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This chapter of Warren Ellis' retelling of the Fantastic Four's legacy is a breather from the final act of the previous story arc and a set-up for more action to come in subsequent issues, but Ellis peppers the story with unusual insights into the Fantastic Four's powers and relationships.

The story opens with Reed and Sue conducting experiments on objects transported to and from the N-Zone, which Reed then explains to The Thing—a somewhat tired exposition device that Ellis uses convincingly. In just a few pages we get explanations of the fuel that powers Johnny's fire, what the N-Zone is and why Sue and Johnny don’t want to give up their powers. The entire issue builds to a closing full-page splash where Reed strikes a bargain with the government that surprises even the rest of the Four.

Ellis succinctly shines light on each character, but through their interaction with each other reveals a bit more about what is driving each of them. The contrast between Ben’s sadness at his transformation and Johnny’s delight at his (“He thinks he's in the Avengers”) is striking. Sue comes across as confident, powerful and intelligent in her own right, a capable foil to Reed—who Ellis portrays as the world’s coolest nerd. Reed is living out his childhood fantasies, of which we see but a glimpse as the book opens, and has a free hand at discovering and developing all manner of new technologies and ideas, all of which he gladly offers to the government to puzzle out an even bigger mystery.

Adam Kubert's art adds even more depth to the characters—both in their differences from each other and their differences from their pre-Ultimate incarnations: Johnny, a slender spiky-haired teenager; Ben, an enormous rock whose eyes convey a gentle spirit; Sue, smart and attractive without being "cheesecake"; and Reed, youthful and energetic but not yet the iconic Mr. Fantastic. Each page is laid out in four panels, making a clever visual pun.

The book is largely exposition for the issues to come, but the build-up is enjoyable and captures interest in how the story will play out. Ellis skillfully plays the characters' differences against one another and makes them seem like a family—one with potential for both debilitating dysfunction and successful collaboration.