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Marvel Season One
Fantastic Four: Season One
In Manhattan's most famous skyscraper, the Baxter Building, scientific genius Reed Richards hatches a plan that will change the lives of those he loves most-and the very course of human history-in a way no one could've ever imagined. Revisit the story that irrevocably changed comics and pop culture in this all-new graphic novel, modernizing the journey of Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm as they travel to the stars...and return with fantastic, devastating results! All this plus, witness the cataclysmic first battles with The Mole Man, Doctor Doom, and Prince Namor, the mysterious Sub-Mariner in a way you've never seen before. You only think you know the story!
136 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2012
12 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
462 books476 followersRoberto Aguirre-Sacasa is an American playwright, screenwriter, and comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel Comics and for the television series Glee, Big Love, Riverdale, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He is Chief Creative Officer of Archie Comics.
Aguirre-Sacasa grew up liking comic books, recalling in 2003, "My mom would take us out to the 7-Eleven on River Road during the summer, and we would get Slurpees and buy comics off the spinning rack. I would read them all over and over again, and draw my own pictures and stuff."
He began writing for Marvel Comics, he explained, when "Marvel hired an editor to find new writers, and they hired her from a theatrical agency. So she started calling theaters and asking if they knew any playwrights who might be good for comic books. A couple of different theaters said she should look at me. So she called me, I sent her a couple of my plays and she said 'Great, would you like to pitch on a couple of comic books in the works?'"
His first submissions were "not what [they were] interested in for the character[s]" but eventually he was assigned an 11-page Fantastic Four story, "The True Meaning of...," for the Marvel Holiday Special 2004. He went on to write Fantastic Four stories in Marvel Knights 4, a spinoff of that superhero team's long-running title; and stories for Nightcrawler vol. 3; The Sensational Spider-Man vol. 2; and Dead of Night featuring Man-Thing.
In May 2008 Aguirre-Sacasa returned to the Fantastic Four with a miniseries tie-in to the company-wide "Secret Invasion" storyline concerning a years-long infiltration of Earth by the shape-shifting alien race, the Skrulls,and an Angel Revelations miniseries with artists Barry Kitson and Adam Polina, respectively. He adapted for comics the Stephen King novel The Stand.
In 2013, he created Afterlife with Archie, depicting Archie Andrews in the midst of a zombie apocalypse; the book's success led to Aguirre-Sacasa being named Archie Comics' chief creative officer.
Aguirre-Sacasa grew up liking comic books, recalling in 2003, "My mom would take us out to the 7-Eleven on River Road during the summer, and we would get Slurpees and buy comics off the spinning rack. I would read them all over and over again, and draw my own pictures and stuff."
He began writing for Marvel Comics, he explained, when "Marvel hired an editor to find new writers, and they hired her from a theatrical agency. So she started calling theaters and asking if they knew any playwrights who might be good for comic books. A couple of different theaters said she should look at me. So she called me, I sent her a couple of my plays and she said 'Great, would you like to pitch on a couple of comic books in the works?'"
His first submissions were "not what [they were] interested in for the character[s]" but eventually he was assigned an 11-page Fantastic Four story, "The True Meaning of...," for the Marvel Holiday Special 2004. He went on to write Fantastic Four stories in Marvel Knights 4, a spinoff of that superhero team's long-running title; and stories for Nightcrawler vol. 3; The Sensational Spider-Man vol. 2; and Dead of Night featuring Man-Thing.
In May 2008 Aguirre-Sacasa returned to the Fantastic Four with a miniseries tie-in to the company-wide "Secret Invasion" storyline concerning a years-long infiltration of Earth by the shape-shifting alien race, the Skrulls,and an Angel Revelations miniseries with artists Barry Kitson and Adam Polina, respectively. He adapted for comics the Stephen King novel The Stand.
