Fantastic Four #314 Cover By Ron Frenz
Artists: Ron Frenz (Penciller) , Joe Sinnott (Inker)
1,083 Views - 14 Comments - 10 Likes
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Fantastic Four 314 Published
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DescriptionI will get it out of the way upfront...I hated She-Thing. Hated. I had my issues with much of the makeovers at Marvel during this time but Sharon Ventura's Ms. Marvel was not one I ever accepted.Ok, now that's out of the way I love this cover from one of my favorite periods on Fantastic Four! As a kid I grew up watching the reruns of the old Marvel Superhero Gran-Tray "cartoons" with the animation coming right from the panels on the pages. I knew all the secret identities and costumes and they were ironclad in my mind. As a very young kid I played with the Mego dolls and was given the odd comic or two at times so I knew what these characters looked like. When I graduated to reader and collector it was the mid 1980's and the Marvel Universe of my pre-teen years was turned on it's ear. Hulk was grey. Captain America was just a red, white, and black Captain. Thor had a beard and armor. Spidey...wore all black? What the hell was going on? As if my mind were steeled with adamantium Marvel pushed my adolescent senses to the limit with their bronze age co-flagship character...Benjamin Grimm, the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing. His spiky transformation was a bridge too far. I had all I could stands and couldn't stands no more! Yet...the stories were great. They really were. At a time when Reed and Sue were gone - off running around as Avengers - and the new FF consisted of Human Torch, Crystal, Ms. Marvel, and led by The Thing I thoroughly enjoyed the title. In fact this arc is one of my most fondly remembered and reread issues. I have reread the Epic Collection trade numerous times and enjoy it more and more. This was a period which saw Ben charting a very different course for the FF as explorers. Less outer and more inner space. They weren't imaginauts as much as spelunkers as they blazed a multi-part adventure through Marvel's subterranean realms. It was awesome fun. The cover is pure classic Marvel magic. Plenty of action and drama as the hero - Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew - is swarmed by monstrous minions of the underworld. Thing struggles to save the damsel, Torch's former flame Crystal from the clutches of that meanie Belasco. And speaking of Johnny's ex Crystal, what a love quadrangle that was with Johnny married to Ben's Alicia while Crystal and he still had sparks! Marvel's first superheroes, Atlas era pre-hero Kirby monsters, true love and romance - this run had it all! Of course it was delineated with the exquisite expert quality you always were treated to from Ron Frenz and Joe Sinnott. Just a great time on the Fantastic Four! Ben's spiky look even grew on me and I remain nostalgic for it to this day, but I still can't stand that lumpy, hairy She-Thing. Fantastic Four #314 May, 1988 "The Scenic Route" Writer: Steve Englehart Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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J H 
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 9/21/2020
Nostalgia blast! I loved this issue, and any hellish cover Marvel did. I was more agnostic on She-Thing and spiky Thing, but I loved this time period. Frenz did a lot of the work that us 80s kids loved. Congrats on an awesome cover!
Simon . K
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 9/21/2020
This just blows me away! Ron Frenz's art is simply divine and I honestly can't sing enough praises for his work and this cover!
Dave W
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 9/21/2020
Frenz and Sinnott make everything look great, including pineapple Thing! Congrats - great Marvel perios piece!
Paul P Spiderversity
Member Since 2011
Posted on 9/21/2020
Pure Frenz/Sinnott FF magic! Major congrats!
Shelton Bryant
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 9/21/2020
Frenz's Work is Always Strong. . Always Majestic!! Gr8 Grab!! .
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 9/21/2020
I hated She-Thing AND Spiky Thing too, but that doesn't always guarantee a crappy comic book experience. As you mentioned yourself, in spite of these changes and additions, the Frenz/Sinnott team, coupled with the fact that the writing was still really good, offered readers boatloads of fun. I'll take it one step further and mention that I also always hated Belasco and any stories he was involved in, and yet I STILL LOVED this issue! This time period offered up stories and art that were very reminiscent of the great Lee/Kirby era. A fabulous piece to add to your collection!
K Gearon
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 10/6/2020
This cover really does channel the vintage Marvel cover looks from '60s and '70s but also bringing in some modern sensibilities too. I wasn't an avid FF reader but had issues here and there from this run and I really enjoyed powered up Ben leading the FF. This cover really makes you want to open up the book ASAP - effective! Congrats!
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