Written by: Ryan North
Artwork by: Ivan Fiorelli
Colours by: Brian Reber
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cowl artwork by: Alex Ross (cowl A)
Cowl worth: $3.99
Launch date: December 6, 2023
Incredible 4 #14 finds the gang collectively on the large day when the Baxter Constructing and their youngsters are as a result of return. Sadly, a tech billionaire is constructing a transmitter on the touchdown pad.
Is Incredible 4 #14 Good?
Ryan North can not get out of his personal means. Regardless of the previous couple of points presenting a marked enchancment in leisure worth, Incredible 4 #14 shows the identical unhealthy artistic selections that hindered the start of North’s run. In brief, the villain is lame, and the battle is boring.
When final we left the Incredible 4, they teamed up with their dino counterparts from an alternate dimension to cease Dr. Doom and Dino-Dr. Doom from merging their Earths collectively. Now, the FF returns to the place it began on the sight of the time-displaced Baxter Constructing, the place they discover a gaggle of residents and supervillains constructing what seems to be like a transmitter on the empty lot the place the Baxter Constructing is because of seem in a number of hours.
The FF discovered that building is going on by way of a gamified cell app the place gamers earn factors from performing real-world duties. When the FF pays the app’s inventor, Dan Passi, a go to, they be taught his app makes use of rewards and affect as a approach to affect the long run. When Passi learns concerning the transmitter on the Baxter Constructing lot, he realizes his system has been hacked, and he asks Reed to assist repair the compromise. Reed and Johnny use the chance to destroy Passi’s work, deciding that Passi’s invention is just too harmful. Later, the second arrives for the Baxter Constructing to return, however unsurprisingly, nothing occurs.
That’s proper. After greater than a 12 months ready for this massive occasion to repay, North chooses the street more and more traveled by Marvel writers by not paying off the setup. Admittedly, the Baxter Constructing’s return doubtless wouldn’t lead to some monumental shift within the FF’s establishment, however it could have not less than served as a possibility to do one thing completely different.
What’s nice concerning the Incredible 4 #14? The staff’s banter is entertaining. I do know that doesn’t sound like a lot, however I’m actually struggling to seek out one thing optimistic concerning the script that rises above mediocre.
![](https://weirdsciencemarvelcomics.files.wordpress.com/2023/12/fantastic-four-14-p2.jpg?w=675)
What’s not so nice about Incredible 4 #14? North’s tech billionaire villain (with a lowercase ‘v’) is a misguided genius who appears to behave as North’s social commentary about real-life tech billionaires (Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and so forth.) who’re extra concerned about achievement and design whereas ignoring the social harm they trigger. The social commentary is as refined as a brick to the face, North’s rationalization of Passi’s future influencing tech is flawed (ignores patches of chance principle and free will) AND boring, and the entire situation looks like a time waster earlier than displaying the Baxter Constructing isn’t coming again.
On the long run influencing tech drawback, North’s earlier points stumbled as a result of he put the science lesson in entrance of the story, so the studying expertise suffered. Right here, North repeats the “science lesson first, story second” mannequin with a predictable final result. How’s that for creating your individual future?
How’s the artwork? Fiorelli’s artwork really is the spotlight of this difficulty. The character designs look nice, particularly now that Ben’s head seems to be the way in which it’s imagined to look (see points 11-13), and Reber’s colours look incredible. The story could also be as boring as dishwater, however not less than the pages are daring and visually interesting.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Writer & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics overview web site devoted to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Items
Incredible 4 #14 is an unlucky step backward in a narrative a couple of villain who can affect the long run. North unwisely places the science lesson earlier than the journey (once more) with a heavy-handed message concerning the risks of tech billionaires. The artwork, nevertheless, seems to be nice.