All Hail Galactus?

So, the new Fantastic Four movie, eh? This movie will follow the appearance of the Silver Surfer and the coming of Galactus. This is probably the best and most well-known storyline that exists in the Fantastic Four's run and also amongst Marvel fans worldwide.

Galactus is a cool bad guy and represents a danger that is far beyond what we could comprehend. He also seems like a metaphor for our own constant devouring of natural resources. He's a warning to us all, if you will, that if we don't take good care of our planet it will become a lifeless world much like Mars.



The Silver Surfer is a shining pillar of virtue. He was a man, called Norrin Radd, who decided to give up his life and his love in order to save his home and his people from Galactus. He made a bargain with Galactus and became the Silver Surfer, Herald of Galactus. He would spend eternity searching the universe for worlds for Galactus to devour. He would use his judgement to decide whether of not a world and its life deserved to live or not. His eternal search was stopped when he came to Earth and initially judged it to be fodder of Galactus, until Reed Richards and co convinced him that Earth and the Human race were worth saving. Norrin, reconising something of his own people in the Humans, decided to help the Fantastic Four defeat Galactus and save Earth. The succeeded but the cost was great for the Silver Surfer. Galactus imprisoned him on Earth for eternity.



This is certainly my favourite storyline of the Fantastic Four. I do tend to avoid the Fantastic Four because, other than this story, they are a bit bland for me. They have, however, spawned some of my favourite Marvel characters, including Dr Doom, Galactus and the Silver Surfer. I especially love Dr Doom and the Silver Surfer. I am quite partial to the Thing as well, on his own of course. Having said this, the first movie was entirely disappoining. In fact, for me, the only high point was Julian McMahon's superb Dr Doom. I thought that the Thing was too small, Jessica Alba was wooden as Sue Richards and Chris Evan's Johnny Storm was more annoying than a recurring rash. The only time where a Marvel movie adaptation has been less enjoyable was the laughable Punisher with Dolph Lundgren in it. That's right I even thought Daredevil (yes, even though it has Affleck in it) was better than Fantastic Four. Let's just not mention Elektra. Tim Story, also, does not have a good track record. In fact, he has directed the downright awful adaptation of Luc Besson's Taxi with Queen Latifah in it. Enough said.


You can understand then why I have some misgivings about the second outing of the Fantastic Four. Especially with the use of one of my favourite stories featuring two more of my most-loved Marvel characters.

What I don't understand is that the Hulk, which I thought was superb and inventive, has recieved a change in director for the sequel but the Fantastic Four, which was mediocre at best has not. A quick comparison, using www.rottentomatoes.com (a site which compiles ratings based on all available reviews of movies) finds the Fantastic Four at 26% where Hulk scores a very reasonable 60%. Why then are we being subjected to another Tim Story effort? Probably contractual obligations. I can only cross my fingers and hope that this time he'll get it right. On past endeavours though, the outlook is not good.

My only hope is that, when the time comes for Norrin Radd's first solo outing on celluloid, he will be given the respect he deserves. For a man who sacrifices everything to save his home and his people from the "Devourer of Worlds" I can only hope that his story is done justice.