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Fantastic Four (2012)
Fantastic Four, Volume 1: New Departure, New Arrivals
We have seen the future and it will be fantastic! When Reed and Sue decide that the family needs to relax, they take Ben, Johnny and the kids on a little vacation ... through all of infinite time and space! And in the real absence of Marvel's First Family, a substitute FF, hand-picked by the real deal - Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk and the all-new Miss Thing - stand ready to guard the Earth and the nascent Future Foundation ... for the four minutes that the Fantastic Four will be gone. What could possibly go wrong?
Collecting: Fantastic Four 1-3, FF 1-3, & material from Marvel Point One.1
Collecting: Fantastic Four 1-3, FF 1-3, & material from Marvel Point One.1
126 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2013
About the author
Matt Fraction
1,237 books1,892 followers"How he got started in comics: In 1983, when Fraction was 7 years old and growing up in Kansas City, Mo., he became fascinated by the U.S. invasion of Grenada and created his own newspaper to explain the event. "I've always been story-driven, telling stories with pictures and words," he said.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.
"My mother was not happy about that," he said.
But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."
Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.
Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.
Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."
Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.
- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
July 15, 2016
Reed Richards is dying and plans an expedition through all of space-time to find a cure with the rest of the Fantastic Four and the two Richards kids. Before they leave, the FF recruit their substitutes; Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and some chick the Torch was boning. The FF is only planning on being gone for four minutes of Earth time. What could go wrong?
Confession time: I have over 100 issues of Fantastic Four scattered in the various comic boxes in the Dan Cave. When I saw Marvel was doing a non-standard Fantastic Four series with Mike Allred doing the art chores, I waited patiently for this very volume to fall into my clutches.
This volume is split into two threads. The iconic Fantastic Four lineup preparing to leave earth for parts unknown, and the subs, Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Miss Thing. I pretty much only picked up this volume for the second thread.
While the stuff with the iconic lineup is pretty good, I found the storyline of the subs trying to fill the shoes of the real deal to be far more interesting. I love future Human Torch coming back to warn the new team of a menace and the homage to Fantastic Four #1 from way back in 1961 in the form of Mole Man attacking the surface world.
Matt Fraction's storyline is very intriguing but I'd be lying if I didn't say Mike Allred's art is the main reason I was up for it. I've been a fan of his pop art style since Madman and love what he does with the Fantastic Four here.
Even though this volume is short, it stands alone pretty well on its own while leaving enough unanswered questions to get me to read the next one. Four out of five stars.
Confession time: I have over 100 issues of Fantastic Four scattered in the various comic boxes in the Dan Cave. When I saw Marvel was doing a non-standard Fantastic Four series with Mike Allred doing the art chores, I waited patiently for this very volume to fall into my clutches.
This volume is split into two threads. The iconic Fantastic Four lineup preparing to leave earth for parts unknown, and the subs, Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Miss Thing. I pretty much only picked up this volume for the second thread.
While the stuff with the iconic lineup is pretty good, I found the storyline of the subs trying to fill the shoes of the real deal to be far more interesting. I love future Human Torch coming back to warn the new team of a menace and the homage to Fantastic Four #1 from way back in 1961 in the form of Mole Man attacking the surface world.
Matt Fraction's storyline is very intriguing but I'd be lying if I didn't say Mike Allred's art is the main reason I was up for it. I've been a fan of his pop art style since Madman and love what he does with the Fantastic Four here.
Even though this volume is short, it stands alone pretty well on its own while leaving enough unanswered questions to get me to read the next one. Four out of five stars.
September 19, 2014
It seems that Reed Richards is starting to decompose and in the guise of a family vacation he’s going to look for a cure in dimension X24-Z1 (or where ever). But while he’s gone for four minutes real time, he needs a group of four to look after the Freedom Foundation and the kids. What, the android Dragon Man can’t look after everything? He’s too busy baking muffins? Pfft. Come on, it’s just for four minutes. Our time.
So Reed gets a vengeful, brooding, distraught Antman (whose daughter was killed by Dr. Doom) to watch over a bunch of kids. Oh, Reed, you big mad cap egg head, you kill me!
Sue Richards enlists the queen of the Inhumans, Medusa, she of the hair that lives. Is that dandruff on your hair brush, your majesty?
Ben, the Thing, asks Jen, the She Hulk, but not before getting punk’d by the Yancey Street gang for the millionth time. You walked right into that one, ya big lug.
Johnny ("It’s not my fault") Storm asks some girl he’s sleeping with. Slick choice, Torchie.
And while the Fantastic Four are away for all of four minutes - our time - keep the kids out of the “Machine that goes Boop Boop" room.
So Reed and entourage blast off as the substitute four looks at their watches. Four minutes stretches into a year of continuity, which is fine because Matt Fraction does some amusing things with this brood while Reed’s looking for an intergalactic Physician’s Care.
So Reed gets a vengeful, brooding, distraught Antman (whose daughter was killed by Dr. Doom) to watch over a bunch of kids. Oh, Reed, you big mad cap egg head, you kill me!
Sue Richards enlists the queen of the Inhumans, Medusa, she of the hair that lives. Is that dandruff on your hair brush, your majesty?
Ben, the Thing, asks Jen, the She Hulk, but not before getting punk’d by the Yancey Street gang for the millionth time. You walked right into that one, ya big lug.
Johnny ("It’s not my fault") Storm asks some girl he’s sleeping with. Slick choice, Torchie.
And while the Fantastic Four are away for all of four minutes - our time - keep the kids out of the “Machine that goes Boop Boop" room.
So Reed and entourage blast off as the substitute four looks at their watches. Four minutes stretches into a year of continuity, which is fine because Matt Fraction does some amusing things with this brood while Reed’s looking for an intergalactic Physician’s Care.
February 18, 2022
This was a fun read!
Reed discovers that the F4 maybe doing and so we follow the team as they get ready to chose their replacements while they go out on some time-space thing and well most of the volume deals with who they choose and the new team status and then their fall sorta as they find the original F4 may not be coming back and because of whom me might find that too and its perfect plus the teams new threats and Scott and others dealing with that meanwhile the original F4 in their book dealing with some predator like planet and trying to escape that and typical family drama and all!
Its a fun volume and its nothing new and I wish there was some new threat like an overarching villain of the entire book and no offense to the writer it feels like filler but the things being hinted at to come seems crazy weird like the kinda thing you'd expect! Plus good character work on Scott and Reed trying to solve everything which is consistent with his character. The art of Bagley was amazing but the ones by Allred are trash and kinda makes for an irritating read. But overall a great one time read!
Reed discovers that the F4 maybe doing and so we follow the team as they get ready to chose their replacements while they go out on some time-space thing and well most of the volume deals with who they choose and the new team status and then their fall sorta as they find the original F4 may not be coming back and because of whom me might find that too and its perfect plus the teams new threats and Scott and others dealing with that meanwhile the original F4 in their book dealing with some predator like planet and trying to escape that and typical family drama and all!
Its a fun volume and its nothing new and I wish there was some new threat like an overarching villain of the entire book and no offense to the writer it feels like filler but the things being hinted at to come seems crazy weird like the kinda thing you'd expect! Plus good character work on Scott and Reed trying to solve everything which is consistent with his character. The art of Bagley was amazing but the ones by Allred are trash and kinda makes for an irritating read. But overall a great one time read!
