Answer me a question, someone.

[seriousfic]

I’ve heard that the new (already shitty) Fantastic Four movie is being based on the Ultimate Fantastic Four series. Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but that series was pretty unappreciated, right? I know Ultimate Spider-Man was very widely acclaimed, so it makes sense for them to adapt it into Amazing Spider-Man (even if that series ended up having more to do with my last bowel movement than it does Punk Rock Gwen or Peter’s Best Friend Mary Jane or the fact that USM was based on the Raimi Spider-Man movies in the first place). But all I remember of UFF is a standard-issue Muppet Babies/Guv’Mint Sponsored Superteam set of tropes in lieu of innovation. It seemed like the most thought that went into it was giving Doom goat legs and explaining that Reed didn’t have internal organs anymore. Riveting stuff.

In fact, the really well-liked runs of FF, aside from the obvious Lee/Dikto stuff, all had Reed and Sue married, the Baxter Building established, Franklin having been born, etc. I’m thinking John Byrne, Mark Waid—and in fact, the FF run penned by Mark Millar, same guy who did UFF, was widely reviled for a sophomoric “villain even worse than Dr. Doom!” plot.

UFF itself was canceled seemingly pretty quickly and went over to the usual gimmicky bullshit of Sue and Ben getting married instead of Reed and Sue, Reed becoming a supervillain, and Johnny moving in with Peter Parker (not like that, slash fans). So it just seems weird to me that Fox would go from adapting Days of Future Past with X-Men, a story that is very well-loved by comics fans, to adapting UFF for Fantastic Four, when the only thing that storyline seems to offer is an excuse to make all the actors dirt-cheap CWagers.

Comments

[shanejayell.livejournal.com]

Well it managed 63 issues or so, so that's not THAT bad. It was only cancelled because of the planned Ultimatum book and later making Reed Richards a villain.

(Blame Bendis.)

I will admit I also don't see why they should base a film off it...

[colonel-green.livejournal.com]

The only really notable thing UFF did was start the Marvel Zombies craze.

[(Anonymous)]

Personally I think it has more to do with the origins of the UFF. The UFF wasn't the best comic, but it also has a somewhat more believable motivation for the four to be empowered, why they were all there, how their powers work etcetera. Also, considering the last two movies tried (and failed, badly) to adapt classic storylines, maybe they decided to switch it up a little.

Though I think it also has to do with being able to cast 20somethings instead of 30+ year old actors. If they're trying for an FF universe, that gets more mileage before the actors start wrinkling and they have to reboot. - Doctopus