Marvel Now FF and Fantastic Four

[Remnant]

I am pretty excited for these two series as I have never read Fantastic Four outside of the Ultimate universe. And Fraction is on the book and I love what he is doing with Hawkeye right now. Question is: Do I need to go back and read older issues to understand these two books? If so which?

[mattymoron]

I just read the first NOW issue of Fantastic Four today and I had NO IDEA what was going on.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

I gotta agree with ya, mattymoron.

The FF is only the root four, and no others. I hate when they try to make it different....just to try to sell a couple extra books.

And the artwork? We need some Buscema/Romita Sr. in those pages, and fast. Just look at those covers!!!

[brownsfan1]

Originally Posted by Remnant

I am pretty excited for these two series as I have never read Fantastic Four outside of the Ultimate universe. And Fraction is on the book and I love what he is doing with Hawkeye right now. Question is: Do I need to go back and read older issues to understand these two books? If so which?

I would say no. I read the whole Hickman run (FF included) and i found that any info you would need is pretty well covered in the two new #1's.

Also, they are both excellent reads. FF will be the sleeper hit of Marvel Now!

But do yourself a favor and at some point go back and read Hickman's entire Fantastic Four and FF runs. One of the better runs in awhile, and one issue made me actually cry, which had never happened to me before in 20 years of comic reading. He builds throughout his entire run to something big and when it all pays off it was exhilarating. Truly great and epic stuff.

[dvd_mazter]

I picked up both Fantastic Four and FF #1s and I'm pretty postive you can get by without reading anything previous. I only the first two of Hickman's trades and not much else (I'm a DC guy mainly) and I understood nearly everything in both (just wasn't super familiar with the new FF cast). However, FF has a cool device used to catch up the reader too. I'm adding both to my pull list!!

Honestly though, pick up FF no matter what for Mike Allred's spectacular art alone

[mattymoron]

Can someone explain to me who all the kids are in the NOW FF #1? I'm so confused.

[J.D. Lombardi]

Originally Posted by mattymoron

Can someone explain to me who all the kids are in the NOW FF #1? I'm so confused.

lol I think the confusion comes from the creative team, especially when Allred is cocerned. It just isn't going to be a typical/mainstream Marvel book, so if you begin with that mindset and just accept whatever is in the pages of the book as totally new and in its own, people may be alright.

Allred doesn't stay on anything for all that long, so it'll likely either end when he is ready to go, or they'll pretty much discount it, like X-Statix.

[Remnant]

Originally Posted by brownsfan1

I would say no. I read the whole Hickman run (FF included) and i found that any info you would need is pretty well covered in the two new #1's.

Also, they are both excellent reads. FF will be the sleeper hit of Marvel Now!

But do yourself a favor and at some point go back and read Hickman's entire Fantastic Four and FF runs. One of the better runs in awhile, and one issue made me actually cry, which had never happened to me before in 20 years of comic reading. He builds throughout his entire run to something big and when it all pays off it was exhilarating. Truly great and epic stuff.

Thanks! That is essentially what I figured. I really enjoyed both #1s and I am pumped for issue 2 this month. They are both on my pull list. I will be going back to read Hickman's run at some point. I am holding out hope for an omnibus... but also monitoring the amazon prices.

[Remnant]

Originally Posted by dvd_mazter

I picked up both Fantastic Four and FF #1s and I'm pretty postive you can get by without reading anything previous. I only the first two of Hickman's trades and not much else (I'm a DC guy mainly) and I understood nearly everything in both (just wasn't super familiar with the new FF cast). However, FF has a cool device used to catch up the reader too. I'm adding both to my pull list!!

Honestly though, pick up FF no matter what for Mike Allred's spectacular art alone

Yeah same here. Allred's art is... sigh, breathtaking. I had no problem with back story either. Especially with Fan Four. FF was charming and funny. I am in 100%. I am collecting the number 1s but even before I decided on doing so I had added FF and F.F. to my pull.

Originally Posted by J.D. Lombardi

lol I think the confusion comes from the creative team, especially when Allred is cocerned. It just isn't going to be a typical/mainstream Marvel book, so if you begin with that mindset and just accept whatever is in the pages of the book as totally new and in its own, people may be alright.

Allred doesn't stay on anything for all that long, so it'll likely either end when he is ready to go, or they'll pretty much discount it, like X-Statix.

I don't think it will work out that way even if Allred decides to move on. Marvel has no qualms about subbing in artists. But yes I don't expect "mainstream" from these books and honestly "mainstream" isn't what I want. These are the books that let creators stretch their legs and THAT is what I want.

