Seriously, this is not a commentary on the issue. But of all the premiums to include in second printing of Fantastic Four #588 - a script? This smacks of greed clouding even a cursory examination of what said script would entail:

PAGE TWO, PANEL ONE:

WOLVERINE is all like, "Grrr!"

PAGE TWO, PANEL TWO:

BEN is all like, "Sniffle."

PAGE TWO, PANEL THREE:

WOLVERINE is a all like, "Dawww."

Again, this is not a dig at the issue. Which has like one page of dialogue and not particularly interesting or innovative panel layout. What I'm saying is - and I'm a writer, I read scripts for fun - there is, to my way of thinking, zero reason to read the script for this issue.

I imagine that the only revelations to be gleaned from this script will be redacted - llike the scene where Reed confronts Annihilus and "doesn't nullify him, because he totally recognizes that it's XXXXXX XXXXX in a cockroach costume, and as soon as they finish beating Galactus with Spider-Man in their new Rei Ayanami suits, they can bring him back, reinvigorated for the Heroic Age and ready for the film reboot."

Damn, comics make a guy cynical. But with announcements like this, can you really blame me?

Marvel is pleased to announce that Fantastic Four #588 has sold out at Diamond (although copies may still be available at retail) and will be going back to press with Fantastic Four #588 Second Printing Variant. From the superstar creative team of Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta and Mark Brooks comes the end of the Fantastic Four, except this time – Marvel is including the entire script in the back of the issue, free of charge! Now fans can get an exclusive behind the scenes look at one of the most talked about issues of the year! Following up on the sold-out hit Fantastic Four #587, all the heroes of the Marvel Universe come together and pay tribute to one of their own. But the story isn’t over yet because where one door closes, another opens. It’s now up to Reed, Sue, and Ben to make life-changing decisions of their own volition that set them on a course destined to change the Marvel Universe in Johnny’s honor! Say your final farewells to the Fantastic Four, this February in Fantastic Four #588 Second Printing Variant!

FANTASTIC FOUR #588 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (JAN118112)

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Penciled by NICK DRAGOTTA & MARK BROOKS

Cover by ALAN DAVIS

Rated A …$3.99

 

(Click here for full image)

X-Men Family Tree creator Joe Stone is at it again, this time graphing the family history of Marvel's Fantastic Former Foursome.

Now it's a threesome, and Spider-Man's coming to the party!  Wow that reads kinda icky, huh?

Just as there are many women in the X-Men the Fantastic "Four" has long been a misnomer. Stone's family tree features Richardses, Storms, Inhumans, Heralds, Skrulls, She-Hulks, Atlanteans and more, all of whom make up one big-ass, extended, dysfunctional super-family.

Check out the complete FF family tree here.