Comic Artists Direct

Every once in a while a comic book series is published that reminds me why I liked comics in the first place.

Right now, with little fanfare, a great four issue series is part of the second-tier Marvel Comics line - you know, the ones that only the hard core fans buy that usually end up in the bargain bins with no interest, years down the road? Well, this is no throw-away series. Solidly written, carefully plotted and entertainingly told by Peter David (Hulk, Captain Marvel, Young Justice, Supergirl, much etc.) and deftly and clearly drawn by Duncan Fegredo (much Vertigo, Jay and Silent Bob), "Reed Richards (Before the Fantastic 4)" is a wonderful adventure. Let me tell you why I think this relatively minor Marvel comic is so much more important than most mainstream efforts and even other recent early-character comics (such as Ben Grimm and Logan, the most mentally boring roller coaster ride I've been on in years).

Comic companies coming out of the Comics Code Authority scare of the '50s were forced into being clever writing their violence. What came out of the scare? '60s DC writing that, although pretty bland, took the surprise plot twist to new highs (and lows), and '60s Stan Lee Marvel, with a writing style that forever raised the verbal excitement levels of comics. Writers needed to THINK to bring some interest across.

Cut forward 20 years. I bought my kids some Marvel comics to read to them. Every single one had the same plot: introduction of characters, good and bad, each with their goals clearly marked; meeting of characters; big fight; end of comic, with good guys winning or bad guys winning. Ugh! For years this Marvel style of writing forced me away from their books. I can see why 1980s X-Men were the high point of Marvel plotting - they actually HAD plots.

I don't mean to pick on Marvel exclusively. DC had its share of big time wrestling events, too. However, they did start Vertigo, launch several wonderful crossover events and retread many aging heroes. Kuddos to whoever decided to print all the one-shots and limited series in the late '80s. I don't know if they were financial successes, but they sure entertained me.

Which brings us up to "Reed Richards." Reed the father tells Franklin the son a story about his early years, before the FF, before his powers and before his wife. It is unashamedly "Indiana Jones." Lots of talking heads, crashing planes, clashing personalities and great buildup to adventure. No, not big time wrestling adventure, real Kirby/Lee, Uncle Scrooge, George Lucas style adventure, with exotic locals, interesting people and motivations that move things forward and, above all, make sense in the real world.

That is what I liked first about comics. Not the head crunching. Any eight year old that thinks he can crunch heads has serious problems. Not the funky costumes. Kids pay more attention to bright colors than high fashion. Remember, writers and writers-to-be everywhere - it was the adventure!

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