Fantastic Four #235
Published and © by Marvel, October 1981
Title: “Four Against Ego!”
Synopsis: The Fantastic Four’s investigation of an attack from outer space brings them face to face with Ego the Living Planet.
Writer: John Byrne
Artist: Byrne
Review: The first half of this two-parter was a little muddled (see review of Fantastic Four #234), but this issue is quite sharp. The team’s journey to the core of Ego the Living Planet is classic FF: equal parts cosmic adventure and family dynamics, with a healthy dose of superheroics thrown in. Byrne’s script is full of nice character moments and strong story twists (e.g., the faux brain of Ego), and his art is perfect for the story. Just four issues into his five-year run and Byrne is already hitting his stride.
Grade: A
Second opinion: “A no-doubt-about-it tribute to Lee and Kirby’s FF #4.” – Comics Coast to Coast #1, 1982
Cool factor: Ego the Living Planet. Few concepts scream “KIRBY!” quite so loud.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 20p British variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “Geez! Can’t you just say ‘wow’ like the rest of us, Big Brain?” – The Thing, who probably already knows the answer to that question
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on July 16, 2009.
