Start Reading Marvel's Fantastic Four Now: Best Time Ever

We may have crowned Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri’s The Ultimates as the Best Comic Book Series or Original Graphic Novel of 2024, but if any Marvel title came close to taking the crown, it was undoubtedly Fantastic Four. Under the pen of writer Ryan North and his creative collaborators, the series has reached a creative high not seen in years. And with The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to hit theaters soon, Marvel is positioning the comic to capture a wider audience than ever this summer.

This July, Marvel will relaunch Fantastic Four with a new #1 issue—but don’t worry, Ryan North isn’t going anywhere. The new volume teams North with artist Humberto Ramos (The Amazing Spider-Man), launching a fresh chapter for Marvel’s First Family. As they navigate the aftermath of the One World Under Doom crossover, the team will be thrust into a time-spanning adventure that redefines what it means to be a family—both by blood and by choice.

To dive deeper into the upcoming series and its appeal as a perfect entry point for new readers, IGN spoke exclusively with North via email. Below, enjoy an exclusive preview of Fantastic Four #1, followed by insights on how this new era will deepen the bonds between the team while delivering bold, standalone stories with a larger narrative arc.

Fantastic Four #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery

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Renumbering a series with the same writer and a continuing narrative might seem unusual—but for North, the reasoning is clear. With a major motion picture on the horizon, Marvel is removing barriers for new readers. A new #1 is an open invitation.

“Comics have a unique opportunity to grow their audience,” North tells IGN. “Millions of people believe comics aren’t for them—and they’re wrong. There are countless stories that would speak to them, but they haven’t found the right entry point, or haven’t felt welcomed in. Superhero comics, with decades of numbering, can feel intimidating. A new #1 lowers that barrier. If the movie excites someone, this comic is their next step—no prior knowledge required.”

The most visible shift in the new volume is the arrival of Humberto Ramos on art. North reveals that their collaboration has been in the works for some time.

“We actually met for breakfast at San Diego Comic-Con before he started on the series and before I’d even written a page,” North says. “We spent that time talking about the characters, what we love about them, and where we want to take them. Humberto is an incredibly creative and generous artist—always open to building on ideas, and able to bring them to life with so much energy. I’ve had to keep his artwork under wraps for months, which has been torture because it’s that good.”

Ramos is known for his dynamic style and fast turnaround, which gives North a major creative advantage. For the first time in his run, North is writing with a consistent artist in mind—allowing for tighter storytelling and stronger visual synergy.

“I’ve worked with so many amazing artists on Fantastic Four, but often I’m writing far ahead without knowing who’ll be illustrating the issue,” North explains. “Now, knowing Humberto is on board for the long haul, I can write specifically for his strengths. It makes the process more collaborative and the final product more cohesive.”

While a new #1 helps, North’s *Fantastic Four* has always been accessible. Each issue functions as a self-contained adventure while contributing to a broader storyline—much like *Rick and Morty*. Will this structure change?

“Not really,” North says. “I’m still committed to making every issue a satisfying standalone story—anyone can pick it up and feel welcomed. But I’m also leaning a bit more into the overarching narrative. I’m not changing the core formula—Ben would say, ‘I’m just adding a couple cloves of garlic—not because it wasn’t delicious, just giving it a little more zip.’”

When the relaunch was announced, North emphasized exploring the FF as friends, not just family. What’s the difference?

“It’s a subtle shift, but an important one,” North says. “I love my friends deeply—relationships we choose, not inherit. The Fantastic Four are often seen as a family, but only Johnny and Sue are blood-related at the start. The rest choose each other. They choose to stay, to fight, to build a life together. That’s powerful. Family isn’t just about origin—it’s about commitment. And in that way, the line between close friends and found family might be thinner than we think.”

Launching during *One World Under Doom* presents a challenge—how to balance accessibility with ongoing continuity? North confirms the crossover won’t be ignored. Instead, it’s the launchpad for a major Doctor Doom story.

“One of the big challenges is making a #1 that’s easy for new readers, while still being in the middle of a massive event,” North says. “So our first arc is a Doom story—where the Fantastic Four get a shot at fixing everything he’s done. It involves a wild sci-fi concept, and from there, we dive into more big, weird, science-driven adventures.”

A key moment in One World Under Doom saw Doom cure Ben Grimm of his rocky form—a symbolic victory over Reed Richards. But preview art shows Ben back as The Thing. So what happened?

“That gets resolved in the final moments of the previous run,” North reveals. “We’re not leaving new readers hanging with unresolved plot threads. I want this to be as welcoming as possible—minimal backstory required. It’s a challenge, sure, but it’s one I’ve embraced from the start. Decades of history exist, but no one should feel lost when they pick up issue #1. Everyone’s invited to the party.”

Fantastic Four #1 launches 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, stranded in the distant future at the end of Earth’s timeline, is the last living being on a dying planet. Can she find her way back before it’s too late? Meanwhile, Reed Richards, lost in the ancient past, waits for a rescue that may never come—unless their bond, the profound love and understanding between them, can somehow transcend time itself.

In the present, Doom reveals the secret behind his invincibility—the key to turning every defeat into victory. A secret that makes Emperor Doom truly unstoppable…

On Sale 8/13

In other Fantastic Four news, the upcoming film will be supported by a prequel comic exploring the origin of Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards and his family. It marks one of the first comics in years to directly tie into the MCU.