Comic Review: Fantastic Four (2018-) #1

Fantastic Four #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Dan Slott

Artist: Sara Pichelli & Simone Bianchi

The Fantastic Four as we know it has been missing since 2015. Yes, it has been three years since the conclusion of the most recent Fantastic Four series, so the return of the world’s greatest comic magazine is overdue. Fantastic Four #1 lives up to all of the expectations, and delivers a remarkably touching first issue.

Dan Slott understands what makes Fantastic Four comics so great. It isn’t the adventures or the epic battles – It’s the dialogue and the characters. Fantastic Four has always felt grounded despite how spectacular its stories are. Dan Slott writes the dialogue with grace, and the characters all feel true to form. Johnny and Ben’s relationships are what makes this debut succeed. Their interactions with each other, as well as their loved ones, feel sincere and genuine.

Fantastic Four #1 is an emotional read. The world still isn’t used to being without the Fantastic Four, and some people are prepared to continue to live without them. Slott’s debut is full of raw emotion. It has moments full of hope, despair, and love. This issue is heartwarming and touching, and it feels like a big event – Just not in the way that Marvel tends to deliver big events.

Sara Picheli is in top form, and Fantastic Four #1 is one of the best-looking books to her have her name on it. All of the characters look great with wonderful expressions and fluid movements. Half of the sentimentality of this issue is conveyed through the art. Physical conflict is absent from this issue, but Picheli makes up for it through an incredible-looking Human Torch. The Thing looks great too, with strong attention to detail in every panel to make him as expressive as possible.

The issue concludes with an extra story in Latveria. The extra is written by Slott and drawn by Simone Bianchi, and is just as strong of a story as the main feature. It twists the theme of hope that is pushed on the reader throughout the reader as it puts the spotlight on Doom. It looks scary and juxtaposes the rest of the issue successfully, giving the reader far more to look forward to than the return of the family.

Fantastic Four #1 is as good of a debut as anyone could ask for. It’s exactly what the Fantastic Four have deserved, and fans of the characters will be elated with what Slott is doing with them.