Comics Review: FEAR ITSELF #4
It has all the action you’d expect, great artwork, and many fan-boy moments. It’s just a shame it’s so crash, wallop and bang.
rating: 2.5
Written by Matt Fraction, Pencils by Stuart Immonen Published by Marvel ComicsIn Comic Stores From Today! Its impossible to judge Fear Itself #4, the latest issue of Marvels line-wide blockbuster event, without comparing it to DCs Flashpoint #3, also out this week. Both are now officially past the halfway mark, yet DCs crossover has achieved so much more in fewer issues. Sure, Flashpoint has far too many tie-ins, but unlike Fear Itself those tie-ins are expansions of the Flashpoint universe, and are not essential to understanding the main books plot. However, with Fear Itself its becoming increasingly obvious that if youre not picking up certain books youre missing big pieces of the main plot. This is even more surprising, considering there is so little plot to speak of in the main series. With only three issues left, the basic story can be summed up in one incredibly simple sentence; seven ancient hammers fall to Earth, turning the heroes and villains that claim them into rage filled lunatics intent on destruction. What this issue does give us is some amazing pencils by Stuart Immonen, though he is badly let down by Matt Fractions script, which seems to give us repetitive scene after repetitive scene, with little in the way of genuine developments. Sure, Bucky Cap was killed last issue, which would seem like a monumental plot point, but his death was hardly given the weight it deserved, serving merely as an excuse to shove Steve Rogers back into the spotlight and allow him to reclaim the Captain America mantle. This moment, which the whole Marvel universe has been building towards for months, feels completely wasted by both the panel choice and the writing. Its a shame that scenes like this, as well as Buckys death, werent saved for Ed Brubakers excellent Captain America book. The way theyre treated here is too much like a Michael Bay film- all of the emphasis is on the spectacle, completely forgetting the more intimate moments that Brubakers book excelled at. The one standout moment in this issue features Iron Man trying to get Odins attention in a way that is both bold and surprising, yet completely true to character (as well as featuring a nice nod to the seminal Demon in a Bottle storyline). Its scenes like this that prove Fraction is a great writer, yet the whole of this series feels editorially mandated- if you liked that scene, and want to know what happens next, then you need to pick up Invincible Iron Man #506 to find out how it is resolved. Thanks Marvel, but my wallet is already stretched enough. Having said all this, Marvel fans will undoubtedly go mad for this issue. It has all the action youd expect, great artwork, and many fan-boy moments. Its just a shame its so crash, wallop and bang.