In 2013, he created Afterlife with Archie, depicting Archie Andrews in the midst of a zombie apocalypse; the book's success led to Aguirre-Sacasa being named Archie Comics' chief creative officer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
March 20, 2017
The Fantastic Four is the title that launched the modern Marvel universe, and it’s also the most dated in a lot of ways. After all, it’s based on the idea that a mad scientist tried to beat the Russians into space and took along his girlfriend and her kid brother for some reason. The members have catchphrases like “Flame on!” and “It’s clobbering time!” Hell, they billed themselves as The Fantastic Four. How do you make that work in the 21st century?
God knows it’s been tried. There was the complete overhaul of the concept in the Ultimate Fantastic Four that tried to pin the wacky sci-fi elements to a more grounded reality. Meh. Fox first tried to make it work on screen with two movies that stuck close to the original idea. Both sucked. Then they went the ‘realistic’ route and coughed up a grim and dark furball that, while kind of interesting in places, still sucks.
What Marvel has done here is probably the safest and blandest attempt, but it also may be the only way to play it because it’s still tied to the regular Marvel comics universe they couldn’t completely upset the apple cart. Instead they stick to the old core story and just update the parts that absolutely didn’t work anymore. For example, the doomed test flight now comes from Reed’s rushed attempt to be the first to set up a space tourism business to fund his other projects, and the goofy names come from focus groups and branding efforts.
The results are….fine. It’s a Fantastic Four that’s still very close to the original, but it’s been dusted off and given a fresh coat of paint. It also does a nice job of retelling a couple of their early adventures with the team first facing off against the Mole Man and one of his giant monsters, and then they meet and fight Namor. I particularly liked how the whole idea that the FF are celebrity superheroes is played up.
So this is just an update with nothing all that new and groundbreaking, but it’s a solid piece of work. If Marvel ever wrestled the film rights back from Fox and made their own FF movie it’d probably look a lot like this.
God knows it’s been tried. There was the complete overhaul of the concept in the Ultimate Fantastic Four that tried to pin the wacky sci-fi elements to a more grounded reality. Meh. Fox first tried to make it work on screen with two movies that stuck close to the original idea. Both sucked. Then they went the ‘realistic’ route and coughed up a grim and dark furball that, while kind of interesting in places, still sucks.
What Marvel has done here is probably the safest and blandest attempt, but it also may be the only way to play it because it’s still tied to the regular Marvel comics universe they couldn’t completely upset the apple cart. Instead they stick to the old core story and just update the parts that absolutely didn’t work anymore. For example, the doomed test flight now comes from Reed’s rushed attempt to be the first to set up a space tourism business to fund his other projects, and the goofy names come from focus groups and branding efforts.
The results are….fine. It’s a Fantastic Four that’s still very close to the original, but it’s been dusted off and given a fresh coat of paint. It also does a nice job of retelling a couple of their early adventures with the team first facing off against the Mole Man and one of his giant monsters, and then they meet and fight Namor. I particularly liked how the whole idea that the FF are celebrity superheroes is played up.
So this is just an update with nothing all that new and groundbreaking, but it’s a solid piece of work. If Marvel ever wrestled the film rights back from Fox and made their own FF movie it’d probably look a lot like this.
July 15, 2014
3.5 stars
Huh.
Well, there's not a lot to complain or rave about in this one.
It's a decent origin story for the FF that's been updated just a tad.
Although, they really fucked Namor over in this on.
But for personal reasons, known only to a select few, I'm not feeling any love toward Namor right now.
Burn his vile eyebrows off, Johnny!
If you've never read anything FF related, and want to find a jumping off point, then this would be a good place to start. Which, I guess, is the reason for all of these Season One books. No massive changes, just tweaks here and there.
You could definitely do worse.
And since I've never found a FF title that I truly fell in love with, this would have to be my personal recommendation to newbies.
And, no. I didn't enjoy FF, Vol. 1: Fantastic Faux. Blech.
Huh.
Well, there's not a lot to complain or rave about in this one.
It's a decent origin story for the FF that's been updated just a tad.
Although, they really fucked Namor over in this on.
But for personal reasons, known only to a select few, I'm not feeling any love toward Namor right now.
Burn his vile eyebrows off, Johnny!
