Fantastic Four #1

I have to admit that it's pretty nifty to be able to buy a first issue of Fantastic Four - though I'm not really a fan of renumbering a long-running series like this.

The restart gives the new creative team a jumping-off point, and they certainly have their work cut out for them, since Jonathan Hickman just wrapped up a long, celebrated run on the title.

And so far... it feels very much like the same book. There's a major focus on family and fun, as Reed Richards confronts some disturbing news - and uses it to create a new adventure for his extended family.

And that family has grown in recent years, including Reed and Sue's children (Franklin and Valeria), brother-in-law Johnny Storm, best friend Ben Grimm, and about a half-dozen kids from assorted races and lands who have become part of the Future Foundation (FF).

So far, Matt Fraction has maintained the style set up by Hickman in the series, although this issue does drag a bit as it gets around to setting up the next year's worth of stories.

I'm a big fan of the art by Mark Bagley and Mark Farmer, with colors by Paul Mounts. It's dynamic, features great characters designs (including some subtle improvements to the most recent design for the FF uniforms), strong layouts and clear storytelling.

So, a good start and a promising beginning (again) for Marvel's First Family. Looking forward to seeing where it goes from here!

Grade: A-

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