Review by Frank Plowright
Island of Death collects three visits to Puerto Rico by members of the Fantastic Four, sometimes accompanied by others, and all by the same creative team of Tom Beland and Juan Doe.
It begins with Ben Grimm announcing he’ll be absent for a few days, but refusing to let his team-mates know where he’s going. Not respecting his privacy they follow, and discover a surprising secret.
Beland is a Puerto Rican resident (see True Story, Swear to God) and the love for his homeland shines through. This ensures the local colour and legends are presented sympathetically rather than trivialised, and he ties one of them in well with the Thing. He also makes interesting comments on the other FF members throughout, starting with Sue Storm’s view of the men in her life, while the villains who manifest are logically placed even if they’ve never previously been associated with Puerto Rico.
Artist Juan Doe improves story by story, and Island of Death is testament to his learning on the job. His first effort features some striking images, but the storytelling sometimes lets him down (sample art left) and his cartoon versions of the cast lack consistency. By the time Spider-Man and the Human Torch team-up for the second story the problems are being ironed out. Doe has moved more toward cartooning, the digital effects are improved and allowing for Johnny Storm never convincingly young, this is decent art.
Likewise, the opening story is Beland getting a feel for the cast and what follows is better. By the second story the word count is lower, and incorporates some shameful history while tying it with a frequent FF villain. The supporting role of a local policeman is well handled and so are the surprises.
The third story is better still, with Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman taking the spotlight. Doe’s artwork is more experimental, yet now always clear (sample art right), while Beland gifts Marvel a Puerto Rican superhero in El Vejigante. One might imagine an invulnerable spirit of redemption is a character others would pick up on, yet despite Beland showing the possibilities he remains an obscurity. He plays an equal role here in what has funny moments, a great ending and a charming epilogue nodding to Beland’s solo work.
A patchy first story accompanied by two gems still adds up to a Fantastic Four collection worth having.
