Comic Review: Fantastic Four #568 (Marvel Comics) by Adam P.

Would you sacrifice a life to save a world?

Warning off the bat for Bryan Hitch aficionados: probably due to release of Captain America: Rebirth, Hitch's work here on Fantastic Four #568 was assisted by Neil Edwards and in many places lacks detail and seems rushed. It's certainly does not sustain the same level of artistic quality as we had in issue #567 last month.




Mastermind plotter Mark Millar and scripter Joe Ahearne (who is currently writing the spin-off Fantastic Force limited series) continue to craft the Masters of Doom tale which hearkens back to the Lee/Kirby glory days of the title. The Marquis of Death, who taught Doctor Doom everything he knew, is a truly terrifying and seemingly unstoppable villain from the mold of Galactus and Annihilus. That sort of challenge brings out the best in the Fantastic Four: Mr. Fantastic's hope in the triumph of good, the Invisible Woman's steely grace under pressure, the Human Torch's love of family, Ben Grimm's unbelievable confidence and courage.

The Marquis of Death has apparently spent billions of years destroying millions of worlds across the cosmos, and has destroyed the Fantastic Four countless times in alternate realities. He's now come for our world and looks like the FF are the only ones with a chance to stop him. This is the sort of story that goes so well with this team: reality as we know it hinges on their actions and decisions on our behalf.

The Marquis of Death brings Reed Richards to key events in his past, and asks him to authorize the death of certain people in exchange for the Marquis not destroying Reed’s Earth. It's always fascinating to be faced with these sort of "what if?" scenarios, that beg even deeper questions about destiny, human freedom, death, and the meaning of life.

The book ends in a tantalizingly confusing sequence, which readers will see resolved in the double-sized finale to Millar and Hitch's run on the title next month.

8.5/10
Adam P.
Review Co-Editor