Fantastic Four #18: Nova Time 4

Fantastic Four #18, page 16, panel 1 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

I can't even remember if this panel fits my own arbitrary rules as to whether or not a bright blast of light is the same thing as 'going nova'. However, it's been nearly six months since I put something into this category, and as this issue of the book is proving to be such a rich mine of material, I've decided that it doesn't matter so much!

Having only recently covered Fantastic Four Annual #4 for the podcast, I'm struck by how this move, seemingly an obvious one from the Human Torch, was missing from the Torch vs Torch battle presented there. It would have been a great trick for Johnny to pull to confuse the android Human Torch, but I guess it's one both Stan and Jack had forgotten about by then.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

Fantastic Four #18: Reed's Stretchy Body 42

Fantastic Four #18, page 15, panel 7  

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

I think it's clear where the inspiration for this image comes from: Glaucomys sabrinus, the North American flying squirrel. Although the dialogue mentions Reed's body being a parachute, I much prefer him using his body to create a glider effect, as seen.

It's not an image or usage we've seen in the 50 issues since, sadly.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

Fantastic Four #18: Property Damage 20

Fantastic Four #18, page 15, panel 5 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

We've seen plenty of instances of The Thing causing lots of damage to public property, from sidewalks and streetlamps to motor vehicles and holiday homes. This, however, is the first time that we've seen him cause damage to the New York skyline.

Hurled from atop the Baxter Building by a ram-headed Super Skrull, the only thing stopping The Thing from being hurled into the Hudson river is  the spire of the Chrysler Building. I hope Reed put his knowledge and abilities to good use to help repair the spire as quickly as possible following the fight...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

 

LQOTM: Your Favourite Fantastic Four Issue (With Rules)

And… we're back! Following yesterday's episode where we finally dug through our mailbag and read our answers to the last Listener Question Of The Month, we've got another one for you! And, continuing a slightly irritating trend, there's not short, snappy version of the question. Ah well...

The Fantastic Four, as a comic, has plenty of different identifiers. It's the first Marvel superhero comic as we know them today. It's a book about explorers. It's a book out discovery. It's a book about crazy, way-out-there concepts. It's a book about family. And I'm sure there are many more interpretations.

What we're looking for is your favourite issue that sums up the Fantastic Four as you see them. And I mean issue, not story arc. It could be because there's a moment or scene that encapsulates your view of the team. It could be that the entire issue sees the writer and artist completely on your wavelength with your view of the Fantastic Four.

Send your nominations to fantastic4podcast@gmail.com, or leave in the comments below.

Fantastic Four #18: Reed's Stretchy Body 42

Fantastic Four #18, page 13, panel 3 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Yesterday I talked about the sheer fun of Kirby's artwork in this issue, and this panel really proves it. Able to let Reed cut loose with his powers, we get this wonderful visual of Reed's fist, moulded into a giant comedy mallet.

Harley Quinn would be proud!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

 

Fantastic Four #18: Reed's Stretchy Body 41

Fantastic Four #18, page 12, panels 6-8Fantastic Four #18, page 13, panel 1

Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Yet more great examples of Jack Kirby's visual imagination when he gets the chance to cut loose with Reed's stretchy powers. The idea that the Super Skrull is pushing Reed to the absolute limits is conveyed brilliants across these four panels. First, in the sheers size of Reed's body in the third panel - he's got to be about 6 stories tall at this point. The motion lines around him really help convey the pressure and stress his body is dealing with.

But it's the delightful chaos of the final panel that nails all of the above. A cross between a snapped elastic band and a rapidly deflating balloon, Reed has rarely looked so outclassed and helpless.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

 

 

Fantastic Four #18: Property Damage 19

Fantastic Four #18, page 12, panel 1 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

A nice, simple panel today. Ben needs to escape from the crowds in the department store who seem obsessed with ripping off bits of his clothing, and join his team outside to take down the Super Skrull. So, with a tap of his fist, he flattens an escalator and speeds off down it.

As a regular user of the London Underground system, I am reminded at numerous stations of just how long it takes to replace an escalator. I'm sure this department store will be thrilled at the prospect of multiple months of building work to repair the damage done by Ben...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

Fantastic Four #18: Reed's Stretchy Body 40

Fantastic Four #18, page 11, panel 4 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

The fight is on, and Johnny's not doing well. The Super Skrull manages to daze the Human Torch, causing him to flame off and plummet from the sky. Thankfully, Reed's on hand to catch him, spreading his body between skyscrapers and letting his elasticity break Johnny's fall.

