Why least favorite? Well, let's face it, it's a camp fest that was only ever intended to be entertaining for an audience of twelve year olds and younger. That being said, there are some strengths to the concept, so I've sharpened my pencils and gotten to work, trying to play upon what I feel makes the idea work to a degree. Here are the results...
Dr. Reed Richards (AKA: Mr. Fantastic)It always seemed as though the comics and the movies focused more on the "doctor" and not enough on the "fantastic". I get that Reed Richards is supposed to be a brilliant mind, but that's not a superpower. I also get that, on the surface, his power seems relatively stupid compared with the rest of his team. Let's examine his power though. The ability to be super-flexible could have some real advantages. Bullets would have a hard time against a skin that could slow their velocity and throw them back. Elongated arms and legs could also make Mr. Fantastic extremely fast and agile. There are some practical benefits of being able to fall from great heights without being wounded too. If he can incapacitate a villain, contain a blast or reach the next block in mere seconds, his goofy power can become quite cool.
Dr. Susan Richards (AKA: The Invisible Woman)Arguably, Sue has the strongest power of anyone in the Fantastic Four. Invisibility is undeniably cool, but the ability to create a force field is where the real potential lies. With enough control, Sue could crush anything in a room, push against distant surfaces to allow her to glide through the air, protect anyone near her and reflect energy or projectiles. Another cool thing about Sue Richards is that she may be the only Marvel character determined to choose her man and stick with him. It's a sharp contrast to the soap opera lifestyle of the X-men or the Avengers. The Fantastic Four is a family, and she is the mother.
Ben Grimm (AKA: The Thing)There have been so many variations of The Thing in comics. He's been man-sized. He's been Hulk-sized. He's been a lumpy human. He's been a rock with a mouth. While I don't mind that Ben Grimm laments his lost normalcy, it seems like after a while, Ben would get a little nuts and become a bit of a loose cannon. Never underestimate what power can do to someone, especially when they are estranged. Yet, what holds him back should be his dedication to the other 3, especially Reed, who could potentially restrain him, if he can't be reasoned with.
Johnny Storm (AKA: The Human Torch)Everyone loves Johnny: his friends, his family and the ladies too. The ability to fly and generate fire and heat is so undeniably cool that there really isn't much about Johnny that needs to change. That said, Johnny never seems to learn his lesson. He's the maverick, the headstrong youth. There should be some sense to the character that he's evolving and becoming more dedicated to being a part of the team. I also think that the comics and movies have made too much of his powers, making him seem much more powerful than his fellows. Johnny should have enormous potential, but the powers of his teammates should always keep him in line.
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment