused on the building of a tech heavy jump gate that can send the user any where/when. Franklin is on borrowed time with his finite powers. We'll see how he turns out. They can't leave him as he is for long.
The "we're family' trope is brought up, like, 80 times in this collection. Did you know the FF is family? It's like 'Fast and Furious' only with superpowers
Bonus: This collection is dragged down by the King in Black crossover issues that end the collection.
Bonus Bonus: The Unseen gets messed with (aka still can't fix a dumb idea)
Most of this arc is focused on the building of a tech heavy jump gate that can send the user any where/when. Franklin is on borrowed time with his finite powers. We'll see how he turns out. They can't leave him as he is for long.
The "we're family' trope is brought up, like, 80 times in this collection. Did you know the FF is family? It's like 'Fast and Furious' only with superpowers
Bonus: This collection is dragged down by the King in Black crossover issues that end the collection.
Bonus Bonus: The Unseen gets messed with (aka still can't fix a dumb idea)
February 21, 2025
Somewhat weak payoff to the setup from Vol. 1
I know my rating and the title make it sound like I hated the book, but I really didn’t, I just feel Slott was, unfortunately, tied up with Editorial mandates to make Issues #29 & #30 tie-ins to King in Black so he had to rush his main Forever Gate story.
That being said, it’s still a fun story that continues to play around with a lot of the elements of found family his run has been all about so far, even if I am starting to get a little tired of Franklin's character getting yo-yo'd around.
Art is fantastic and while I have my issues with it, it’s still a worthy continuation of Slott's rather great era of the FF.
I know my rating and the title make it sound like I hated the book, but I really didn’t, I just feel Slott was, unfortunately, tied up with Editorial mandates to make Issues #29 & #30 tie-ins to King in Black so he had to rush his main Forever Gate story.
That being said, it’s still a fun story that continues to play around with a lot of the elements of found family his run has been all about so far, even if I am starting to get a little tired of Franklin's character getting yo-yo'd around.
Art is fantastic and while I have my issues with it, it’s still a worthy continuation of Slott's rather great era of the FF.
July 27, 2021
I found this run to be very enjoyable! Ben and Alicia adopting those two kids added levels for me, and all the characters were developed nicely throughout these issues. My biggest complain is the non-finish of the Black King storyline within these pages. I have NEVER liked crossover titles, not even back to Secret Wars, so here’s where we have SymbIote Ben and Johnny on one page, a note to “see how it ends” in another book, and completely reverted and apologetic characters on the next page REALLY IRRITATED ME.
‘Nuff said.
‘Nuff said.
March 5, 2022
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) issues #25-29
I haven't loved everything about Slott's run on "Fantastic Four," but this was a solid collection. Unfortunately, Slott's story had to be put on hold to make way for two issues worth of "King in Black" tie-ins, but the main Forever Gate plot creates a lot of potential for future stories. The Griever story in this collection, particularly Issue #28 was great! Plus, this collection features Slott writing the Silver Surfer character again!
I haven't loved everything about Slott's run on "Fantastic Four," but this was a solid collection. Unfortunately, Slott's story had to be put on hold to make way for two issues worth of "King in Black" tie-ins, but the main Forever Gate plot creates a lot of potential for future stories. The Griever story in this collection, particularly Issue #28 was great! Plus, this collection features Slott writing the Silver Surfer character again!
July 24, 2022
A lot of stuff happens, but does any of it really matter? Too stuffed with action and overly dense story. Slott still doesn't really seem to have a handle on the FF, even after, what, 30 issues? Whoever is doing the cover art needs to retire--Reed and Sue look idiotic in pretty much every one. I really had higher hopes for this title when Dan Slott took over, but he hasn't proven himself up to the task.
December 24, 2022
The Forever Gate is a giant idea and a giant pain for Earth. Slott has once again created something that's a big deal while not bludgeoning readers with science. Some of Slott's best work has been making Val the best character in the FF. She's still a super genius but a tween at the same time. The art by RB Silva was glorious. Overall, the book was a great example of what makes this team work.
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