November 22, 2017
Reed decides to take the family on a 4 minute tour, a 4 minute tour. He's hiding that his body is breaking down and he's looking for a cure in alternate dimensions. Because they are headed to alternate realities and time-travel, they can come back at a time of Reed's choosing even if they are gone for a year. The plan is that they will get replacements, just in case, even though they will come back four minutes later, because I'm sure nothing will go wrong with that plan. The weird thing about the collection is that it is the first 3 issues of Fantastic Four and FF.
March 19, 2015
I read the first volume of Fraction's FF months ago. I probably should have gotten around to this run of Fantastic Four before now. Oops. I only have myself to blame, really, because this is quite good and I would have done well to get in sooner.
So: the Fantastic Four have decided to go on a family vacation in space, which is really kind of a cover for Reed discovering that he needs some seriously advanced medical help or he'll literally go to pieces. In their place, they've each selected a new hero to take their places for the four minutes they believe they'll be gone (because their ship is actually a TARDIS). Naturally, three of the four put actual thought into their replacements, and Johnny just accidentally asks the girl he's sort of seeing. Because he's responsible like that.
Let's put aside the weird conceit that there actually needs to be a replacement Fantastic Four for literally four minutes. Doesn't that seem kind of, I don't know, arrogant? Like they couldn't just ask the Avengers to keep an extra eye out? There's only like twelve teams and fifty Avengers at this point, I think they've got it. And I can put that aside, because that was basically my only criticism. Other than that, this book is very fun to read. There's silliness without slapstick, and the characters are fun while having some depth to them. I noticed this in FF, too. There's also some good adventure moments, especially with the Fantastic Four.
I really should have started reading this sooner. Well, I guess it's never too late to start.
So: the Fantastic Four have decided to go on a family vacation in space, which is really kind of a cover for Reed discovering that he needs some seriously advanced medical help or he'll literally go to pieces. In their place, they've each selected a new hero to take their places for the four minutes they believe they'll be gone (because their ship is actually a TARDIS). Naturally, three of the four put actual thought into their replacements, and Johnny just accidentally asks the girl he's sort of seeing. Because he's responsible like that.
Let's put aside the weird conceit that there actually needs to be a replacement Fantastic Four for literally four minutes. Doesn't that seem kind of, I don't know, arrogant? Like they couldn't just ask the Avengers to keep an extra eye out? There's only like twelve teams and fifty Avengers at this point, I think they've got it. And I can put that aside, because that was basically my only criticism. Other than that, this book is very fun to read. There's silliness without slapstick, and the characters are fun while having some depth to them. I noticed this in FF, too. There's also some good adventure moments, especially with the Fantastic Four.
I really should have started reading this sooner. Well, I guess it's never too late to start.
May 25, 2016
This book completes my FF by Fraction and Allred trades. For some reason, Marvel collected the first 3 issues of Fraction's Fantastic Four and FF runs in one cover. It read well though, so it has that going for it. It also opened this reader's eyes to Bagley's work on Fantastic Four. It is probably his best work to date. This is a great collected edition to have and it may provide the reader the impetus to get the rest of the Fantastic Four trades.
May 31, 2013
Lo-fi (for Marvel) adventuresome family adventure with comedy and heart - one of Fraction's best books and great fun. A great start for two new series, this book collects the first 3 issues of Fantastic Four and FF - full review here!
March 21, 2016
Collecting the first three issues of Fraction's Fantastic Four, the first three issues of his FF (aka Future Foundation), and a story from Marvel NOW! Point One #1. On a dinosaur expedition, Reed Richards is bitten and finds out that he has cancer in his unstable molecules. On the pretense of an educational trip for his and Susan's kids, Franklin and Valeria, he prepares a trip into exotic areas of spacetime. To replace them for the four minutes they're planning to be gone as both the Fantastic Four and the leaders of the Future Foundation, the Four recruit Ant-Man (aka Scott Lang), She-Hulk, Medusa (Queen of the Inhumans), and Miss Thing (aka Darla Deering, pop singer).
The three issues of Fantastic Four feel pretty standard in tone and are somewhat fun as the Four set off into unknown territory, landing on a planet so hostile that they can't even stand on it. It's lighthearted adventure with spectacles that hold no real stakes (yet). The real highlights are the issues of FF, which see the four stand-ins stumbling through the day-to-day operations of being the Fantastic Four, often with funny and touching results. Scott Lang frets about the responsibility given the new team, Medusa expects to be waited on, Darla Deering is totally the wrong person for the job (thanks, Johnny), and She-Hulk is She-Hulk. If the three issues of Fantastic Four are "the Fantastic Four meets Lost In Space", then the three issues of FF are "the Fantastic Four meets Fraction's Hawkeye". In the end, the two sets of three issues balance each other out.
The three issues of Fantastic Four feel pretty standard in tone and are somewhat fun as the Four set off into unknown territory, landing on a planet so hostile that they can't even stand on it. It's lighthearted adventure with spectacles that hold no real stakes (yet). The real highlights are the issues of FF, which see the four stand-ins stumbling through the day-to-day operations of being the Fantastic Four, often with funny and touching results. Scott Lang frets about the responsibility given the new team, Medusa expects to be waited on, Darla Deering is totally the wrong person for the job (thanks, Johnny), and She-Hulk is She-Hulk. If the three issues of Fantastic Four are "the Fantastic Four meets Lost In Space", then the three issues of FF are "the Fantastic Four meets Fraction's Hawkeye". In the end, the two sets of three issues balance each other out.
June 15, 2013
Starts pretty slow Matt. We're with you to see where you're going, because you seem to have some interesting ideas about superhero tales these days, and it's still good writing no matter the pace or the amount of battle going on.
Let's say this is like a roller coaster ride. Fraction shows us the way the final loop will work, but hides most of the tracks and puts us in the car with a few safety specialists. The story seems a little gentle for my tastes - lots of family and kids and passing torches. I get that's something important and relevant to Fraction these days and I can appreciate it distantly, but somehow the quiet moments and the uber-parenting schtick doesn't connect for me.
It's Fraction tho - he still sets up some interesting drama and quite a quest on both sides of the dimensional barrier. And there's a few touches of his humour, though it feels family-friendlyified.
You know me tho - Marvel zombie and loyal Portlandian that I am, I'll pick up the next round and see where he's taking this.
Let's say this is like a roller coaster ride. Fraction shows us the way the final loop will work, but hides most of the tracks and puts us in the car with a few safety specialists. The story seems a little gentle for my tastes - lots of family and kids and passing torches. I get that's something important and relevant to Fraction these days and I can appreciate it distantly, but somehow the quiet moments and the uber-parenting schtick doesn't connect for me.
It's Fraction tho - he still sets up some interesting drama and quite a quest on both sides of the dimensional barrier. And there's a few touches of his humour, though it feels family-friendlyified.
You know me tho - Marvel zombie and loyal Portlandian that I am, I'll pick up the next round and see where he's taking this.
July 22, 2013
The premise here is pretty great. The Fantastic Four is about to go off into some other universe or some such nonsense, and FOR ONCE they decide that, just in case, they better find some replacements to take their place.
It's almost a running joke. Reed Richards has figured that due to some sci-fi magic-science-drunken-god stuff they should be gone a year, but on Earth it will be only four minutes. But JUST IN CASE something goes wrong, they'd better find replacements.
They keep saying JUST IN CASE and ONLY FOUR MINUTES, but it's almost like the characters already know that something is going to be terribly screwed up. Because why else would you even seek out replacements?
