#Franklin might not have inherited the big brains

[flashfuture]

Franklin was every open about his art in the beginning when he wanst good but as he gets better and it becomes something much more emotional and frankly he starts drawing a lot more, he is less likely to share it. It’s like; how do you explain life as a conceptual force and not in...numbers? (Being an artsy kid in a family of scientists sounds like tough sometimes) But also sometimes it’s just your run of the mill of “please it’s embarrassing if you look at my work, it’s not that good” (which is untrue but Yknow)

So Val breaks into his room, as you do (little siblings just be like that), and is undated with bunch of full on paintings of solar systems and planets and flora and flana and individuals. Some are plain beautiful, others are a little more comical. Some are flat out memes.

“Self Portrait on the beaches of (Enter Planet Name here); note for later, water is freezing this time of year.”

“Star Systems: number #7263, this one is super blue and pink!”

“Safe distance Star (exploding) watching: do not tell mom or dad, but the star kind of reminded me of uncle Johnny in that moment. That thought is not comforting.”

“(Planet Name here): Biggest Trees Ive ever seen!!!!”

“Self portrait of me trying and failing to bring rose bush back to life, Kyle made it look so easy, the wee fucker (to use his own words).”

“Recreation of Women Yelling At Cat meme ft. Uncle Ben and Uncle Johnny because who else would it be.”

“Shown: Me roller blading through space to annoy Galactus”

“Spiderman but pictured in the caves of (Enter Planet name here).”

“What if...I drew Galactus in...but he was...small: the result, note he didn’t have a reaction when I showed him.”

“Mom and Dad, anniversary, gross and in love or whatever.”

“Val drawn in one of her many phases of disgust for the peons around her.”

“Memories of far shores: Oa.”

“Mother box lines aesthetics for pratice and fun, currently lost in a galaxy somewhere, oops.”

“End of the universe?” Shows picture of a small form, Franklin, hovering in front of a white wall with black framing him.

One just titled Torchbearer of a man Val’s never met but he’s the same suit that Franklin is fond of wearing now passing a pair of hands a ring that looks like Franklings. “Thank you for listening” is the only thing written other than it being in the vent art :/ pile other pictures in that pile include pieces like “Dead World” for instance.

In the middle there is just a unfinished family portrait. She looks at some of them and decides not to take any but she does needle him later at dinner. (“Can you really bring a Plant back to life?” / “I mean I’ve been trying too, it’s not like I’ve seen a math equation that unlocks the secrets to life itself like some people.”) the adults are a little confused, but Val is like “so I was in your room...” / “why?!” / “I wanted to see if you were hiding a stash of candies in there. But I found all your art.” / “oh my goooooooood.”

Oh my your mind anon. This is exactly why I love GL and FF comics. Just the scenery

And Franklin being able to enjoy it in a way that’s special to him 🥺

Look look Val being like one of the smartest people in the world would make her the most insufferable little sibling in the world. As soon as she discovers the art she demands to know about the planets and galaxies Franklin is exploring.

But he doesn’t seem them as science experiments or places to to be dissected like his dad and sister. And unlike his Uncle Johnny he doesn’t want to know how their technology tics either. He just wants Life to be.

And that’s something Kyle helped him realize and be comfortable with and I

This is excellent and amazing and perfect. I got actual goosebumps thinking of little Franklin in front of the source wall

[sebeth]

Marvel Two-In-One #1

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

S

 “The Fate Of The Four, Part 1” by Chip Zdarksy and Jim Cheung.

We begin with Johnny racing at the Gibson Speedway.  Johnny races into the second spot after passing Underwood and Evans.  Jordan is in the lead.  Jay Underwood, Chris Evans, and Michael Jordan are all actors that have portrayed Johnny Storm.

The crew warns Johnny the engine’s overheating.  He ignores the warnings, the car crashes but Johnny emerges unharmed.

We switch to Ben presenting the inaugural “Fantastic Award for those who advance scientific exploration in all its forms!”

The presenter notes “sadly, Reed Richards, Susan Storm, and their children, Franklin and Valeria, are lost to us now, their journey’s through the cosmos at an end.”

Secret Wars ended with Sue, Reed, and company setting out to re-create/fix the multiverse.  Reed didn’t take Johnny and Ben along for various reasons but he couldn’t have left a message: “Out fixing multiverse.  Be back soon.”  It’s rather heartless to let your family assume you’re dead.

Ben states: “Reed was the guy.  He was the big brain who kept lookin’ ta the stars.  Johnny loved the adventure of it.  Runnin’ without thinkin’.  Sue protected us, made sure we kept our eyes on what we were doing and why.  She saw the big picture of our little trips, what it meant fer everyone, what it meant fer the world.  I just drove the bus.  Heh.”

Pretty accurate summary of the group except Ben’s underestimating his contribution – he’s clearly the heart of the team.

