Fantastic Four Omnibus, Vol. 1

Book Description

They were visionaries. Explorers. Imaginauts. They were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. And like their creations - the Fantastic Four - they continually strove to overcome the impossible and achieve the extraordinary. Now, the first three years of their landmark run on Fantastic Four - issues #1-30 and Annual #1 - are collected in one oversized volume.

Customer Reviews:

the BEST way to read the F.F. early issues.......2006-09-22

an earlier reviewer mentioned that it's better/easier to read these issues through the DVD-Rom and I would disagree with that because it's never as comfortable to go scrolling up and down each page of a book like this when you can have each issue reproduced in mint condition and read them all at your liesure in a comfy chair or in bed and appreciate the early brilliance of Lee/Kirby. It simply does NOT get better than this. Cannot recommend it highly enough. My question is when does the next TWO F.F. Omnibuses come out? We desperately need F.F. #31 thru 65 and then #66 thru 100 to wrap up the entirety of the Lee/Kirby run. Marvel, HURRY!

The start of the Marvel age of comics.......2006-02-18

Really what can one say about Jack Kirby and Stan Lee's Fantastic Four. Its a groundbreaking concept that you as the reader get to watch mature in 30 + issues in one book and in color. Its different than other super hero books as these members have great emotional reactions between both the evil foes and themselves. Its a Super hero comic soap opera as every issue became a cliff hanger. Jack Kirby makes this book live with his dynamic art. Stan's no slouch with stories either. Its a decent price to pay and is put together well. Many Marvel books have gutter problems, this one doesn't. Do yourself a favor and either re-live these books or start with some timeless super hero stories, its a winner !

An excellent volume.......2006-01-19

This includes the first 30 issues of FF plus the first annual. The book itself is hardcover, high quality glossy pages with each issue in the order it was released. The book is over 800 pages and each page is comic book size. Each issue is reprinted with the cover page and the letters page. At the back there are some alternate covers for certain of the issues, an original plot outline for the first story, as well as essays from Lee, Thomas and others.

For me, I prefer this to the dvd alternative, but that comes down to your own personal preference of reading pages or a screen, plus space to keep books as well as cost. I would love to see the entire series out in this format, even if it would run around 15 volumes. Hopefully, Marvel will at least issue a few more volumes, though.

Great and heavy.......2005-11-30

Great to be able to get so many issues in one volume and this book is heavy. It's best to read on a solid surface. I also like the letters section but would have liked to see some of the old advertisements. I hope they do another volume continuing where they left off and I also would like to see other Marver characters get the big book treatment.

On a side note, in a preview of the FF movie, critic Richard Roeper stated that no one would care about the FF as they were not popular and "who even heard of them." Shows how much he knows about Marvel comics. I meant to drop him a line but didn't make time to do so. According to Stan Lee, the FF were one of the top three popular comics.

This is pretty sweet..........2005-10-05

I've read most of these comics in their original form, and was surprised when I picked this volume up by how... RIGHT... it felt. This is a handsomely packaged product, a bit hefty perhaps, but it has the real feel, the sense of excitement and wonder that you'd hope for in an FF mega-reprint... Somehow it evokes the feel of the original books, the giddy, explosive creativity, the sense of vibrancy and sheer fun -- it's a lot like reading the old comics themselves. The inclusion of the old letter columns is nice as well; too bad they didn't see fit to also inlude some of the other graphics of the time (Marvel monthly checklists, etc.) but overall, this is a really classy package. I never went for the "Marvel Masterworks" series (although I appreciate the effort), but this gigantic tome has a special feel. It's cool.

Average customer rating:

Mark Waid rocks...
Not what I thought...but still a cool book
WOW.What a book of greatness we have now.
Family Drama, SF/Fantasy Adventure: Waid's Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four, Vol. 1
Mark Waid
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785114866

Customer Reviews:

Mark Waid rocks..........2007-04-28

I love the FF and I love Mark Waid, and so this title is a no brainer. Mark brings a freshness to the FF that has been missing for quite a while. He seems to bring out the best in them, and look at them in a new way. The strength of the FF has always been that they have been a family. And that is just something that allows the writers to have a different type of dynamic in a story that is something that you don't often read about no matter what sort of literature you are into. If you are a fan of Mark Waid or the FF, and you haven't read in a while, this book will not disappoint. If you are new to the FF, then this book will lure you in. It's a must buy.

Not what I thought...but still a cool book.......2006-01-04

I bought this book thinking that this was a complete recap of the FF4 series, from the start. After reading the first few pages, although it is mentioned how the four become the FF4, the book takes on another route. The drawings are great, and the story line fairly interesting. I am halfway through the book, and feel that the only reason I am continuing to read on is that I am a FF4 fan.

If you're expecting this book to give you a complete series recap from the start, it's not it. I bought it in a store in a mall, and the employees of the store could not tell me what the book was about, it was shrink wrapped. I took a chance and am disapointed.

WOW.What a book of greatness we have now........2005-06-15

First,I would like to tell you that im really 15 years old.Im just having e-mail problems.This book is everything you want in a fantastic four book. It has drama,excitement,science fiction,and action.My favorite thing is that they made Dr.Doom more evil and vicious than ever.I just cant believe how sexy they made Susan Storm!Its her body naked in a blue tint of a blue costume.Good book.It even includes Franklin and Valerie Richards.May be the reason for Sue's sudden sexiness. The book even admits that they wanted her to be flat out sexier.

Family Drama, SF/Fantasy Adventure: Waid's Fantastic Four.......2004-08-07

For all the contributions that author Mark Waid has made to the Sequential Arts, it has taken a long time for Marvel Comics to give him his just due. Standout renditions of Ka-Zar and Captain America were all but flatly given the heave-ho after relatively short runs in the 1990s (Waid losing Cap twice!), and the work collected in the book featured here was almost cut short by apparent management issues (the same type which cost Marvel its overall best work and finest authors by the late 1970s, crippling the company until fairly recently years).
Thank Marvel Editor-In-Chief Joe Quesada for stepping in, and setting things right, as he has generally done during his ongoing rededication & refining of the House that Kirby, Ditko, Thomas and Lee built. Because of this, the author of the classic KINGDOM COME and SUPERMAN: BIRTHRIGHT continues to write some of the most inspired FANTASTIC FOUR sagas to be seen in quite some time.

Judge the results by reading this handsome hardcover collection of Waid's first FF stories from 2002-3. With art principally by the astonishing Mike Wieringo and the ever-present inks of Karl Kesel, the visual look is a powerful blend of quick cartoon and classic portrait, giving that feel of something simple communicating an intricate thematic wallop.
One may think of WATCHMEN's Dave Gibbons, and his expertise in this clearly defined, highly elusive area, but Wieringo has a mastery all his own here, and it grows with each panel. The character play in this series, always a crucial necessity for the FF, is captured so thoroughly, so beautifully in each face, in every move, with any emotion to bear.

