Years ago, four friends ventured out into space and were bombarded by cosmic rays. These cosmic rays altered their genetic make-up, granting them each fantastic powers. Recently, they have gone through 'changes' that have changed everyday living in a world that is proud to call them heroes.
Reed Richards
Sue Storm-Richards
Ben Grimm
Johnny Storm Scott Lang Jennifer Walters Alison Cory Alicia Masters-Grimm
Franklin Richards
Victoria Richards Shadow Queen
Issue #44
STARTING FRESH
Part I of I: Welcome to Pittsburgh,
Fantastic Four
Written by Jason Bruss
FOURS TOWER - PITTSBURGH, P.A.
LIBERTY AVE/6th STREET
- MORNING
Rising from the corner of Liberty Ave and 6th Street, the newly established Fours Tower stands along the skyscrapers of the great downtown business district of the city of Pittsburgh. The tower is a marvel to behold with it's 21st century appearance amongst the skyscrapers of a century before.
Susan Storm-Richards, wearing business attire, stands looking through the bullet-proof glass windows of her sky rise office. Her medium-length blonde hair curled to perfection with her blue eyes, she looks to Point State Park, and is dazzled by the morning sunlight.
"It's so beautiful," she says aloud.
"So are you..."
Sue turns to see a business suit sporting blonde haired man with a light goatee, known as Scott Lang... or Ant-Man.
"Good Morning, Scott. Coffee?" Sue says as she walks to a oak stand and pours herself a cup of coffee.
"Sure." Scott says as he walks into the office fixing his dark-blue tie.
Sue hands him a cup of coffee and then pours herself a cup. Walking behind the desk, she sits down and looks up to Scott as she takes a sip from her coffee mug.
"Mayor Murray approved your request to use city airspace this afternoon to test the solar shield. I received the fax from City Hall when I came in." Sue informs Scott.
"Awesome. I'm sure there's no need to test, seeing as how your husband is the brain behind the systematic. I have faith that Reed accounted for every flaw."
Sue grins lightly.
"Poor Reed..." Sue sighs looking back out the window.
Scott walks over and places a hand on her shoulder, providing comfort.
"Reed's come a long way. His body may be disabled from the waist down and he may not be able to speak, but he's still able to use his scientific intelligent mind. He may not be able to 'stretch', but he's still Mr. Fantastic. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have the highly-advanced technology that we have. I mean, just think of the inventions he's come up with here at Fours Tower." Scott comforts.
For instance, myself.
Sue grins. "Good Morning, Ardara."
Good Morning, Mrs. Richards. I have your itinerary for today when you are ready.
"Thank you." Sue replies.
Sue smirks to Scott, whom is still puzzled by the high-tech computer system that runs through-out the entire building. Just one of the highly-advanced inventions Scott had mentioned of Richards.
"Mr. Lang, I have a incoming call from your daughter on Line IV. Shall I patch it through to your quarters?
"Yes, Please." Scott confirms.
Transferring Now.
Sue smiles to Scott as he leaves her office. She resumes to her feet and walks to the window, looking at the morning sunshine.
"Ardara, what's the status on Franklin and Victoria?"
Franklin is currently in his quarters dressing for his educational day programming, while Victoria is sleeping. Shall I prepare breakfast?
"No Ardara, thank you though. I'd like to prepare my children's breakfast. They grow up so fast."
Of course, Mrs. Richards.
Sue smiles as she leaves her office with her coffee mug in hand, heading towards the kitchen to prepare breakfast for her children.
The Fallen City of Milwaukee
- LATE MORNING
Jonathan Storm shakes his head slowly left to right and back to left as he looks of the devastation caused by the psychotic Dr. Victor Von Doom. He looks to his companion Benjamin Grimm and sighs.
"Look at what he's done, Ben."
"I know, matchstick."
Ben and Johnny slowly creep down the remains of a shopping complex, the smell of rotting bodies fills the air as thunderous clouds move in overhead.
"Doom's finally beginning to crack. We should have seen it coming. Doom's always been level-headed and in tip-top form. Defeat after defeat, he's finally lost his mind. He's irrational, psychotic to say the least. What he did to Reed should be proof enough to know that Doom's more dangerous now than ever before."
"I would agree, Mr. Grimm."
Ben quickly looks around frantically. The female voice being very soft and refreshing. It had been spoken as if almost a whisper.
"Who said that?"
Johnny stops and looks to Ben, thinking that perhaps Doom isn't the only one who has lost his mind.
"Who said what? There's no one else here but us."
Ben doesn't respond to Johnny. He looks around for the source of the female voice, but still is unable to locate it's owner.
"Who are you?"
Johnny looks to Ben again in discomfort and places his hand on Ben's head checking for a fever. He looks to Ben and then glances forward to two images materializing almost out of thin air. But before Johnny can flame on, he's struck by a blast of cold winter ice pellets. The force of the pellets knocks him to the ground on his buttocks.
"There's only one person I know that would attack me with ice pellets," Johnny says as he flames on.
As the Human Torch flares towards the visually impaired image of a man and woman, a ice wall is formed and Johnny finds himself crashing forward into it. He de-flames and falls to the ground.
