While we crowned Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri's *The Ultimates* as the Best Comic Book Series or Original Graphic Novel of 2024, it's undeniable that Marvel's *Fantastic Four* was a strong contender for the top spot. The series is currently experiencing a renaissance, largely due to the stellar work of writer Ryan North and his team. With *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* set to hit theaters soon, Marvel aims to capitalize on this momentum and draw in a larger audience this summer.
Come July, Marvel will relaunch *Fantastic Four*, but fans can rest easy knowing that North remains at the helm. This new volume will see North teaming up with artist Humberto Ramos, known for his work on *The Amazing Spider-Man*. Together, they will embark on fresh adventures with Marvel's First Family, navigating the aftermath of the One World Under Doom crossover and embarking on journeys through time.
For a deeper dive into the new series and why it offers an accessible entry point for new readers, IGN conducted an email interview with North. Before delving into the interview, take a moment to explore an exclusive preview of the first issue in the slideshow gallery below.
Fantastic Four #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery
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It might seem unusual to renumber the series with the same writer and a consistent direction, but North sees it as a strategic move. The upcoming Fantastic Four movie offers a perfect opportunity to make the comic more inviting to new readers.
"Comics have the potential to reach a wider audience," North explained to IGN. "There are countless people who don't read comics, thinking they're not for them, but they're mistaken! There are numerous comics out there tailored to their interests, but they may not have discovered them yet or felt welcomed into the community. Superhero comics, in particular, can be intimidating with their numbering system, leading people to believe they must start from issue one. By providing a new number one, we hope to lower that barrier for those who see the movie, fall in love with it, and want to explore more about these incredible characters."
A significant change in the new series is the artistic shift to Ramos. North shared that he and Ramos have been planning this relaunch for some time, discussing their vision for the characters and the series.
"We met at San Diego Comic-Con before he started on this series and before I began writing these new stories," North said. "Humberto is an incredibly creative and generous collaborator, always eager to enhance an idea and bring it to life with enthusiasm and flair. I think readers are going to love what he's created, and it's been challenging to keep all this fantastic art under wraps for so long."
Ramos's reputation for speed and his artistic style offer North a distinct advantage. With a more consistent art team, North can tailor his scripts specifically for Ramos, enhancing the synergy between writer and artist.
"I've worked with many talented artists on *Fantastic Four*, but I often write scripts far in advance without knowing who the artist will be," North noted. "It's always preferable to know the artist because it allows for a better integration of our creative visions. Having Humberto on board for an extended period has been great, enabling me to write directly for him issue after issue."
While a new #1 issue is always beneficial, North's run on *Fantastic Four* has consistently been accessible. His approach has been to craft standalone adventures that contribute to a larger narrative, reminiscent of *Rick and Morty*. North plans to maintain this format with the relaunch but with a slight shift towards more expansive stories.
"I'm not changing the core structure," North said. "Each issue will still stand alone and offer a complete story, but I am leaning more into the larger narrative with crazier, more ambitious tales. As Ben would put it, 'I'm just adding a couple cloves of garlic - not because it's not delicious, I just wanna add a little bit of zip.'"
When the relaunch was announced, North emphasized his desire to explore the FF not just as family, but as friends. He elaborated on this distinction in the interview.
"It's a subtle difference, but I wanted to tell stories about long-lasting friendships where people choose to stay together," North explained. "This isn't so different from family, where you're born into it, but you still choose to nurture those relationships. With the Fantastic Four, only Johnny and Sue are related by blood at the start, yet they all choose to be together, forming a bond that transcends family. It's a beautiful and interesting dynamic, and it highlights how close the line between good friends and found family really is."
The relaunch of *Fantastic Four* this summer comes amid the ongoing *One World Under Doom* crossover. North assured that the new series will not ignore this event but will instead use it as a springboard for a significant Doctor Doom story from the outset.
"We're aiming to create an easy entry point for new readers while still being part of the *One World Under Doom* event," North said. "The first story will focus on Doom, giving the Fantastic Four a chance to undo his actions through a grand science fiction concept. After that, we'll dive into a series of new, bold, and expansive science fiction ideas."
One of the key developments in *One World Under Doom* involves Doom curing Ben Grimm of his rocky condition, showcasing his superiority over Reed Richards. However, the preview art suggests Ben returns to being The Thing in the new series. North hinted that this plot point will be resolved before the relaunch but may still impact the FF's future.
"We'll see how it's resolved in the final moments of the previous run, ensuring we don't start the new series with loose ends," North said. "I want this series to be accessible to new readers, keeping the necessary backstory to a minimum. It's a challenge, but one I've been tackling throughout my run. The Fantastic Four have decades of history, but I want every issue to be welcoming to new readers."
*Fantastic Four #1* will be released on July 9, just weeks before *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* hits theaters. Below is the solicitation for *Fantastic Four #2*:
FANTASTIC FOUR #2
Written by RYAN NORTH
Art and Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS
Sue Storm finds herself stranded in the far future at the end of Earth's history, the last living being on a once-thriving planet. How can she return to her time before it's too late? Meanwhile, Reed Richards, stuck in the distant past, awaits rescue from Sue that may never come...unless their deep, loving bond can transcend time itself.
In the present, Doom unveils the secret behind his ability to outmaneuver the Fantastic Four: a method that turns every defeat into a victory, rendering him invincible as Emperor Doom.
On Sale 8/13
In related news, the upcoming *Fantastic Four* movie will be complemented by a prequel comic that delves into the origin story of Pedro Pascal's Reed and his family, marking one of the first times in a while that a comic ties directly into the MCU.
