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Fantastic Four "Three" Finale—Do You Want To Be Spoiled?

With this year's first publicized comic event, will you read the spoilers or wait to read the issue?

No Caption Provided
Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting are about to bring death to the Fantastic Four. With the current storyline, THREE, someone is going to perish in Fantastic Four #587. Let me begin by stating that if you are looking for spoilers on that issue, you may have already heard them. Marvel has made it pretty difficult to avoid them.  
 
Death is such a common event in comic books these days yet the events that are about to happen have been getting a lot of attention and coverage in other non-comic book media. Someone is going to die and things will never be the same. We've heard it all before but, I have to admit, there's a tiny part that always wonders what if this death will actually stick?  
 
The Fantastic Four has always been about a family of superheroes. That is what has separated them from other teams. There has been discussion over who might be the one to die. Each death could have lasting repercussions. With everyone talking about this issue and comic stores being allowed to sell the issue one day early, will you read/seek out the spoilers or will you avoid them and read the issue for yourself? 
 == TEASER == 
     Will one of these be the new team roster or will there be another 'team'?
 Will one of these be the new team roster or will there be another 'team'?
For me, I don't want to be spoiled. I will do my best to avoid them until I get my hands on a copy. Not everyone feels that way. There are those that enjoy reading spoilers. They want to know right away. It might ruin the surprise but they're okay with that and will still look forward to reading/seeing the actual event occur. Some people enjoy being the one to reveal the spoiler. There is a sort of empowerment in being the first one with the information and knowing something that no one else does.  
 
     What's with this symbol?
 What's with this symbol?
What we know is someone is going to perish. Next month's issue #588 will be the final issue of Fantastic Four. We will then see FF #1 by Hickman and Epting in March. My theory is FF will last eleven issues with the twelfth reverting back to Fantastic Four just in time for issue #600.  
 
I've mentioned before who I think will/should die. You can stay tuned for some extensive discussion on this topic to see what me, Sara and Norm think including our reaction to the issue on Wednesday.  
 
If you are going to spoil it or want to be spoiled, we just ask that you do it discretely. If someone asks, send them a pm. If you wish to post it below in the comments, please use the spoiler tag. That also means do not quote the post with the spoiler tag or it will be revealed to everyone. 
 
More importantly, I'm curious about whether or not people want to be spoiled on this or if they're looking forward to actually reading the issue. The spoiler is out there, hours before comic shops even have a chance to open. If you got spoiled, was it by choice and who was it that spoiled you?     
No Caption Provided

Edit 

Looks like the cat's out of the bag. The secret is already out there. After debating, I've decided to go ahead and post the spoiler since Marvel has already released an official press release showing the cover and the identity of who dies. Still, if you want to avoid it, do not click on the spoiler tag below. 

177 Comments

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marvelcomicsandbatmanfanatic

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@gammasan55:  hey, reeds a great comic character. people just misunderstand him like superman
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MrFantastic

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Edited By MrFantastic
@IIayK:  But 
 
4-1+2=5 call it a net gain.
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IIayK

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Edited By IIayK

4-1=3 (((

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miki

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Edited By miki

it's johnny!
:-(((

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arrowfan237

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Edited By arrowfan237
@gammasan55:
How can you hate Reed?
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sweatboy

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Edited By sweatboy
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MrFantastic

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Edited By MrFantastic

I trust they will rekindle the Torch ...And the will do it with a big

"Flame On!"



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obscurefan

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Edited By obscurefan

I worked my ass off to have this not spoiled for me and luckily I was able to make it without that happening. This is was who I was expecting but it was still a shock. Also, since issue 600 is coming up soon (even if they're restarting the series as FF) so i think he'll be back soon.

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vance_astro

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Edited By vance_astro  Moderator

I hope they don't think that we didn't know who was going to die.Johnny was the only one who's existence didn't matter.Now put Lyra on the team.

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Pizawle

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Edited By Pizawle

Knew it was going to be Johnny. It was really the only possibility. 
 
That said, I managed to avoid any spoiler confirming it until reading it myself.
 
What a great journey Hickman has taken the readers on. Cannot wait to see what comes next.

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GREGalicious

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Edited By GREGalicious

I went on ahead and read the spoilers and thank god it wasnt my FAV!!
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Black Lantern Mar-vell

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What's the big deal?  He was the easiest member to replace.  After a couple issues just have the Human Torch be replaced on the team by the Original HUMAN TORCH or Toro, same thing really.  The team dynamic will be a little different, but to outsiders It'd still be the same team.
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Thorrules23

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Edited By Thorrules23
@Duo_forbidden:
i think Reed because i like everybody except for him
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Violet-Eyed Dragon

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 i read the spoilers beforehand.  
how did it happen??

