Fantastic Four #31

All in all, this is as near a perfect issue of Fantastic Four as one could ask for. North and co. hit the perfect balance of heart, smarts, and humor. Read Full Review

One of the biggest problems with Fantastic Four in the years since the end of the Hickman run (other than Marvel marginalizing them because they didn't have the film rights until recently) has been that most of the time, one aspect of the team was pushed beyond the other, and the book was never able to do what a Fantastic Four comic should do. It was either too sci-fi, too superhero, or too family oriented. North's run has succeeded so well because he has found the perfect balance of all the things that a Fantastic Four comic should have. Fantastic Four #31 is basically a perfect Fantastic Four comic in every way. The writing is constantly impressive, doing some deep lore digs and using them to inform the story he set up in One World Under Doom, hitting the right emotional notes, and giving readers an awesome cliffhanger ending. The art brings it all to life wonderfully. Future Fantastic Four creative teams need to take a look at this issue and follow it as a blueprint. Read Full Review

Fantastic Four #31 starts a new adventure for the team as they try to help Ben get his powers back. And of course its through an odd yet interesting method that leads to a bizarre adventure for them. While the premise of the issue is compelling, its not exactly the most excitable comic. The narration from Valeria provides a new perspective on the story and the Fantastic Fours current journey. But what steals the show is the art from Cory Smith who does an excellent job with depicting Marvels first family and Jesus Aburtovs colors make it even more visually appealing. While the comic may not excite some readers, the ending shows that things might get more intense next issue as the storys far from over. Read Full Review

Fantastic Four almost has to be graded on a curve because so few issues in Norths run have missed the targetand none of them seriously. Fantastic Four #31 doesnt have quite the same emotional heft that the previous issue did. Bens emotional journey, while not ignored, does take a backseat to the teams problem for much of the issue. That said, Fantastic Four #31 is another strong entry in the series and a particularly noteworthy issue in the One World Under Doom event. Read Full Review

There are some good ideas in here, but it's difficult to get beyond the flawed premise of Ben Grimm being so reckless and selfish. Is this how he would really act if he's being written in character? Surely he would never risk his family or friends' lives in this way. Read Full Review

The Cheese Man

Apr 30, 2025

Good story but deceptive cover for some reason.

Gio

Aug 17, 2025

So here the team finds out that they are losing their powers because Ben is no longer the Thing. Traveling different multiverse versions of the FF origins to let Ben take in the cosmic rays that turned him in the first place, it all fails each time. After many attempts, their last attempt is in their universe, this turns out to work and Ben becomes the Thing again. But their past selves didn't get hit by the cosmic rays because he absorbed most of it, altering the past and erasing the FF from the main timeline accidentally. This in turn erased all of their children from existence... Yikes... I don't think there's a quick Ctrl Z fix to this guys?

General C K

Apr 29, 2025

While I found the the battle with Davos at the beginning to be annoying (as I don't know why they're fighting a DeFalco era villain when Doom has taken over the world), I found Ben's determination to reacquire his powers to be quite compelling (though I'm not sure I understood what happened at tge end there). Regardless, I'm interested to see where this goes in the next issue. While not John Byrne or Steve Epting, I thought the art was solid and didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

Kenjamin

Aug 04, 2025

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

superstan52

Apr 30, 2025

The idea of finding the exact moment in alternate universes when the FF were bombarded by cosmic rays is ludicrous, especially since they are able to do it over and over so easily. Plus, why would it affect Ben exactly the same way? And what's to prevent Doom from simply doing it all over again? Would've been much more interesting to have him without his powers for a few months.

George

May 01, 2025

Not a good issue by North. And I generally like his FF. This one world under doom event feels very phoned in. And I don’t think each member of the FF becomes dumb, even if they are losing their powers.

ResearchReader

Jun 06, 2025

This was a poor issue. The one highlight for me was seeing the different version of the FF and how the radiation could affect them. That was nice. I will give credit where credit can be given. All the rest is... really badly written though. I do not know why North is writing Ben this way. He is really damaging his character. He is saying Ben would sacrifice everything to get his powers back, to get the teams powers back when the world is not in immediate danger? I could understand the risk if the entire universe was on the line but it is literally cause they dont like doom they were willing to ruin the universe for everyone else. ... This make him the bad guy. It is uncomfortable reading a writer butcher Ben like this. Also the comic rays stuff is just wrong in lore. It has occurred before as other raters have pointed out. North is just ignoring character and history for his own purpose which is... I dont even know. TL DR: North appears ignorant of both Ben's character and of FF history regarding the rays. Please do basic homework if you are the FF writer. more

Chris Y

Apr 30, 2025

We've read this story a thousand times. The ending in particular. North's retarded dialogue and clumsy pacing doesn't help, and neither does the mediocre art.

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• Williamflipper

Halodystroyer44 - May 1, 2025 (edited)

Another "anti woke" faggot

Williamflipper

May 03, 2025

Kindergarten AI.