What's confusing is that this collects two different series, Fantastic Four and FF. FF concerns the replacements and what they have going on. Fantastic Four follows the quadro (is that like Duo except four?) we all know and love. Or...at least sort of like.
I have to admit, the FF stories were a lot more interesting. Watching 4 people try and fill those big, flaming, stretchy, sometimes invisible shoes was a lot more interesting than watching the normal characters do it. Fish out of water.
It's almost a running joke. Reed Richards has figured that due to some sci-fi magic-science-drunken-god stuff they should be gone a year, but on Earth it will be only four minutes. But JUST IN CASE something goes wrong, they'd better find replacements.
They keep saying JUST IN CASE and ONLY FOUR MINUTES, but it's almost like the characters already know that something is going to be terribly screwed up. Because why else would you even seek out replacements?
What's confusing is that this collects two different series, Fantastic Four and FF. FF concerns the replacements and what they have going on. Fantastic Four follows the quadro (is that like Duo except four?) we all know and love. Or...at least sort of like.
I have to admit, the FF stories were a lot more interesting. Watching 4 people try and fill those big, flaming, stretchy, sometimes invisible shoes was a lot more interesting than watching the normal characters do it. Fish out of water.
October 12, 2018
This is pretty standard FF fare: the FF go on adventure, everything goes wrong, they persevere, yadda yadda.
I don’t think I’ve read Hickman’s FF books, so I don’t know if the character changes here are his or Fraction’s, but I’m not done with them. Apparently Johnny Storm was dead, or perhaps presumed dead, but either way he came back several IQ points lower and several years less mature. He’s an annoying dick, frankly.
Reed is the worst. He apparently has some form of supercancer affecting his unstable molecules and, using the excuse of not wanting to worry anyone, he doesn’t say anything. So his “solution” is to go gallivanting around the universe to look for a cure under the guise of a “family road trip”. Johnny, Sue, Ben, Franklin and Val, are going to take a year off and then return in their spacetime ship 4 minutes after they left.
Why are Johnny and Ben okay with this? Johnny just got resurrected/returned and is starting a new life with a brand-new relationship and Ben... well, apparently Ben has a gym in his old neighborhood that’s being regularly trashed by hooligan pranksters. They agree to walk away from this for a year. Even if things go according to plan (ha) and they return 4 minutes after leaving, they’ll still be a year removed from when they left.
Those guys should really have compelling reasons of their own to go, rather than just “because they’re in the FF so of course.” Maybe Johnny has unfinished business in space. Maybe Ben needs time away from something-or-other. Doesn’t matter, just *something* rather than no reason at all.
Why Reed doesn’t tell Sue is a mystery. Sue is clearly tough and capable here but she’s basically just a good mom who is competent at being a superhero, not a genius biologist as she’s been in other incarnations. (I might be thinking of Ultimate FF or maybe Byrne’s run from the ‘80s. It’s hard to keep track of shifting continuity.) Regardless, Sue is Reed’s wife and she’ll be 4 times as angry that he held back this information than she would be worried about his unstable molecules coming apart.
So they recruit Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa and... some pop starlet?... to be the new FF as a back-up. Darla the singer is Johnny’s new squeeze and she’s supposed to be a Taylor Swift-style person. Johnny’s rationale is that she only has to be in the FF for 4 minutes on a Tuesday morning, so what’s the harm? Plus, he’s such a slacker that he forgot to recruit anyone else.
Ant-Man makes sense. His daughter was murdered and he needs something in his life. She-Hulk replaced the Thing during Byrne’s run, plus she’s apparently a free agent and the tank the team needs. Medusa I don’t get at all. She’s the queen of the Inhumans, so I imagine she has other duties to occupy her time. Crystal would make more sense, since she isn’t busy running an entire kingdom and has control over the 4 elements, including fire. Get it? Four elements? Fire? Fantastic Four? Human Torch? Is this thing even on?
Anyway, the story is fundamentally broken at its core, so the adventures they go on are comic book busywork. The whole “leap before you look” schtick is dumb for someone as smart as Reed, or for Sue, especially when she has two little kids to consider. You can have thrilling adventures without being foolhardy.
Then suddenly a much older and clearly crazy Human Torch comes flying out of the time portal, com0lete with artificial arm, leg and eye, a la Cable from the X-Men. Why this particular (and super-popular) storyline is being regurgitated I don’t know, but it’s just standard “we’re all out of ideas” stuff. Which is sad, coming from the former House of Ideas.
The idea has massive potential, but the execution is just dumb.
The art is fine. The ever-reliable Mark Bagley does half the book while Mike Allred’s 1960s-era pop-art style fills out the other half. Either would have been fine, but alternating them gives one artistic whiplash. I guess the story was told in two separate books. Which is a stupid marketing idea on its face, forcing fans to buy two books to get the whole story.
Anyway, I was disappointed. I don’t even know why I bothered ranting about it. I guess I still have fond memories of the FF from the 1970s and 80s.
I don’t think I’ve read Hickman’s FF books, so I don’t know if the character changes here are his or Fraction’s, but I’m not done with them. Apparently Johnny Storm was dead, or perhaps presumed dead, but either way he came back several IQ points lower and several years less mature. He’s an annoying dick, frankly.
Reed is the worst. He apparently has some form of supercancer affecting his unstable molecules and, using the excuse of not wanting to worry anyone, he doesn’t say anything. So his “solution” is to go gallivanting around the universe to look for a cure under the guise of a “family road trip”. Johnny, Sue, Ben, Franklin and Val, are going to take a year off and then return in their spacetime ship 4 minutes after they left.
Why are Johnny and Ben okay with this? Johnny just got resurrected/returned and is starting a new life with a brand-new relationship and Ben... well, apparently Ben has a gym in his old neighborhood that’s being regularly trashed by hooligan pranksters. They agree to walk away from this for a year. Even if things go according to plan (ha) and they return 4 minutes after leaving, they’ll still be a year removed from when they left.
Those guys should really have compelling reasons of their own to go, rather than just “because they’re in the FF so of course.” Maybe Johnny has unfinished business in space. Maybe Ben needs time away from something-or-other. Doesn’t matter, just *something* rather than no reason at all.
Why Reed doesn’t tell Sue is a mystery. Sue is clearly tough and capable here but she’s basically just a good mom who is competent at being a superhero, not a genius biologist as she’s been in other incarnations. (I might be thinking of Ultimate FF or maybe Byrne’s run from the ‘80s. It’s hard to keep track of shifting continuity.) Regardless, Sue is Reed’s wife and she’ll be 4 times as angry that he held back this information than she would be worried about his unstable molecules coming apart.
So they recruit Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa and... some pop starlet?... to be the new FF as a back-up. Darla the singer is Johnny’s new squeeze and she’s supposed to be a Taylor Swift-style person. Johnny’s rationale is that she only has to be in the FF for 4 minutes on a Tuesday morning, so what’s the harm? Plus, he’s such a slacker that he forgot to recruit anyone else.
Ant-Man makes sense. His daughter was murdered and he needs something in his life. She-Hulk replaced the Thing during Byrne’s run, plus she’s apparently a free agent and the tank the team needs. Medusa I don’t get at all. She’s the queen of the Inhumans, so I imagine she has other duties to occupy her time. Crystal would make more sense, since she isn’t busy running an entire kingdom and has control over the 4 elements, including fire. Get it? Four elements? Fire? Fantastic Four? Human Torch? Is this thing even on?
