FF #1

Title: FF #1
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Jonathan Hickman
Artist(s): Steve Epting
Inker(s): Steve Epting & Rick Magyar
Colorist(s): Paul Mounts
Letterer(s): Virtual Calligraphy’s Rus Wooton
Cover Artist: Steve Epting

Story/Concept: (6.5/10) Far as a number one issue goes this is standard fare, nothing overly impressive as far as story. You most definitely feel the aftershock of the Human Torch’s death throughout this first issue; every character has been handling it in there own way. Your introduced to Spider-Man joining the team and his first day in the rank of the FF and the issue ends with a crazy surprise.

Writing: (7/10) Jonathan Hickman seem to have a really firm hold on the FF and all the other supporting characters of the Future Foundation. He has grown the Foundation into a very important part of this book and I think it is a good fit and it balances out the book by taking all the focus off the adult members. Hickman hit some striking character moments through out this book that is signature to said characters that make me more interested in what will come next, but within the context of the one issue he didn’t totally wow me enough with his writing alone to stay on this book. So there in lies the problem in the writing it is solid but it doesn’t pack the punch needed to maintain the standard reader past one issue or maybe one storyline at this point in my opinion.

Art: (6.5/10) I have to say this about the artwork I like Steve Epting’s artwork but I just don’t like it on this book. I have been a fan of the Fantastic Four for my whole life and looking back at all the styles of art on the book and comic artists like John Byrne, Walt Simonson, Mike Weringo, and Carlos Pacheco there styles are so different from Epting or even Bryan Hitch. So to me the art mutes some of the energy that I think the book needs, that is nothing against the creative team but again just a preference I have. Epting does do great job with driving home the emotional notes that Hickman wants and you feel them on every panel. So stellar on story telling, pacing, and emotion but to me the art lacks the dynamic up off the page appeal I feel this book needs to put it over the top.

Cover: (10/10) The Cover is a nice piece it really has a cinematic feel to it.

Overall: (7.5/10) Good not great but with the shock ending I’m onboard for one more issue.

Bottom Line: Not for everyone, if you have patience this book I feel can be very rewarding. For every one else I think this book might read better via trade rather than monthly.

Comic Book Savant