Note: Most of my reviews contain spoilers, but I try that none of these spoilers "can actually spoil" any of the important surprises in the story arc, so you can read without worrying.
The story of Reed Richards, Susan and Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm has reached the small screen more than once, nevertheless there is consensus between fans that this first adaptation is the best one and being a "true believer" (that's one of the first ways in which Stan Lee used to address to his fans) I want to give my two cents trying to explain why.
1) None of the threats is undervalued: If they face Galactus or any other villain or danger that can actually destroy the Earth before the end of the week, we can actually feel it.
2) It has comical releases but they don't try to make the jokes the most important part of the show.
3) Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) has a fun-loving personality but he never acts like a jerk, Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic) is a workaholic intellectual but he is never depicted as insensitive and Ben Grimm (The Thing) is depicted as funny but his most important characteristic is that he is a good man and Susan Storm (The invisible Woman) can seem a little naive, but never superficial .... this is how heroes must be!!!
4)Mystical episodes are actually mysterious. In many modern TV shows and movies, this kind of plots show an "excess of comfort" that make them less appealing. One of the great things of both this first FF and the first Spider-man TV adaptation is that their episodes concerning mystical stuff feel actually mysterious.
Other versions of the story can have their good things but this first adaptation is , by a mile, the best one ever done.
Thanks for reading!
The story of Reed Richards, Susan and Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm has reached the small screen more than once, nevertheless there is consensus between fans that this first adaptation is the best one and being a "true believer" (that's one of the first ways in which Stan Lee used to address to his fans) I want to give my two cents trying to explain why.
1) None of the threats is undervalued: If they face Galactus or any other villain or danger that can actually destroy the Earth before the end of the week, we can actually feel it.
2) It has comical releases but they don't try to make the jokes the most important part of the show.
3) Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) has a fun-loving personality but he never acts like a jerk, Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic) is a workaholic intellectual but he is never depicted as insensitive and Ben Grimm (The Thing) is depicted as funny but his most important characteristic is that he is a good man and Susan Storm (The invisible Woman) can seem a little naive, but never superficial .... this is how heroes must be!!!
4)Mystical episodes are actually mysterious. In many modern TV shows and movies, this kind of plots show an "excess of comfort" that make them less appealing. One of the great things of both this first FF and the first Spider-man TV adaptation is that their episodes concerning mystical stuff feel actually mysterious.
Other versions of the story can have their good things but this first adaptation is , by a mile, the best one ever done.
Thanks for reading!