Mark Waid and Neil Adams’ epic Fantastic Four: Antithesis is out this week in trade paperback featuring their four-issue series, plus X-Men #65 and Fantastic Four #60. If you’re not a fan of the extra-sized Treasury Edition, you’re in luck, as this is a regular-sized trade paperback. Seeing as it has been over a year and a half since the Treasury Edition, fans snatch up this much more bookshelf-friendly edition, but is it good?
If you’re a fan of Neal Adams, this book is a must-purchase. His style is in-your-face, loud, and maximizes the space of every super-large page. Fantastic Four: Antithesis marks the first time Mark Waid and Neal Adams worked together, and both bring a nostalgic vibe to this story. This book is a reminder of how comic books are a unique form of entertainment because of how over-the-top and melodramatic they can be. The Fantastic Four is one of the weirdest groups of heroes, thanks to their powers, and Adams expertly draws them into the opening action scene of this book to convey that. Even The Thing, who is weird in his way, is depicted even weirder thanks to his big open mouth and huge teeth throughout the book.
Mr. Fantastic has to be the weirdest hero in existence.
Credit: Marvel Comics
As far as the plot of Fantastic Four: Antithesis, Waid sets up a fun action scene at the start with Annhilus to help remind us of the team’s powers and relationship, throws in some family stuff, and then kicks off the big conflict displayed on the cover. It pretty much has everything you’d want out of a Fantastic Four book, showing off their powers, having them detect and fight a problem scientifically, and reminding us of the quirks of their dynamics between one another. it also ties in with Galactus in a very big way and does a few things we’ve never seen before. It also manages to remind us this is a team that deals with threats in a different way. When an asteroid, or some kind of missile, is launched at the city, Mr. Fantastic has a plan. But it’ll take all four of the members to pull off the technological feat.
If you’re a fan of Golden Age, you’re going to love this main story, but newer readers might find the near-constant open-mouthed screaming and melodrama a bit much. Lean into the classic vibes, and you’ll be right as rain.
Fantastic Four #60 is a great addition to the collection.
Credit: Marvel Comics
X-Men #65 and Fantastic Four #60 are great additions, and it’s cool to see older stories collected in this format. X-Men is by Neal Adams and Dennis O’Neil, initially published in 1970. It utilizes a slew of X-Men like Cyclops, Havok, and Polaris and involves an extraterrestrial threat. It’s fun to compare Adams’ style and how it changed over 40 some odd years. The second story is by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo and was initially published in 2002. The team attempts to increase its popularity with a general audience via a public relations agent. It’s a great look at the amazing things the team does within a week, which leads to the idea of launching a comic book called “F! F!” and the realization that they aren’t heroes but adventurers. It also comes with a touching ending about Reed Richards wanting the best for his family.
I have to say this story is even better in the Treasury Edition format, but if the larger size doesn’t do it for you, there’s plenty here to enjoy from a nostalgic point of view. From its loud main story to two fantastic classics from both Mark Waid and Neal Adams, this collection is a love letter to the Fantastic Four and the creators behind it.
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