Anyway, the story is fundamentally broken at its core, so the adventures they go on are comic book busywork. The whole “leap before you look” schtick is dumb for someone as smart as Reed, or for Sue, especially when she has two little kids to consider. You can have thrilling adventures without being foolhardy.
Then suddenly a much older and clearly crazy Human Torch comes flying out of the time portal, com0lete with artificial arm, leg and eye, a la Cable from the X-Men. Why this particular (and super-popular) storyline is being regurgitated I don’t know, but it’s just standard “we’re all out of ideas” stuff. Which is sad, coming from the former House of Ideas.
The idea has massive potential, but the execution is just dumb.
The art is fine. The ever-reliable Mark Bagley does half the book while Mike Allred’s 1960s-era pop-art style fills out the other half. Either would have been fine, but alternating them gives one artistic whiplash. I guess the story was told in two separate books. Which is a stupid marketing idea on its face, forcing fans to buy two books to get the whole story.
Anyway, I was disappointed. I don’t even know why I bothered ranting about it. I guess I still have fond memories of the FF from the 1970s and 80s.
August 19, 2013
This book is a bit of a collection oddball, with three issues of Fantastic Four, and three issues of FF collected here first, then each splitting up into their own respective future collections. It works because of the connected narratives that themselves untwine after the first few issues, and the fact that Fraction is the author on both books.
Fraction has a fantastic handle on the Fantastic Four family, writing a story which is very personal and cosmic in scope. Not enough gets done in this first trade to say if this story arc really flourishes, but I'm hopeful. My only issue here is that I've never been a fan of Bagley's artwork. The new uniforms look awkward in his style, and his children (of which there are many) do not look like children at all. Franklin is essentially a re-sized Johnny Storm, and that bothered me. The art in this book looks vague and stylized, with boring but effective layouts. Nothing to write home about, but if your a fan of his art, you won't have any problems.
FF on the other hand is Fraction doing what he does best. The story is fun, goofy, self-referential, and action packed. She-Hulk is a long time favorite of mine, and she's handled very well in this cleverly plotted story. Allred's layouts are poppy and fun, with thick lined art that demands attention. The story reads very much like a sci-fi version of Fractions Hawkeye ongoing, and that is a perfectly welcome thing.
Fraction has a fantastic handle on the Fantastic Four family, writing a story which is very personal and cosmic in scope. Not enough gets done in this first trade to say if this story arc really flourishes, but I'm hopeful. My only issue here is that I've never been a fan of Bagley's artwork. The new uniforms look awkward in his style, and his children (of which there are many) do not look like children at all. Franklin is essentially a re-sized Johnny Storm, and that bothered me. The art in this book looks vague and stylized, with boring but effective layouts. Nothing to write home about, but if your a fan of his art, you won't have any problems.
FF on the other hand is Fraction doing what he does best. The story is fun, goofy, self-referential, and action packed. She-Hulk is a long time favorite of mine, and she's handled very well in this cleverly plotted story. Allred's layouts are poppy and fun, with thick lined art that demands attention. The story reads very much like a sci-fi version of Fractions Hawkeye ongoing, and that is a perfectly welcome thing.
November 1, 2015
I wasn't initially liking this much. It starts off as a fairly standard Fantastic Four reboot. I haven't been closely following the series for a decade or two, so I was a little at sea in some regards. Who are all these kids hanging out with the FF? I mean, I know who Franklin is, and Reed and Sue apparently had another kid. I get that. And I recognize Alex Power and Artie from Power Pack and X-Men respectively. But the rest of them? No clue. It's not essential to the story, so I just rolled with it. So Reed is lining up temporary replacements while the regulars go off on a trip? I've seen worse setups. And actually this is where I started really enjoying the book. I like the new team and the tongue-in-cheek aspects of the writing. The whole book seems to come alive at that point. One gets the feeling that this is what Fraction wanted to do, but couldn't figure out a graceful way to get there so he just cobbled the lead-in together as best he could. I was also struck by how lackluster the cover is. It's well drawn, sure, but could it possibly be any more generic? The cover is supposed to draw the reader's attention and entice them to read the book. Can't really see how this one does that unless the potential reader has never heard of the Fantastic Four before or something.
May 25, 2013
Matt Fraction inherits both Fantastic Four and FF from Jonathan Hickman, so he has some pretty big boots to fill, but thankfully he captures the spirit of family that makes F4 the book it should be, and FF is a zany affair that perfectly compliments it.
Both books have very different tones, but being collected in this manner works very well, with the two weaving in and out as the story begins. Once it is underway, I'm sure they will be collected separately but for now, having both books in the same collection is perfect.
These two series are very character driven, with F4 focusing on Reed and Franklin, whilst FF draws more on Scott Lang and Darla Deering. There are some emotional scenes which Fraction handles very well, and there's always a sense of fun, especially in the FF issues.
Artistically, Mark Bagley continues to turn out solid work, as we've come to expect over the years, whilst Mike Allred's unique style is exactly what FF needs for its crazier subject matter.
Hickman's absence is notable, but Fraction and friends are off to a strong start - if they keep this up, I'm sure both FF and F4 will be truly Fantastic. Yes, I went there.
Both books have very different tones, but being collected in this manner works very well, with the two weaving in and out as the story begins. Once it is underway, I'm sure they will be collected separately but for now, having both books in the same collection is perfect.
These two series are very character driven, with F4 focusing on Reed and Franklin, whilst FF draws more on Scott Lang and Darla Deering. There are some emotional scenes which Fraction handles very well, and there's always a sense of fun, especially in the FF issues.
Artistically, Mark Bagley continues to turn out solid work, as we've come to expect over the years, whilst Mike Allred's unique style is exactly what FF needs for its crazier subject matter.
Hickman's absence is notable, but Fraction and friends are off to a strong start - if they keep this up, I'm sure both FF and F4 will be truly Fantastic. Yes, I went there.
September 8, 2019
After Hickman's yawn-bored-what-the-fuck-is-going-on-don't-care-anymore-run with Fantastic Four, Fraction really came to rescue and brought back the fun-and-adventure-side of Fantastic Four. Also, in this collection, there is some FF-series smugled in. Even in those Fraction make work and the bunch of kids hang around in Baxter Building aren't too annoying. And even Mike Allerd art does not annoy me. So things are looking good. Oh, happy days.
April 10, 2022
Fraction is one of the authors I look out for when I'm trying to pick up cheap graphic novels. Mike Allred is one of the artists I try to avoid - too twee for me. I didn't get much out of this other than further confirmation of my suspicion that Reed Richards is a vain, egomaniacal dick, and Sue is in an abusive marriage. No thanks.
September 5, 2013
As much as I love the visual storytelling medium of comics, I almost never buy books solely for the art. And yet, I recently found myself buying three different series just to gaze at the purty pictures, and all three of them were written by Matt Fraction. Two might be a coincidence, but three is a pattern. What is it about this guy that he has such a diverse array of top artistic talent lining up to work with him?
I don’t read a lot of Marvel books, so outside of Casanova (another book I bought for the art) I wasn’t very familiar with Fraction’s previous work. As much as I loved The Immortal Iron Fist, I came to that series because I liked Brubaker’s stuff, the Iron Fist character (Power Man and Iron Fist is one of my all-time favorite team-ups), and kung-fu comics in general. Since Fraction co-wrote it with Bru’, it was hard to tell who was doing the heavy lifting on that series and Fraction didn’t register as a writer to keep an eye out for. But the award-winning writer is obviously doing something right, and it wasn’t until I read Fantastic Four: New Departure, New Arrivals that I understood what it was.
