FANTASTIC FOUR #13 (MARVEL COMICS)
No one has ever said the smartest member of the Fantastic Four is Johnny Storm.
Recent decisions (including that mustache) are prime examples why his plans need to be vetted. His latest idea is one heck of a doozie.
FANTASTIC FOUR #13 by Ryan North, Andrea Sorrentino, Edgar Delgado & Joe Caramagna sees Johnny Storm play with hellfire and try not to get burned.
Let’s take a closer look at what goes wrong here.
FANTASTIC FOUR #13 by Ryan North, Andrea Sorrentino, Edgar Delgado & Joe Caramagna (Marvel Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
One aspect North does really well is take some chances involving his characters with a touch of humor involved. Having Johnny Storm impersonate Ghost Rider (of all characters!) is a wild take. The writing shows him committing to the bit with help from his sister Sue. It is a very different approach which kudos need to be given. The fact Storm thought this would hold up as long as he did is quite an under-estimation.
Readers watch as someone smarter than him figures the ruse out. Their confrontation plays out as one might expect. Overshooting his means, Johnny falls victim to the games at hand. It takes a slightly darker turn as the villain at hand reveals his play. This leads into more hijinks as Johnny and Sue get in over their heads. The resolution is a fun one knowing the First Family’s way of business. While this is great, the epilogue is even better. A fun tip of the cap sees the story ride out into the night, leaving on a high note.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Addressing the controversy surrounding the artist and accusations of previous A.I. Use:At NYCC 2025, C. B. Cebulski (Marvel EIC) made a vocal statement that A.I. art wouldn’t be allowed at Marvel & they have upped their vetting for preventing it from being published.
The art nails the gritty aura of Ghost rider in his first confrontation. The two page spread following gives off the horror feel needed when presenting the Spirit of Vengeance. This continues onward with Johnny’s ride for vengeance. When confronting a smarter villain than him, Johnny is taken out with a two page spread of action. This leads into a grim reality for Strom’s big plan. Readers see how this is dealt with via more heavy panels of GR’s stone persona. It ends with a fun twist that is aligns with how the FF mythos deals with threats like this. Johnny’s parting shots match perfectly to what transpires on the final page.
FINAL GRADE: 8.5
Johnny Storm’s latest brainstorm goes up in smoke as the reality of his plans backfire in a fun adventure. North pushes some creative lanes while the art compliments the set-up. It’s definitely a Fantastic Four tale by structure and performance.
Let me know your thoughts on Fantastic Four #13 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