Then, there's the writing. With Kurt Busiek, Grant Morrison, and Roger Stern, Waid has been a key factor in the resurgence of the superhero as ethical champion by the 1990s, after a period of manic-depressive tedium courtesy a legion of uninspired "realists" pimping off the superior efforts of Alan Moore and Frank Miller in the 1980s. Particularly with Busiek, Waid is noteworthy for reminding a whole generation that superhero comics can be just as pertinent, just as engaging, and just as worthy of diversified, intelligent readerships as the most blatently alternative comic line, or any other literature, for that matter.
Note the influence of such character-diverse, topically-focused perspectives upon the tremendous chronicles of relative newcomers such as Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, and Darwyn Cooke. Take all this into account, and you begin to see that Mark Waid is a undeniable force to be reckoned with.

Consider his stunning depictions in this book. Waid captures what few, if any, have dared to venture upon; capturing the superhero team as the world-class adventurers and loving, tempestuous, rollicking family unit that the FF is supposed to be. Never has the give-and-take between the Richards, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm been thrown into more roadblocks, tickled with more outrageous wit, challenged by more horrific dead ends, blessed with deeper affection, suffered more stress and scars, or risen to the occasion with greater integrity and resolve than they do here.
From equations gone mad with passions, and childhood pains about to take a nasty spill into the present, we venture into a Dr. Doom story to end all Dr. Doom stories. Anyone needing a reason why the Latverian monarch has been the FF's arch-nemesis -and the Miltonic symbol of Marvel villainy- for over 40 years need only check these pages. Note the suave, imperious nature by which Doom dispenses ultimate betrayal, depraved murder, and unfeeling terror in the name of Class, Compassion, and Honor, and be very, very afraid.

Those who purchase this collection have much more to look forward to. Forays into nation-building, diplomatic blind-siding, and an ultimate challenge of the unknown with a voyage to the heart of.......

Sorry. That would be telling!

Just trust, with Waid's FANTASTIC FOUR,
that the very best is yet to come.

See you for Volume 2!
Good reading to all.

This piece is dedicated to Dwayne E. Muth.
Friend, Brother, Sequential Researcher.

A Collector. NOT a Speculator.

Happy Birthday, Bro!

Keep it true.
Keep it coming.

mfh 8 - 7 - 04

Average customer rating:

pretty good...
THE FANTASTIC have arrived among the ULTIMATES . . .
A major disappointment.
The Fantastic Four....Cool?
Not a Bad Recreation At All

Ultimate Fantastic Four, Vol. 1
Brian Michael Bendis , Mark Millar , Warren Ellis , Adam Kubert , and Stuart Immonen
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785114580

Book Description

In The Fantastic, witness the beginnings of the Four - Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm, and Ben Grimm - super-hero icons for the new century! When high-school genius Reed enrolls at a secret government-sponsored school for the most gifted minds in the world, he unwittingly embarks on the journey of a lifetime! In Doom, Reed and his friends must learn to adapt to their amazing new situation. But before they can even begin to get accustomed, former classmate Victor Van Damme - who was transformed by the same experiment as the Fantastic Four - returns to exact his revenge!

Customer Reviews:

pretty good..........2007-01-18

1. i don't like the ultimate universe idea at all. i dislike the infinite earths dc junk also. when you have iconic characters i don't think it's good to confuse the average non-comics fan (or even the average comics fan) with earth-2 superman, superboy prime, ultimates nick fury, etc. they water down the legacy and the impact of the great classic storylines and characters.
2. this is nowhere near as good as the lee/kirby fantastic four.
3. despite the above, this is a pretty good comics collection. it's not mindblowing like the lee/kirby ff, and it's a totally different ultimate universe take on the greatest team in comics. it's still a good read though. but just don't confuse the alternative ultimate universe with the real 616 universe.

THE FANTASTIC have arrived among the ULTIMATES . . ........2006-02-25

Thanks to Brain Michael Bendis, and . . . Mark Millar, The Fantastic Four gets a the long expected upgrade it needed for those who never had the chance to read the various recreations of the "Greatest Super hero [family]" created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The characters are thankfully teenagers around my age, so I suppose I could connect a lot better with these carnations as opposed to the original. Reed Richards, a character I could never bring myself to like in the original FF, is humanized by Bendis and Millar with a background story that resembles to a point, Peter Parker's. While granted it is the usual stereotype-character story, I didn't mind it at all. Richard's father this time around his a big hairy-armed brute and his mother is typecast as the mother who would no nothing to oppose her raging husband. Thrown into the mix are two ignorable younger sisters; Enid and a nameless baby girl. Reed is basically the misunderstood family member and longs for the fatherly affections his father gives his best friend Ben Grimm.

After a mishap at home with one his experiments, several years later Reed is inducted into a "Think Tank" program in which the government enlists the brightest children ever to grace the earth and put them all into the Baxter Building. There he meets Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Victor Von "Damne" (Doom if your wondering) a bit later. In the usual Bendis style, the writer takes his time introducing you to the characters before throwing them into their life changing event, crafted in an interesting way. When they do of course get to this point, the drama and action really pick up in the final pages of the TPB. The Fantastic Four are nicely developed in "THE FANTASTIC" story arc. From Reed to Ben, they are very reminiscent of their counterparts to a point, only younger, much less mature and knowledgeable in other things aside from their specified field of expertise. The introduction of the Mole Man as the villain was a nice starter, you could really detest this man and not feel sorry for him. Victor Von "Damne(?)" was nicely characterized, and is even better in VOL. 2.

To make a long story short, Bendis and Millar craft an intelligent retelling of the fantastic four. To be frank it won't please everyone, especially not the HARD-CORE Fantastic Four fans. There are indeed glitches in the writing concerning the age of Reed and Ben, but it something that's gonna have to be looked over. The artist, Adam Kurbert I believe, was an excellent choice for this starting of the series (better than Jae Lee). Each frame of action is described excellently and art in and of itself (most of the time) is a splendor to behold. His description of facial expressions (I.E, Johnny discovering his arm is on fire and he tries to put it out) are priceless and genuinely funny to boot. There are some problems in the drawing, such as the constantly pointed out size difference of Ben Grimm and Reed Richards during their childhood. Another gripe: Reed doesn't have the trademark gray sideburns in his hair (sighs dejectedly). All in all ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR volume one is a great way to start up the series and in my opinion a good way to introduce these "superheroes" to a younger audience. Highly recommended. ------ [a 5 out of 5]

A major disappointment........2005-11-17

Like I've said in some of my eariler reviews, sometimes this is just no fun at all. Whilst it's always funny to rip into, say, Pop Idol or something, here it's just... sad.