Fraction is like the Scottie Pippen of comics, just feeding the ball to MJ all day. His biggest skill as a comic book writer (and it’s a surprisingly rare one) is being able to identify and play to the strengths of his artists. He’s a selfless team player who knows how to truly collaborate. When analyzing or critiquing comics (as with film) sometimes the only way to get a handle on what it all means is to revert to the auteur theory that it’s all the work of one mastermind. On one end of the spectrum, there’s Stan Lee’s “Marvel method” of writing where the writer gives a couple pages, or even just a couple paragraphs, of plot outline to the artist and lets them figure out the storytelling mechanics that visually take the reader from point A to point B. Then there’s the Alan Moore approach, where the writer crafts incredibly long, impossibly detailed panel descriptions, as if daring the artist to match his vision. Most writers fall somewhere in the middle, but, without knowing the process, it can be hard to tell who’s responsible for what storytelling elements in the final product. But in Fraction’s case, the evidence is mounting that here’s a guy who knows how to get the best out of his artists. He’s not just stepping back and letting these guys do their thing, he’s clearly the architect behind some of the most visually interesting mainstream comics being made today.
At first, I was only interested in this book for Mike Allred’s art on the FF series and I almost didn’t pick this up, since I didn’t care about the Mark Bagley Fantastic Four stuff and was annoyed that Marvel had packaged them together. But now that I’ve read it, I see that the editors made the right call. This really is one overarching story with two different threads. Not only do the two series inform and enrich each other storywise, but the different approaches, tones, and styles highlight Fraction’s ability to switch gears between projects while still maintaining narrative cohesion.
Overall, I feel like the Fantastic Four is the one series that should have ended gracefully when Lee and Kirby finished their legendary run. (Honestly, I sometimes think Marvel Comics should have just closed up shop right then; with very few exceptions, they’ve been treading water ever since). Despite great efforts over the years from the likes of John Byrne, Walt Simonson, Mark Waid, Dwayne McDuffie, Jonathan Hickman, and even Grant Morrison, the most anyone could hope to achieve is an homage to the original Lee/Kirby sense of humor, humanity, adventure, and wonder. So, in the context of what Lee and Kirby accomplished, you can add Matt Fraction’s name to the ongoing list of wannabes taking a crack at the legendary First Family. But that still puts Fraction in great company. Judged on its own merits, Fraction and co. give readers a well-crafted and engaging story filled with intrigue, humor and a solid grasp on the characters. Ultimately, though, I came to FF for the art and I’m staying for the art. As long as Mike Allred is drawing it, I’m in. But now that I see what Fraction brings to the table, I’m sorry that he’s not going to stick around long enough to finish what he started.
I don’t read a lot of Marvel books, so outside of Casanova (another book I bought for the art) I wasn’t very familiar with Fraction’s previous work. As much as I loved The Immortal Iron Fist, I came to that series because I liked Brubaker’s stuff, the Iron Fist character (Power Man and Iron Fist is one of my all-time favorite team-ups), and kung-fu comics in general. Since Fraction co-wrote it with Bru’, it was hard to tell who was doing the heavy lifting on that series and Fraction didn’t register as a writer to keep an eye out for. But the award-winning writer is obviously doing something right, and it wasn’t until I read Fantastic Four: New Departure, New Arrivals that I understood what it was.
Fraction is like the Scottie Pippen of comics, just feeding the ball to MJ all day. His biggest skill as a comic book writer (and it’s a surprisingly rare one) is being able to identify and play to the strengths of his artists. He’s a selfless team player who knows how to truly collaborate. When analyzing or critiquing comics (as with film) sometimes the only way to get a handle on what it all means is to revert to the auteur theory that it’s all the work of one mastermind. On one end of the spectrum, there’s Stan Lee’s “Marvel method” of writing where the writer gives a couple pages, or even just a couple paragraphs, of plot outline to the artist and lets them figure out the storytelling mechanics that visually take the reader from point A to point B. Then there’s the Alan Moore approach, where the writer crafts incredibly long, impossibly detailed panel descriptions, as if daring the artist to match his vision. Most writers fall somewhere in the middle, but, without knowing the process, it can be hard to tell who’s responsible for what storytelling elements in the final product. But in Fraction’s case, the evidence is mounting that here’s a guy who knows how to get the best out of his artists. He’s not just stepping back and letting these guys do their thing, he’s clearly the architect behind some of the most visually interesting mainstream comics being made today.
At first, I was only interested in this book for Mike Allred’s art on the FF series and I almost didn’t pick this up, since I didn’t care about the Mark Bagley Fantastic Four stuff and was annoyed that Marvel had packaged them together. But now that I’ve read it, I see that the editors made the right call. This really is one overarching story with two different threads. Not only do the two series inform and enrich each other storywise, but the different approaches, tones, and styles highlight Fraction’s ability to switch gears between projects while still maintaining narrative cohesion.
Overall, I feel like the Fantastic Four is the one series that should have ended gracefully when Lee and Kirby finished their legendary run. (Honestly, I sometimes think Marvel Comics should have just closed up shop right then; with very few exceptions, they’ve been treading water ever since). Despite great efforts over the years from the likes of John Byrne, Walt Simonson, Mark Waid, Dwayne McDuffie, Jonathan Hickman, and even Grant Morrison, the most anyone could hope to achieve is an homage to the original Lee/Kirby sense of humor, humanity, adventure, and wonder. So, in the context of what Lee and Kirby accomplished, you can add Matt Fraction’s name to the ongoing list of wannabes taking a crack at the legendary First Family. But that still puts Fraction in great company. Judged on its own merits, Fraction and co. give readers a well-crafted and engaging story filled with intrigue, humor and a solid grasp on the characters. Ultimately, though, I came to FF for the art and I’m staying for the art. As long as Mike Allred is drawing it, I’m in. But now that I see what Fraction brings to the table, I’m sorry that he’s not going to stick around long enough to finish what he started.
July 10, 2013
Well, the Avengers and the X-Men got into a big slap fight over the Phoenix, and while it didn't have a huge effect on the Marvel Universe, it did have an effect on the real universe in the form of some new titles, and a host of new number one's. The Fantastic Four didn't play a huge part of this story, but since they are one of the big properties for Marvel, they are still given a new number one, and for the first time a second Fantastic Four title simply called FF.
This book is the collection of the first three issues of both titles. Both are written by Matt Fraction, with Mark Bagley drawing Fantastic Four, and Mike Allred drawing FF. The Fantastic Four side of things talks about how Reed has discovered that the very thing that gives them powers is also killing them. Since no cure seems to exist he decides to take the Fantastic Four, including his and Sue's two children, on a year long trip through space and time. He hopes that somewhere out there a cure exists.
The FF side of things is that Reed doesn't want the world to be left unprotected in their absences, so he decides they should make a new FF to stand in their place. Thus we get the team of Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk, and Ms. Thing, who is actually Johnny Storms pop star girlfriend because he forgot to ask some to take his spot.
The more Fantastic Four stuff I read, the more I like it. The way they show that the group isn't just a team of heroes, but is a family, is what appeals most to me. If you look at the Fantastic Four team that is going into space, the only one who is not actually related to someone is The Thing, but this is a case of family not just being about blood, but about the people who are always there for you no matter what. There is no Fantastic Four member who does not consider all the other members his family.
