Book Review: Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 2 by S. Lee et al.

Fantastic Four Masterworks Volume 2 written by Stan Lee and pencilled by Jack Kirby

This volume includes issues 11 to 20 of the original run of the Fantastic Four along with their first Annual issue, a 72-page extravaganza. As the cover suggests, the stories highlight appearances by other Marvel characters like the Hulk, Ant-Man, and Spider-man. Villains reoccur too, like Doctor Doom and the Skrulls. The Annual features a story where Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, reconnects with his lost underwater kingdom. He rallies the people to fight the humans on the surface of the Earth, leading to a global conflict that the Fantastic Four has to stop.

The stories are okay, some are more entertaining than others. Namor is an interesting villain since he is looking out for the good of his people and the ocean in general (though he does not come off like an environmentalist--he's far too aggressive). The storytelling gets a little to self-referential, especially when the characters talk about their comic books or the stories are flagged up as requests from the readers. The writing is bombastic, claiming each new issue as "the greatest challenge for our heroes" or "the direst threat the world has faced." The Fantastic Four are famous for their bickering, family-like relationships. When troubles happen, they work together well; during their down time, they get on each other's nerves. The camaraderie is playfully handled. As a writer, Lee struggles with Sue Storm/The Invisible Girl's character. At moments, she's treated very much like a damsel in distress or a woman focused on her appearance rather than a member of the team. At other times, she uses her abilities effectively, turning the tide against a foe. Overall, it's a mixed bag.

Mildly recommended--this is more for people interested in the original stories of the characters.