When the Fantastic Four take on Doom, things go well until they suddenly go catastrophically wrong – and they’re sent to four different eras in Earth’s history! Alone and isolated in wildly different time periods, Reed, Johnny, Ben and Sue all have to fight to survive. Their only hope is to reach the Forever Stone: a mass of dense granite that happens to be one of the longest-lasting rocks on the planet, which – through a combination of obscurity and raw geological luck – has stayed both intact and accessible for most of Earth’s history! Also featured in this extra-big, extra-special issue: Ben Grimm fights a dinosaur! No other comic DARES to feature the Thing battling several Mapusauruses, but that’s just where WE get started! Fantastic Four #1 is a new jumping on point that doesn’t feel quite like one.

When we last left the Fantastic Four, they were trying to get Ben Grimm back as the Thing after being changed back to human by Doctor Doom. As part of “One World Under Doom,” the team has been a focus, trying to take a stand against the new Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Doom. Fantastic Four #1 kind of throws readers into the deep end with that as the team attempts to take on Doom one more time to stop his rule over the world. And that’s where the issue is a rather odd one.

Written by Ryan North, Fantastic Four #1 is an oddity of a new volume. It generally is one that new readers can dive into, but it’s just an odd continuation of the previous volume. The last one ended on a rather happy note with the team having helped Ben and generally reflected on things. This volume has them right away standing up against Doom and being sent throughout time.

The team scattered, and how they handle it is a rather interesting one. It’s a situation that feels like we’ve seen before but North focuses on details of what each member of the team faces on their own. Each is a unique situation and the solution presented generally makes sense. But, it feels like a miniseries or story arc that ties into “One World Under Doom,” even though the event is mentioned in the cover dressing. For a first issue of a new volume, it doesn’t quite hit that fresh start that’s easy for new readers to dive in to. But, with a new film coming, it’s an attempt to do just that.

Humberto Ramos‘ art is always entertaining to check out and things look pretty solid here. It’s not Ramos’ best work but still very good and there’s just something fun about it. With color by Victor Olazaba and lettering by Travis Lanham, the art has a pop sense about it and has fun with the various moments like The Thing fighting dinosaurs. It also delivers some drama with the segments featuring Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman.

Fantastic Four #1 is a fun comic but as a first issue it doesn’t really deliver an experience that makes it truly exciting or something that’ll hook new readers. It has a good mix of action, humor, and drama. It generally should be easy for new readers to be able to pick up and enjoy. Overall, it feels more like a continuation of the previous volume instead of a clean break and relies on “One World Under Doom” to really deliver the challenge the team will face. It’s more good event miniseries than the start of a whole new volume.

Story: Ryan North Art: Humberto Ramos
Color: Victor Olazaba Letterer: Travis Lanham
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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