Warning: SPOILERS for Fantastic Four #2
Marvel's of Reed Richard's latest mistake in New York City, but surprisingly enough, his marriage is stronger than ever.
When the Fantastic Four ushered in the Silver Age of Comics in 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's group of superheroes ignored the trends of the era in favor of setting new standards (many of which are still followed today). They wore no masks, had public identities (and indeed, were celebrities in their time) and most importantly, had personal issues and character flaws that easily separated them from the Superman-esque heroes of the 40s and 50s. Chief among these problems were Reed and Sue's marriage issues - Reed was aloof and frequently ignored his wife, while Sue was vain and had a short temper (almost as easily-triggered as her brother Johnny Storm).
In Fantastic Four #2, written by Ryan North with art by Iban Coello, Reed Richards and Susan Storm find themselves in a small town apparently populated by Doctor Doom's Doombots - but these androids appear to be humanoid whenever they leave. They eventually find out that Doctor Doom has populated the entire town for the benefit of one elderly woman who showed him kindness years ago; granting her an idyllic life is his way of repaying the debt. Unfortunately, the woman died years ago, and a Doombot charged with keeping her healthy believes it is the woman in question. Any other superhero would simply destroy the robots, but Reed has other plans.
The Fantastic Four's Marriage Is Saved
The pair reprogram the robots; they now believe they're all human (including the "dead" Doombots who are given life once more). "Reed saw the potential first. He saw what these robots could become." explains Sue in a letter to She-Hulk. "I fall for him all over again." The classic Fantastic Four stories and the modern ones from writer Dan Slott's run often focused on the discord between family , especially Reed and Sue. It is quite refreshing to see the superhero couple actively one another instead of putting each other down.
This run is characterized by the final in the previous issue: a massive crater in the center of New York City. The issue heavily hints that Reed Richards is persona non grata in the city, and is now on the run with his family and without his fortune (the FantastiCar runs on regular gasoline now). But with Sue Storm and a happy marriage, the Fantastic Four's future is looking brighter than ever.
