As has been the case with every decade, the Fantastic Four went through a new makeover and a new comic book run. Apart from the usual series, this decade also marked the introduction of the team within the Ultimate Universe. The team's leader Reed Richards AKA Mister Fantastic took centerstage while questioning his choices as a scientist and a superhero.
Other issues also succeeded at providing a more humanized look at its villains, particularly the Four's arch-nemesis Doctor Doom. While he engages in some truly evil acts, he's also depicted as an empathetic leader to his people. Another central theme in this period was Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman's troubled marriage, as was evident in not only Fantastic Four comics but even crossovers like Civil War.
1234 (Limited Series)
Legendary writer Grant Morrison has helmed both Marvel and DC Comics, with one of his classics being 1234, a limited series that covers the tumultuous changes in the career of Fantastic Four. While Susan and Reed's marriage is on the verge of ending, Ben tries on Doctor Doom's gauntlets as the villain reveals some secrets behind his appearance. As Doom grants Ben the ability to get back to his human form, a series of chaotic events unfurl.
Ben's identity plays a major role in this introspective storyline. Even in the human form that he desires, he's unable to find inner peace. As for Susan, a romantic detour with Namor makes her rethink her marriage. Johnny also struggles with his immaturity while Reed comes to realize that Doom represents an alternate side of his personality. Of course, 1234 also has its fair share of action sequences, particularly the Thing's duels with the Doombots.
Unthinkable (Fantastic Four Vol 2 #67-70, Vol 2 #500)
Doctor Doom has consistently been one of the most powerful Fantastic Four villains. But his evil nature went reached new heights in Unthinkable. True to its name, the story finds Doom engaging in unthinkable actions to achieve magical powers. He uses the flesh of his former lover as a necromantic armor, kidnaps Reed and Susan's daughter Valeria, and eventually kills one of the team's .
Central to the storyline is the perpetual conflict between Reed Richard's science and Doctor Doom's magic. As both characters test each other's limits, readers get to experience a dark and philosophical comic.
Hereafter (Fantastic Four Vol 1 #509-511)
As Reed Richards grieves the death of a close friend, he is willing to forego his scientific principles. Instead, he is willing to go to the gates of Heaven to get his friend back.
The otherwise-rational Mister Fantastic turns into a desperate believer, exploring the concepts of love, death, and the afterlife. The change in tone makes Hereafter a must-read. The cherry on the top is, of course, the depiction of Heaven's Creator. The godlike figure is shown to resemble the late Jack Kirby, the maestro of Marvel Comics who created the Fantastic Four.
Crossover (Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol 1 #21-23)
Reed Richards figures out a time-traveling mechanism in Crossover. The publicity that follows and the desire to know more about alternate universes intrigues the scientist to self-destructive levels.
The comic is a great example to show how Reed's leadership might not always be the best option for Fantastic Four. Despite Susan's warnings, he continues interacting with his parallel versions. However, knowing more about the future only puts him and his loved ones in danger.
Civil War (Limited Series)
Civil War is a Marvel comic that makes for essential reading. The crossover event features Captain America and Iron Man fighting against each other over their views on the Superhuman Registration Act. Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman the latter as they believe government control over superheroes is required. In the civil war that ensues, their marriage goes through a lot of strain as Reed is involved in the creation of the Negative Zone prison.
The prison's concentration camp-like facilities make certain Avengers like Spider-Man defect towards Captain America's side. Susan has disagreements with Reed on the same while the couple also deals with a near-death experience at the hands of the Taskmaster. The integral aftermath of the comic finds both partners taking a break from Fantastic Four with Black Panther and Storm being their replacements.
Solve Everything (Fantastic Four Vol 1 #570-572)
Straying away from his family and team, Reed spends all of his time interacting with his own versions from parallel universes. But as he forms this 'Council' to solve the problems of every universe, he fails to realize the sacrifices that he will have to make.
Solve Everything plays around the recurring theme of Reed's struggle to balance his scientific pursuits and real life. As he revisits his own past, he also tries to be a good father to Valeria and Franklin. With such human elements, the storyline marked a promising start for writer John Hickman's run on Fantastic Four.
Unstable Molecules (Limited Series)
An alternate history with meta elements, Unstable Molecules reinterprets the creation of Fantastic Four as comic book writers encounter real-life figures that resemble the four. In the 1950s, Reed Richards is a socially awkward scientist while Susan Storm battles everyday sexism and is bound by domestic duties. Johnny Storm is an aimless youth and Ben Grimm is a boxing trainer.
As their lives collide, comic book writers like Stan Lee and Jack Kirby document the trials and tribulations of this alternative version of the Fantastic Four for creating 'Marvel's first family'. Unstable Molecules is definitely a unique Marvel read, as it values human drama over any action or fantasy.
Authoritative Action (Fantastic Four #503-508)
Doctor Doom's fate lies in uncertainty while the Fantastic Four plan on freeing the people of Doom's native country, Latveria. However, to their surprise, they face resistance from the locals.
Authoritative Action shows a new side to Doom even if he has seemingly perished throughout the entire storyline. The socio-political undertones in the comic show how despite his villainous nature towards the Fantastic Four, Doom has been a just leader for his people and not an authoritative despot. All through his life, he has wreaked havoc but always protected his homeland.
Dark Reign: Fantastic Four (Limited Series)
Alternate worlds collide as Johnny, Sue, and Ben are trapped in the course of history because of one of Reed Richards' time travel experiments gone wrong. The three remaining fight their way through the Crusades, the Wild West, and World War II. Meanwhile, in the present day, Valeria and Franklin Richards engage in combat with Norman Osborn and the agents of HAMMER.
While the spotlight is mostly on Reed's peers, the Fantastic Four leader also appears in some moving scenes. In the aftermath of the Kree-Skrull War, Reed wishes to study his own actions and understand what went wrong. Such moments show a sense of guilt and ability.
Marvel 1602: Fantastick Four (Limited Series)
Fantastick Four reimagines the team in the medieval era, complete with period references and actual historical figures like the playwright William Shakespeare and the monarch James VI. As Otto von Doom kidnaps Shakespeare and sails to a mythical island, the scientist Sir Reed Richards and his three teammates work step in to prevent chaos.
The adventure is an interesting look at the team while giving them an archaic makeover. The villains are equally interesting as Doom is ed by the antithesis of the Fantastic Four, the Four Who Are Frightful (an alternate version of the Frightful Four).
