Fantastic Four #241
Published and © by Marvel, April 1982
Title: “Render Unto Caesar!”
Synopsis: The Fantastic Four team with the Black Panther to investigate a mystery – and find themselves prisoners of ancient Rome!
Writer: John Byrne
Artist: Byrne
Review: As John Byrne settles into his stay on FF, he starts digging deeper into the Lee/Kirby toy box. Following last issue’s Inhumans tale (see review of FF #240), Byrne sends the team to Africa for an adventure with their old friend T’Challa, aka the Black Panther. Unfortunately, the Panther isn’t really needed in this old-school adventure with a sci-fi twist, and does little more than skulk around in the background. For that matter, the story doesn’t really need the FF – any team of superheroes or even plain-closed adventurers would do. Still, it’s another fun done-in-one, with nice art from Byrne.
Grade: A-
Cool factor: Byrne continues to explore the FF’s extended supporting cast.
Notable: Guest-starring the Black Panther. … According to the annual statement of ownership on the “Fantastic Four Fan Page” letters page, Fantastic Four had an average total paid circulation of 192,731 for the 12 months preceding Oct. 1, 1981.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “Maybe the Ay-rabs got some new energy source?” – The Thing, master of cultural sensitivity (Later in the issue, he’s worried about “the Reds,” too!)
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Aug. 28, 2009.