If you've never read anything FF related, and want to find a jumping off point, then this would be a good place to start. Which, I guess, is the reason for all of these Season One books. No massive changes, just tweaks here and there.
You could definitely do worse.
And since I've never found a FF title that I truly fell in love with, this would have to be my personal recommendation to newbies.
And, no. I didn't enjoy FF, Vol. 1: Fantastic Faux. Blech.
December 18, 2015
For me, the main draw is the art by David Marquez. The man is a rising star. He is currently killing it on art on Invincible Iron Man with Bendis right now and this was one of his early Marvel works.
The Season One hardcovers were Marvel attempt a few years back to retell the earliest stories of its characters. Sometimes they work, like Hopeless and McKelvie's X-Men, and sometimes they aren't worth the time to read. Marquez on art made me gut this one out. But really, if wanted a new origin tale for Fantastic Four, I'd ask Jonathan Hickman, whose first issue on the regular series is included here. That alone was barely enough to stop me from burning this book. I'm no Nazi but sometimes you get too much comic book trash. With the way I accumulate the genre, it almost happened for me.
The Season One hardcovers were Marvel attempt a few years back to retell the earliest stories of its characters. Sometimes they work, like Hopeless and McKelvie's X-Men, and sometimes they aren't worth the time to read. Marquez on art made me gut this one out. But really, if wanted a new origin tale for Fantastic Four, I'd ask Jonathan Hickman, whose first issue on the regular series is included here. That alone was barely enough to stop me from burning this book. I'm no Nazi but sometimes you get too much comic book trash. With the way I accumulate the genre, it almost happened for me.
July 7, 2025
in my comics era
April 20, 2025
It all began in 1961, when four intrepid explorers took off for space and came back as Marvel's first family. Since then, the Fantastic Four have been at the forefront of Marvel's Comics, sometimes changing in composition, but always returning to the original core of Mister Fantastic, the invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa demonstrates that he understands this dynamic in a story that takes story elements from the first and fourth issues from the start of the series and combines them into an enjoyable tale of their transformation and their first adventures. Befitting the updating that is at the heart of the "Season One" concept, this happens in a 21st century world, which is reflected both superficially in the concept and with a more mature response to the challenges they face. All this updating for them may not be necessary, but it's well done and can serve as an excellent (if non-canonical) introduction to one of the preeminent teams of the Marvel universe.
February 28, 2020
It isn't an easy job retelling a classic story. This book has tried doing so. Though it hasn't achieved something remarkable, it has done a fairly decent job.
One extra star is for the top notch artwork of David Marquez.
One extra star is for the top notch artwork of David Marquez.
April 8, 2023
I actually had fun with this one.
3,5 stars.
3,5 stars.
December 29, 2024
Trumpai, bet taikliai apie Fantastinio ketverto atsiradimą. Stebėtinai gerai sudėlioti akcentai. Ir viso labo tik 100 su trupučiu puslapių.
March 30, 2012
Really 3.5 stars.
There is a part of me that takes a look at something like Fantastic Four: Season One and wants rail in rage and frustration. Truth is, I don’t want to be that guy. It helps that the art and writing in FF: Season One is solid and actually does breath some new life into the characters. Reviewers have also been praising Jonathan Hickman’s run on FF, Hickman’s track record with science fiction comics is near flawless, and I have to wonder why he wasn’t given the reins on this original graphic novel. That isn’t to say that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa does a bad job but the minor tweaks to the familiar origin story are slight and just enough to keep the FF relevant in a modern world. On the one hand this a good thing, it doesn’t have the radical newness of the more angsty Superman: Earth One or the New 52 titles that might alienate old fans but its strict adherence to the familiar story lends the story a peculiar flatness. I would love see what Hickman (or any good creative talent) said “Here’s the Fantastic Four origin story. Update it, go nuts.”