The Ultimate series of Marvel comics was a potentially awful idea done to surprisingly awesome effect. Taking the well worn ideas and characters from the Marvel Universe, going straight back to square one and re-imagining the origins and original characters could well have blown up in the writers faces. But not so. The writing in some of these books is simply superb, and sometimes makes the impossible seem scarily possible. Ultimate Spider-Man, of course, is a constant delight, with top class banter, witty one-liners and some brutal action (with the exception of the heartbreakingly average Venom and Carnage re-do's), and then there's the Ultimates (the Avengers) and... oooh, oodles more. Like I said - top idea.

But not here. Again, the characters are made teenagers, which is fine for, say, Spidey, who WAS a teenager in the first place, but a sixteen/seventeen year old Ben Grimm just doesn't cut it. Also, the script lacks major bite. After what we've seen with Spidey et al, we really do need something special to warrant another spin on the Marvel franchise (especially for its oldest family) and there's nothing here that excites or, crucially, convinces. In short, it just makes you pine for the original books.

The most galling thing though, is the sham that is Dr Doom (or, I'm sorry, Dr Damme). Change what you like from the original comics guys; the crummy banter, some dodgy storylines, but DO NOT REPLACE the original character names. So, what, a guy called Victor Von Doom isn't realistic, but having a THIRTEEN YEAR OLD BOY design and build the Fantasti-Car, an interdimensional rocket ship, is?? As the Human Torch himself said, "dude.. that's Fantasti-crappy."

I won't be buying THIS junk anymore.

The_Curmudgeon_Hates_You@yahoo.co.uk

The Fantastic Four....Cool?.......2005-09-29

Can it be that someone actually made the Fantastic Four cool? Before reading Ultimate Fantastic Four, I would have said that it was an impossible feat. Characters like Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and the Punisher are cool, but the Fantastic Four? With those outfits, the out of this world science and Reed's graying temples? Aside from the Human Torch (who's cool due to the fact that he's on freaking fire), Reed Richards and company have always seemed like the reigning dorks of the Marvel Universe.

Enter Marvel's Ultimate line, where the best writers and artists in the industry are allowed to throw decades of continuity out the window and reinvent classic characters. Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men were huge hits, and the Ultimates is probably the best comic on the market right now. So when Marvel announced plans for an Ultimate Fantastic Four series, I had to at least consider the possibility that it might not suck. When I heard that Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, and Warren Ellis were all involved, I knew I had to at least give it a try. After all, they are collectively responsible for almost all of the best comic storylines of the past decade.

Following the Ultimate trend, the writers made the Fantastic Four quite a bit younger than their regular Marvel Universe counterparts, with Reed Richards and Sue Storm as a pair of science prodigies. This development works surprisingly well, and it gives the writers plenty of opportunities to work in younger dialogue and pop culture references. Johnny Storm trying to convince a girl that he is Justin Timberlake is one priceless example. Adam Kubert's artwork is excellent as always, and while I'm not a huge Stuart Immonen fan, I will admit he has a very distinctive style.

The bottom line is that this is a good book. Fans of Marvel's Ultimate line will no doubt love Ultimate Fantastic Four, though it is bound to give some traditional FF fans fits. FF skeptics (like me) should take a chance on this one. Look at the creative team involved. They don't often let readers down, and Ultimate Fantastic Four is definitely no disappointment.

Not a Bad Recreation At All.......2005-09-04

I opened the Ultimate FF with trepidation...I've loved the original characters since their inception and was loathe to see them tampered with. But tampering like this I can certainly live with! I would never want to see the originals replaced, but this newer version is also fun to read. The dialogue is up-to-date and geared towards a more adult audience (did they remember those of us who were reading in the sixties, after all?). The art work is stunning, and the "how the Four got their powers" story works better than the original; their reactions as each of them discover their new found abilities is a hoot. I like the interaction between Sue and Reed in this version, and, as in the originals, Torch and Thing baiting one another is a great deal of fun. My one bone of contention: Did they HAVE to make Reed look like Harry Potter?? Tsk.

Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)

Average customer rating:

OUTSTANDING!
Buy This Book And Read It If You Love Comics
PERHAPS THE BEST OF THE MARVEL ESSENTIALS
Absolutely Essential
A Fantastic Look Through Time

Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)
Stan Lee , and Jack Kirby
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785118284

Book Description

These early classic Stan Lee/Jack Kirby adventures of Marvel's First Family - The Invisible Girl, the Human Torch, the Thing, and Mr. Fantastic - defined the Marvel Age of Comics! Collects Fantastic Four #1-20 and Annual #1.

Customer Reviews:

OUTSTANDING!.......2007-05-25

I really liked this volume (and subsequent numbers 2-5 for that matter). It brought me back to a more simpler time in my life when all I worried about was how the Fantastic Four was going to beat Dr. Doom again, and not today when I worry about the rent or who is going to be the next President.

GOOD STUFF! I would somewhat disagree with those reviewers who commented about how the paper is not as good (it isn't) or the fact that it is published in black and white and not color. As DC has done with their titles in their "Showcase Presents" series, both of these were obviously done to keep the price down to the consumer, and for that I am grateful.

One personal quibble. At the front of each volume, they have a couple pages listing each volume by number, and the writer, penciler, inker, and letterer, but they failed to list the title of the individual book there (ie. Fantastic Four 21#:'The Hate Monger', Fantastic Four 22# 'The Return of the Moleman," etc). To me this seemed incomplete as it forces you to look through the full volume for one villian. That may have been the publishers intentions, but I wish they had followed DC's example in the way they did theirs.

I personally own about a quarter of the original volumes listed in the entire "Fantastic Four Marvel Essential" series (bought them as a kid), and keep them in special individual plastic sleeves to preserve them. Not so much for financial reasons, but more for the memories. Therefore, for me, it was good to read them in this complilation set, and not having to worry about the condition if I were to take mine out of their sleeves to read them.

Looking forward to volume six when it comes out.

Buy This Book And Read It If You Love Comics.......2007-04-29

I love classic comics! I wasn't even alive when these were printed and being born twenty years later I'm happy they reprinted these classics. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are my favorite comic celebrity team. The writing and stories are classic comics with a capitol c. The art is awesome. The books still hold up today. They're really enjoyable stories with great art. It'll make you a better person to read these. The black and white printing annoys me a little in this day and age. We have the technology to at least print them on color newsprint... but it does help you enjoy the art in its simplicity. But who can complain at the price? Great for summer reading outside!

