There are a lot of comics out there, but some stand out head and shoulders above the pack. With “Don’t Miss This,” we want to spotlight those series we think need to be on your pull list. This week Marvel’s first family is back and doing what they do best in “Fantastic Four” by Ryan North, Iban Coello, and Ivan Fiorelli. After defending the multiverse and accidentally becoming public enemies, The Fantastic Four are on the run, but strange phenomena seem to find you when you’re a super explorer! If you like exciting character studies, small-scale mysteries, and well-written adventures, this is the comic for you! Join us as we show you why you should follow this new iteration of these cosmic explorers.
Who is this by?
“Fantastic Four” continues Ryan North’s (“The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl,” “Power Pack,” “Star Trek: Lower Decks”) incredible run of comic books. While perhaps not quite as winkingly meta as some of his other books (“The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl” comes to mind), North clearly has the right stuff when writing fun characters and crafting intriguing stories.
Joining North on “Fantastic Four” is Iban Coello (“Venom,” “The Amazing Spider-Man”), whose art perfectly captures the tone of North’s script. It’s vibrant and fun while capturing the emotions of the script and the unique stories these characters find themselves in. When the page needs action, Coello is there. When it leans into the weirdness of a situation, Coello has fun exploring the page layout. It’s been an exciting partnership. Recently, Ivan Fiorelli (“Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond,” “Avengers” ) has also been bringing the first family to life and, much like Coello, finds a way to capture North’s script with incredible character design and dynamic action. In general, the pages of the book are visually stunning while telling an excellent story.
What’s it all about?
The Fantastic Four are on the run after keeping the multiverse safe, and “Fantastic Four” follows each member as they try to escape the temporal displacement of the Baxter Building and surrounding block. What follows are unique adventures, character studies, and scientific mysteries as the family works through their trauma and comes back together.
“Fantastic Four” puts the adventure at the forefront, exchanging sprawling fights with intimate stories. Even though we get a fair bit of superheroics, these first issues show why someone becomes a hero and why you keep fighting for what’s right, even if the world isn’t entirely on your side.
What makes it so great?
There’s just something about this “Fantastic Four” series that feels fresh. Ryan North’s ability to write engaging stories that perfectly capture the tone of characters is on full display, with each issue acting not only as a character study but as a reminder of what each team member brings to the table. From Reed’s intelligence to Ben’s gruff kindness; Johnny’s fiery charisma, and Sue’s innovative protection, each mini-adventure shows why these characters work so well together. But there’s one thing that North brings to the table that makes the series stand out, a noticeably episodic approach to Marvel’s first family.
From early interviews, it’s clear that North has the right idea on how to approach a comic that tends to lean into sprawling epics, bring in the scope and explore why we like the characters in the first place. “Fantastic Four” is almost radically small scale, with issues that wouldn’t feel out of place in Star Trek or The Twilight Zone. Like those shows, the mystery or conflict acts more as a way to explore these characters and their relationships. “Fantastic Four” #1 showcases that Ben Grimm is more than a dumb muscle. He’s a good friend and a support network. Sue and Reed deal with Doombots, who have gained a degree of sentience, and instead of a big epic fight, it’s a way to figure out how to protect this unconventional community. But in “Fantastic Four” #4, all these pieces start to cook. Having a whole issue about the festering parasitic nature of resentment and the curing power of healing isn’t something you usually get from a comic. Still, Ryan North finds to way to make it work (while also being exciting.)
Continued belowThis is thanks to Iban Coello and Ivan Fiorelli’s art. Coello’s art perfectly matches the tone of North’s script. While not all of the early issues are action-packed adventures, Coello captures the emotions of the characters and has some fun with the page layouts. When he gets a chance to lean into the action, it’s dynamic and exciting, but every page of “Fantastic Four” is a fantastic example of the power of visual storytelling. While Fiorelli is new to the series, the art is also entertaining and dynamic. “Fantastic Four” has visually dynamic characters, fun combat, and the occasionally trippy sequence that reminds you what sets the team apart from other comics. You can go from an antics-filled time paradox to a parasitic mind virus to Reed Richards stretching through multiple dimensions, and it all works. It works because that’s what these heroes deal with on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, the colors on the page are vibrant and dynamic, establishing that this is a comic that revels in antics and fun while telling some impactful stories.
It’s just nice to have a “Fantastic Four” series that leans into an exploration of different flavors of the sci-fi genre. The Fantastic Four work in almost any context, and Ryan North is proving just how much fun they can be while also reminding us why they are heroes in the first place. It’s been a delight seeing these issues hit the shelf, and a book that started on a high note only seems to be getting better week in and week out. That’s not an easy task and one worth rewarding.
How can you read it?
“Fantastic Four” is published monthly by Marvel Comics and the 6th issue is scheduled to come out this week! You can catch up on the adventure at your local comic shop or on digital platforms like Marvel Unlimited or Comixology.
You’ll have to purchase individual issues to catch up on the action, but the first trade, “Whatever Happened to the Fantastic Four?” collecting issues 1-6, is scheduled for July.
