Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Marvel Comics & Wildstorm
Cover Date: 2001
Cover Price: $5.95
Writer: Kevin Maguire
Artist: Kevin Maguire
On their visit to New York City, the Gen 13 team makes the mistake of leaving their transdimensional pet, Qeelocke, locked in their hotel room while they go off to explore the city. Meanwhile, Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four detects the sudden appearance of an alien presence in the Atlantic Ocean – he and his wife leave the Baxter Building to investigate. Back at the hotel, the existence of this alien being sends Qeelocke into a frenzy as he escapes the hotel room. With the aid of Spider-Man, the Human Torch is able to capture Qeelocke and bring him back to the Baxter Building. Imprisoned at the Fantastic Four’s headquarters, the Torch and Thing notice that Qeelocke’s green hair body has begun to grow – and will soon outgrow his cage!
When the Gen 13 team catches wind that a little green monster was captured by the FF, they rush to the Baxter Building to rescue their pal. This leads to the inevitable team vs team battle that’s to be expected from crossovers like this. Of course, this ultimately leads to both teams coming together to stop the larger problem. The larger problem? Well it’s really large. The previously unkown alien presence that Reed and Sue went to find has surfaced in New York City – and it’s Godzilla-sized. But, so is Qeelocke, by now – and the two huge monsters charge towards each other to GET IT ON! Literally …. :-p
These inter-company crossovers are often plagued with the same issues. First of all, neither can truly be set within continuity. In this case, Fairchild recalls that some of Reed Richards’ research/work had been used to create the Gen Active Program. But, if this were the case, it opens up a whole ton of continuity issues between the Marvel and Wildstorm universes. So, we’ll say this one’s not canon. The next problem is that they always have the two teams fight each other until they discover they’re all “on the same side”. So, the story’s usually formulaic and the creator has to find some kind of hook to distinguish it. The hook this time around was the involvement of two skyscraper-sized monsters building towards a confrontation. However the real fun was in the twist at the end and Kevin Maguire’s art (his wonderful ability to create great facial expressions). But, even with those factors in mind, this prestige format book wouldn’t warrant a re-read in the near-future.
On Ebay: Fantastic Four | Gen 13 | Kevin Maguire