Comic Books

The Terrifics #2 Review

The Terrifics is a great Fantastic Four pastiche written by Lemire and art by Reis.

March 28, 2018

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The Terrifics #2 is a really fun issue that continues to set up the connection between the four members of the team. Yes, the series definitely has a Fantastic Four vibe, right down to the reason that the team is together. As always, the art by Ivan Reis is fantastic and fits the book, although it’s more of an event style, to really show off the grandiose scale of the areas in the Dark Multiverse.

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So what’s it about?

The official summary reads:

“MEET THE TERRIFICS” part two! Tom Strong has disappeared, and the Terrifics have found his emergency beacon! But to save anyone else, Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Phantom Girl and Plastic Man must first save themselves from the Dark Multiverse they’re trapped within–not to mention the gigantic alien monster they’ve been standing on this whole time!

“Who the hell is Tom Strong?” -So many people, because DC havent reprinted his stories.

Tell me about it!

Two words are making this book way better than it already is. The idea of a Fantastic Four style team that has Plastic Man, Mr Terrific and Metamorpho with another girl that fits the Fantastic Four team dynamic is just one of the things in my life that I never knew I wanted. However those are not the two words that make me love this so much more. The two words are “Tom Strong” and it is brilliant.

Lemire also uses this issue to give a great team dynamic between the characters. He sets up the banter between Plastic Man and Metamorpho as well as the curiosity and budding friendship throughout the group as a whole. Plastic Man feels exactly as he should with him joking a lot while Metamorpho being more serious and annoyed by him is great.

But I hear you ask me, “who or what is Tom Strong?”

Well buckle up because I’ll give you the official description first.

Tom Strong is a comic book created by writer Alan Moore and artist Chris Sprouse, initially published bi-monthly by America’s Best Comics, an imprint of DC Comics’ Wildstorm division.

Tom Strong is Alan Moore’s attempt to create a comic book that would appeal to children while also having the ability to appeal more to adults. It’s a perfect homage to the many different ages of comic books, from the Golden Age to the 90s. With brilliant art by Chris Sprouse, Tom Strong within one issue has propelled The Terrifics into my personal top five favorite comic books ever.

The Terrifics (left) and Tom Strong and his family (right).

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So what’s so great about it?

The creative team of Moore and Sprouse builds Tom Strong with the feeling like he’s a character that’s been around as long as Superman or Batman despite being eighteen years old as of this writing. The first issue perfectly sets up Tom as a character with a rich history. It’s set as a comic book that a character is reading within the story about Tom and his origin and gives the perception that you’re reading about a character with rich history.

The fact that Tom Strong is being a large part of this book — or atleast the first few arcs — makes me so happy as he’s such a great character in a book that made me unbelievably happy due to how it’s made. My only regret is that Chris Sprouse isn’t involved art wise for Tom.