Comic Review: X-Men/Fantastic Four (2020) #1

X-Men/Fantastic Four #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artists: Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson

Since the Hickman reboot, all of the mutants have more or less relocated to Krakoa. The X-Men line has been focused, with a majority of the new books being hits and having a great amount of structure. Most of the relevant mutants are getting the spotlight and seeing them all share one home has been entertaining, to say the least. Still, there is one mutant who doesn’t live in Krakoa. Magneto and company want Franklin Richards to come home, but the Fantastic Four has other plans.

At a glance, one might worry that this four-issue miniseries will be a cheap blockbuster, but this is far from that. Writer Chip Zdarsky does a fantastic job at making X-Men/Fantastic Four #1 more than just an excuse to watch the heavyweight teams fight it out. This issue has a surprising amount of heart in it, making it one of the best X-Men and Fantastic Four issues since both lines relaunched.

Most of the issue’s heart comes from how well written Kate and Franklin are. The two characters have a natural chemistry and together make this book more than your run-of-the-mill crossover. Chip Zdarsky also writes a good chunk of the other characters excellently too. I’ll admit that there are a few hiccups with Reed Richards, who just doesn’t sound like himself in a few panels. Still, this is an issue that showcases the best of these characters, which will delight fans.

I’ll confess that I’ve had a rocky relationship with Terry Dodson’s art. While I was originally smitten by the gorgeous backgrounds and characters that the artist draws, I eventually found myself burnt out by the too similar faces and bodies (especially when he draws women). There was a time when Dodson’s work was everywhere, and his shortcomings were starting to grow obvious. Fortunately, I haven’t seen his work in a couple of years and it looks better than ever. The characters have plenty of variety in their faces. Their expressions and poses all look natural, with nothing seeming too out of place in this issue. There is also great sequential work in this issue, and the action all flows across the panels seamlessly.

While Terry Dodson’s art is spectacular, it’s Rachel Dodson that steals the show in this issue. Every environment is absolutely gorgeous thanks to the lush greens and blues that fill the pages. The best colors are chosen in every panel to put the right characters and objects in focus, amplifying how easy this issue is to read.

X-Men/Fantastic Four #1is one of the best X-Men issues since Hickman took over. It’s full of heart, has some fun fights, and sets everything up for a strong story. It’s accessible to those who haven’t read any X-Men books since the first issue of House of X, too, so this is one that should be tried by anyone who is a fan of the X-Men or Fantastic Four.