MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (MARVEL COMICS)
A dark, new era begins.
The calendar has hit October. The leaves are changing colors, spooky season has arrived, and Marvel’s First Family is getting a darker makeover in Midnight Fantastic Four.
Lets talk MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR #1 by Benjamin Percy, Kev Walker, Frank D'Armata & Joe Sabino (Marvel Comics)
MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR #1 by Benjamin Percy, Kev Walker, Frank D'Armata & Joe Sabino (Marvel Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
The Fantastic Four are not so fantastic in this Halloween story from Benjamin Percy and the team at Marvel. The team isn’t functioning as the familiar unit we’re used to, not really a team at all. The pieces are there but there is a sense of mystery leaving you wondering what has happened to this family or if they were ever a family at all.
Reed is at the center of this first issue. He is more reckless than ever, pushing himself and his usual willingness to take risks into some pretty extreme territory. There’s clearly something going on beneath the surface, but this book doesn’t immediately give you all the answers. He is not the hero we know.
We’re so accustomed to seeing the Fantastic Four together that separating them makes every interaction feel a little more important. You find yourself wondering how much everyone actually knows about what’s happening. Does Sue recognize what Reed is going through? Does she understand just how far he’s pushing himself? And is there more happening behind the scenes than we’re being allowed to see?
more fantastic four!
The artwork fits the story incredibly well. There’s a lot of darkness throughout the issue, with muted blues and grays creating a much heavier atmosphere than what we normally associate with the Fantastic Four. The visuals and color palette help sell the idea that this is a Fantastic Four story, but definitely not the story we’re used to.
What I really like is seeing these familiar characters pushed toward their emotional extremes. Reed has always been willing to take risks, but seeing that part of his personality amplified makes you question just how far he’s willing to go. Johnny feels like he’s carrying something with him, and the fractured state of the team leaves you constantly wondering what everyone else knows.
FINAL GRADE: 9
There are a lot of questions here, and I’m perfectly okay with not having the answers yet. Midnight Fantastic Four has created a genuinely intriguing mystery while giving us a darker, more unsettling version of Marvel’s First Family.
October is the perfect time for this one!
Let me know your thoughts on MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!