There are a couple of solid issues from Marvel last week that I wanted to highlight in this week’s column; both bring recent storylines to strong conclusions.
First up is Cable #12, which also happens to be the final issue of the recent series from writer Gerry Duggan and artist Phil Noto. Rather than focusing on the older version of Cable that comic fans have been reading for decades, this book looked at a younger version of the character, now a part of Krakoa and fully ingrained in his family – Cyclops and Marvel Girl, Rachel Summers, Hope Summers and even Wolverine. In this book, young Nathan Summers also has an ongoing relationship with Esme Cuckoo. All of this amounted to a series that really took the notion of familial relationship and ran with it.
In this final issue of Cable, the entire clan take on the classic villain Stryfe, yet another Cable clone, before the young Cable heads back to the future, while the older version takes his place in the contemporary world. This series has been a fantastic symbiosis of talent – Duggan’s writing and Noto’s art go perfectly together, whether the duo are crafting action scenes or some of the quieter moments that stood out to me throughout twelve issues. I hope this creative duo have something else lined up, as I’ll read whatever they do.
While the Fantastic Four isn’t going anywhere, issue #34, written by Dan Slott and illustrated by R.B. Silva did bring the Bride of Doom storyline to its conclusion, complete with a (temporary) status quo change to Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch. I won’t reveal what happens to him, you can search that out elsewhere, but I will say it should make for some interesting, ongoing storytelling. Dan Slott is the master of coming up with stories that deliver the illusion of change – at some point Johnny Storm will revert back to form as it were, you and I know that, but the character doesn’t. Watching him react to his life now will keep me reading.
Not only does Slott deliver on the voice of of every member of the FF, he constantly nails the character of Doctor Doom, who we really need to get into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Doom is brilliant and genuinely feels like a constant threat, even when he’s acting somewhat civil (check out S.W.O.R.D. #7, also released last week to see what I mean). If Doom has a heart, he guards it so well, even in the face of betrayal.
Up next with Fantastic Four is a 60th anniversary issue celebration, and one that brings back the group’s “other” classic villain.
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