Story by
James Robinson
Art by
Leonard Kirk
Cover by
Leonard Kirk, Alex Ross, Jerome Oepna
Publisher
Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date
Wed, February 19th, 2014
Cosmic explorers – heroes forever united as family. The world’s greatest comic magazine begins anew as Marvel’s First Family bursts back into the spotlight in FANTASTIC FOUR #1, from Eisner Award winning writer James Robinson and critically acclaimed artist Leonard Kirk!
The brilliant Mr. Fantastic, the compassionate Invisible Woman, hot-headed Human Torch, and the ever-lovin’ Thing return for a new ongoing series fraught with danger, excitement & intrigue. Only they won’t be met with new beginnings – but an untimely end! See the cover for issue #2. CLICK ON COVERS
The Fantastic Four in 1961 became Marvel’s first family team group. In number 1 they told the origin of the Fantastic Four and introduced the Mole Man and his monsters from under the earth. In number 2 they introduced the Skrulls from outer space, whats a good comic without and alien or two. By #3 the title read Fantastic Four “The Greatest Comic Magazine In The World“!! Bold words from this upstart Comic Publishing Company called Marvel. But the team of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee made good on their statement. Much that is marvel today had its origin in the first 100 Fantastic Four issues.
In #4 Namor the Sub-Mariner who first appeared publicly in Marvel Comics #1 (Oct. 1939) was introduced in his first Silver Aged appearance. in #5 the villain of villains Doctor Doom. In #12 the first of the epic Hulk vs Thing battles. The Watcher appears in #29, the Inhumans in #45, in #48, #49 and #50 Stan and Jack introduce Galactus and his Harald the Silver Surfer. In #51 the Negative Zone was introduced and #52 is the first appearance of the Black Panther. In #66 and #67 “Him” was introduced who became Adam Warlock which later brought us the Infinity Gems and the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thanos and much more interstellar Marvel history.
The Annuals gave us many important events in Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965) presented the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Lee and Kirby reintroduced the original Human Torch in Fantastic Four Annual #4 (1966) and had him battle Johnny Storm. Sue Richards’ pregnancy was announced in Fantastic Four Annual #5 (1967), and the Richards’ son, Franklin Richards was born in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (1968) in a story which introduced Annihilus of the Negative Zone as well.
The Fantastic Four is rich in Marvel history and one of the corner stones of the Marvel take over of the comic world which began in 1961. Make mine Marvel was the mantra of many comic buyers back then and now. In conclusion is this title worth checking out? Answer: “You Bet Ya”. The writer and art combination should be enough to get you to check the new re start of Fantastic Four. James Robinson has been writing for over two decades, with an early comics work, “Grendel: The Devil’s Whisper”, appearing in the 1989 series of the British anthology A1. The series for which he is arguably been most renowned is the DC Comics series Starman. In 1997, Robinson’s work on the Starman garnered him an Eisner Award for “Best Serialized Story”. And Robinson won two more Eisner Awards in 1997, for “Best New Series” and “Best Title for Younger Readers.
Leonard Kirk as artist has worked on such properties as Supergirl, JSA, Star Trek, Batman, and Witchblade. In 1997, he began a long association with DC Comics, beginning with a nearly 60 issue run on the Peter David written Supergirl series. Later in 2006, Kirk signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Comics, his first project being a six issue Jeff Parker written Agents of Atlas miniseries, which included Wakandan-born S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, Derek Khanata from the Scorpion story he penciled in Amazing Fantasy.
Join me in reading Fantastic Four #1 next month and let us know what you think right here at Comics Talk. Stay tuned comic faithful for more. 🙂 Walt