My Rating
The Baxter Initiative
Five months prior, Baxter Building – New York City, high above a current battle zone the Reed and Grimm children watch from the safety of the 48th floor. Outside on the streets Ben, Reed, and Sue are busy repulsing an invading army from the infamous Negative Zone. The action is heavy as a plethora of insectoid and armored beasts attack in waves with no end. Ben Grimm, a.k.a. the Thing, begins to question a possible victory over such numbers.
High above, Johnny Storm is coming to the same conclusion. He swoops down to street level while burning up winged monstrosities. The Human Torch lands several feet behind his team and begins to trade quips with Ben. Reed has come to the realization drastic measures must be taken in order to stop the invasion. The others take up defensive positions in front of Four Freedom Plaza as Reed uses his incredible stretching abilities to reach his lab high above the melee.
Current Date/Time, somewhere in Kentucky – Reed, Susan, and Johnny stand on an interstate overpass, a huge dome of orange rocky material has grown in a bubble right in the middle of the road. Johnny asks if the structure is another mutation of Ben Grimm (See Fantastic Four back issues for details). Reed Richards rejects the hypothesis as this form would probably kill Ben and Alicia. After performing some basic scans it is determined the two Grimm’s are stuck inside the shell in some sort of symbiosis.
What alien force has taken control of Ben and Alicia Grimm? Where did Reed send the Baxter Building during the battle five months ago? Will the Fantastic Four and the citizens of New York be able to cope without their loved ones? Collect the series to find out!
Reviewer Notes
Ryan North finally gives the details on the Baxter Building explosion, and its…I don’t get it. I mean I get why he did it, I don’t get how it eliminates the bad guys in the future. Won’t the Negative Zone problem just return in one year’s time? Hopefully Ryan works his magic and retro-splain.
Overall the issue is solid on art and storyline. Ryan North always gets paired with really good artists (in this case Iban Coello, Jesus Aburtov, Joe Caramagna, Alex Ross). My favorite moments in the issue was the banter between Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm. They still have really good zingers after all these years. I’m giving this issue 4 out of 5 stars.
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