Like I’ve said already Fantastic Four: Season One is actually quite an enjoyable tale that definitely hearkens back to the fun (a vaguely silly) nature of comics of old. In many ways it reminds of the Marvel Adventures imprint of books though one directed at an older audience. But how old? For some readers (me) FF: Season One doesn’t seem to make too much sense and I think most long-term comic book readers have sort of come to grips with the notion the ageless comic book character. Comics make a big deal about continuity (or at least comic fans) but we latch on to familiar characters so often that the attachment to continuity begins to make less and less sense as characters get trapped in a recursive loop, perennially stuck in young adulthood.
There have been interesting experiments to solve this problem. Marvel’s failed MC2 universe about Marvel’s near future (Spider-Girl, J2, A-Next) and the Ultimate line are a start and the Ultimate line especially actually seems better at progressing characters along specific arcs then the current Marvel Universe (Ultimate Spiderman is a great example of this). DC took the more radical approach destroying its entirety continuity and deciding to rebuild from the ground up. Rage at that all you want but from a sales, and arguably a creative, standpoint it isn’t really a bad call. A radical and gutsy call but in order to unlimber oneself from the weight of history that is a step one has to be willing to take.
I’ve gone a bit off topic I think but the main problem with FF: Season One is I can’t quite understand how it fits in with the rest of the Marvel universe. If the answer is “not at all” that’s fine but the event of its release, perhaps drowned out by Marvel’s other big guns (the gear up towards AvX, Amazing Spiderman, and The Avengers), seems to have passed so quietly and unobtrusively. The bottom line is if you like the Fantastic Fours origins, if you like the characters as you know them, then FF: Season One offers very little to complain about and simultaneously offers too little that is so new as to justify shelling out $15. This is a title that seaks to appease longtime fans but doesn’t seem to go out of its way to attract new ones either particularly given what feels like a tangential connection to the current ongoing (at least before November, and the relaunched Fantastic Four title). A titled reads and looks greats Fantastic Four: Season One is a title for new readers and one that is best recommended by a fan looking to turn someone on to Marvel’s First Family.
There is a part of me that takes a look at something like Fantastic Four: Season One and wants rail in rage and frustration. Truth is, I don’t want to be that guy. It helps that the art and writing in FF: Season One is solid and actually does breath some new life into the characters. Reviewers have also been praising Jonathan Hickman’s run on FF, Hickman’s track record with science fiction comics is near flawless, and I have to wonder why he wasn’t given the reins on this original graphic novel. That isn’t to say that Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa does a bad job but the minor tweaks to the familiar origin story are slight and just enough to keep the FF relevant in a modern world. On the one hand this a good thing, it doesn’t have the radical newness of the more angsty Superman: Earth One or the New 52 titles that might alienate old fans but its strict adherence to the familiar story lends the story a peculiar flatness. I would love see what Hickman (or any good creative talent) said “Here’s the Fantastic Four origin story. Update it, go nuts.”
Like I’ve said already Fantastic Four: Season One is actually quite an enjoyable tale that definitely hearkens back to the fun (a vaguely silly) nature of comics of old. In many ways it reminds of the Marvel Adventures imprint of books though one directed at an older audience. But how old? For some readers (me) FF: Season One doesn’t seem to make too much sense and I think most long-term comic book readers have sort of come to grips with the notion the ageless comic book character. Comics make a big deal about continuity (or at least comic fans) but we latch on to familiar characters so often that the attachment to continuity begins to make less and less sense as characters get trapped in a recursive loop, perennially stuck in young adulthood.
There have been interesting experiments to solve this problem. Marvel’s failed MC2 universe about Marvel’s near future (Spider-Girl, J2, A-Next) and the Ultimate line are a start and the Ultimate line especially actually seems better at progressing characters along specific arcs then the current Marvel Universe (Ultimate Spiderman is a great example of this). DC took the more radical approach destroying its entirety continuity and deciding to rebuild from the ground up. Rage at that all you want but from a sales, and arguably a creative, standpoint it isn’t really a bad call. A radical and gutsy call but in order to unlimber oneself from the weight of history that is a step one has to be willing to take.