It's a really lovely panel. For me, the fun comes from Johnny's out-stretched limbs poking through Reed's body as he gets caught.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

Fantastic Four #18: Flame On 46.5

Fantastic Four #18, page 10, panel 4 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

After ten pages, Stan and Jack serve up what we've been waiting for - the Fantastic Four vs the Super Skrull. We start off with a Torch vs Skrull fight. Unlike in Fantastic Four Annual #4, which features two Human Torches, very little effort is made to distinguish the two combatants. Other than some work on the head of the Super Skrull's flame form, there is no point of differentiation for the reader. It's mildly unsatisfying, although considering that the Super Skrull is a shapeshift, perhaps unsurprising as well.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

 

 

Fantastic Four #18: Reed's Stretchy Body 39

Fantastic Four #18, page 8, panel 3 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Today's panel is an old classic.The team are still struggling to escape the manic crowd, so Reed decides to take a bit of short cut, using his legs are springs to bounce over the heads of the crowd. There's not a huge amount to say about this panel. It's great fun, very energetic, and the shocked expressions and body language on the civilians really adds to the panel.

And just how high is the ceiling in this department store?

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

Fantastic Four #18: Flame On 46

Fantastic Four #18, page 8, panel 1 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

All this talk about bringing in water cannons to the UK to quell any rioting seems like our politicians are missing the point - simply get a teenager to burst into flames! As shown here, it's a fairly effective method of crowd dispersal. Well, more like it turns a single-minded crowd into a mass of panicky individuals. But still, they're likely to have forgotten about up mobile phone shops in their terror...

It's also a rare instance of Flame On being rendered as a sound effect, devoid of speech bubble. A part of me like to think that Johnny made the letters appear in flame above his head... and then I remember that I rather dislike that sort of thing, and go take a cold shower to calm down.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

Fantastic Four #18: Flame On 45.5

Fantastic Four #18, page 5, panel 6 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Today's not-quite-a-Flame On comes from the first appearance of the Super Skrull. He gets a half point for this, because if I was to run around trying to get everyone in the Marvel Universe who used the words 'flame' and 'on' consecutively in a statement, I think I'd lose my mind...

Fun fact: Anticipating many appearances from the Super Skrull, I made an 'evil' version of the Flame On clip that Micheal Leyland generously gave us. I've only used it once...

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

Fantastic Four #18: Reed's Stretchy Body 38

Fantastic Four #18, page 7, panel 3 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Away from the dastardly plotting on the Skrull planet, the Fantastic Four are going shopping. But because this is decades before the media-savvy 2000s, they completely fail to do anything to conceal their presence in the store. So, it's no surprise that a riot breaks out when the shoppers discover bona fide celebrities in their midst.

Thankfully, being super-heroes, they can easily escape, with Reed using his body to create a sort of retractable escape pole. Except that's not what it is at all, but it's fairly hard to describe. What I do like is that it's Reed retracting his body, dragging Johnny and Sue out from the mob. Even if I'm clearly struggling to analogise it!

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]

 

Fantastic Four #18: It's A Marvel Comic 13

Fantastic Four #18, page 1, panel 1 Written by: Stan Lee

Drawn by: Jack Kirby

Inking: Dick Ayers

Lettering: Art Simek

Whilst we're some way away from multi-issue continuing narratives and subplots that would take months to resolve, steps are being taken to provide a sense of continuity from issue to issue. This first panel from Fantastic Four #18 does so, reminding readers of the battle with Doctor Doom, providing those who might have missed it with a subtle hint to seek out the previous issue.

Meanwhile, Ben's referencing the publishing of the Fantastic Four's adventures in the Marvel Universe. But how quickly can a comics company create and print comics in the Marvel Universe? The news report seems to suggest that the battle with Doom has only been over for a matter of hours, and Ben's already complaining that people are not buying the comics. Jack had a well-deserved reputation for being a workhorse, but even he would have balked at the thought of plotting and pencilling a 22-page book in a matter of hours.

Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind

[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]