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Mancotron

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Edited By Mancotron

I avoided all the media hype surrounding it, so I went into it fresh. I must say it was a well written arc, and a strong send off. I'm sure they'll bring him back eventually, but it was a good story and that's all that really matters in the end. 

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blueninjapanther

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Edited By blueninjapanther

I think they are going to kill human torch because chris evans is going to play captain america.
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blueninjapanther

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Edited By blueninjapanther
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dewboy01

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Edited By dewboy01

no one's going die, not while they still have their time machine in the baxter building.
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(((Prodigy)))

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Edited By (((Prodigy)))

Dang. 
It wasn't who I hoped it was going to be.
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Iron Fist Angel

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Edited By Iron Fist Angel

Who cares? Does anyone really put any stock into these character deaths anyway? They always come back eventually. I am completely sick of these publicity stunts to be honest.

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GT-Man

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Edited By GT-Man

PLEASEEE LET THE THING LIIVVEE !!! human torch will hopefully have a badazz death a zillion horedes of monsters he kills along with himself :(
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ta333

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Edited By ta333

i think it will be human torch

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Kid_Zombie

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Edited By Kid_Zombie
@FoxxFireArt:  Ha ha i get your point also, But you have to relize, the average comic reader these days is 25 to 30 years of age. I'm 26 and watch the news on a regular bases, but also get most my news from the internet, as most people do, and if you go from a movie site like joblo to a sci fi tv site, their top headlines were death in fantastic four! So dosen't really matter what age you are, or where you get your news from. No matter what, you were gonna see it unless you went out of your way to not see it.  Which again brings the attention of non comicbook readers to what is going on.
Sure it sucks for us, the comic book readers, but you have to realize it is a business first. Sure the creators and writers might care but Marvel, and DC as a company do not care. Say what you will but most likely this issue will be the biggest selling issue for fantastic four, and not only bring in new readers who dont read comics, but will bring people who dont read fantastic four buying this issue just the see the death or pick up the trades to see what happened to lead up to his death. Either way it is a successful move on the companies part because it gets coverage and brings in lots of money. whether you like it or not, the "death" in comics will always come because it sells books. And in the end that is all what matters to them.
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Union of Europe

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Edited By Union of Europe

The Human Torch has always been one of my favourite characters.  Very sad to see him die. 
 
  Will Johnny Storm stay dead?  I've got a feeling he will.  In the Marvel universe he's not been the only Torch (remember the android?).   Maybe Marvel will take a leaf out of the DC comics way of doing things and we'll have a new Torch....
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AlKusanagi

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Edited By AlKusanagi

Might be the cynic in me, but this doesn't happen to have anything to do with the same actor playing both Johnny and Captain America does it? You know, how when the latest Marvel movie comes out and there's a brief surge in popularity of the character. Maybe this is to stop the "Captain America's the Human Torch?" talk. "No, moviegoer, the Torch is dead."
 
Also, as mentioned before, why couldn't it have been Reed or Sue, the two boring ass characters.

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daikari

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Edited By daikari

I don't necessarily think he'll stay dead forever... He may be dead for along time but I think he could eventually come back... but then again I was wrong with nightcrawler. (atleast so far)

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ShirEPanjshir

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Edited By ShirEPanjshir

Managed to stay away from all comic related media yesterday to avoid the spoilers until I read it myself today. Quite a shock to see who it actually was.

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SevanGrim

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Edited By SevanGrim
@famousdude: ...why? hes cap now.
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swhorl

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Edited By swhorl

I was really looking forward to reading the issue.  I've really been enjoying this lastest arc.  I won't get this issue for another week yet, though.  But already, it's too late.  Some Facebook friends suck.  And it wasn't even one who reads comics, he just saw a "news" story and had to remark about it.

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Staticoss

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Edited By Staticoss

ahh, that is 'stab in the heart' sad
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FoxxFireArt

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Edited By FoxxFireArt
@Kid_Zombie: 
I get your point, but that sounds even worse. That they do these deaths for the publicity. It makes it seem akin to prostitution. That Marvel just wants to exploit the comic to get people who normally don't read comics to read a comic. Which is fine. I just don't see how they think that will work. Most of the people who watch major news broadcasts are at least 30-60yo on average. Not many 20 or younger watch the news.
How many people in the standard news audience are goon to see this and think, "Hey, I need to read more comics because someone died.". 
 
Even if someone does that. What's going to happen is that this person who isn't familiar with the concept of the revolving doors to the cemeteries is going to see this and think, "Hey, they weren't dead. Poeple who are dead don't come back to life.".
 
Why is everyone so emotional over this?? It's not going to last and the character isn't actually dead. They are in hiatus. Does anyone think this could possible last until the reboot of the Fantastic Four movie is released?
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rufug

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Edited By rufug

I thought the choice was perfect. If you haven't read the current Fantastic Four run (written by Jonathan Hickman) please do so, it is great and really gave away clues in every issue about the "casualty's" identity so it came as no surprise really.  
  
