Fantastic Four 534 & 535: Who's comics is this anyways?
J. Michael Straczynski (JMS), you kill me. Ever since he has taken over this comic, it has been a battle to read his issues. Some comics I breeze through and enjoy them effortlessly. With JMS's comic it has been a major struggle, in particular the Fantastic Four and Supreme Power. But I still continue to buy both comics because of the story art by FF's Mike McKone and SP's Gark Frank.
So the Thing and Human Torch has chased to the Hulk to Las Vegas. All this happened because Child Protective Services deemed the Richards as endangerment to their children and has taken custody. The FF needs to locate the Hulk since he is godfather to the kids and could legally take the kids while the FF battled CPS. Of course, the Hulk is in rage mode and starts battling the Thing and Human Torch. Can they calm him down enough to save the kids from the CPS?
The first question I asked, "Is who's comic is this anyways?" JMS wrote a Hulk story, and mislabel this issue with a Fantastic Four label. It is full of flashbacks of Hulk's saddest moments in life. (I wish some one would tag the flash back to the appropriate comic, because I'm sure the younger reader won't remember them.) At the end, you realize the Hulk is one badd muther... and can't be beat, thus leading to the "Planet Hulk" stuff going on the Hulk's own title.
The Thing comments about a conversation to Mr. Fantastic, "Then I made a little joke and said maybe the only way to really protect the world from the Hulk if he ever goes really nuts is ta stick him in a rocket and shoot him out into space-- Let him be somebody else's problem." Of course, they actually do that anyways. Oh by the way, FF ended up not needed the Hulk as a godfather, because somebody blows up the safehouse where the kids were suppose to be, proving that the safest place for the kids is with their parent. So does this event mattered, probably not.
These issues were entertaining, but could be better. JMS continues to hurt me, but I keep taking because of Mike McKone. I loved his work on Teen Titians and wished he had stayed on. RATINGS: STORY- 5/10 ART- 8/10