Ben converses with Rachna. She liked his speech: “You seem like a guy who doesn’t do pretense.”

“When ya got blue eyes like mine, why put on airs.”

Rachna informs Ben she will “See you in there after you clean up the mess.”

Enter a tuxedo-clad Spiderman brawling with Piledriver, a member of the Wrecking Crew.

Ben finishes the fight with one punch.  Nice example of Ben the powerhouse.  The Wrecking Crew are regular opponents of Thor so a one-punch finish is a great testament to Ben’s strength.

Spidey arrived at the gala to support Ben, talk about Johnny, and hand the keys to storage unit that contains the old Baxter Building stuff.

Peter’s apparently gone bankrupt.  Thank you. I really hated “billionaire industrialist” Peter Parker.  Comic books have enough of those without throwing Spider-Man into the mix.  They erased the Peter-MJ marriage because it wasn’t “relatable” to comic fans but a billionaire industrialist is?  Yes, I will always be bitter about “One More Day”. Always.

Back to the Fantastic Four…

Ben’s irritated that Johnny “abandons me to do this stupid event by myself…”

Peter interrupts “I know Johnny isn’t the most…reliable guy out there.  But I’m worried about him!  He’s been pushing himself too much lately.  Being reckless.  When we hang out, he pretends he’s fine, but as soon as he thinks I’m not looking, he gets…morose.  Dark. I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘contemplative’ ‘cause it’s Johnny, but you know…something’s wrong.  He won’t talk to me, so I hoped you might be able to get him to open up.”

“Great.  I gotta be a child therapist now?”

Ben stops at the storage unit to retrieve a Fantasticar.  Ben recalls the liferaft during the Secret Wars.  Susan asked Ben: “Promise me, if…if something happens to me or Reed…take care of Franklin and Val and Johnny.  He looks up to you more than you know.  No matter your squabbles, no matter what…take care of him.  I’m his sister, but you’re his rock.”

Doctor Doom arrives at the storage unit, warning Ben: “The past is a trap, Benjamin.  I never expected you to wallow in it.  But I suppose my greatest flaw is that I expect too much of others.”

Victor consistently has a new “greatest flaw”.  My personal favorite is “I surround myself with idiots”.

Doom admits he visited the Baxter Building in the aftermath of the Incursion: “The very idea that Richards would succumb to anything other than the hand of Doom created a singular unease in my mind so I scoured your headquarters for some clue as to where he’d really gone.”

Doom’s search was unsuccessful but he did discover an orb left for Ben.  Ben’s furious over Doom’s break-in.

Doom proclaims “Base theft? All is owed to Doom!  I claimed knowledge by divine right!”  

Doom stops the fight: “I am venturing to be…a better man.  And part of this is undoing wrongs which I can control.  I am bequeathing you your ‘inheritance’.  Please…forgive my…minor transgression.”

Wow, how painful was that apology for Victor?  I don’t buy Victor as a “good guy” but I am intrigued by his desire to be a “better man”.

The orb contains the final wishes of Reed Richards.  He implores Ben and Johnny to “Explore.  Don’t stop. You may not think you need it, but you do.  And Johnny certainly does.”

Reed reveals the location of the Multi-Sect, a “tool that can access an area known as the multiplane, a nexus for seemingly infinite universes.”

Reed asks Ben to “Retrieve the trophy.  Take Johnny, and live the life you’ve always wanted to live…a fantastic one.”

Ben arrives in Wyoming and witnesses Johnny plunging from the sky.

Ben chews Johnny out for being reckless and reveals that Spidey asked him to come.

“Oh, for – Spider-Man?! Really?!  That guy worries about everyone!  He’s like some sort of superhero grandmother!”

Hey, Peter learned from the best!  And I like the “grandmother” job much better than the billionaire one!  Seriously, when do I get my “Spider-Man, Superhero Grandmother” title?  It can be the updated version of “Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends”.

Johhny erupts in anger – he doesn’t want to see Ben: “I didn’t want to be reminded of them.  Stop reminding me of them.  Stop reminding me of us!  Just…it’s over…”

Johnny attempts to destroy the Fantasticar but Reed designs his equipment to be fireproof.

Johnny reveals to Ben that he’s losing his powers: “I’ve noticed it lately.  My flame is…it’s weaker.  I can’t ‘flame on’ as long as I used to.  The most important part of my life was the team – our family – and now that’s gone.  If I lose my powers?  What’ll I have then?”

Could Johnny’s loss of power be psychological?  Depression and anxiety often have physical symptoms – the weakening flame could be a power-based version.\

Ben, realizing the depths of Johnny’s depression, tells a little white lie: “Reed left me a message…I just got it ‘cause that rat Doom stole it…it’s…he…they may still be alive.”

Doom spies from a distance: “Oh, Benjamin…a lie?  Really? Why would you ever say such a thing?”

Loved this issue! Great writing and beautiful art.