Review: Reckoning War The Trial of the Watcher #1

What If Javier Rodriguez was the greatest artist in the Marvel Universe? Reckoning War Trial of the Watcher is an unique and well made look back at a key moment in Fantastic Four history. Dan Slott is incredibly skilled at taking a basic story concept and giving it huge stakes that draw the reader in. Moreso the art by Javier Rodriguez makes this truly feel like an event book, with each panel given depth, personality and detail.

Uatu is getting grilled by the other Watcher over his continual failure to simply watch. They chide him for getting involved in what they see as petty squabbles. He is missing the wide scope of world events and reducing the potential of the galaxy by interfering. This leads to a classic What If framework asking what would happen if Uatu had not interceded at the Coming of Galactus.

The framework allows us to flashback to the classic family dynamic of the Fantastic Four during this time and see Reed’s genius can find solutions even in the most imposssible of situations. The artwork is so much extreme, expressive fun and the colors just launch the action off each page. Rather than simply running through the motions of this tale, this issue is filled with humor, horror, strategy and friendship. It also weaves in some great action. There is a key cameo from the classic Nick Fury popping up throughout the issue.

The Fantastic Four are shockingly able to navigate the threat of Galactus and defeat him without the help of Uatu. They are much worse for wear but the human ingenuity needed to achieve victory transforms the team and by extension humanity itself. Uatu’s father sentences Uatu to a cruel punishment, having to relive this alternate reality for eternity to remind him that intervention is not an option.

But the other Watchers are not so sure of this as the threat of the Prosilicans approaches and they worry that without their intervention it could spell disaster for the universe. The issue ends with a figure hidden in the corner of the Watchers home…the classic Nick Fury himself.

This is an extraordinary issue with jaw dropping art. It sets up some key conflicts and revisits the spirit of the Fantastic Four in a unique way.

Writing: 4.2 of 5 stars
Art: 5 of 5 stars
Colors: 5 of 5 stars

Overall: 4.6 of 5 stars

Writer: Dan Slott
Art and Colors: Javier Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.