PERHAPS THE BEST OF THE MARVEL ESSENTIALS.......2007-03-14

The Essential Fantastic Four, Volume I is possibly the greatest bound volume of the Marvel Essentials. Included is the origin storyline of perhaps the greatest villain of all time, namely the brilliant and psychologically complex Doctor Doom. Prevalent throughout this work are displays of top-notch science fiction along with great characters who display unending moments of unpredictability, thus leaving the readers at the edge of their seats.

Of course, the characters that make each issue come to life are the Fantastic Four members themselves. Leading the pack is Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, who is esteemed as the most ingenious scientific mind on Earth and who possesses the ability to stretch his body over vast distances. Next in line is Ben Grimm, who comes to be known as the Thing, since his once natural, human body becomes, on the positive side, an entity that can lift heavy objects in a way comporable to the Hulk's feats, but on the negative side, has his flesh already transformed to a hideous, multilayered composition of rocks. Third is Sue Storm, who is known as the Invisible Girl and is the girlfriend (and would years down the road become the wife) of Mr. Fantastic; she possesses the power to turn invisible and in these early issues has not discovered or honed her abilities to project forcefields to protect her and her loved ones from various oncoming invaders and their weapons. And then there is Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch and brother of the Invisible Girl; he is the only member who can fly and who can turn his body into flame and project his elevated body heat to burn, melt and vaporize various objects, to say the least.

As a unit, the Fantastic Four are the most interconnected fighting team in the comic book universe. Their origins have a unifying commonality, and that is the exposure to high levels of cosmic radiation during a spaceflight that would give each member its own abilities. Collectively, they are regarded as one of the greatest superhero teams of all time, and since they were already a tightly knit unit on an interpersonal level before attaining their superpowers, the Fantastic Four arguably know one another's strengths and weaknesses at a level that not even the Justice League or The Avengers could equal.

Again, Doctor Doom is perhaps the greatest villain of all time, but he does not necessarily mop up the stage in regards to the characters posing difficult challenges for the Fantastic Four. Making their presences felt are The Mole Man, The Puppet Master, The Mad Thinker, and the emotionally complex hero/villain Namor, the SubMariner.

In all, the heroes and villains set up perplexing stages and situations that can stump many a brilliant mind. One side can, proverbially speaking, go in with the best chess moves and pieces in their arsenals and strategies only to find out that they have ended up at the poker table. The developments that ensue are enough to create discussions among those interested in game theory; it is apparent that even the renowned mathematician, John von Neumann, would have been pleased with these stories.

Along with the intellectual flashes of brilliance displayed among the characters are the scientific gadgets that, visualized almost half a century ago, are yet to be developed and that would seem impressive and advanced even by early twenty-first-century standards if their existence came to fruition.

All in all, this bound volume was created during the space race and the Cold War against Russia, and the first man had yet to land on the moon. It is quite apparent that people had a faith in technology that modernizing civilizations could improve living standards and make societies happier, as well as more progressive and peaceful. Indeed, one today now wonders where everything seems to have gone wrong with what apparently amounts to a RAM and ROM cesspool.

Absolutely Essential.......2006-10-30

One gripe, it's in black and white. Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I love this book. I'm more of a fan of the DC heroes (Flash, Green Lantern, etc), but this is where the "Marvel Age of Comics" began. Lots of fun to read (for an old guy like me).
Dr Doom, Sub Mariner, Puppet Master....it all starts here, true believer. Kerby and Lee at thier finest. If you are interested in comics and want a good read, look no further.

A Fantastic Look Through Time.......2006-04-24

This book is an excellent collection of the earliest adventures of the Fantastic Four. Every reader, whether they are just discovering the FF or are a long time fan, will enjoy this book. Although the adventures are a bit campy, they accurately reflect the state of comic art and storytelling during the 1960s. Long time fans are likely to discover new facts about the team that are not well known. For example, Reed Richards fought in World War II and Susan Storm had not yet manifested her force field power during this early period. As expected, this book contains the origin story of the FF. Just as entertaining, however, are the origin and first appearances of such villains as the Mole Man, the Skrulls, and Dr. Doom. The Fantastic Four was also used by Marvel Comics as a venue to re-discover the Sub Mariner from the 1940s and `50s. In addition to the stories, this book provides a window into the past. Some of the dialogue and fashion would clearly be out of place today. For example, not too many teenagers, like Johnny Storm, would go on a date wearing a fedora. The only down side is the lack of color. The comics are printed in black and white. This shortcoming, however, is easily overlooked by the reader once they begin an adventure. Bottom line, this book is a great look through time at both the origin of the FF and the world of the 1960s. Flame On!

Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 1: The Fantastic

Average customer rating:

pretty good...
Best Ultimate Series
ultimate fantastic four vol.1: the fantastic
This is truly fantastic!!!
Not bad

Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 1: The Fantastic
Brian Michael Bendis , Mark Millar , and Adam Kubert
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785113932

Book Description

The World's Greatest Comic Magazine - and subject of the upcoming blockbuster motion picture - at long last makes its long-awaited debut in the Ultimate Marvel Universe! Witness the beginnings of the Four - Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm and Ben Grimm - super-hero icons for the new century! When high-school genius Reed Richards enrolls at a secret government-sponsored school for the most gifted minds in the world, he unwittingly starts himself and his friends on the journey of a lifetime! A story about science, adventure, and above all else family, set in the most dynamic and unpredictable universe in the comic-book world! Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #1-6.

Customer Reviews:

pretty good..........2007-01-18

Best Ultimate Series.......2006-06-23

I have ever single Ultimate Marvel book and my favorite of them all is The Fantastic 4.

each volume has a new artist and the story lines are awesome with great dialogue.

If you are a comic fan this series is a must have!

btw: I was not a Fantastic 4 fan until reading this series.

worth the buy!

ultimate fantastic four vol.1: the fantastic.......2006-01-29

It was really good according to my 7 year old. very quick delivery and a good experience in general ordering.

This is truly fantastic!!!.......2005-09-02

I like this one. I got it today and I have already read it 3 times. The art is beutiful, the storyline is great and the dialouge is fresh, funny and comedic. My fav dialouge is this:

Reed: What's up, Johnny?
Johnny: You like my sister?
Reed: Sue? Yes, yes I do.
Johnny: Like that?
Reed: Like what?
Johnny: You know... like that? Do you like her like that?
Reed: ...
Johnny: You guys have been working together for like a billion years. I'm just saying you should tell her. If you told her, she would be respective. If you know what I mean.
Reed: ...
Johnny: *winks*

I had a laugh there. I mean: Do you like her LIKE THAT? Hee hee... Well the new designs for the FF were great and I have some opinions.

