Fantastic Four #255
Published and © by Marvel, June 1983
Title: “Trapped”
Synopsis: Mr. Fantastic is dead (or is he?), the FF are trapped in the Negative Zone, and Annihilus threatens everything. Yikes!
Writer: John Byrne
Artist: Byrne
Review: The world as we know it is coming to an end! No, wait … the universe as we know it is coming to an end! No, wait … make that TWO universes! John Byrne ratchets the tension up to 11, bringing in guest stars (Daredevil) and leaving the Thing’s blind girlfriend at the “mercy” of Annihilus. Meanwhile, back in the Negative Zone, Marvel’s first family finishes up a dandy, sci-fi adventure. Unfortunately, the art is probably the poorest of Byrne’s entire FF run, as the artist adds a thicker line to his already rough inking style.
Grade: B
Cool factor: After several issues focused on the Negative Zone, the subplot back on Earth heats up.
Not-so-cool factor: Byrne’s inking. It wouldn’t take him long to find a decent balance, but this might have been the issue that started all those “inking with a Sharpie” cracks.
Notable: Story continues in The Avengers #233.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 75¢ Canadian variant of this issue. … According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.
Character quotable: “Not so fast, mucus-face.” – The Human Torch, master trash talker
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Nov. 27, 2009.
