Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 1

Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 1 by John Byrne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne, Vol. 1 collects issues 232-240 of the Fantastic Four. John Byrne writes and draws every issue.

In this volume, The Fantastic Four battle Diablo, Ego the Living PLanet, Doctor Doom, Spinnerette(?), and some demons. Torch clears a dead man's name to protect his mother. Frankie Raye's origin is revealed, the Thing's Aunt Petunia shows up, and the Inhumans relocate to the mysterious blue area of the moon.

Byrne's run begins here. For me, the best parts were Ego the Living Planet and Terror in a Tiny Town, when the Fantastic Four live in a tiny world created by the Puppet Master and Doctor Doom. Byrne's art was a big deal back in the day, and it should have been since it's like Kirby meets Neal Adams. The writing feels like a more mature version of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's epic run on the Fantastic Four.

While these aren't the best Fantastic Four stories I've read by any means, Byrne is just getting his feet wet and big things are on the horizon. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

View all my reviews