Fantastic Four #297-300: Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun! / Closer Than Brothers! / The Best Man / "Dearly Beloved..."

Writer: Roger Stern
Artists: John and Sal Buscema
Letterer: John Workman
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Don Daley
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter
Heroes all!
Special thanks to Peter Sanderson (#300)

Four issues chronicling Ben Grimm coming to terms with the engagement of his ex-girlfriend Alicia Masters to fellow teammate Johnny Storm.

Perhaps hurried on by the looming issue #300, the creators don't give anybody much time to make this transition. Not that anyone's motivation is flawed as a result, just that a lead character's wedding is a pretty big milestone, and one that I would have expected them to explore a bit more. Issue #300 - the wedding itself - isn't even a double-issue, although the strip does enjoy a whole two extra pages.

With that hugely-trumpeted collectors' edition, they also finally got the stapling sorted out. My copies of issues #297 and #298 have been nailed at a slight angle, while #297-299 all boast covers with margins. At 40p a pop, this is clearly absolutely outrageous.

The actual contents of issue #299 are a delight though. There are no villains, aliens or threats to anyone's survival, it's just everyday life in the FF. Better yet, in the mighty Marvel tradition of storytelling, it also manages to pack-in several flashbacks, an extensive guest-appearance by the amazing Spider-Man, and the pivotal opening of the group's new headquarters - 4 Freedoms Plaza. (presumably located opposite 3 Freedoms Plaza)

For a story-arc about about a super hero's engagement, how refreshingly mundane, and therefore escapist.