"Who are you? Why can't we see you?" Ben asked as he ran charging towards the two assailants that assaulted his partner.
As Ben charges, he's lifted into the air and held at bay. A force field of sorts surrounds him. He violently begins punching the walls of his containment but is un-successful.
Johnny returns to his feet and flames on and hovers lightly above the ground.
"Stop this, Drake!" Johnny shouts, revealing he knows the assailants.
Ben is lowered to the ground lightly and the force field containment is removed and the two images completely materialize before Johnny and his eyes.
"The X-MEN?" Ben asks.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Grimm. It was our only way of knowing if you were truly who you said you were." the X-Men's Phoenix informs.
"I don't get it, Phoenix... why test us? The Fantastic Four and the X-Men have been allies for years," Ben questions.
Phoenix looks to her teammate Iceman, then her emerald eyes return their focus to Ben Grimm of the Fantastic Four.
"Iceman and I are here to examine the damage caused by one of the Fantastic Four's greatest adversaries, Dr. Doom. It's because of him that this city was devastated, which I know you are aware from a simple mind probe."
Torch approaches Iceman and smirks.
"Ice Pellets? What is this? The third grade?"
"Better keep it yourself, Torch," Iceman replies with a cocky grin. "You know I'd love the opportunity to have to 'chill' you out for a while."
Phoenix and the Thing look to Iceman and Torch, whom are bantering.
"I think that's enough, Bobby..." Phoenix in-directly orders.
"Oh c'mon Jean, let me show the hothead I can still kick his ass."
Torch childishly sticks out his tongue at Iceman as Iceman returns to standing next to Phoenix. The Thing looks again to the devastation that surrounds them.
"Doom's not the Doom we've all grown to know. He's becoming a rogue psychopath that'll stop at nothing to get what he believes is rightfully his. He caused Richards to have a stroke and destroyed the Plaza, not to mention he took out most of the Fantastic Four's rogue gallery." Ben informs the two X-Men.
Phoenix telekinetically hovers into the sky above Iceman, Torch, and the Thing. She looks to the far west and senses life-forms, strong life-forms. She lowers herself to the ground next to Ben.
"We aren't alone," Phoenix declares.
Before she can finish her sentence, a jet rockets overheard and sets down nearby. The side panel door of the jet opens and very familiar figures exit.
"The Scarlet Witch, Thor, and Captain America..." Iceman informs.
"Hello Ben, Please send my prayers to Mr. Fantastic. Wanda informed me of his condition thanks to Doom." Captain America tells Ben as he shakes his hand.
Captain America nods his head to the X-Men's Iceman and Phoenix.
"Quite thy destructive now," Thor says in regards to Dr. Doom's destructive path left over the fallen city.
"Yeah Thor, Doom did a number here," replies Iceman.
"I don't understand it. Doom destroys the home, the technology, and then proceeds to take out the Fantastic Four's man in-charge. What was the reasoning behind it?" Scarlet Witch questions.
Ben places a hand on Thor's shoulder as he looks to Wanda.
"Ole Vic's been trying to rid himself of the Fantastic Four for years. Whenever he has a plan, the Fantastic Four have always stopped him." Ben tells Wanda.
"In other words, Doom's gone mad." Cap informs the group.
Phoenix steps forward.
"With recent events, the X-Men have been pretty occupied... if only we could of been there."
Torch smirks and pats Iceman's back.
"Eh, the X-Men can't be everywhere... besides, Doom's been lurking around in the shadows for awhile. He's been waiting for the right moment to strike. In fact, Sue believes that this recent thing with causing Reed to have a stroke was just a part of his master plan. No one except Doom knows what Doom's next move is," Torch states.
Captain America looks skyward and sees another jet in a distance.
"We've got company..."
Phoenix does a quick mind-probe and generates a telepathic image of the approaching visitors.
"It's S.H.I.E.L.D. and US Agent and Sabra of Excalibur." Phoenix enlightens.
"Of course S.H.I.E.L.D.'s going to have a lengthy investigation and they'll determine it was caused by Doom and just let it slide." Torch grumbles.
"I doubt it, Torch. Doom created a act of terror against the United States. If caught, He'll be tried." Captain America states.
"Like anyone will ever catch bucket-head," Iceman tosses out.
Scarlet Witch interjects, "I agree with Iceman, Dr. Doom has been around for years and has yet to really come to pay for his crimes. I honestly don't think the Fantastic Four can handle Doom anymore. He's become to big of an adversary."
The S.H.I.E.L.D. jet flies over top and continues towards the east side of the former city, causing a light breeze.
"Listen Lady, the Fantastic Four can handle themselves and anything thrown at them probably better than the two teams of Avengers combined." Ben shouts.
"Let's calm down, I know this is a emotional discussion, Ben. Doom changed the Fantastic Four quite irreversibly. Wanda just means that perhaps the Avengers should step up and assist more when the Fantastic Four are against the wall with Doom. We are all heroes here... the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men. When in a time of need, we come to each others aid." Cap states.
"Yeah, well... where were ya's when we needed ya this time? Perhaps if you would of stepped up Reed wouldn't be in the situation he is now." Ben questions with doubt.