I was glad to see that they are keeping up the idea of the Future Foundation, because it was one of the most exciting things I've read in a comic in a very long time. It's an added bonus that now they are being lead by a group of people who aren't quite sure what to do with them, since they thought they would just lead the group for four minutes. Great stuff.
Of the two books I have to say that FF is the favorite. I think it is mostly because of Mike Allred's art. I've been a fan of his ever since I saw a few of his panels in Wizard Magazine. I also like the idea of having a new team that isn't really sure what they are doing.
If I was to continue reading these titles, I'd be more likely to keep reading FF. I like the Fantastic Four, but I've only got so much money, you know?
This book is the collection of the first three issues of both titles. Both are written by Matt Fraction, with Mark Bagley drawing Fantastic Four, and Mike Allred drawing FF. The Fantastic Four side of things talks about how Reed has discovered that the very thing that gives them powers is also killing them. Since no cure seems to exist he decides to take the Fantastic Four, including his and Sue's two children, on a year long trip through space and time. He hopes that somewhere out there a cure exists.
The FF side of things is that Reed doesn't want the world to be left unprotected in their absences, so he decides they should make a new FF to stand in their place. Thus we get the team of Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk, and Ms. Thing, who is actually Johnny Storms pop star girlfriend because he forgot to ask some to take his spot.
The more Fantastic Four stuff I read, the more I like it. The way they show that the group isn't just a team of heroes, but is a family, is what appeals most to me. If you look at the Fantastic Four team that is going into space, the only one who is not actually related to someone is The Thing, but this is a case of family not just being about blood, but about the people who are always there for you no matter what. There is no Fantastic Four member who does not consider all the other members his family.
I was glad to see that they are keeping up the idea of the Future Foundation, because it was one of the most exciting things I've read in a comic in a very long time. It's an added bonus that now they are being lead by a group of people who aren't quite sure what to do with them, since they thought they would just lead the group for four minutes. Great stuff.
Of the two books I have to say that FF is the favorite. I think it is mostly because of Mike Allred's art. I've been a fan of his ever since I saw a few of his panels in Wizard Magazine. I also like the idea of having a new team that isn't really sure what they are doing.
If I was to continue reading these titles, I'd be more likely to keep reading FF. I like the Fantastic Four, but I've only got so much money, you know?
Read
August 27, 2013An office move has its ups and downs, but it does mean access to a new library service near work (my fifth in London), and the City appears to have been splashing out on Marvel Now. Marvel Now being what happened when, in response to the initial success of DC's New 52 relaunch, their rival superhero house took the good idea (new Number Ones all round - accessibility!) and ditched the bad (misconceived universe-wide reboot, editorial micromanagement). You may by now have guessed which initiative I consider more satisfactory.
So: taking over from Jonathan Hickman's typically twisty and cerebral take on Fantastic Four and spin-off title FF, it's the punchier Matt Fraction. But he continues the interplay between the two titles; the new set-up is that Reed Richards has discovered the family's altered biologies are breaking down so - without doing anything crazy like telling them - decides to take them all off into space and time to find a cure. Meanwhile, the substitute team they've assembled before departure are left minding the supergenius kids of the Future Foundation. This volume collects three issues of each title, of which I've already read the fairly jolly FF stuff about She-Hulk, Ant-Man and co. getting into all manner of ridiculous scrapes, with beautiful art by Mike Allred. The stuff about the core team, though...for the smartest man on Earth, Reed seems to spend a lot of his time doing very stupid things, and not just when it's clearly intended as a plot point about CRAZY BOFFINS. And that being so, Johnny Storm, who is by law The Impulsive One, has to be dumbed down even further, to the point that it becomes a surprise he can leave the Baxter Building without burning down New York, much less serve as a superhero.
So: taking over from Jonathan Hickman's typically twisty and cerebral take on Fantastic Four and spin-off title FF, it's the punchier Matt Fraction. But he continues the interplay between the two titles; the new set-up is that Reed Richards has discovered the family's altered biologies are breaking down so - without doing anything crazy like telling them - decides to take them all off into space and time to find a cure. Meanwhile, the substitute team they've assembled before departure are left minding the supergenius kids of the Future Foundation. This volume collects three issues of each title, of which I've already read the fairly jolly FF stuff about She-Hulk, Ant-Man and co. getting into all manner of ridiculous scrapes, with beautiful art by Mike Allred. The stuff about the core team, though...for the smartest man on Earth, Reed seems to spend a lot of his time doing very stupid things, and not just when it's clearly intended as a plot point about CRAZY BOFFINS. And that being so, Johnny Storm, who is by law The Impulsive One, has to be dumbed down even further, to the point that it becomes a surprise he can leave the Baxter Building without burning down New York, much less serve as a superhero.
August 5, 2015
I never was that much interested in Fantastic Four. If anything, Reed Richards always seemed to me an annoying asshole in the storylines I've read that he was a part of. On the other hand, I am a huge fan of Fraction's work. So, after reading not-so-hot reviews of his FF/F4 run, I was a bit surprised and disappointed. I've been putting away reading this for a while, but finally decided to give it a go. And man, am I glad I did that!
I loved this volume so much! although I preferred the FF issues to the F4, both halves were very good. I love the way Fraction writes this. It has a lot of his signature strokes: lovable characters who feel like real people (only better), his recognisable humour, a sense of lightheartedness to it all, and yet some barely noticeable feel of impending chaos. It felt like a mix of Fraction's Casanova, Hawkeye and the 60's comics. Very low-key, feel-good atmosphere. Loved the art, too. This is a gorgeous comic book. Especially the FF parts.
So, maybe it gets worse in the next volumes (that's what I heard), but at least this volume I enjoyed a lot.
I loved this volume so much! although I preferred the FF issues to the F4, both halves were very good. I love the way Fraction writes this. It has a lot of his signature strokes: lovable characters who feel like real people (only better), his recognisable humour, a sense of lightheartedness to it all, and yet some barely noticeable feel of impending chaos. It felt like a mix of Fraction's Casanova, Hawkeye and the 60's comics. Very low-key, feel-good atmosphere. Loved the art, too. This is a gorgeous comic book. Especially the FF parts.
So, maybe it gets worse in the next volumes (that's what I heard), but at least this volume I enjoyed a lot.
August 31, 2013
The 2nd Volume 1 of the Marvel Now! 'relaunch' which actually continues stories.
Here, Reed Richards decides that for once, when the FF go off into space/time, that maybe, just maybe, it might be smart to have backup ready. So we get Scott Lang (Ant-Man #2), Medusa of the Eternals, She-Hulk, and one of Johnny Storm's girlfriends as the new FF while the originals go off into space (even though they should only be gone for 4 Earth minutes.
I just think I'm not suited to the Fantastic Four...I find most of their stories just too convoluted, or silly, or with far too many children or time travel etc, etc.
Here, I even feel like they tried to make Ben Grimm seem even dumber, which I intensely dislike. I also find it annoying as heck that Reed Richards always has to travel the galaxy and spacetime to do anything, yet any human interaction outside of the FF is nearly paralyzing to him.
It's OK, but this is another Marvel Now! I won't be rushing to follow.
Here, Reed Richards decides that for once, when the FF go off into space/time, that maybe, just maybe, it might be smart to have backup ready. So we get Scott Lang (Ant-Man #2), Medusa of the Eternals, She-Hulk, and one of Johnny Storm's girlfriends as the new FF while the originals go off into space (even though they should only be gone for 4 Earth minutes.
