FF vol. 1

Those of you expecting any kind of a pause, or some time to explore the new status quo of the Fantastic Four in the wake of Johnny Storm’s death are in for a surprise here.  This first volume of “FF,” “Future Foundation” in actuality, picks up right where the last volume in writer Jonathan Hickman’s run left off.  Spider-Man is now a part of the team, with Johnny’s blessing being given via a holographic will, and after a brief meet-and-greet to re-establish the cast things hit the ground running.  This volume starts small at first with Dr. Doom showing up so that Valeria can make good on her promise to fix his brain.  I say this is “small” in comparison to the fact that the team is going to need not only his help, but the help of pretty much every major villain of the Fantastic Four to defeat the small group of Reed Richards who escaped the Council’s destruction at the hands of the Celestials.  They’re not out to destroy the Earth, but they have few compunctions about breaking a few things in the process of returning to their former glory.

In short, it’s the usual mix of big ideas and human drama that has characterized Hickman’s run so far.  Though characterization has been a weak point in his creator-owned series, he proves to be adept at working with what’s been established regarding these characters over the years and finding new ground to tread with them.  The art is also better in this volume as Steve Epting isn’t really called on to deliver anything awe-inspiring, and so remains in his comfort zone of drawing characters in quasi-realistic settings.  Barry Kitson handles the last two issues and his thinner, less shadowy style is a better all-around fit for the series.  I’ll be looking forward to seeing more of him in the next volume as this one ends right as things are ramping up and getting really good.