Doctor Doom reveals his bride despite the Johnny Storm sized roadblock to the altar in Fantastic Four #32. Written by Dan Slott, drawn by R.B. Silva & Javier Rodriguez, colored by Jesus Aburtov, and lettered by Joe Caramagna.
The Slott Era of FF once again finds some charm in going small as we kick off “The Bride of Doom”. After the Griever based bombast of the previous arc, we settle down in #32. One half of the FF and their significant others take in a night of Latverian culture at the New York Museum of Natural History; a one night only exhibit overseen by Victorious.
Naturally, hijinks ensue, literally throwing Johnny Storm and Victorious into each other’s orbits as they fight for some of Victor’s most prized pots and plates.
As a Fantastic Four set-up, I actually love this a lot. It’s a bit broadly sketched, sure, but Slott has found a genuinely charming warmth with Ben and Alicia, so it’s nice to see them getting more stage time in the grand scheme of the title. I also quite responded to the domesticity of this whole affair. After the goop-based hijinks of the King in Black tie-in and the “epic epicness” of the Forever Gate wrap up, it’s nice to see Slott actually taking a beat and providing a nicely grounded start to this new arc.
But it is Fantastic Four #32’s focus on Johnny that makes me a bit worried. Avoiding some major spoilers (that may actually be breaking wider as this makes press), Victor does choose his bride in this issue. And Johnny is…in the room, let’s say, once the proclamation is made. I leave you to draw your own conclusions, but knowing Johnny as we know him, it’s not that far of a walk.
It is interesting to say the least. Slott even manages to deliver a genuinely fun foreshadowing of the event in the opening pages (provided via an unlikely connection to another famous ex of Johnny’s). It also opens the possibility of a compelling new political role for Johnny. With his now being somewhat entrusted with a Latverian “state secret” as Doom is off planet now. Could he now use this knowledge to his advantage somehow? Could this also maybe set up a new interpersonal dynamic with Victorious? We know Johnny has the worst luck with women, but a new star-crossed relationship could finally be the spark this era of FF needs.
But the more I think about all these interesting avenues, the more I think about how much it would cost the established characterization of Johnny! Not to mention poor Sky, a new addition to the title that has really started to grow on me in the recent issues. We’ve been told since Sky’s introduction and through her and Johnny’s subsequent scenes together that they’ve both been maturing. So now why again do we start another arc with Johnny making terrible decisions just to make them? Or, I guess I should say, just for the sake of narrative tension and cliffhangers. It’s frustrating, but at this point, I am pretty well used to being frustrated with Fantastic Four.
Though I’m happy to say that Fantastic Four #32 is not a wholly frustrating experience. Both the visuals and the issue’s backup story at least keep things popping well off the page. Silva and Aburtov’s more expression-focused opening sets the stage well for the issue’s later fireworks, which the pair continue to just absolutely excel at, even within a relatively localized space like the Museum of Natural History.
The back-up story, cheekily named “Duel Intentions”, also sends the reader out on a bombastic note, one that could actually stand to carry over into the main title, should Slott ever find the inclination to do so. Doom requires a best man, so he offers it to Reed Richards. Granted, of course, tat he best him in an ancient Latverian tradition involving rapiers and chess without the board. It’s bitchy and highly dramatic and precisely the kind of stuff I want to see from a Fantastic Four title. The plushly rendered Rodriguez Doom/Reed art doesn’t hurt either.
The whole idea of “The Bride of Doom” has me pretty worried, and Fantastic Four #32 didn’t make me any less so. But at least I am interested in it now. Though that interest might eventually come at the expense of some hard-won character growth from Johnny Storm, Fantastic Four #32 shows that the potential for good might be there.
Provided that Dan Slott and Johnny Storm don’t ruin it along the way.
Zachary Jenkins runs ComicsXF and is a co-host on the podcast “Battle of the Atom.” Shocking everyone, he has a full and vibrant life outside of all this.
