A Death in the Richards Family

Marvel ices flagship hero in Fantastic Four #587

- by Bob McLain, January 25, 2011

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What's a comic book review doing on Disney Dispatch?

Well, Disney does own Marvel, and I've loved Marvel comics since they cost 20 cents each on the spinner rack at the local newsstand.

But I'm guessing my core audience here isn't much into comic books.

Today, however, you'll be hearing quite a bit about comic books, especially Fantastic Four #587. That's the issue in which a member of the team dies - necessitating a change in title to Fantastic Three.

This story has gotten so big that Marvel allowed retailers to sell the issue today ahead of its scheduled release tomorrow.

Many comic book sites put up polls for readers to vote on whose cape they thought would curl. A clear favorite emerged. But maybe Marvel had anticipated the clear favorite and planned to throw a curve ball? A couple of my buddies thought so. I bet them otherwise.

And I won. Twenty bucks each. Thank you, Human Torch.

Why take this so lightly? First, it's the Human Torch, and second, characters die in comics all the time. Then they're brought back to life after an appropriate period of 'mourning'. Remember Superman's death? Captain America's death? Mainstream news! Then DC and Marvel, respectively, brought those characters back to life. Not a peep about that.

So is anyone mourning Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, now known as Snuffy? I hope not. Give it a few months, maybe a year. He'll be back.

What about the comic book itself? If you peel away the impact of the Torch's death, you have a fairly typical issue of the Fantastic Four, Marvel's very first super-hero group and arguably the company's flagship title (among purists, anyway). The Four have gotten creaky of late, and killing Johnny Storm is Marvel's way of putting more gas in the tank.

How'd the Torch die? Insects. Pointless and plain.

Marvel always milks these murders. Expect a funeral issue, a remembrance issue, a flashback issue. By the time the team slugs it out with their next big villain, your grief will be gone. And won't you feel silly when Marvel contrives to spark the Torch back to life.

In the best Marvel tradition, here's a shameless plug: stay tuned, true believers, because in just a few short days the blockbuster new column 'Have a Comical Day' will debut right here on the ever-lovin' Disney Dispatch with Boisterous Bob's far-out takes on vintage Disney comics. Excelsior!

Don't stop there! More Tidings Await...