The phase of Steve Englehart, John Buscema and Keith Pollard in The Fantastic 4, with a surprising alignment in the group, arrives in a volume in the Marvel Heroes line by Panini Comics
All superhero groups end up suffering changes in their training at some point, whether it’s or not, but perhaps you might think that the 4 fantastic They were not subject to this rule. Now with the new volume published by Panini Comics This is under the title of Heroes Marvel. The Fantastic 4: everything remains like a family We can see that the First family He also had alterations in the team throughout his history.
Steve Englehart arrives
After the mythical phase of John Byrne At the head of the Fantastic 4 Series (one that Panini Comics has now started to collect the Lord in a luxury edition) Jim Shooter He had to look for an appropriate substitute for the series to continue to be one of the great ramparts of the publishing house. After a transition phase, it was time to put a maximum weight of the collection as it was Steve Englehartthat he had to be successful in series like Avengers, Captain America y Doctor Strange. And with its entrance we open this volume.
Englehart is responsible for the script of all the numbers contained in this volume, if we do not take into account the number dedicated to the character of Crystal (Script of Edwar L. Norton) and the comic of the Hulk From Peter David which is also included. Next to him, in the graphic section we would mainly have two artists who distribute almost all these numbers: first the Lord John Buscemaa legend already in those years (let’s talk about the second half of the eighties) and then Keith Pollardboth usually saying for the purpose of Joe Sinnott.
Englehart arrived with the intention of revolutionizing the header and the first five numbers of his stage were just enough to transform not only the series but the very nature of the protagonist group …
New training
In the first issue of this volume the modification is preparing. They are grimmAfter his time with the Avengers of the western coastHe takes command of the group and after some adventures in which the bad guys such as Mefist or the Doctor Doom They face our heroes we see how the characters of Crystal (member of the Inhuman) and of Ms Marvel (But none of the most famous, but Sharon Ventura) Approach the nucleus of the family.
Crystal brought the backpack of his toxic relationship with morally changing changing Mercury, But he contributed with that part of serenity and experience to fill the hole that Richards’ wedding had left. For his part Sharon, who arrives at the group in search of a refund, soon changes his nature being exposed to the same cosmic rays that originally gave their powers to the group. The effect they have on it ends up transforming it into a female version of Thingwhich concentrated the plot of the series for some numbers.
Reed Richards y His Storm They do not take too long, given that with these new additions the group works satisfactorily, in making the decision they had evaluated for some time: abandoning the fantastic 4 with the main objective of growing their child Franklin Richards. Obviously this was not a farewell, but a break in the history of the group that would have left a mark …
Between the cosmic and the ground
The Englehart phase is marked by the alternation between the cosmic plots and the most purely ground and intimate. On the one hand we find clashes with powerful beings such as the Omnipotentconflicts with the inhumans or introductions of these characters such as the villain FasaudBut perhaps where this screenwriter shines more when it comes to breeding motivated plots from the development of the characters.
The arc above the transformation of Sharon Ventura is a good proof of this, but also Ben’s personal conflicts to take on the group command or the stormy relationship between crystal and mercury. It is this type of stories that would certainly mark this phase and would position it as a happy memory for the readers of the series, perhaps not at the height of the most emblematic of the group (such as the aforementioned Byrne or the mythical Stan Lee y Jack Kirby) but in a privileged place.
Him Volume luxury Panini Comics on the rigid cover contains 544 pages Color with a size of the 17 x 26 cm page and includes the translation of the American edition of the numbers Fantastic Four 304-320, annual 20 y 21 y The incredible Hulk 350. The volume also includes an introduction of Julián M. Clemente It is an extra small and succulent section at the end. The recommended sale price is 53 € And was put on sale in March 2025.
Heroes Marvel. The Fantastic 4: everything remains like a family
ISBN: 9788410518285
“Dear Vic: guess who is in command now. It’s time for cakes! With love, Ben.” Finally collected … the stage of Steve Englehart, John Buscema and Keith Pollard in Fantastic 4! One was different from everyone, in which Mr. Fantastic and the invisible woman abandon the group, to give way to a new and incredible formation led by the thing, next to the human torch, the crystal and to Mrs. Marvel, in time to face her old Devil enemy, the mysterious new bad name called Fasaud, the demonic Belasco, Pandemonium or the return of the Alg. Third secret wars.
AUTORAres: Jackson Guice, Keith Pollard, Kieron Dwyer, Paul Neary, Romeo Tanghal, Sal Buscema, Steve Englehart, John Buscema, Jeff Purves Y Peter David