FANTASTIC FOUR: CRUSADERS & TITANS (Marvel, 2013; Softcover)
Collects
Fantastic Four Nos. 164-176 (cover dates November, 1975- November,
1976)
Writer:
Roy Thomas with Bill Mantlo
Artists:
Rich Buckler, John Buscema, and George Perez with inking by Vince
Colletta and Joe Sinnott
Marvel
are the unquestioned masters of the double dip. The OCD completist
faithful have been tricked into buying and rebuying the same material
again and again and again. Take this book, for example. Solicited in
May of 2013, it was released simultaneously with Marvel
Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 15, which ended with issue
163. Fears over the health of the Masterworks line led many to
believe that the appearance of this here book signaled the end of the
line, and that it would continue in softcover form with collections
like this. So I bit and bought it as an insurance policy, just in
case a Vol. 16 never materialized.
The
bastards at Marvel then not only solicited a Vol. 16 roughly six
months after this book was released, but they included all but one of
the issues in this book (omitting 176) while including three more
issues. Those issues themselves were a double dip from The
Thing: Liberty Legion Marvel Premiere Classic hardcover released
in 2011. So for shelf consistency as well as superior restoration, I
have dumped both this book as well as The Thing: Liberty Legion on
eBay in order to buy Vol. 16 in September. And let's not forget both
of those Fantastic Four Visionaries: George Perez books from
way back...
Tales of buying and rebuying aside, there are actually stories inside these books! You can read AND enjoy them. Who knew? I read this to my seven year old son and he absolutely loved this.
You
have the Crusader (later Quasar, formerly Marvel Boy) and another
battle with the Hulk which resulted in Ben Grimm losing his powers as
the Thing. Power Man becomes a member of the team while Mister
Fantastic constructed a Thing exoskeleton for Ben Grimm to wear.
Power Man's (Luke Cage as the kids call him) stint lasted all of
three issues. I could imagine them milking an entire crossover out of
that today, complete with sidebar mini-series, one-shots, and prequel
and aftermath specials.
When
Galactus comes a' calling to devour Counter Earth, the High
Evolutionary sets plans into motion to enlist the aid of the
Fantastic Four. The outcome of this epic battle is the reintroduction
of...ahhh, but that would be telling. Read it for yourself, folks!
Junk
Food For Thought rating: 4.25 out of 5.
The
OCD zone- I think that I have said enough in the first two
paragraphs.
DVD-style
Extras included in this book: Baxter
Building Bulletins from #176. (1 page)
Fantastic
Four Visionaries: George Perez Vol. 1 TPB cover. (1 page)
#167
original cover art. (1 page)
#167
cover original color guide. (1 page)
#172,
page 4 original art. (1 page)
#176,
page 2 original art. (1 page)
Impossible
Man TPB cover. (fully rendered version of the covers of #176) (1
page)
Front
and back cover to this collection minus trade dress (fully rendered
versions of the covers of #168 and 173). (2 pages)
Linework
and Color restoration rating: 4.25 out of 5. While there is some
slight pixelation in a few spots as well as the occasionally washed
out linework, this is a serviceable restoration job. Most folks would
not notice, let alone care about, about the deficiencies here.
Paper
rating: 5 out of 5. The dull matte coated stock paper that Marvel
uses in their collections of vintage material rules.
Binding
rating: 4 out of 5. Perfect bound trade paperback.
Cardstock
cover coating rating: 5 out of 5. I love the thick lamination that Marvel uses on their books.
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