One thing writer Jonathan Hickman is doing that I really like is that each issue of this series is self-contained, like nearly all of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s initial 100 issues on this book. (There’s a lot I like about Hickman’s run, by the way. This is just one thing.) At the same time, he honors the modern style of developing more complex narrative through-lines, so the stories are never simple and regular readers are rewarded.
This issue starts with Reed Richards at the “Singularity Conference,” which is an annual gathering of wealthy scientists and global planners.
He expresses the need for a new vision–a vision of Earth being part of a universe full of beings who work together. This is another thing Hickman is doing that is different and fantastic: He seems to actually be able to think like a guy who has Reed’s experiences and intellect. Under Hickman, Reed is voracious, arrogant, curious, and always many steps ahead of everyone else.
In short, Reed figures out the need for a group of kids to outsmart the smartest scientists in the world. But he could only have done it by being a smug shithead.
After returning home, Reed realizes what he needs to do to “walk the walk” of his own vision, and creates a “Future Foundation” for young rising geniuses of varied race/species. Alex Power is selected for his courage and experience leading the Power Pack team. (Alex calls himself the “dumb one” on the FF team–although he’s far from dumb.) Susan Richards, who is still the ambassador to the original Atlantis, invites the King’s two children to join.
Reed also invites four moloids: Tong, Turg, Korr, and Mik.
One of them, Turg, is a head in a jar. These four moloid geniuses will end up being the most entertaining of all the group–their worship of Thing (who they call “The Ben”) will be endlessly hilarious.
Valeria and Franklin are also, obviously, part of the group–and Valeria is upgrading Dragon Man so that he can be smart, too. You can tell he’s smart because he wears glasses now. The final member is Wizard’s cloned son, Bentley. Their mission: Solve everything.
I love how Hickman brings surprises and excitement–and HOPE–to every issue of this book. The amount of creativity here is incredible.
There’s also more developments on Ted Castle’s Nu World, who now has a robot wife, and the “Ultron Collective” that shares that universe. Time is rapidly moving forward there…
I still don’t care about Nu World, but it’s much better in Hickman’s hands than it was with Mark Millar.