Book Review: Fantastic Four: Doom, Where's My Car by Jeff Parker

Fantastic Four: Doom, Where's My Car?! by Jeff Parker

I saw this title while visiting a library during our Florida vacation and couldn't resist checking it out.

Johnny Storm (a.k.a. the Human Torch) and Ben Grimm (a.k.a. the Thing) are rummaging around the basement of the Fantastic Four's headquarters, the Baxter Building. Among the alien artifacts and old inventions, Johnny discovers an old car from Reed Richards's (a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic's) college days. Johnny decides he needs a sweet ride to change up his fighting style and make some progress with the ladies, so he restores the car. Naturally, since it's Reed's car it has all sorts of upgrades including the ability to fly.

At first Mr. Fantastic is annoyed because it's his old college car that he bought off of Victor von Doom (a.k.a. Doctor Doom). He took Sue Storm (a.k.a. the Invisible Woman, also a.k.a. Sue Richard, i.e. Richard's wife) on their first date in the car. But the vehicle is handy in fights and Richard doesn't really need it, so he let's it go. Unfortunately, others want the car for their own nefarious purposes.

The book is very light in tone and works perfectly as a comedy and a fun action story. At one point, the Fantastic Four are fighting Sandman. Johnny drives the car right through Sandman and then peels out on his scattered sand. "Eat your own dust!" Johnny shouts. The book definitely delivers on the promise of its title.