It was 2014, Marvel was releasing it’s All-New Marvel NOW! brand, one of the least notable was James Robinson‘s Fantastic Four. Marvel’s first family was going through some difficulties so Robinson attempts to depict this struggle. Unfortunately, someone didn’t tell anyone else about Jonathan Hickman’s plan for Secret Wars. As a result, the series drags its feet after a fairly decent start. Let’s see how this all begins and how it blew up.
James Robinson’s Fantastic Background
The Marvel NOW! brand and all of its waves have series getting a relaunch. The Fantastic Four after finishing its run with Hickman go through two different writers. Matt Fraction comes in to make the family go on vacation. Objectively speaking, it was more like a companion piece to his FF run. Yes, it’s confusing when you look at just the words. The reason why is because Marvel was in the phase of putting the Fantastic Four on hiatus. Why, they’re best sellers right? It’s because Marvel’s parent company Disney didn’t have the rights to the IP, Fox did. In this case, it’s not about the quality, it’s about the money people do or don’t make. So to let the Fantastic Four go out with a bang, James Robinson becomes writer for a new run.
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James Robinson’s Fantastic Premise
The run starts pretty good with Robinson and his team giving a tribute to Fraction’s FF team. But then there comes real conflict. The Fantastic Four get caught in a nationwide lawsuit for a number of slip-ups. From how their powers hinder people to questionable neglect of safeties. The accusations are so severe that the kids under their care are put in SHIELD custody. The Thing is even charged with murder during the Original Sin event. All of this sounds worse than it needs to be because it is.
Jonathan Hickman was planning Secret Wars for a long time. It’s finale even gives Marvel the perfect excuse to put the Fantastic Four on hiatus. Unfortunately for Robinson, that means pulling the pants down where everyone can see. Unable to stop, Robinson has to backpedal constantly to get to the point for Secret Wars.
Backpedaling, Exaggerating, and Bad Retconning
Most issues are generally Marvel’s first family feeling sorry for themselves. After the trial that puts the Fantastic Four in a predicament, things get noticeably worse. The Invisible Woman is becoming violent at the slightest provocation like a Mama Bear, the Human Torch feels useless, and The Thing is between himself and an even harder place. As for Mr. Fantastic, he feels guilty and joins a place to do some good for all of his perceived misdeeds. In reality, they never had to feel guilty at all.
Everything that’s happened to the Fantastic Four turn out to be because of a villain no one bothers to remember. In all honesty, that’s kind of his M.O. The Quiet Man is practically everything that is holding the Fantastic Four license down. He’s a brilliant, faceless bureaucrat who boasts all the great things he can do. Not least of which was manipulating every attack on the Fantastic Four since its inception. Now however he decides to put these explorer/heroes in so much red tape there’s nothing they can do.
So what’s this guy’s motivation? Something stupid; he liked pre-Invisible Woman but she went to pre-Mr. Fantastic first. After that he decided to trump Mr. Fantastic in any way possible. Yeah, he’s a poor man’s Namor and Dr. Doom, but he takes credit for other people’s work.
This Isn’t James Robinson’s Fantastic Screw-Up
Quiet Man’s creator James Robinson however does take credit even for his failings. The guy’s a decent writer who did some fairly decent runs including some of JSA and Earth 2. But his time in DC got him down causing him to question his creative skills. Air Boy literally illustrates this. By the time he moved to Marvel, he tries very hard but editorial mandate got in the way. To a degree, it’s also what serves as a background element in James Robinson’s Fantastic Four.
Both characters and creator are ready to begin a new chapter in their lives, but some legal trouble pops up. Everything Robinson wanted to avoid came back to bite him. From event tie-ins to another series (All-New Invaders) that just doesn’t work out. Robinson was caught in a difficult position that could’ve been avoided had someone opened up. Instead Robinson got the short end of the stick because no staff acknowledged him. Instead of the bang the First Family were hoping for, they jump ship.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.