Reed Richards
Reed as a teen??? Umm... Reed has lost his dark brown hair and got all light brown instead whilist also losing his grey parts. He also got glasses. 7/10

Sue Storm
You know what I am gonna say, eh? She is hot. Not as hot as Jessica Alba from the FF movie (It rocks go see it) but still hot. 8/10

Johnny Storm
Now THAT is what I call quality work. He got great looking blond hair (Really, REALLY blond) and blue eyes. Also, look out for the "Ultimate Johnny Storm designs by bryan Hitch" at the end of the comic. They look great. 10/10

Johnny Storm "Flamed on"
Basic human torch. Nothing to report. 8/10

Ben Grimm
He looks great as a normal being. Good design, nice hair, good outfit. 9/10

Ben Grimm "The Thing"
Looks like always. 8/10

Good designs, good dialouge, good everything! Get this now! And while your at it, see the movie, it rules.

Not bad.......2005-08-09

As another reviewer said, I'm not a kid (not by a long shot!), and I'm female which makes me a unique customer, I think. I was thrilling to The Fantastic Four at the age of ten, way back at the dawn of time -- at least FF's dawn...I was there at the beginning. I read their adventures until I was fifteen when it was too humiliating for me to be seen buying comic books! Didn't see the FF again until the movie came out and old appetites were revitalized. I was curious to see where Marvel had taken my guys (and my gal)nearly forty years later. I like the revamp, although Reed as a young upstart bugs me a bit. Reed is the father figure, the "daddy" of the group (yeah, I even thought that Sue thought of him that way most of the time). I can live with a younger Reed if I must, however, and I like what they've done with Johnny. Ben hasn't changed much! So, from an original fan, thumbs up.

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Masterworks: Fantastic 4 vol. 1
AWESOME
Pre-Marvel Age Fantastic Four
Early history of the mighty FF, well worth reading
And so it began

Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Vol. 1
Stan Lee
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785111816

Customer Reviews:

Masterworks: Fantastic 4 vol. 1.......2007-09-04

These books are great! This is a fantastic way to read the first 10 comics without having to buy them ha ha ha rich guy! The books are hard cover with dust jackets. The pages are full color & glossy. Makes a great collection & I will continue to purchase each volume!

AWESOME.......2007-01-23

STAN LEE & JACK KIRBY AT THEIR RAWEST. NEW CHARACTERS AND TEAM, JUST STARTING OUT. NEAT TO SEE HOW THEY STARTED, 40 YEARS AGO!

Pre-Marvel Age Fantastic Four.......2006-05-09

I think one of the off-shoots of the 1960s U.S.-Soviet space race turned out to be the Marvel Age of comics. Like the invention of Superman decades earlier, a response to the Hitlerian "superman," these characters showed that the U.S. was ready, able, and willing to compete in the modern world. Literally originating out of space travel, the FF took on any monster or sinister force that threatened humanity, including communism. Much later the FF conquered deep space and even sub-molecular venues. These issues include "cameo" appearances of Nikita Kruschev and John F. Kennedy.

These first 10 issues of the self-proclaimed "world's greatest comic magazine" nowadays appear crude and the art does not match Kirby's earlier version of a super-foursome who were also born of an aeronautical mishap, Challengers of the Unknown.

It appears Stan Lee rushed out the first issues of the FF in response to the successful comic by DC about a team of superheroes, the Justice League of America. But the strategy worked and the hip FF caught on like wildfire, to paraphrase Lee. Although Lee prints his original script for the first FF issue in this volume, concepts introduced much earlier by Kirby and Wood in Challengers of the Unknown, are repeated here, but in a much more focused and hugely entertaining style. Lee knew how to write. The comic eventually earned its nickname (world's greatest) in this series of issues 1 - 10 and soon thereafter, Lee announced the Marvel Age of Comics. What a showman! With the introduction, in later issues (see Marvel Masterworks FF volumes 2, 3, ...) of inkers Chic Stone, Vince Colletta, and Joe Sinott, I think Lee achieved his boast. As a kid I just couldn't get enough of these and due to poor distribution where I lived, sometimes I couldn't even get the next issue! I find these Marvel Masterworks superior to the original comics, because the pages are all printed on glossy paper, they are conveniently collected together and reading the original comics is dicey because of their fragile nature.

Early history of the mighty FF, well worth reading.......2005-10-23

The artwork and dialog is from early in the careers of Lee and Kirby, so it doesn't have the quality of the later issues. However, it does introduce some of the major villains that the FF will be doing battle with throughout the series. Dr. Doom (my favorite), the Puppet Master, the Mole Man, the Submariner and the Skrulls all make their first appearance against the FF.
The powers of the FF are also not yet at the peak that they will achieve later in the series. Sue Storm is still only "The Invisible Girl", she has not yet reached the point where she can project a force field. Johnny Storm still flames out after using his powers, his final potential has not been achieved. I had forgotten that Ben Grimm's blind girlfriend Alicia is the daughter of the Puppet Master, and that there was a romantic entanglement between Sue Storm and the Submariner. The political reality of the cold war also appears early in the series. In the first issue the four who would become the mighty FF are debating the flight into space that gave them their powers. Ben Grimm expresses skepticism and Sue Storm replies, "Ben, we've got to take that chance ... unless we want the commies to beat us to it!"
I enjoyed reading this book, as someone who grew up reading the comic books of the sixties, it was a trip back to my youth. The modern comics are quite different and don't always project the qualities of the early ones.

And so it began.......2005-10-21

The artwork is early 1960s Kirby and Stan Lee hasn't hit his full stride yet, but this is classic early Marvel. Simply put: it was nothing like anything else in the drug store on the comic shelf. We all knew what to expect from a DC comic, but Stan Lee and Company surprised us issue after issue. DC comics all looked alike, but Marvel titles all had individual looks based on the artist--Kirby and Ditko and Heck and Wood and (later) Romita. Great stuff to look forward to each month. The colors reproduced here aren't the same, but today we wouldn't tolerate the crude printing we had then--rarely did colors stay within the "lines." If you want to see early comics at their best, pick this up.

Fantastic Four by J. Michael Straczynski, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

The good outweighs the meh
So Straczynski scores with existing material too!
Humor and humanity, the essential elements of any good FF saga, shine through in J. Michael Straczynski's first story arc

Fantastic Four by J. Michael Straczynski, Vol. 1
J. Michael Straczynski , and Mike McKone
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785120297

Book Description

The new ongoing creative team of writer J. Michael Straczynski (Amazing Spider-Man, Supreme Power) and artist Mike McKone (Teen Titans, Exiles) unite their talents to chart a new course for the world's greatest comic magazine! First up: an intriguing offer for a conflicted Reed, and a windfall for Ben! Plus: A visit from state officials has dire ramifications for Sue and the rest of the Richards clan! Collects Fantastic Four #527-532.

