Customer Reviews

Fantastic Four: Franklin Richards - Lab Brat

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It's style and its (mis)adventures of Franklin Richards, son of Reed and Sue Richards of the Fantasic Four, and his real exasperated robotic protector/baby sitter, H.E.R.B.I.E.

With his parents and two uncles off saving the universe or resting, Franklin has a lot of free time to explore ways of getting out of his chores or other children constraints.

Being a bright kid (he is the son of super-genius), he resorts to his family's vast assets of super-science to bend the rules. H.E.R.B.I.E. usually is an unwilling participant but is compelled by his programming to obey. The 2-3 page stories tend to end with Franklin learning his lesson but unsurprisingly, he doesn't remember the lesson in the next story.

I am a huge fan of Calvin and Hobbes and, though this is not in the same level of that masterpiece, it is fun for folks steeped in Marvel lore and a fun way for dads to introduce a kid-safe comic to their sons (and daughters if they're interested).

When he's not flitting through time or demonstrating vast, world-changing powers, Franklin Richards is a silent backdrop to the Fantastic Four. He's Franklin Richards, son of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, and he's frankly too young to be of much interest to readers.

That changed when someone was inspired to transmogrify the young, blond-haired boy into a Marvel Comics version of the famous pre-teen terror Calvin, of the sadly defunct comic strip Calvin & Hobbes. Playing the role of Hobbes, Calvin's sometimes-stuffed, sometimes-real tiger companion, is H.E.R.B.I.E., Franklin's high-strung robo-nanny.

The potential for humor is great but is largely untapped. Each brief yarn involves Franklin availing himself of some dangerous invention -- apparently the Richards family has never bothered to child-proof their home -- and panicking when something goes drastically wrong. Hijinks ensue.

Franklin is no Calvin, but he could learn a few things from Calvin's often cerebral, always imaginative approach to the world around him. Instead, writers Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Sumerak plot simple action/reaction stories that never delve beyond the most basic level of surface humor. For example, one vignette involves Franklin shrinking down to the size of an insect -- and ending up a booger in his father's nose. It's worth a chuckle, but little more. I think they can do better.

by Tom Knapp, Rambles.(n e t) editor

These "Franklin Richards" books are a real hoot. Transforming Reed & Sue's often-bland son into a budding juvenile deliquent, these stories are full of gleeful mayhem as young Franklin (drawn and scripted very much in the style of the awesome comic strip "Calvin & Hobbes") keeps raiding his dad's super-science lab in search of some gizmo that'll either help him with his homework or maybe just keep from being bored. He is pursued by his robotic nanny, H.E.R.B.I.E., who clucks and fusses ineffectually as Franklin shrinks himself, alters reality, de-evolves his classmates at school or disrupts the space-time continuum (again!). The comedic beats are perfect, the artwork and stories are really fun and -- best of all -- it's one of precious few mainstream comics today that is actually okay for really young readers to get into. My kid loves it! A very fun series... highly recommended! (Joe Sixpack, ReadThatAgain children's book reviews)

This comic book was great! It showed Franklin Richards as if he was combined with Calvin from "Calvin and Hobbes". The book is full of laughs and will keep you entertained. I recommend this to any Fantastic Four Fan with a sense of humor.