"We've all been busy... it's a dark time in our world right now. We've all grown and we've all changed, just like our adversaries." Phoenix informs.
Torch adds, "So True, Phoenix. Doom's the perfect example of how we've changed and how our times have changed. We aren't in the little leagues anymore. It's time for us to step up to the plate and play some ball."
"Did you just say 'play with our balls'?" Iceman chuckles.
"Funny, Snowman." Torch says sending a flame at Iceman's feet, causing Iceman to jump back.
"Enough Talking. Johnny and I have to get back to the Fours Tower in Pittsburgh. It's the new base of operations for the Fantastic Four, incase any of you aren't up on the news. Let's go, Matchstick," directs Ben.
CLUB 4 - PITTSBURGH, P.A.
- MIDNIGHT
Sitting at a table, Jennifer Walters sits next to Alicia Masters - Grimm in a trendy black dress drinking a small rum and coke. She looks across the room to see Benjamin and Johnny walk in.
"Oh Alicia, Ben and Johnny just walked in." Jenn informs.
Ben sits down next to his wife Alicia and kisses her on the cheek, before looking over to Jennifer.
"Where's Sue and Reed?" Ben questions.
"Sue's in the back and Reed didn't want to come out," Scott Lang informs Ben as he sits down at the table in a gray suit.
Johnny walks over to the bar in his slightly pressed suit and orders a drink, before a tap on his shoulder grabs his attention. He turns to see a brown haired woman in a luscious silver gown standing before him.
"Umm, Hi. What are you doing here?"
She smiles having known Johnny and his other friends.
"Actually, I just accepted a job with the Pittsburgh Post. I just moved into an apartment last week. I read an article about the newest and hottest nightclubs in town and saw Club 4 was listed. Once I noticed it was run and operated by the Fantastic Four, I just had to stop in."
She is Alison Cory. A reporter that could of let the world know about Mr. Fantastic's stroke, but decided not too. Regardless of what it would mean for her career.
"That's great, Alison... you look outstanding."
"Thank you," blushes Alison Cory.
Johnny offers her a seat at the bar next to him as he sits.
"So what have you been up too?"
"Well, I just got back from doing a story for the Post on the devastating destruction of Milwaukee. I got the story, of course. However, I could of done without flying back with April O'Neil, some photographer Peter Parker, and some other reporters. It was the worst flight of my life," states Alison.
Johnny chuckles.
"I managed to get two great interviews though. One with Iron Man and the other with a few members of the Champions. Sometimes, I love my job." Alison says as the bartender waits for her to order.
"Well, I hope you like Pittsburgh..." Johnny says standing up.
Alison quickly turns to Johnny and smiles.
"Would you like to do dinner sometime? or maybe a movie?" Alison asked.
Johnny smirks.
"I'm gay, babe. Sorry."
"You are?" questions Alison.
"Yeah. I think so anyways..."
"Oh..."
"I'm flattered though, really I am." Johnny says.
"It's alright. It probably wouldn't have been a good idea anyways."
Johnny sighs, "Yeah, probably not."
Elsewhere - PITTSBURGH, P.A.
- MIDNIGHT
In the dark, a ruby robed woman figure sits in a throne-like chair watching a monitor before her. It is uncertain what she looks like for her robe covers a great majority of her face. A man entered the room wearing a butler uniform.
"Ma'am, I have gathered the information you have requested."
The woman raises her right arm and hand and a violent shock of telekinetic energy forces the butler against the wall of the dark room knocking him out. She lowers her arm and sighs.
"You were trained to refer to me as one thing and one thing only..."
She stands and looks over his lifeless body.
"The Shadow Queen will not tolerate incompetent imbeciles."
After the title-alternating Fantastic Four #43, I knew I was up with a challenge with this issue. I'm hoping you all liked this issue as much or more than the previous. I've got such love for the characters in this title and I've been a fan of them for years. I hope that comes across as you read the issues. As we approach the summer months, I promise that the Fantastic Four will be here for you this summer. I promise at least one issue a month, but I'm aiming for two. The countdown to Fantastic Four #50 is here... and as you saw this issue, the Fantastic Four are not the Fantastic Four that we've always known, they've been M2K'd.
REVIEWS OF
Fantastic Four #43
Brent Lambert's
Loon Review
Fantastic Four #43 by Jason Bruss
THE
GOOD: I like the risks that Jason was willing to take with
the
Fantastic Four in this issue. What happened to Reed alone is
proof
of Jason's commitment to make the Fantastic Four exciting
again. I
also liked the appearance of the Avengers. It
definitely helped in
developing a sense of continuity. Invisible
Woman stepping up to the
plate is something I tried to in my FF run
and I'm glad that Jason is
doing it.
THE BAD:
Doom's behaviors, motivations, and plots in this issue just
felt so
extremely out of whack to me man. It didn't even read like
Doom. It felt more like I was reading about Mojo Jojo.
OVERALL: The march to issue 50 continues on this title
as well and
I'm hoping Doom will make a better
showing.
Thanks Brent. You are definitely the most reliable reviewer I know.
-Jason Bruss
May 2nd,
2004