I’ve gone a bit off topic I think but the main problem with FF: Season One is I can’t quite understand how it fits in with the rest of the Marvel universe. If the answer is “not at all” that’s fine but the event of its release, perhaps drowned out by Marvel’s other big guns (the gear up towards AvX, Amazing Spiderman, and The Avengers), seems to have passed so quietly and unobtrusively. The bottom line is if you like the Fantastic Fours origins, if you like the characters as you know them, then FF: Season One offers very little to complain about and simultaneously offers too little that is so new as to justify shelling out $15. This is a title that seaks to appease longtime fans but doesn’t seem to go out of its way to attract new ones either particularly given what feels like a tangential connection to the current ongoing (at least before November, and the relaunched Fantastic Four title). A titled reads and looks greats Fantastic Four: Season One is a title for new readers and one that is best recommended by a fan looking to turn someone on to Marvel’s First Family.
January 3, 2024
The Fantastic Four is a superhero team that I've always wanted to get into as a Marvel fan. Despite the team's history of critically panned films, I've been hoping to read the comics to learn more about the Fantastic Four. I figured that reading this revitalization of their origin story was the ideal way to do it (also, this comic is part of a backlog of many comics that I've been meaning to finally read during the pandemic, but I digress).
The story itself felt mediocre, but I didn't really expect much given that it tries to remain faithful to the original material. The comic gradually became more entertaining and I found myself becoming invested in several of the characters, despite the bland writing. The strongest part of the comic has to be its artwork: it makes the story seem modern despite how outdated the writing can be sometimes, and the cover art is absolutely phenomenal.
Overall, this is a solid introduction to the team. Not anything fantastic (ironically) but it did give me enough to feel eager to read more stories about the team and how their adventures unfold.
The story itself felt mediocre, but I didn't really expect much given that it tries to remain faithful to the original material. The comic gradually became more entertaining and I found myself becoming invested in several of the characters, despite the bland writing. The strongest part of the comic has to be its artwork: it makes the story seem modern despite how outdated the writing can be sometimes, and the cover art is absolutely phenomenal.
Overall, this is a solid introduction to the team. Not anything fantastic (ironically) but it did give me enough to feel eager to read more stories about the team and how their adventures unfold.
November 28, 2017
This started pretty well, but by the end fell flat. I didn't really like the villain or most of the heroes... actually I just liked the Thing and it felt like this book was not as much about the origins as about Thing's attachment to the rest of the team and sacrifice, and reasoning.
I liked the art. The modern elements are thrown in here and there (like Twitter) and seem off. I am sure they could have done a lot better and a smoother job at that.
I liked the art. The modern elements are thrown in here and there (like Twitter) and seem off. I am sure they could have done a lot better and a smoother job at that.
August 1, 2025
A solid reimagining of the origins of the Fantastic Four for modern audiences.
What was really nice, was that they continued the story that left Namor homeless and an alcoholic with no memory who he was back in the 60s and they picked up from there (chronologically of course) and that was a nice surprise.
What was really nice, was that they continued the story that left Namor homeless and an alcoholic with no memory who he was back in the 60s and they picked up from there (chronologically of course) and that was a nice surprise.
April 26, 2012
Maybe my expectations were low, but I really was surprised at how much I enjoyed this retooling/retelling of the FF's origins. If nothing else, it crystallized some character bits that originally took 20+ years to be realized in some of the characters and did it in an interesting fashion.
Don't think I'd want this to be the standard continuity, but as a stand-alone tale, it works very well.
Don't think I'd want this to be the standard continuity, but as a stand-alone tale, it works very well.
November 6, 2021
The Riverdale writer wrote this and it shows
May 20, 2018
Puntaje: 3.5 Estrellas.
Siempre es bueno recordar el inicio de ciertos personajes, en este caso: Los Cuatro Fantásticos.
La historia clásica acompañada de excelentes dibujos. Aunque debo admitir que el final me dejó muy WTF!!!! Quiero saber que pasa después, yo creía que los Season One eran autoconclusivos!
Siempre es bueno recordar el inicio de ciertos personajes, en este caso: Los Cuatro Fantásticos.
