BRONZE AGE MINUTE: Fantastic Four #235

Marvel; October 1981
Cover by John Byrne and Terry Austin

Title: “Four Against Ego!”
Synopsis: The Fantastic Four’s investigation of an attack from outer space brings them face to face with Ego the Living Planet.

Writer: John Byrne
Penciler: Byrne
Inker: Byrne

Review: The first half of this two-parter was a little muddled (see last week’s review of Fantastic Four #234), but this issue is quite sharp. The team’s journey to the core of Ego the Living Planet is classic Fantastic Four: equal parts cosmic adventure and family dynamics, with a healthy dose of superheroics thrown in. Byrne’s script is full of nice character moments and strong story twists (e.g., the faux brain of Ego), and his art is perfect for the story. Just four issues into his five-year run and Byrne is already hitting his stride.

Grade: A

Cool factor: Ego the Living Planet. Few concepts scream “Kirby!” quite so loud.

Character quotable: “Geez! Can’t you just say ‘wow’ like the rest of us, Big Brain?” – The Thing, who probably already knows the answer to his question.

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