This looks nothing like the multiple Jean Gray deaths, read the issue and the whole arc before misjudging the book, I think he's gonna stay dead for a while.

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famousdude

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Edited By famousdude

it would be cool to here wat chris evans thinks

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evilhomer

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Edited By evilhomer

Got spoiled without even trying!?  clicked on an article on a different website that said one of the FF was going to die, and the very next paragraph (without warning mind you) talked about this as if it was past tense 
 
 
Im a sucker though so I may just buy the issue tomorrow for the sake of it. 

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RemyLeBeau

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Edited By RemyLeBeau

Aww man why does it have to be Johnny.....

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BlackKnight

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Edited By BlackKnight

I actually thought it  would have been reed who failed, but its going to be interesting to see how the 3 will progress

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uroboros

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Edited By uroboros

I know everyone's expecting him to come back but I think that it's become such a joke that they will deliberately rage against it..and not all heroes come back..Captain Marvel did feature in the recent Dead Avengers but he was dead and the change wasn't permanent..he stays dead..and as of yet no sign of Black Bolt has been seen..and even though he is my favourite character I pray they don't bring him back and absolutely ruin his sacrifice..same with BLANK..I hope this sticks..not cause I hate them but because it would make something more of them..

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Kid_Zombie

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Edited By Kid_Zombie
@FoxxFireArt said:

Why do they promote these deaths as if they ever mean anything? They're always undone at some point and render all this pomp and circumstance as empty words. Death in the major publishers is a joke. Jean Grey has died so many times. After her revival and eventual re-death, the X-Men shouldn't have a funeral. They should start a office pool. I just find this over-promoting death rather disturbingly morbid. More so that people seem to eat it up. "

People do eat it up that is why they do it. Sure doesn't mean much to us the people who read shit loads of comics, but to the outside world, who only have vague knowledge of these universes, will eat it up. Hell the news is everywhere, even sites that have nothing to do with comics, are reporting on this like it is huge. They do shockers like this to create hype where there would have not been hype before. The comments on these sites are pretty crazy and show that things like this work. I've seen comments, ranging from "Wow, maybe i should read some comics", all they way to "wow people still read comics?" Either way it is creating conversations with people who never would have thought of these things before, and keeping Marvel in there minds. They talk about it, hell maybe even pick up a trade to see what the funny pages are all about. Either way that is what comic companies want and things like this work. So we think, damn another death that wont last, while the people are thinking wow crazy they are killing someone off? lol crappy for us the readers, but its good for them, the companies.
 
Oh and about jean Grey, so true! keep her dead and out of my x-men comics, we are better off for it! she sucked! ha ha
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TheBlueAngel93

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Edited By TheBlueAngel93

One chapter ends, another begins. Long live the Fantastic Four! (even if there are only three now :P)

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ArtisticNeedham

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Edited By ArtisticNeedham

 video about the FF and who will die:
 http://omg.yahoo.com/videos/comics-fantastic-four-will-be-no-more/12931?nc

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adamwarner42

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Edited By adamwarner42

A friend told me about this already. Didn't surprise me.

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spiderguylll

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Edited By spiderguylll

NOT HIM NOOOOO

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Rowen545

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Edited By Rowen545

Isn't Wolverine in Hell right now, couldn't he pick that person up on his way out.

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maxicere

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Edited By maxicere

GRRRRRrrr  I'm really angry

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Dirty__1

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Edited By Dirty__1

I haven't read the FF in at least a year or two so I just found out one would die about two weeks ago. I was just about to grab up some back issues, or trades, and catch up them boom! I had it spoiled by three sources today.... Oh well, I don't buy into "deaths" in comics much at all anymore. There's always someone dying or there's an event that will change everything.

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CrimsonInuTears

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Edited By CrimsonInuTears

Heh, I was right from the moment I frist heard about the run. An I didn' even read this shit till the start of the run~ ^_^
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jordama

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Edited By jordama

So wait does that mean we have to officially change the fantastic four page to the fantastic three, or does a new team page get created for the fantastic three?
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hydrabob--defunct

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Man the New York Times have some spiteful little bastards working for them. just cuz no one buys newspapers anymore they have to go and ruin what happens in Comicbooks.
 
New York Times do i ruin your newspapers by telling people what is going to be in your newspaper then don't ruin my reading A-HOLES
 
anybody got their phone #, you know what never mind i'll look it up

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emptytomb

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Edited By emptytomb
@G-Man:  
not so impressive fantastic 5 alreeady existed so john hickman ideas are not impressive about changing the FF4..

   
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thehood

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Edited By thehood

I managed to read the issue without it getting spoiled! If you haven't read it yet, I highly suggest you don't go looking for spoilers. Hickman does it again, this issue is amazing.