Marvel Teases Something 'Fantastic' from Hickman and Company this November

Do mine eyes deceive me? For some reason, I think they do. I will be shocked if we are seeing what we are seeing, but I've been wrong before. Earlier this summer I spent an extra long visit at "Peter Parker isn't gonna die" camp.

But I would be pretty surprised if Human Torch was coming back from the dead after being gone for only a matter of months, whether issue #600 of The Fantastic Four would have been published in November or not. FF is still in it's infancy (they haven't finished an arc yet!) and Ben has to finish grieving now that he's no longer wielding a hammer (did I just spoil something?). Whatever is going down with the First Family of Marvel, it will continue to be guided by Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting. It looks as though Carmine Di Gianomencio, Leinil Yu and Farel Dalrymple are on for the ride as well.

I would assume that we will learn the fates of both teams (there could be two) by the week's end. But for now, we have a quandary to noodle on. Or is that a quad-ry? No, it's quandary.


Marvel Previews 'FF' #4

If you haven’t picked up any of Jonathan Hickman’s run on Fantastic Four, then consider picking up on the newly launched FF. Hickman has his finger on what makes Marvel’s First Family charming and enduring, and he’s made us positive that Spider-Man’s inclusion on the team is not at all gimmicky.

Barry Kitson joins Hickman on the second arc later this month as the “War of the Four Cities” storyline begins (check out the artist's fine pages after the jump). If you haven’t been able to get enough of the FF, I would recommend picking the last few issues of Amazing Spider-Man by Dan Slott. I’ll admit, the tone is significantly more light-hearted, but Slott’s understanding of these iconic characters feels true to the best of what has come before it.

First Look: 'FF" #1

Here it is! Our first look at the first few pages of the new FF title. We see rogue A.I.M. agents plotting more nefariousness, the dying wish of Johnny Storm, Spidey's visit to the Baxter Building, and Reed and Sue in their new suite, one predominately white and the other is black. Interesting. I wonder if the suit reacts to the mood of the wearer? We'll have to wait until March to see.

Take a look at the preview pages after the jump!

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!

Marvel Releases the Cover for 'Fantastic Four' 588, the Final Issue

Here we are. One month before a member of Marvel’s First Family is laid to rest, and two before the 50-year old comic book comes to an end. Today Marvel released the heart-breaking cover of next February’s Fantastic Four #588 (above), the final issue of the series.

There has been plenty of speculation and polls around the web as to which character might not make it to the end of issue #587, the final chapter of Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting’s buzz-worthy “3” storyline. Last week Marvel released a teaser (below) for March’s launch of—it’s hard to say—a book that probably focuses on the remaining members. Titled “FF”, this looks to be a book that will present the next chapter for the famous heroes.

Considering the book is being morphed into something new, this appears to be a creative change that will last for the long haul. Of course comic book fans are used to their deceased characters eventual returns, but in the case of the Fantastic Four, this seems like a plot device that may need to occur out of necessity rather than to kickoff an event. Fantastic Four is one of those little-read classic titles, like Wonder Woman, that regularly receives a new creative team responsible for bringing a bold fresh take on the book. I get the impression that the death and the name change is only the beginning of what Hickman has planned for the title.

So who will the team lose? I guessed at first that it would be Sue Storm, but now I’m leaning towards the Human Torch for a couple of reasons. The cover of Amazing Spider-Man #657 (which is likely a red herring, left) has Spider-Man hanging out on a water tower with Torch’s famous “4” logo in the sky. Also, I seem to remember reading that Spidey was going to be going to the Baxter building to visit with Franklin and Valeria to discuss their loss.

Though, for the Fantastic Four to be really turned on its head, the death of Reed Richards would have the greatest impact on their status quo. Without Reed, you take away the team’s leadership and all of the galaxy/reality spanning adventures that the characters so often find themselves.

So here we are. I have guessed three of the four main characters. Consider this a reminder why I should not accompany you to Vegas. I am simply confident that the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed Thing is going to make it to the end of the series and has plenty more times to clobber in the annals of Marvel Comics.