Including Fantastic Four #8 we are up to 4 out of 8 issues that the Fantastic Four are described as being Prisoner’s.  if anything I am seeing this as a theme for what the early Fantastic Four stories where about, them being captured, in part or as a whole and finding their way free.

This issue of Fantastic Four, is one of the best I reviewed so far. It had development and depth that the story has needed.  Also it introduces a classic Super Villain, the Puppet Master, as well as Alicia Masters.

Story

The basic outline of the story is a Villain whom has a special clay that lets him make puppet’s that allow him to control the person there based off of.  it starts off with him performing tests, but having the goal of becoming the ruler of the world, using his puppets to make the world his slaves.

The story is about much more than the Puppet master though, as he is but a small peace in the true heart of this story, it is much more about the development of our characters than him.  But the basic conflict with our antagonist, the trouble he causes between the Fantastic Four, make a great backdrop; and help lead us to the development’s we seek. Just look below under characters & Development

Art

I will begin with the Puppet Master whom makes and manipulates puppets to control people, but his character design leaves him looking a bit like a puppet himself.  I could see strings attached to him at  a show. This is great character design,  the surreal look to him to match what he uses for his power.

Other artistic aspects of the comic where well done as well,  the faces of each of the Fantastic Four exist a level of emotion in the peace that helps us understand them better.

The thing like normal seems the easiest to read, as he also expresses the greatest swings in emotion.  Mr. Fantastic showing contemplated thought and reserve at all times, while sue showing concern quite well.

the backgrounds head enough detail in then when it was really needed. while I do love detail, and there can never be too much, I did not feel that the background detail was lacking.

Originality & Continuity

while at its heart the story is a mind control story, I do feel it is original in the way it presents it to us, it ma be a twist on a Voodoo doll type concept, with a more scientific basis for how it works.

Other then the lack of anything gained from the alien spacecraft of last issue, I do feel it fits in well with the ongoing continuity of the Fantastic Four.   however I see no great sign’s on how it also joins in well with The Human Torches adventures in Strange Tales.

Characters & Development

This is the greatest heart of this story, it had wonderful Character development. More of the story I feel is devoted to the character development then in most issues even. It starts off with The Thing, being angry that they won’t let him in the lab, he feels the other members don’t like him, don’t trust him, and only want anything to do with him when they need him.

As a result he storms off, and sue follows to keep tabs on him.  This is what leads us into the main plot of the story,   but as it turns out Dr. Reed Richards AKA Mr. Fantastic was working on a formula to restore The Thing to his natural self as Ben Grimm.

Also though the story, the thing meets Alicia Masters, the blind stepdaughter of the Puppet master, she takes a liking to the thing right away in the story, seeing in him without her eyes, what others don’t see.

this is an important development for the ongoing story, as well as a deep thought provoking concept, that whats important in a person can sometimes be hidden by what we can see with our eyes.