Franklin Richards!

Fantastic Four Presents: Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius Super Summer Spectacular, published by Marvel Publishing, Inc., 32 pages, $2.99.

Ah, to be a kid again. To be a kid with incredible gadgets from a father who happens to be a genius scientist is even better! So it goes in Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius Super Summer Spectacular from Marvel Comics.

Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Sumerac fashion five wonderfully entertaining tales of the incredible urchin, as he finds new ways to get into mischief. All the while his robotic caretaker "H.E.R.B.I.E." attempts to restrain his near-catastrophic sense of adventure, or at least to hide all the evidence after the fact.

Whether Franklin is attempting to better his Little League game by employing kinetic amplification gel, taking the Fantasti-sub in search of a giant squid, using one of his father's inventions to switch brain patterns with H.E.R.B.I.E. or bouncing all over the city with the help of a molecular density recalibrator, there is never anything boring about the stories that come out of Eliopoulos' and Sumerac's fertile imaginations.

Then, there's Chris' art. His style is simple, yet highly energetic and expressive. It seems to be those simpler styles that sometimes most astonish us with their strange ability to make the characters "come to life". His work does just that, as Franklin's wide eyes and broad smile communicate much about the innocent surprise and joy the world so often holds for a slightly ornery little boy. And, really, shouldn't every little boy be at least a bit mischievous?

Franklin Richards is recommended for all ages. It is essential, however, for those adults wishing to introduce a young son, daughter, niece, nephew, etc. to the joy that is the well-done comics story. It should be in elementary classrooms as well as doctors' waiting rooms. One thing is for sure; it's going on my spinner rack, where my kids are encouraged to "forage" for sequential fun.

Find it at comics shops as well as online retailers and auctions.

Review by Mark Allen

For information on the exciting Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection and Toy and Action Figure Museum go to fourcolorcommentary.blogspot.com/

Order Michael Vance's history of the American Comics Group in Alter Ego #s 61 and 62 at www.twomorrows.com.

Interested in the exciting Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection and Toy and Action Figure Museum? Go to fourcolorcommentary.blogspot.com/

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