I promise... I've given up games of murder

[stubbleupdate]

Fantastic Four #580 was like a little done in one that contains an entire story, the continuiation of another story, the beginning of another huge arc and a continuation of the Nu Earth stuff, which is just confusing to me.
CBR's buy pile puts it in the "meh" pile, but my thoughts on that chuckle-butty are well known.
IGN's review gives it an 8.5 (great) and says that Although it's been clear with each passing issue that Jonathan Hickman is hell bent on repositioning Fantastic Four as the boldest, most exciting and imaginative superhero comic on the stands, Fantastic Four #580 proves once again that the writer has not left the fun part out of the equation. This is one immensely amusing comic, one that utilizes the episodic format Hickman has utilized many times throughout his run on this title while also pushing his greater epic forward in important, and in this case profoundly powerful, directions.
CBR's actual review gives the issue 4 stars out of 5 and says Johnny Storm. Franklin Richards. Leech. Arcade. The Impossible Man. And last but not least, a toy store. If you're thinking, "This has the potential for greatness," then you're right. Jonathan Hickman is nearing the end of his first year on "Fantastic Four" and in many ways, I think this issue sums up everything that's worked so far...If you aren't reading "Fantastic Four" these days, now's a great time to check it out and see just what you've been missing.


Because Reed is working with the Future Foundation on... an important project, he can't take franklin out to the toy shop. So, Uncle Johnny steps in.



They go to the toy shop and find lots of fabulous merchandise and...

Arcade (baddie) and Impossible Man (misguided goodie, who debuted as a villain for the issue).


But don't worry though. He's totally done with death traps.


Tag it with creator: Jonathan Hickman, title: Fantastic Four, character: human torch/johnny storm, character: arcade,*

Comments

[auggie18]

I wasn't the only one who thought "Let's not fight, let's get along, for our hypnotic profiteer" when Impossible Man said his first line, right?

[deliandra]

"The Music Meister, is the man that the world shall obey" *humms

[kamino_neko]

Arcade looks 12....

[cmdr_zoom]

Usually does.

[bensanaz]

I kind of hope Arcade really has gone straight. I always like it when a villain figures out there's more money in the perfectly legal kinds of evil than in bank robbery.

[akodo_rokku]

*spoiler*

There's totally a deathtrap. He just can't resist.

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

Arcade was never into robbery. He was into murder for the fun. He is one of the only hired killers I can think of who operates at a loss.

[bensanaz]

Fair enough, it's been a while since I read anything with Arcade in it.

[jlroberson]

That's true--the money was never the point with him before, so why should it be now?

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, that last panel aside, I think it's pretty much assured that no, Arcade HASN'T gone straight. He has more fun being a villain than the rest of the MU baddies combined - it would be completely out of character for him to go straight.

[falseaesop]

Maybe he saw Seto Kaiba's Death-T themepark and knew he just couldn't compete.

[foxhack]

Oh GOD I hate this art. >_

[jlroberson]

It's competent but kind of generic as well. The FF need something a bit flashier than this. At least more energetic.

[foxhack]

It's a poor attempt to copy Bryan Hitch's style, and I already dislike his work a lot anyway.

[jlroberson]

I can see that in the faces, to the degree that they seem blander than they should. All those calm eyes.

[daningram.insanejournal.com]

...really?

Can we do the 'reformed killer bit' with villains who aren't serial killers?

I mean, Arcade is a hired killer. He started out by killing his father, continued because it was fun and though he never killed a hero, it wasn't for lack of trying and he's likely killed dozens of civilians.

He's a sociopath, plain and simple. Torch should be locking his ass up!

[crinos]

Well the problem is that Impossible Man is there, backing up Arcade.

Johnny doesn't really have the firepower to take on Impy solo.

[icon_uk]

It doesn't really explain how Impy got involved with someone like Arcade in the first place.

[cainofdreaming]

Okay, so you're totally reformed. Now about these outstanding warrants from at least a dozen countries for your arrest...

[psychopathicus_rex]

Ah, he probably bought 'em off. He's rich, you know.

[goggle_kid]

I always liked Arcade simply because he struck me as a Batman villain trapped in the Marvel Universe.

Interesting he tries to reform so soon after the Riddler falls off the wagon.

[hatman]

Funny, because I was just thinking how much this reminded me of the Batman:TAS ep where the Riddler seemingly goes straight, comes out with his own branded line of toys, starts to become rich and famous, but is brought down because he can't resist playing criminal riddle games with Batman on the side.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Wait - the Riddler actually HAS gotten back into villainy? I thought he was still just making threatening noises in that direction.
Here's an idea for the next Marvel/DC crossover - Arcade teams up with Joker. Would that be awesome, or what?

[kat8cha.livejournal.com]

As much fun as it would be if Arcade DID go straight...

I mean, C'MON. He has some of the BEST DEATH TRAPS. Who wouldn't want to fight those?

Course, he could go into business building 'training death traps' for superheroes who are uber serious about that type of thing.

[crabby_lioness]

MOST AWESOME COMIC OF THE MONTH!

And let's not forget the fabulous ending, where the whiz kids succeed where Reed's failed for 50 years.

[stubbleupdate]

I am really, really enjoying what Hickman is doing with the book. I might even write in to it.

[icon_uk]

I wanted to like it, there are some great moments, but lots of it just... didn't.

"No Franklin, something important has come up which means I can't do what I promised you I'd do." Sorry, but it's a scheduled class, either you knew it was happening or you didn't.

The art doesn't help when Arcade finally triggers the first part of his plan, it took me something like five minutes to work out what the "thing" was because the page is so poorly laid out.

[crabby_lioness]

Sorry, but it's a scheduled class, either you knew it was happening or you didn't.

I'm not sure it was that simple. It could easily have run way over, as it looked like what the kids did was assemble all of Reed's old data and look at it in a new light. Essentially they relabeled Reed's "flaws" as "features" and worked from there. Sessions like that tend to run long.

[espanolbot]

Jimmy Olsen's up to his old tricks I see.

[timgueugen]

I wonder if anyone ever considered doing an Impossible Man project wtih Robin Williams as the Man. Nowadays he probably couldn't pull it off, or people would just think he was ripping off his own Genie from Aladin.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Actually, I think he might be better as Arcade. He's proved that he can do villains well on occasion, and I can picture him giving Arcade that edge of demonic relish that would make him work.

[icon_uk]

I can just hear Robin Williams delivering my favourite Arcade line (Thank you Alan Moore)

"Mr Arcade, we have the Vixen* on the phone for you"

"I'm watching Bilko... NO ONE interrupts me when I'm watching BILKO!"

* - Vixen as in the English crime boss, not the JLA member.

[psychopathicus_rex]

I am well-acquainted with that story, and yes, Robin Williams would rock with that line. Although the problem is, he would probably never get to say it, as it's just one small part of a very complex storyline of its own that doesn't really include Arcade, per se - if it were ever filmed (and it would be AWESOME if it were) it would have to focus more on Jaspers and the Vixen and the Fury.

[selke]

Aw, I missed Leech.

[recognitions.livejournal.com]

Always good to see him anywhere that isn't under Gambit and Rogue's bed.