Perhaps the best element is the theme of family that runs throughout. Even a tragedy cannot keep the Fantastic Four from fully severing their ties with one another. When they need each other the most, they are able to overcome adversity and reunite once more. Themes such as responsibility, heroism, and combating prejudice, while all important, come second when placed with one of the most important benefits to society: the family. Not only does Alan Davis convey this in a very well told manner, he realizes that this theme is what drives a good Fantastic Four story, thus making Fantastic Four: The End a great read on several levels – as an FF story, as a piece of futuristic science-fiction, as a superhero tale, and as family-centered piece. Anyone who enjoys reading one of these categories needs to do him or herself a favor and pick this series up – either as individual issues or in trade paperback form. Read Full Review
This moving, upbeat story is highly recommended. Davis knows the Fantastic Four. He plays with time travel respectfully, and he incorporates stunning artwork enhanced by Farmer's inks and Kalisz's colors into interpretations of practically every major Marvel Universe character--as well as those yet to come. Read Full Review
Davis has laid the groundwork for a great story. I hope he can build on it in future issues. Read Full Review
This is the fun potential inherent in The End: final takes that are character-defining on all our favorites, and Davis is ideally suited to expand his cast as broadly as he needs to. Without much editorial interference (which he suffered on his unimpressive X-Men run wrapping up The Twelve storyline shouldnt be a problem in this Elseworlds-style tale), hes free to play with the toys with love, respect and creativity. His impressive dialogue promises to keep the emotional lines (as sorrowful as some of them seem to be) intact. This first issue is something the Fantastic Four (and their fans) need right now: a love letter. Read Full Review
Overall we have a disappointing start to something that has the potential to be exceedingly strong. The Fantastic Four have always been about adventure into the unknown with lithe character dynamics. If Davis can pull himself away from drawing every panel of every spaceship to add some depth and motivation to the characters, we might get a truly special tale out of his efforts. Read Full Review
Despite this apparently character-focused first half though, the frequent, mysterious allusions to Reeds longevity-inducing Methuselah formula (a sly comment on Marvels sliding scale of time and ageing?) and the grand, epic feel of the second half of the book suggest that Davis has something more large-scale in the works for the curtain call of the Marvels Universes first family. However, its still too early to say whether Davis has bitten off more than he can chew with the sheer scale of the book: we look in on the Avengers, Namor, Ben Grimms family and a new (and decidedly different) Dr. Strange, but theses pieces only hint at where the story might be going. The scattering of the FFs members at this early stage allows for a crowd-pleasing reunion later in the series, but the story seems to flit around so much in the second half that its hard to really get a handle on the big picture, and hardcore FF fans may feel aggrieved that this series has been diluted by a grand, c Read Full Review
This isnt terribly compelling stuff, largely due to the cluttered and slightly ponderous writing, but it is an absolutely gorgeous looking comic, and there is just enough in the setting to make me wonder how things will, yes, end. It remains to be seen what exactly Davis has in mind, but I suspect that Peter Davids Hulk: The End will remain the best of Marvels attempts at this format. Read Full Review
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