Fantastic Four #238
Published and © by Marvel, January 1982
Title: “The Lady Is for Burning!”
Synopsis: After discovering a costume permanently attached to her body, Frankie Raye makes a greater discovery — she’s another Human Torch!
Writer: John Byrne
Artist: Byrne
Review: With two short stories, this issue isn’t exactly the epic this reviewer had been hoping for. But John Byrne certainly picks up the pace here, as both stories shake up the FF status quo. Though short, the lead story’s introduction of a female Human Torch feels substantial.
•••
Title: “The More Things Change …”
Synopsis: Mr. Fantastic is certain he’s figured out how to cure the Thing. (Yeah. That’ll end well.)
Writer: John Byrne
Penciler: Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Review: Byrne’s a good inker for Byrne. Readers probably didn’t realize how much they missed Terry Austin – until Austin showed up.
Grade (for the entire issue): A-
Second opinion: “The best issue of the Fantastic Four that I have ever read.” – Comics Coast to Coast #1, 1982
Cool factor: Byrne and Austin, together again (even if only for a backup story).
Notable: Origin of Frankie Raye. … First brief appearance of Petunia Grimm. … Includes a one-page pinup of Susan Richards by John Byrne.
Character quotable: “So back to the Baxter Building we go, and hope that my brother-in-law isn’t too engrossed in his latest framistat to take a look at you.” – The Human Torch (the male one)
A word from the writer/artist: “He’s going to be a lot angrier. He’s going to be a lot stronger, in the Jack (Kirby) tradition. He’s going to be a lot uglier, too.” – John Byrne, talking about his plans for the Thing, in Amazing Heroes #1, June 1981
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Aug. 25, 2009.