I just think I'm not suited to the Fantastic Four...I find most of their stories just too convoluted, or silly, or with far too many children or time travel etc, etc.
Here, I even feel like they tried to make Ben Grimm seem even dumber, which I intensely dislike. I also find it annoying as heck that Reed Richards always has to travel the galaxy and spacetime to do anything, yet any human interaction outside of the FF is nearly paralyzing to him.
It's OK, but this is another Marvel Now! I won't be rushing to follow.
September 3, 2017
Reed Richards assembles a proxy team ostensibly to cover for a simple "four-minute" (in earth time) family trip / expedition into outer space. In reality, he's suffering from an unidentified health issue and of course the new FF - Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk, and Miss Thing - are almost immediately called into action. (Gotta love those plot complications - but then again, if Gilligan only went on a 'three-hour-tour' we would've never had a TV series, right?) Really enjoyable with the right amount of drama and humor - I look forward to the next two volumes.
February 28, 2021
This was fantastic, I love how Fraction writes the family dynamic and the new FF characters are really endearing. The vibe in this series reminds me a lot of earlier FF comic I’m excited to see where this goes.
December 13, 2021
Loved the focus on Scott for the first volume, excited to keep reading and hopefully see them give more attention to Jennifer and Medusa as the story unfolds.
February 15, 2014
Reprints Marvel Now! Point One #1, Fantastic Four (3) #1-3, and FF (2) #1-3 (December 2012-March 2013). After a battle, Reed Richards makes a horrific discovery…the Fantastic Four’s powers are suddenly causing their death. With a cancerous like growth on his arm, Reed decides to take his family and embark on a journey of discovery with the hopes of finding a cure…and not revealing their sickness. Meanwhile back on Earth, Ant-Man, Medusa, She-Hulk, and Johnny Storm’s Darla Deering (aka Ms. Thing) learn that they will temporarily be the Fantastic Four on the Fantastic Four’s one year in four minutes journey. When the Fantastic Four doesn’t return when scheduled, the new FF suddenly finds themselves as the leaders of one of Earth’s most powerful teams.
Written by Matt Fraction with Mark Bagley illustrating Fantastic Four and Michael Allred illustrating FF, this version of the Fantastic Four was a great creation. This collection holds the first three issues of the series under the general Fantastic Four title. Also included is the short introduction story in Marvel Now! Point One #1 (December 2012) which features the first appearance of Darla Deering.
FF and Fantastic Four were two different comics with the same themes…especially in this early collection. Fantastic Four is the traditional team of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Thing, and Human Torch with Reed and Sue’s children Val and Franklin. FF was a relaunch of the Jonathan Hickman’s Future Foundation-centric series but still contained a core four of Medusa, She-Hulk, Ant-Man, and the amusing Ms. Thing…while FF went for more human, Fantastic Four went for more adventure.
FF is great and Fantastic Four is good. I am swayed by the great Michael Allred’s art and that goes a long way. The whole FF series is very tongue-in-cheek and has a nice balance of humor and adventure…but primarily is a book about a school. It introduces the Darla character who is fun in itself (Johnny forgets to get a substitute and picks his girlfriend since the Fantastic Four is only supposed to be gone for minutes) and it also has “old” Johnny Storm which hints at a mysterious death for the Fantastic Four.
Fantastic Four has the more traditional art and is strong. Unfortunately, despite having the same author, it feels like more of the same old Fantastic Four. Fraction goes the route of a science team (along the lines of the Challengers of the Unknown) and sets up a series of space adventures…but I’d rather see the Fantastic Four battling more traditional villains instead of living planets (unless it is Ego). It isn’t bad, but in comparison to FF, it is weaker.
Fantastic Four and FF are fun comics. While both series tied together, I only read FF past this collection. Fantastic Four still had a lot of humor to it, but I preferred the writing and characters of FF. Fantastic Four 1: New Departure, New Arrivals was followed by Fantastic Four 2: Road Trip and the FF continued in FF 1: Fantastic Faux.
Written by Matt Fraction with Mark Bagley illustrating Fantastic Four and Michael Allred illustrating FF, this version of the Fantastic Four was a great creation. This collection holds the first three issues of the series under the general Fantastic Four title. Also included is the short introduction story in Marvel Now! Point One #1 (December 2012) which features the first appearance of Darla Deering.
FF and Fantastic Four were two different comics with the same themes…especially in this early collection. Fantastic Four is the traditional team of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Thing, and Human Torch with Reed and Sue’s children Val and Franklin. FF was a relaunch of the Jonathan Hickman’s Future Foundation-centric series but still contained a core four of Medusa, She-Hulk, Ant-Man, and the amusing Ms. Thing…while FF went for more human, Fantastic Four went for more adventure.
FF is great and Fantastic Four is good. I am swayed by the great Michael Allred’s art and that goes a long way. The whole FF series is very tongue-in-cheek and has a nice balance of humor and adventure…but primarily is a book about a school. It introduces the Darla character who is fun in itself (Johnny forgets to get a substitute and picks his girlfriend since the Fantastic Four is only supposed to be gone for minutes) and it also has “old” Johnny Storm which hints at a mysterious death for the Fantastic Four.
Fantastic Four has the more traditional art and is strong. Unfortunately, despite having the same author, it feels like more of the same old Fantastic Four. Fraction goes the route of a science team (along the lines of the Challengers of the Unknown) and sets up a series of space adventures…but I’d rather see the Fantastic Four battling more traditional villains instead of living planets (unless it is Ego). It isn’t bad, but in comparison to FF, it is weaker.
Fantastic Four and FF are fun comics. While both series tied together, I only read FF past this collection. Fantastic Four still had a lot of humor to it, but I preferred the writing and characters of FF. Fantastic Four 1: New Departure, New Arrivals was followed by Fantastic Four 2: Road Trip and the FF continued in FF 1: Fantastic Faux.
November 14, 2013
Matt Fraction - writer
Mark Bagley - artist
Mike Allred - artist
One day, while Mr. Fantastic and his homies are on a mission in the Mesozoic era, a Dinosaur chomps on his arm while it is all stretched out. Normally this is not a problem for the super-elastic Mr. Fantastic, but for some reason this dino-bite messes up his arm. When he examines the damage Mr. Fantastic finds that he is sick on a molecular level, and most likely so is his radiation-powered family! Worse still, the known Universe holds no cure for this malady. Which means they'll have to explore the Unknown Universe to try and find a cure. Instead of telling his family the bad news like a normal person, Mr. Fantasic pretends that they should all go on a vacation ... through time and space! So he and the other members of the Fantastic Four each select a stand-in in case something goes wrong on their "vacation." Mr. Fantastic tabs Scott Lang, the Ant-Man. Sue Storm asks Queen Medusa of the Inhumans to stand in for her. The Thing asks his workout buddy She-Hulk. And at the last minute The Human Torch gets his girlfriend, recording artist Darla Deering. So the backup Fantastic Four gathers at the Baxter building to see the originals off on their four-minute vacation (from the perspective of Earth, the time-travelers will only be gone 4 minutes). But the allotted time comes and goes and the original Fantastic Four do not return. Clearly, something has gone wrong. Days later, a crazed and much older Johnny Storm appears and destroys the portal device, claiming the rest of the Fantastic Four have been killed by Dr. Doom. Now, the replacements are left wondering just what the heck they should do while the fate of the original Fantastic Four remains a mystery. And nobody knows just what to do with old, crazy, cybernetic Johnny Storm.
