GUEST-STARRING THE BLACK CAT! When Reed, Ben and Johnny leave on a fishing trip to the Negative Zone, Sue Storm and Alicia Masters are left to their own devices. And no sooner have the guys left, than Susan's number-one, absolute least-favorite person in NYC starts banging on the door of the Baxter Building. She's wanted for murder, she's being chased by the police and she's covered in blood: That's right - it's Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat! Despite all the evidence pointing to her, Felicia claims she's innocent - and she needs the Invisible Woman to prove it! Against her better judgment, Sue agrees to help and soon finds herself embroiled in more
Ramos crafts some beautifully detailed and stylish art throughout the issue. I love the imagery and how it leans into the fun of the story. Read Full Review
Fantastic Four #5 is an unusual misstep in an otherwise consistently strong series. The issue isnt some kind of serious failure, but it is comparatively middle of the road. That said, middle of the road for Fantastic Four is still on par with high quality for some series. Read Full Review
For 70 percent of this issue, things are a bit rocky. Fantastic Four #5 has some less-than-stellar character motivations, some convenient plot points, and poorly executed story beats. But all these dented facets still manage to come together and are held together by a great conclusion that feels akin to some of the best conclusions to mystery and detective stories of the past. Read Full Review
Plot
Reed, Ben, and Johnny go on a "fishing" adventure in the Negative Zone, while Sue and Alicia are visited by Black Cat, who is accused of murder and asks Sue for help solving it.
Although Sue doesn't trust Black Cat, she begins to investigate and discovers strange patterns that help her solve the case and learn to give Black Cat a chance.
This comic blends the heist genre with science fiction, with touches of comedy and a smart, female perspective.
Art
Humberto Ramos showcases his artistic skills; his distinctive style elevates the action sequences and manages to recreate each era in a completely different way. The color palette is vibrant and highlights all of Ramos's wonderful lines.
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It’s definitely better than the poorly executed Emperor Doom story.
Back in the 80s, this issue would have been an eight page backup story in an annual by some unknown creative team. It makes me sad that this is the quality of the main series now - produced by an established writer and a veteran artist to boot.
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