La historia clásica acompañada de excelentes dibujos. Aunque debo admitir que el final me dejó muy WTF!!!! Quiero saber que pasa después, yo creía que los Season One eran autoconclusivos!
January 5, 2018
Bought this book for the big reveal about Reed Richard's autism (after seeing a mention of it in an article about autistic comic book characters). The sum of this reveal occurs in one speech bubble in one panel:
"I've self-diagnosed a mild case of autism, for which I'm currently inventing a cure. Otherwise, Alyssa, I assure you, I am of sound mind."
Wow. A cure? Thanks for throwing us all under the Fantastic Bus Reed.
I'm a fan of the FF (particularly Hickman's amazing run) but like the rest of these Season One origin rejiggerings by Marvel - this book was pretty disappointing. Interestingly they chose to include an excerpt of Hickman's first Fantastic Four comic at the very ending which managed to engage and excite me (even having read it previously) far more than the dreck before it. The one star is for that.
"I've self-diagnosed a mild case of autism, for which I'm currently inventing a cure. Otherwise, Alyssa, I assure you, I am of sound mind."
Wow. A cure? Thanks for throwing us all under the Fantastic Bus Reed.
I'm a fan of the FF (particularly Hickman's amazing run) but like the rest of these Season One origin rejiggerings by Marvel - this book was pretty disappointing. Interestingly they chose to include an excerpt of Hickman's first Fantastic Four comic at the very ending which managed to engage and excite me (even having read it previously) far more than the dreck before it. The one star is for that.
September 10, 2016
3-3.5 stars.
Wanting to explore the First Family of Superheroes, I picked up Fantastic Four: Season One at the library. The comic follows the story of how the Fantastic Four came into creation and I have to say that I liked it, there was not a outright flaw in the story but there was nothing new to my knowledge in the Fantastic Four as well, which stems from the films made in the 2000's.
I think that the real issue comes from obviously knowing the fates of the characters before reading and also this comic seems to lack from a strong villain, I read this a week ago and can not even remember who the villain was.
That being said, if you want a quick introduction to the Fantastic Four with some pretty graphics then I would recommend you read this.
Wanting to explore the First Family of Superheroes, I picked up Fantastic Four: Season One at the library. The comic follows the story of how the Fantastic Four came into creation and I have to say that I liked it, there was not a outright flaw in the story but there was nothing new to my knowledge in the Fantastic Four as well, which stems from the films made in the 2000's.
I think that the real issue comes from obviously knowing the fates of the characters before reading and also this comic seems to lack from a strong villain, I read this a week ago and can not even remember who the villain was.
That being said, if you want a quick introduction to the Fantastic Four with some pretty graphics then I would recommend you read this.
March 8, 2021
Very good update on the origin story! Adds a lot of interesting aspects and the art is beautiful
March 4, 2020
A reimagining and modernizing of the early days of the Fantastic Four!
This graphic novel expands and reinvents the events from the first four issues of the Fantastic Four. This whole concept reminds me a lot of what DC has done with their Earth One line of graphic novels. It modernizes the conventions in the story and makes them more relevant to current audiences and makes organic changes that fit a more modern sensibility. Unlike the DC books, this one isn’t as dark or violent.
The story provides us a little more background on the characters before their fateful journey into space. We see a more shallow and self-absorbed Sue Storm, a very egotistical Johnny Storm who also moonlights as a male model, and a Ben Grimm who seems kind of down and out. Reed is much the same as the original, but is partnered now with Alyssa Moy who has been retconned into the origin here.
Alyssa’s presence kind of makes sense as a follow-up to the Before the Fantastic Four story featuring Reed, where she was a major part of the story and a close friend. She also has a bit of jealousy and coldness towards Sue, which adds an interesting dynamic. Alyssa compares herself to “the fifth Beatle” at one point and that’s kind of how it plays out - she’s a consultant and scientific advisor, but she’s not on the inside of the “family.”