Great, great writing from mighty Mark Fraction - absolutely one of the best in the game today. The art from Mark Bagley is very nice. The art from Mike Allred is fantastic. It's hard to describe Allred's style - it is retro and meta all at once with intense, evocative faces and exciting action sequences. Wonderful stuff.
Highly recommended.
4.5/5
Mark Bagley - artist
Mike Allred - artist
One day, while Mr. Fantastic and his homies are on a mission in the Mesozoic era, a Dinosaur chomps on his arm while it is all stretched out. Normally this is not a problem for the super-elastic Mr. Fantastic, but for some reason this dino-bite messes up his arm. When he examines the damage Mr. Fantastic finds that he is sick on a molecular level, and most likely so is his radiation-powered family! Worse still, the known Universe holds no cure for this malady. Which means they'll have to explore the Unknown Universe to try and find a cure. Instead of telling his family the bad news like a normal person, Mr. Fantasic pretends that they should all go on a vacation ... through time and space! So he and the other members of the Fantastic Four each select a stand-in in case something goes wrong on their "vacation." Mr. Fantastic tabs Scott Lang, the Ant-Man. Sue Storm asks Queen Medusa of the Inhumans to stand in for her. The Thing asks his workout buddy She-Hulk. And at the last minute The Human Torch gets his girlfriend, recording artist Darla Deering. So the backup Fantastic Four gathers at the Baxter building to see the originals off on their four-minute vacation (from the perspective of Earth, the time-travelers will only be gone 4 minutes). But the allotted time comes and goes and the original Fantastic Four do not return. Clearly, something has gone wrong. Days later, a crazed and much older Johnny Storm appears and destroys the portal device, claiming the rest of the Fantastic Four have been killed by Dr. Doom. Now, the replacements are left wondering just what the heck they should do while the fate of the original Fantastic Four remains a mystery. And nobody knows just what to do with old, crazy, cybernetic Johnny Storm.
Great, great writing from mighty Mark Fraction - absolutely one of the best in the game today. The art from Mark Bagley is very nice. The art from Mike Allred is fantastic. It's hard to describe Allred's style - it is retro and meta all at once with intense, evocative faces and exciting action sequences. Wonderful stuff.
Highly recommended.
4.5/5
July 6, 2013
The Fantastic Four decide to go on a family trip. To most of the family it's an adventure; to Reed it's a life or death journey to find a cure for what's killing him. They believe they will only be gone for a total of four minutes but just in case they find some stand in's while they are away; She-Hulk, Ant Man, Medusa and Darla (Johnny's girlfriend who will eventually become Ms. Thing--there's some cute foreshadowing of this in the first couple pages, check out the magazine she's reading when she's out with Johnny). In addition to taking over the Fantastic Four they will also handle the school. Of course things never go as expected and the Fantastic Four appear to not be returning according to someone who claims to be Johnny Storm.
There were a lot of feelings in this volume. Ant Man's situation is especially poignant and it will be interesting to watch Darla develop. Medusa so far seems to be around for comic relief. That being said I was more than a little happy to see three woman on the team. There also appear to be some intriguing things going on with the kids. I admit I should be more interested in what happened to the original Fantastic Four. Their family adventure thing seems interesting so far but I'm just way more interested in the character development of the replacements; which isn't to say I don't want to know what happens but for now the replacements are more intriguing. For now this is a series to keep watching as I feel like it could either get over the top or continue to delve into the characters of the replacement squad.
There were a lot of feelings in this volume. Ant Man's situation is especially poignant and it will be interesting to watch Darla develop. Medusa so far seems to be around for comic relief. That being said I was more than a little happy to see three woman on the team. There also appear to be some intriguing things going on with the kids. I admit I should be more interested in what happened to the original Fantastic Four. Their family adventure thing seems interesting so far but I'm just way more interested in the character development of the replacements; which isn't to say I don't want to know what happens but for now the replacements are more intriguing. For now this is a series to keep watching as I feel like it could either get over the top or continue to delve into the characters of the replacement squad.
November 6, 2013
Well I'm pulled in for the long haul on half of this. I knew going in that I would probably be sold on FF, but Fantastic Four was up in the air. Which, let's just put it out there, yeah it's kind of bologna that they put the two series in one trade and make you read both. That said, the story really does cross over and have value from both books.
FF is great. The characters are ones that deserve some more time in the spotlight, and they're genuinely interesting. Especially Scott and Darla, so far. Scott's appearance in the .1 issue was touching and funny and engaging, exactly what you get from the rest of the book.
The Allreds' art is amazing. It's part of the style that is gaining popularity and that I love so much. I really think this direction will be one of the next defining "looks" of this generation of comics. All of the best ones recently look like this, or did when they were acclaimed: Wonder Woman, Hawkeye, Green Arrow, Wolverine & the X-Men, etc. I really have nothing bad to say about this half of the book.
As for the Fantastic Four title, it's a little less amazing for me. The look doesn't hold as much appeal, and the characters were turning me off in the first few pages. I know it's how he's always talked, but Ben's dialogue was atrocious in this. The rest aren't much better. Johnny is vapid, Sue is bland, and Reed is arrogant. I just don't want to read about these people. Sure, it's an interesting premise and situation, but I'm willing to bet my money on getting enough of the story through FF to not worry.
FF is great. The characters are ones that deserve some more time in the spotlight, and they're genuinely interesting. Especially Scott and Darla, so far. Scott's appearance in the .1 issue was touching and funny and engaging, exactly what you get from the rest of the book.
The Allreds' art is amazing. It's part of the style that is gaining popularity and that I love so much. I really think this direction will be one of the next defining "looks" of this generation of comics. All of the best ones recently look like this, or did when they were acclaimed: Wonder Woman, Hawkeye, Green Arrow, Wolverine & the X-Men, etc. I really have nothing bad to say about this half of the book.
As for the Fantastic Four title, it's a little less amazing for me. The look doesn't hold as much appeal, and the characters were turning me off in the first few pages. I know it's how he's always talked, but Ben's dialogue was atrocious in this. The rest aren't much better. Johnny is vapid, Sue is bland, and Reed is arrogant. I just don't want to read about these people. Sure, it's an interesting premise and situation, but I'm willing to bet my money on getting enough of the story through FF to not worry.
June 29, 2013
I just have to say that this was such a great surprise after having read the first volume of the Marvel NOW! Iron Man because that was hugely disappointing. This however, was pretty awesome. I really loved the storyline that's in this volume with the Fantastic Four leaving regular Earth into a different time and space, so they have to pick replacements for themselves even though they will only be gone four minutes (convenient huh?). Though, to the Fantastic they will be gone a year, and the reason for leaving is very important to the future of the Four. This just had a really great story, and typically when Marvel goes into space I'm not much of a fan but the writer does a great job of making the story interesting despite the Fantastic Four actually leaving. The artwork is great, and I have to say this book had a really great sense of humor. I actually chuckled out loud a few times, especially with The Thing. Oh, and I have to say that John Storm that comes back through the portal is just straight-up creepy looking, but awesome at the same time. Where's that guy in some of the books? That could be a serious side-plot with a dark Storm like that, with how creepy he looks it really drew me in. So now, we're one for two on Marvel NOW! titles. I hope the others that I get the chance to read are much more like this one.
Originally posted at sixthreezy at the movies & more!
Originally posted at sixthreezy at the movies & more!
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