Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Mark Farmer
It did not take the Fraction/Bagley team long to settle in on this title. Fraction started the series with the Four and Franklin and Valeria going exploring. By taking them out of the Marvel Universe, it lets him focus on the family dynamics. Fraction is doing a great job with the Reed-Sue relationship. This issue had an interesting main story that centered about a trip through time to visit Rome during the final days of Julius Caesar. Since this is the world of comics, it involves an alien explorer from the future and trying to prevent changes to the timeline. It ends with a twist that appears to flow into the FF book. Reading this reminds me, in spirit, of the John Byrne days of the Fantastic Four. Byrne tried to make them more explorers and family oriented and less with the super-villains. After Hickman’s epic run, I was afraid this title would not be as strong. Fraction (with Bagley’s assistance) has kept the quality up without trying to imitate Hickman’s storytelling. It is still a very good title.