Customer Reviews:

The good outweighs the meh.......2007-01-25

JMS takes over this cornerstone Marvel comic after a memorable run by Mark Waid, and does a pretty good job keeps this book in the same style of cosmic but human storytelling. However, his efforts to introduce a silly subplot revolving around a child welfare officer and the FF and a rather poorly executed subplot featurng Ben Grimm almost derail the book before it gets going. Fortunately, once the focus lands on Reed Richards, ideas flow and the book starts to sing.

The only question is, once you've done with the heroes what first Waid and then JMS did, what's left to do?

So Straczynski scores with existing material too!.......2006-03-04

I like comics a lot but I find that mega-classic characters (XMen, Spidey,...) have stories of irregular quality, all the more deteriorated by the fact that each new writer feels obliged to try and present the same mythology again and again from a supposedly fresher perspective. Still, a lot of them fail in their ambition to re-invent classic characters. Not Straczinski. I am not a big fan of the F4 and I think it's because of their seemingly all-too-well balanced group: the F4 are complementary but never in real opposition (their arguments have a comedic sense in my opinion) and thus, there is not a lot to feed on once you have scratched the surface of the characters. Having said that, the only reason why I bought this book is because Mr Straczynski wrote it. I had found that Midnight Nation, Rising Stars and Supreme Power had great story-lines but most of all, the charaterization of the protagonists (the main ones but secondary roles as well) was brilliantly exposed and written. And here again, careful attention is brought to both characters AND story.
Rather than trying to re-invent the F4 for the reader, Straczynski shows the characters re-inventing themselves. Reed Richards is caught in an intergalactic plot that goes back (via a time travel paradox) to the very accident that created the F4. The story analyzes how and why the F4 became what they are in a very modern, yet not cynical, manner. In a few pages, you understand the links between the F4. Richards is definitly the brain of the group and the leader, you will see why. Those superheroes suddenly turn into quasi-divine figures as you see that their fate is linked to the very existence of Earth... and the rest! Welcome metaphysics into the world of the F4!

Humor and humanity, the essential elements of any good FF saga, shine through in J. Michael Straczynski's first story arc.......2006-02-17

I've been reading the "World's Greatest Comic Magazine" for nearly four decades now, in that time sampling a lot of FF stories, some good (the first Galactus story in issues 48-50, the culmination of one of the better Dr. Doom story arcs in issue 200, much of Byrne's and Simonson's runs), some bad (any issue with the She-Thing, for instance). The good stories have emphasized two things--humor, even when the chips were down, and family, whether the team was enduring one of its numerous breakups or enjoying one of its myriad, but welcome reunions.

I'm glad to report that new FF scribe J. Michael Straczynski (hereafter JMS) gets this. Let's look at his first story arc, penciled by the able Mike McKone (in a style with echoes of Kirby AND Byrne AND Perez!) , inked by Andy Lanning, colored by Paul Mounts, and lettered by VC's Randy Gentile.

As he did when he took over the writing chores on The Amazing Spider-Man a few years back, JMS revisits the FF origin story. Wisely though, he doesn't reinvent the mythology, as he did with Marvel's other flagship book. JMS goes back to basics, but adds his own little spin to the story, proving that you don't need to reinvent this particular wheel; the quartet's history is so rich, the storytelling possibilities so broad, one will never have to resort to silly story lines in the FF on a par with the regrettable Spider-Clone Saga or even this latest "Evolve or Die" nonsense.

The saga began in issue #527, in a story titled "Distant Music". There's much to like about this issue, where we discover that Reed, Sue and Johnny are broke, but Ben is richer than Midas. Ben's wealth starts him thinking in new ways, and Reed's poverty forces him to hire himself out as a contractor to the US government. Highlights for this issue include Ben's query, "How many hotdogs are too many?" (we learn the number for Ben is seventeen), the FF's droll accountant Mr. Onoffon ("the most boring man on the planet," according to Reed), and the last page, which delivers a roundhouse punch of a cliff hanger.

The second chapter, "Random Factors", asks a good question-why didn't the cosmic rays affect Reed, Ben, Johnny and Sue in the same manner? Nice touches in this issue include the appearance of social worker Ms. Debouvier, Ben and his bling (Johnny's "Fantastic Three and their pimp" comment was priceless), Ben's inner dialogue with his human self conducted via mirror, and Reed's realization that the project to recreate the FF's first journey into space cannot proceed. My knock on this issue is the way Reed goes about sabotaging the project-surely the world's smartest man could figure out a more subtle way to achieve his goals?

The next chapter is called "Appointment Overdue". Here, Reed tells his teammates that they have an appointment in space, perhaps with the entity that is responsible for endowing them with their powers. The highlight of this particular segment had to be Reed's escape from the government compound.

The next two chapters, "Truth in Flight" and "Many Questions, Some Answered", could have, at least in my mind, been condensed into one issue. Here, JMS explores a kind of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" scenario, dropping an alien into the FF's midst. The alien, searching for the ultimate knowledge (knowledge that in the DC universe lead to the original Crisis storyline), is being pursued by hostiles, intent on terminating his quest. The FF side with the underdog and try to shield him, ultimately resulting in Reed and the Alien traveling to the beginning of existence, where they join together to design reality (it seems to take them only moments, not the assumed six days).

My knock on this is that it's a little too cosmic, especially only a couple of years after the FF went to Heaven, rescued the Thing, and met the Creator, for pity's sake. We find out why Reed had to be there in the next issue, but it's a little pretentious. Good things about this segment-Ben's wisecracks on the trip in, and his nonchalant reaction to the alien's abrupt appearance.

After slowing down considerably in the previous two issues, the story's momentum picks up as it rounds the bend towards a satisfying conclusion. Issue 532's "Any Day Now...I Shall Be Released" was pretty neat, as Reed has an "It's a Wonderful Life" moment. Returning to the Baxter building after witnessing events that would probably shatter a lesser man's mind, he rediscovers what's important in life-being with his friends and family, and the little "moments" that result. Grace notes in this issue include a woozy Susan complimenting her pliable husband's sexual prowess, Reed's reaction to Ben's question about his new custom made duds ("Hey, Stretch, so whaddya think, is it me?" "Ben, it couldn't possibly be anyone else.") , and the final, guaranteed-to-choke-you-up panel, showing Ben admiring his image in the mirror with a single tear of happiness running down his rocky cheek.

Although I have my quibbles with parts of the saga, I think JMS's first extended FF tale was a success. He's left some intriguing plot threads dangling; it will be interesting to see where he takes them. But, better than that, he's shown he understands the characters and their relationships in all their humanity and disfunctionality. He also knows that humor is as important a part of this book as Reed's intellect, Sue's quiet strength, Ben's crabbiness, and Johnny's daring. That bodes well for future tales, at least to this old school Marvelite.

Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 1: Wolf at the Door

Average customer rating:

An Excellent Superhero Story for Adults
A good reworking of Marvel's First Family.
BAD STORY(...) GOOD ART!!
Great Characterizations/Fantastic Art and Coloring
"You squirts wanna hear a scary story?"

Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 1: Wolf at the Door
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa , and Steve McNiven
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785114718

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Superhero Story for Adults.......2007-09-18

It's rare that someone can write a serious traditional superhero story for adults that works. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa accomplishes this with "Marvel Knights 4, Volume 1: Wolf at the Door."

"Marvel Knights 4" only ran for about thirty issues. I'm assuming it was cancelled because of low sales. And I'm assuming that one of the reasons that it had low sales is because it tried to focus more on character development than it did on superheroics. That's too bad. Because the first four issues of "Marvel Knights 4" are four of the best serious traditional superhero stories for adults that I have ever read. Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Steve McNiven produce a work that has an intelligent and thoughtful story, sharp dialogue, and top-notch art.

The Fantastic Four are one of the few traditional superhero groups that work when they appear in serious stories that are written for adults. Other traditional superhero stories written seriously and for adults normally fail because the concepts of the traditional superhero are too outrageous (childish, colorful costumes; secret identities that are either kept secret through absurd situations or else are revealed to so many people that it can't possibly be believed that they are secret anymore; etceteras) to be taken seriously. But the Fantastic Four always have the potential to avoid that liability (they wear uniforms--not costumes; their identities are publicly known; they run their superheroics as a business; they work in concert with the government--not as vigilantes; etceteras) and Aguirre-Sacasa seizes on that potential in the first four issues of "Marvel Knights 4" to write one of my all-time favorite traditional superhero stories for adults.

This story focuses on character development and interaction over superheroics, and focuses on the four protagonists as they deal with the bankruptcy of their business, the doubts they have about themselves to overcome this failure, and the growth and insight they gain as they learn how "normal" people see them and what it's like to live a "normal" life. Overall, this is one of the most positive and uplifting traditional superhero stories that I have ever read; a truly unique find.

I rarely read a book more than once. But the first four issues of "Marvel Knights 4" are so good that they are worthy of multiple readings. While the last three issues of "Marvel Knights 4, Volume 1" aren't as good as the first four, the entire graphic novel still defines how the adult traditional superhero story should go and I recommend it to everyone--superhero / comic book aficionados and people who normally wouldn't pick up a superhero book or comic book alike.

A good reworking of Marvel's First Family. .......2007-08-07

An interesting take of Marvel's first family, the writer get into the psyche of these characters well, he also weave a good tale. With good writing, and fantastic illistrations. Marvel knights 4, Vol. 1 is an excellent beginning to what is an excellent series.

BAD STORY(...) GOOD ART!!.......2005-08-05

When I first bought this book I thought it would be good because it had fantastic art. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. OKAY the art was pretty good but the story stopped me from giving this book another star.

Great Characterizations/Fantastic Art and Coloring.......2005-07-07

The characterizations in this book are very well done. There isn't a lot of action -- but the character studies are brilliant, often touching, often humorous. Each character is looked at as a real person beyond being a superhero, and the whole family dynamic is thrust to the fore front by the flow of the story. I really enjoyed every minute I spent reading this. At the same time,I did find myself wondering how a man as smart as Reed could lose everything financially (the catalyst for the story,) but -- without giving away spoilers -- recomend anyone with the same concerns read vollume two. While the explanations given in vollume one are pretty believable, what the writer reveals in vollume two not only answers any remaining questions, but adds an emotional punch as well.

At the same time, this book looks incredible. The art and the coloring are both top notch -- I can't say enough about either. The art is very beautiful, and the extra dimensions and textures added by the coloring bring it all very much to life.

I highly recomend this book. I love good action and high intensity -- but in this case find the great characterizations and emotional nature of the story just as compelling. Well done to all involved.

"You squirts wanna hear a scary story?".......2004-12-14

Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, artist Steve McNiven, inker Mark Morales, and colorist Morry Hollowell bring the Fantastic Four under the Marvel Knights banner and it is clear from the outset that this is not your father's Stan Lee-Jack Kirby produced Fantastic Four. There are no larger-than-life super villains threatening the team here - just a white collar criminal and the real culprits behind an urban legend.

After the Fantastic Four is swindled out of their fortune by their financial manager, the team is forced to move out of their headquarters and find normal jobs to make ends meet. Reed Richards is tasked with repairing a law firm's computer network, Sue Richards becomes a teacher, Ben Grimm is hired as a construction worker, and Johnny Storm discovers that potential employers are not exactly banging on his door. After settling into their new apartment, Reed, Sue, and Ben embark on a camping trip with Franklin and his young friends. Upon reaching the campsite, they discover the Jersey Devil might not be such an imaginary figure after all.

"Marvel Knights 4 Volume 1: Wolf at the Door" collects the first seven issues of "Marvel Knight 4". In keeping with the tone of other Marvel Knights titles, the storytelling has more of a realistic bent to it. While the premise of the Fantastic Four being forced to become members of normal society is interesting, credibility is stretched due to what we already know about the characters. In light of their high-profile status and unique abilities, it becomes difficult to believe that they would find themselves experiencing the problems they do with their new jobs and their new home. This puts a damper on the first story arc that establishes the team's new status-quo, but the second arc centered around the Jersey Devil fares much better. The book hits its stride when Reed, Sue, and Ben find themselves in an unanticipated situation and are forced to rely on their wits and their powers to win the day. While the stories in the first reprint collection are not groundbreaking in any sense, Aguirre-Sacasa and McNiven do deliver a good read and treat the characters with respect. Especially noteworthy of their efforts is a short sequence that showcases Mr. Fantastic at his most human as he helps a man contemplating suicide. Overall, the issues comprising "Marvel Knights 4 Volume 1: Wolf at the Door" are a nice start to a title that hopefully will become more intriguing as more issues are published.

Fantastic Four Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Graphic SF Reader
Flawed but entertaining and readable
Nothing Fantastic
Solid super-hero stories with an emphasis on wonder, heart, and adventure
fantastic first collection

Fantastic Four Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785107797

Book Description

Few have made an impression on the comic book industry quite like John Byrne, from his legendary run on the X-Men to his ground-breaking Superman: The Man of Steel. When he took over Fantastic Four in 1981, the First Family was never the same. With riveting stories and cinematic storytelling, Byrne's run on the Fantastic Four redefined the characters themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

I am still not much of a FF fan. Fun use of some of the Marvel staff in here though. The Trial of Reed Richards is certainly cool. Many cosmic entities thrown in for cameos, and that sort of thing. This is just more out and out Fantastic Four silliness, and some really really bad Johnny Storm clothes.

