Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics, Review | Tagged: alicia masters, Ben Grimm, chip zdarsky, doctor doom, fantastic four, Frank Martin, human torch, invisible woman, johnny storm, Marvel Comics, marvel two in one, mister fantastic, sci-fi, she-hulk, spider-man, superheroes, the thing, Valerio Schiti, wolverine

Marvel Two-in-One #4 Review: The Series Hits Its Stride

The Thing, the Human Torch, and Dr. Rachna Koul begin their mutliversal expedition to locate the rest of the Fantastic Four. They arrive on a world very much like their own, but they are soon attacked by She-Hulk and Wolverine in SHIELD-branded uniforms. What is different here? Why are their friends trying to kill them?

Marvel Two-in-One #4 begins to deliver on what the comic promised: Thing and Torch scouring the multiverse for Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Franklin, and Valeria. It begins to hit the emotions quickly with this one too. Hopefully without giving too much away, the world they find inverts their own in some ways. It lines up directly with their own struggles, and Chip Zdarsky sticks the landing rather perfectly.

There is some action and fun to be had too amongst all the heavy emotions. We get to see the Thing slug Wolverine through a building, and that will always be great. Even the lead-up to that moment is well-done too.

Rachna Koul isn't expanded on too much in this issue. We learn that she may have some ulterior motives, and she continues to be condescending. It isn't as fun in this issue, though.

There is some spottier dialogue towards the beginning. Spider-Man and Alicia Masters see Ben and Johnny on their way. Spidey tells some jokes that don't quite land. There's a corny, overly telegraphed joke with Ben not quite expecting what the multiverse-jump was going to be like. However, these don't hurt the book too badly.

Velerio Schiti's artwork captures the emotional weight of the book well, with many solemn scenes of a moist-eyed Ben Grimm or hurting Johnny Storm. The scene between the multiverses is gorgeous. The short action sequences are well-constructed. The paneling can get a little labyrinthine here and there. The oily texture of the surfaces creates occasional moments where a part of a character's body looks like it's molding into another. This problem isn't common, thankfully.

Frank Martin's color work is bright and appealing too. This is definitely a book that needs some bright color art, and Martin delivers.

Marvel Two-in-One #4 shows the book getting into universe-hopping groove that it's been promising since the first issue. It has some heavier moments, but there is enough fun to balance that out. The art is solid, the characters are largely enjoyable, and the book gets a recommendation. Give it a read.

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