The New 'FF' Costumes by Marko Djurdjevic

Marko Djurdjevic had the thankless task of redesigning costumes that have, for the most part, remained the same for almost 50 years. Sure John Byrne changed up the color of the Fantastic Four’s costumes after during the early 80’s—but there was nothing this drastic.

But the FF have gone through a dramatic change after the death of founding member Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch). This is taking the team in a new direction and bringing their old friend Spidey into the fold. A friend from work asked me what I thought about the inclusion of Spider-Man onto the team and I said “For me, this makes more sense than his joining the Avengers.”

Spider-Man has had a long history with the team, and close ties with Johnny Storm. Spider-Man has always been a loner who, if he were going to join a team, it would be one that describes itself not as a team—but as a family. Something more close-knit.

Back to the costumes. I like them for one corny as hell reason. When I think of the Fantastic Four, I think of the word “imaginauts.” That’s what they are. These costumes feel like superhero/space adventurer costumes. I think it was wise to tie Reed, Ben, and Sue’s costume together, while keeping Spider-Man’s individual enough, but still in the spirit of the team.

Of the new designs, S.V.P. of Publishing Tom Brevoort says:

“The point of these new costumes is to really hammer home that everything is fresh and new in the series again—and that it feels like a black-and-white world, following Johnny’s death. Marko Djurdjevic took my suggestion of “white outfits” and ran with it. The hexagonal emblems were all him.”

I can also see different artists interpreting these costumes in a myriad of cool ways. I’m eager for this new chapter of the Fantastic Four—I mean the FF!