Flawed but entertaining and readable .......2006-06-20

I've already got John Byrne's FF run in original comic book format, so this review is more about his entire run than this specific collection.

Way back in the 80s through to the early 90s, I've been a fan of John Byrne's, notably of these issues, which I found extremely entertaining. I'm currently re-reading the run, and while they are still entertaining, they otherwise don't hold up that well (and I can't say I'm as big a fan anymore). For example, there are some throw-away or filler issues in the early part of his run that would not have been missed; and later on, there are some ethically questionable issues that have to do with Reed Richards saving the life of Galactus (a being who takes his sustenance from habitable planets, leaving the planets and its inhabitants destroyed) and his justification for doing so (there's even an issue where Richards is held on trial). Otherwise, it's fairly solid entertainment throughout.

Overall, the main reason these stories look as good as they do is because they're allegedly better than what came before. Certainly, John Byrne brought a unity and cohesiveness to a book that seemed to lack it before he took over. Byrne stayed on the title for 5 years, so the mag enjoyed a fairly coherent vision for a while. I think that, in itself, helps put the work in a better light.

Nothing Fantastic.......2006-05-17

This book came highly recommended to me, and I have to admit, nothing about it was significant or spectacular.

My two immediate conclusions for why this book recieves such rave reviews are fan nostalgia, and that the creators who immediately proceeded Byrne really botched things up.

I tend to dislike a book more than I otherwise would when a book fails to live up to high expectations. Unfortunately, this is the case here.

Not to say that this is a bad read. It isn't. Byrne is at the top of his game here, and it shows on every page. But modern comics have inevitably eclipsed this material (compare the Fantastic Four vs. Ego to the modernized version of The Authority vs. "God"). Sometimes it's not the novelty of a story that makes it great, but the way it's told.

I'll say this: buy this book if, and only if, you are a Fantastic Four completist. Otherwise, you're gonna be walking in on someone else's show.

Solid super-hero stories with an emphasis on wonder, heart, and adventure.......2006-04-14

In general, writer/artist John Byrne's "re-boot" of the Fantastic Four comic book series with issue #232 is highly enjoyable, though in my opinion the first few issues of his run over-corrected things a bit. In fact, Issue #232 (the first of the nine consecutive issues of the series collected here) reads like an only slightly more sophisticated version of 1961's Fantastic Four #1, which for all its innovations at the time, now basically reads like a children's comic book, albeit a good one.

But things soon pick up with some truly imaginative stories and some complex characterizations. Highlights here include an encounter with Doctor Doom and some very interesting developments with Johnny Storm's girlfriend, Frankie Raye.

"Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Volume 2" is where things really pick up, however. That's where we see that Mr. Byrne apparently didn't hate every component of the series that was added in the years right before he took over. In particular, there's a really terrific Galactus story that makes good use of Galactus' herald Terrax the Tamer, the character created only a couple of years before Mr. Byrne's takeover of the title.

But for now, Mr. Byrne's initial Fantastic Four stories, despite some stumbling out of the gate, do a very good job of getting back to the elements that work best in F.F. stories: wonderment, high adventure, and a sense of family.

fantastic first collection.......2006-03-03

loved the collection, i only wish the printing process had been corrected, there is a rather distracting effect on the pages from the dot coloring that was corrected in subsequent issues. loved the work though.

Fantastic Four Visionaries - Walt Simonson, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

A fun take on the FF

Fantastic Four Visionaries - Walt Simonson, Vol. 1
Walt Simonson , Rich Buckler , and Ron Lim
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785127585

Book Description

After a string of successes with Thor, X-Factor and Avengers, it's sensational Simonson storytelling for Marvel's First Family - starting when the FF's Congressional hearing is disrupted by dozens of vengeance-seeking villains! After the famous foursome - plus Ms. Marvel - deal with the Capitol chaos, a time anomaly sends them to find the future's fate! But while Kang and Nebula take up their time, will the universe fall to Galactus? Guest-starring Thor, Iron Man and Death's Head! Collects Fantastic Four #334-341.

Customer Reviews:

A fun take on the FF.......2007-05-16

I've been reading comics pretty much continuously since I was five years old, the only break coming in college. That late `80s - early `90s period did contain some neat developments in the world of comics of which I was only peripherally aware, one of them being Walt Simonson's writing and drawing The Fantastic Four.

After you work the kind of magic that Walt Simonson did with Thor, you can pretty much write your own ticket. Walt branched out on X-Factor and Avengers, but I never got much satisfaction from his work on those titles. Now that Marvel has published the first trade paperback volume of FANTASTIC FOUR VISIONARIES: WALT SIMONSON, I finally get the chance to catch up on Walt's FF run, and boy is it interesting.

This trade collects FF # 334 - 341. Simonson starts off with writing duties only, basically conceiving of Marvel's recent Civil War event 16 years before it happened. In this fun storyline, an offshoot of Marvel's "Acts of Vengeance" crossover, the FF is attacked by every third-rate villain you can think of as they travel to Washinton DC to testify at a senate hearing, the purpose of which is... you guessed it... to determine if super-powered beings should be required to register their identities with the US government. What's crazy is that a situation that took Marvel umpteen-diddly comics to only partially resolve in 2006-2007 takes Simonson a mere 3 issues of one title. But what's absolutely beautiful is that Reed Richards DEFENDS the rights of superheroes quite eloquently and never once deviates from his long-established character (are you listening, Bendis, Millar, et al???). Art for this storyline is provided by Ron Lim and Rich Buckler, who both do excellent jobs. The remainder of the trade is dedicated to a story in which the FF, accompanied by Thor and Iron Man, must race between times and dimensions to prevent the destruction of the universe at the hands of Galactus... but who's really to blame here? This story heavily references several Avengers issues that you might want to scan in preparation, as I had no clue as to what was going on. Still, it was an entertaining story, full of hair-raising action, time-paradoxes, and more tongue-in-cheek physics than you can shake a stick at. The trade concludes with several pin-ups from the Marvel Swimsuit Special and an article on Simonson.

Simonson's FF stories are very entertaining. They combine the spirit of Lee and Kirby with that of John Byrne, while adding Simonson's own distinctive touches, and while it might seem that his particular style of artwork might not work with these characters, you only need to give it a look to see that he has it under control. One thing to note is that this version of the Fantastic Four includes a human Ben Grimm and his love interest Sharon Ventura, aka Ms. Marvel or She-Thing. This always struck me as an odd period for the FF, as I could never quite come to terms with a female Thing. Still, Simonson handles it well enough. As Marvel is approaching the end of their run of John Byrne collections in the FF Visionaries line, it looks like Walt Simonson is their next candidate, and I think it's a great move. I'm looking forward to more of Walt's volumes.

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