Fantastic Four Presents: Franklin Richards/written by Marc Sumerak/art by Chris Eliopoulos/ pub. by Marvel Comics/pp. 32/$2.99
Ahhh, finally! The Marvel Universe has an adventurous, overly-curious,"leap before you think," trouble-finding little bad boy to shake up the otherwise-far-too-serious super hero world! Not that this version of Franklin Richards will be co-starring with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man anytime soon, but it's quite refreshing to see Marvel publish the likes of Fantastic Four Presents: Franklin Richards.
"Why is that refreshing," you may ask? Hey, a character in the best tradition of Dennis the Menace and Calvin and Hobbs, residing in the home of Marvel's premiere super hero family, with all of the inventions, doohickeys and whatsits that no child should EVER have access to? Do I have to draw you a picture?! No? Good! 'Cause I can't draw. But Chris Eliopoulos sure can. And does so with a fun-loving flair that is partially responsible for creating an all-ages-friendly comic that can bring boisterous belly-laughs and generate giggles and guffaws from even the most jaded adult reader.
Of course, also partially responsible is writer Marc Sumerak, who expertly places little Franklin into situations that the reader may wish he or she were lucky enough to be in at that age. I mean, playing with gadgets birthed from the biggest brain in the Marvel stable of characters? Be still my child-at-heart! I mean, really, who wouldn't enjoy creating several clones of yourself....out of Jello!?
Now, when you first catch a glimpse of this book on the rack, it will most likely bring to mind the afore-mentioned Calvin and Hobbs by Bill Watterson.
While not exactly a cloned style, Eliopoulos' art greatly resembles Watterson's, and that's not a bad thing. As a matter of fact, it fits this book to a "T". It yells "fun!" It shouts "hijinx!" It screams "buy a self-contained, non-tie-in, make- you-laugh comic book from Marvel for a change!" Let's hope sales are good enough to warrant future adventures from Fantastic Franklin.
Recommended for all ages.
Review by Mark Allen Go Back | 
