Tomes of Costumed Adventurers: Fantastic Four: Countdown to Chaos

Tomes of Costumed Adventurers

Welcome to the land of "reality", where scientific experiments, accidents, genetic heritage, and alien influences affect the lives of ordinary mortals. Join me as I observe the superhumans of planet earth and their struggles against equally powerful foes.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Fantastic Four: Countdown to Chaos
Author: Pierce Askegren
Publisher: Boulevard Books
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1998

Things are going wrong left and right in the world, and no one can see the pattern of it all. Certainly no one could ever realize that there's someone out there pulling all the strings. No one, that is, until the Fantastic Four enter the picture. Through their opponent's manipulation and miscalculation, and through just plain coincidence, they stumble upon one of the most contrived, most insidious, most long-term scheme for world domination they have ever encountered. Somehow they must track down the mastermind of this plot before the entire world plunges into chaos and anarchy. But first, they have two other problems to deal with: the sudden appearance of the Royal Family of the Inhumans with a problem of their own, and a traitor in their own number! Can they find the solution to all their problems before their opponent starts moving against them...or before the traitor in their midst brings about their ultimate downfall?

Fantastic Four: Countdown to Chaos has a convoluted plot that involves scheme within scheme within scheme. It would take a genius to completely unravel the threads and understand what each one is leading to. Fortunately for the reader, we get to see into the thoughts of the genius, so we can understand exactly what such disparate events as a missing cobblestone and a nuclear meltdown have in common.

Although the Fantastic Four are a superb team of heroes, and although I happen to like the way Johnny Storm can go from being the young-at-heart super celebrity to becoming the experienced and accomplished and capabale super hero at a moment's notice, I thought the best feature of this book was the inclusion of the Inhumans. In the comics the only one I had any real exposure to was Crystal, and that was because she was a one-time member of the Fantastic Four. Well, not counting guest shots here and there. This time, getting to see not only Medusa--who I'd heard about before--in action but also Black Bolt, Gorgon, Karnak, and Triton was a terrific treat. Not only do I get the background information on their powers and abilities--which don't always come through clearly in the comics, since the reader presumably recognizes these characters from other appearances--I also get to see their effects in minute detail. Wonderful!

Fantastic Four: Countdown to Chaos is most definitely a countdown to...something. You'll have to read it to believe it But here's something you might want to think about: what do you call someone who can accurately identify all the trends and tendencies and habits of humanity and society, and can properly manipulate them down alternative paths to meet his or her own ends?

Rating: Villains and heroes and monsters galore, just waiting for you to jump in!

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