[J.R._Beasley]

Originally Posted by mattymoron

Can someone explain to me who all the kids are in the NOW FF #1? I'm so confused.

guess you weren't interested in knowing after all....

[brownsfan1]

Originally Posted by Remnant

Thanks! That is essentially what I figured. I really enjoyed both #1s and I am pumped for issue 2 this month. They are both on my pull list. I will be going back to read Hickman's run at some point. I am holding out hope for an omnibus... but also monitoring the amazon prices.

So? Issue 2 is out for each! What did you think?

[Remnant]

Originally Posted by brownsfan1

So? Issue 2 is out for each! What did you think?

Glad you asked! I loved issue 2 of FF! Really good balance of "freak out" and the quirky mundane of children-adult interaction. And the cliffhanger... good stuff.

Issue 2 of Fan4 I also enjoyed but didnt love. It gives a dosing of family sitcom that is rare in comics but at its core is a set up for both more fan4 and FF. FF#2 stood on its own but only because Fan4#2 feed it. I am looking forward to Fan4 actually starting in issue #3.

I'd love you hear your thoughts.

[brownsfan1]

Originally Posted by Remnant

Glad you asked! I loved issue 2 of FF! Really good balance of "freak out" and the quirky mundane of children-adult interaction. And the cliffhanger... good stuff.

Issue 2 of Fan4 I also enjoyed but didnt love. It gives a dosing of family sitcom that is rare in comics but at its core is a set up for both more fan4 and FF. FF#2 stood on its own but only because Fan4#2 feed it. I am looking forward to Fan4 actually starting in issue #3.

I'd love you hear your thoughts.

Yeah i kinda feel the same. I love the family dynamic, so Fantastic 4 is still firing on all cylinders. But FF blows it all away. Man do i love me some Mike Allred art lol. It looks like Matt Fraction is going the Hickman route and keeping the two book tied together pretty tightly.

[Remnant]

Originally Posted by brownsfan1

Yeah i kinda feel the same. I love the family dynamic, so Fantastic 4 is still firing on all cylinders. But FF blows it all away. Man do i love me some Mike Allred art lol. It looks like Matt Fraction is going the Hickman route and keeping the two book tied together pretty tightly.

Oh yeah I definitely am still enjoying Fan4 but I am ready for me. Allred... man, holy glorious art batman! I actually think now that the intro issues are out of the way the stories will diverge more. So far a reader would need to be picking up both to get the story but I think from here on out if someone were only picking up one (which... why?) he/she would be fine. But yeah I love that they are tied-in and I hope it continues to retain some of that unity.

I have all but spent the money on Hickman's FF/Fan4. Do you think there is much of a chance at an omnibus?

[brownsfan1]

Originally Posted by Remnant

Oh yeah I definitely am still enjoying Fan4 but I am ready for me. Allred... man, holy glorious art batman! I actually think now that the intro issues are out of the way the stories will diverge more. So far a reader would need to be picking up both to get the story but I think from here on out if someone were only picking up one (which... why?) he/she would be fine. But yeah I love that they are tied-in and I hope it continues to retain some of that unity.

I have all but spent the money on Hickman's FF/Fan4. Do you think there is much of a chance at an omnibus?

Man I hope so. the only problem is that it might be too big for them to print it all in one volume.

I am also hoping for a Rick Remender Uncanny X-Force omnibus. Man was that good,

[Remnant]

Originally Posted by brownsfan1

Man I hope so. the only problem is that it might be too big for them to print it all in one volume.

I am also hoping for a Rick Remender Uncanny X-Force omnibus. Man was that good,

Yes another one I missed! There have been some rumblings around the interwebs about one. Lets hope so.

[Remnant]

Thoughts on the latest issue?

[brownsfan1]

Originally Posted by Remnant

Thoughts on the latest issue?

I am enjoying the heck out of these two series. Fraction has such a good handle on these characters, but my new worry is that it will be like his Thor run that petered out about halfway through.

[Remnant]

Originally Posted by brownsfan1

I am enjoying the heck out of these two series. Fraction has such a good handle on these characters, but my new worry is that it will be like his Thor run that petered out about halfway through.

That seems to be his way... I am also afraid the same will happen with Hawkeye. I have faith. After his events he needs redemption and hopefully these current series will be just that.

Fan4 and FF just offer what I cant really get anywhere else. Just pure fun, family fun. Like TGIF. lol.