Fantastic Four #30

Fantastic Four #30 is a masterclass in depression, loss, and sudden upheaval. North hasn't just gotten into these characters' heads; he's burrowed deep to find their emotional core and made them feel more human than ever. Read Full Review

In terms of the art, it is a standard Marvel comic look. I really like the way Dr. Doom and also the rest of the Fantastic Four look. Even the cover looks amazing, and you can see the rock crumble off of Ben. It really gives a feeling to the reader, about how they should be feeling when they read the comic.  I always appreciate the artists, who give a unique take on what is happening in the story. Read Full Review

sawright20

Mar 26, 2025

The most touching issue from this series. I was genuinely moved.

KittyNone

Mar 27, 2025

Ryan North is too smart a writer to dwell on the irony of Ben being unhappy to NOT be a monster and instead goes so hard on Ben's sense of helplessness and violation that the issue brought me to tears — something this series does to me on the regular. A wonderfully tender and heartfelt little character piece.

Criminology.

Mar 28, 2025

it had been a while since an issue brought tears to my eyes. Ben has been human for so many times by now, that it's amazing how North found a way to do it refreshingly, while staying true to the character.But that's honestly not the most important thing, but the important thing is how emotional, how real it feels. For a run that is so focused on the science aspect and on the wacky creativity and joy of the team, the emotional notes always hit hard and always hit close to the heart. But here is even better because this comics does not pretend to be new, it embraces that it comes like 800 plus issues into the series, that the characters are already matured and attuned with what they are, so it hurts when what they are is taken for good. B en has a hard time letting go of what he is specifically and that's since Lee's days, the difference is that now Ben completely lives for the others, that is what he is accustomed to, to be the rock for the team, to be the unshakable and unchanging giant, he has embraced this to be how he sees himself. How he perceives that other people see him. It's fundamentally an issue that deals with a struggle that is typically a male one. The struggle to feel worthy of love, to be the guy that never causes problems, to be helpful to your loved ones, and to control and restrain yourself because of them. The way we see Ben is refreshing, because at least i never seen his identity being taken to such an extend from him, but when his shell is taken we see the true person under it, we see that fundamentally Ben wants to be helpful, fundamentally he lives for his loved ones and this is in the core of his being. to say some other things about the issue: the way it progress is also quite nice, it reveals more and more about how ben feels, it actually progresses, his grief progresses and i would say that every stage is explored well and is given time. We see him as being sad and depressed, just processing what happened, wanting to be outside his live, to actually trying to be normal, till the realization strikes, that he isn't and understanding his issue more, which leads to him forcing it and even putting himself at risk, being that desperate and weak, to him collapsing at the end. It's quite beautiful and impressive how such a full arc could be fit into 20 something paged issue with all the nuances and little emotions. more

Gio

Aug 17, 2025

Really on a roll here, got a nice ish here on Ben's psyche and how he's handling being turned back into a normal human because of Emperor Doom trying to show how good and benevolent he now is. Feeling weak and less of a man he goes to his wife Alicia's father whose in jail a former villain "The Puppet Master". Asking the Puppet Master to create a clay figure of Ben that will give him a false sense of confidence, another level of liquid luck one would say. Alicia figures this out pretty quick at the dinner table and immediately goes to the puppet Master to end it. Her father didn't give her any trouble and explained how Ben wanted this, and used it as an opportunity to convince his daughter that he's full of repent for all the wrong of t he past. Even going so far as to say Alicia didn't have to hypnotize him to give her his blessing to marry Ben in a marriage issue I didn't read. The best part that really hit was when Alicia and Ben were talking about this and she told him how this was just a shortcut and he needed to heal naturally. Great artwork of them embracing and getting all emotional, really good stuff here love it! more

George

Mar 31, 2025

Wow some people hate this. I thought it was pretty well done. To each their own.

superstan52

Mar 26, 2025

This could've been so much better. I didn't buy Ben feeling so inadequate right away, I haven't a clue how going to the Puppet Master was going to restore his powers, and Alicia has gone from being a blind, sensitive artist to just another indistinguishable happy-go-lucky cipher. In the early days Alicia could feel The Thing's rock hard exterior and sense his gentleness (and inner strength). This was a great opportunity to rekindle that, to have them have a heart to heart and get Ben to accept his new state.

ResearchReader

Jun 06, 2025

This issue is divisive again (but not as much as the hot garbage that was the issue 29). I have mixed feelings about this. I dont think this is how Ben would act. At least not totally. I do agree I think he would be a bit lost, but this seems like that was taken to an extreme. I dont think North knows how to do nuance. He only knows extremes. Which is a shame as this could have easily been a 10/10 issue with that touch, but I think that requires a better writer. Ben was... ok. But this was a miss to me. Not a terrible one but still a miss. As for Masters, I do enjoy the emotional notes on this and frankly if I was 100% convinced this was how he would act, I would be totally into it, but something feels wrong. This feels like it is pulling at the heart strings for cheap thrills. I am deeply mixed on it. I want to love it but it feels off. And that is the theme of this issue I think. Even the art is not quite what I want. Something is off. TL DR: This issue is mixed. I want to love it but the characters feel off. Not so off as to be an abberation but off enough that the high notes strike hollow to me. It is a shame. more

Kenjamin

Jul 04, 2025

Art: 3.5/5 Story: 3.5/5 Total: 7/10

Williamflipper

May 03, 2025

AI first steps.

Chris Y

Mar 26, 2025

I haven't read the FF regularly since the Claremont/Davis run in the late nineties, and the few issues I read since then have all been utter shite (including last issue). I wanted to know what happens to Ben after Doom turned him back into his human form in One World Under Doom #2 though. What can I say? It's utter shite. At this point, I think Ryan North might be the most incapable writer at Marvel. This story is so stupid, it even beats the misunderstood vampires of last issue and Johnny shagging an alien slug a few issues back. The art is not good either. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are probably rolling over in their graves.