There are several changes to the storylines which is why this is generally not considered part of the regular canon. The resolution of the Mole Man encounter is drastically different than the original. A more peaceful ending results in the Mole Man becoming an ally and that contributes to further changes down the line. The Sub-Mariner plot feels less contrived here and flows a lot better. Again, the resolution is different than Stan Lee wrote in 1962, but still works. We see the villains contained now as opposed to having escaped.
There are no appearances of the Skrulls of the Miracle Man, which is fine. The two main plotlines are stitched together with some very nice character moments that provide growth for everyone over the course of the book.
The art is very clean and modern with some great splash pages and fun action sequences. I think Marquez does a great job with facial expressions and body language that add a lot to each frame. He gets a little carried away with Reed’s stretching at unusual times, but that’s a minor point. I enjoyed his take on the characters immensely.
This was a fun and interesting counterpoint to the original stories and might serve as a great way to bring new or young fans into the genre.
This graphic novel expands and reinvents the events from the first four issues of the Fantastic Four. This whole concept reminds me a lot of what DC has done with their Earth One line of graphic novels. It modernizes the conventions in the story and makes them more relevant to current audiences and makes organic changes that fit a more modern sensibility. Unlike the DC books, this one isn’t as dark or violent.
The story provides us a little more background on the characters before their fateful journey into space. We see a more shallow and self-absorbed Sue Storm, a very egotistical Johnny Storm who also moonlights as a male model, and a Ben Grimm who seems kind of down and out. Reed is much the same as the original, but is partnered now with Alyssa Moy who has been retconned into the origin here.
Alyssa’s presence kind of makes sense as a follow-up to the Before the Fantastic Four story featuring Reed, where she was a major part of the story and a close friend. She also has a bit of jealousy and coldness towards Sue, which adds an interesting dynamic. Alyssa compares herself to “the fifth Beatle” at one point and that’s kind of how it plays out - she’s a consultant and scientific advisor, but she’s not on the inside of the “family.”
There are several changes to the storylines which is why this is generally not considered part of the regular canon. The resolution of the Mole Man encounter is drastically different than the original. A more peaceful ending results in the Mole Man becoming an ally and that contributes to further changes down the line. The Sub-Mariner plot feels less contrived here and flows a lot better. Again, the resolution is different than Stan Lee wrote in 1962, but still works. We see the villains contained now as opposed to having escaped.
There are no appearances of the Skrulls of the Miracle Man, which is fine. The two main plotlines are stitched together with some very nice character moments that provide growth for everyone over the course of the book.
The art is very clean and modern with some great splash pages and fun action sequences. I think Marquez does a great job with facial expressions and body language that add a lot to each frame. He gets a little carried away with Reed’s stretching at unusual times, but that’s a minor point. I enjoyed his take on the characters immensely.
This was a fun and interesting counterpoint to the original stories and might serve as a great way to bring new or young fans into the genre.
May 4, 2018
The "Season One" line of Marvel Comics was established as a way to modernize the origin stories of popular characters and teams. This books covers the Fantastic Four and it does an excellent job!
Dr. Reed Richards (scientist and inventor), his girlfriend Sue Storm (scientist and semi-socialite), her brother Johnny Storm (ladies man and mechanic), and their friend Ben Grimm (ex-military and pilot) embark on the world's first privately funded and developed space flight. They soar through a cosmic storm, damaging their ship and giving them all powers and abilities.
- Reed becomes Mr. Fantastic, able to stretch out as if made of elastic
- Sue becomes the Invisible Woman, able to turn herself and other things invisible, as well as create bubble-like forcefields
- Johnny becomes Human Torch, able to self-immolate and use the energy of the fire to fly and shoot blasts
- Ben becomes The Thing, covered in rock-like skin, he has super strength and near invulnerability
The story not only shows their origin and how they become established as a super team, but they also deal with both Mole Man and Namor. I really loved Namor's remembering of who he is and trying to reclaim that, and would honestly love to see the continuation of that storyline.
A fun ride, a great origin, all wrapped in wonderful art.... I miss the Fantastic Four and look forward to their return soon.
High recommend.
Dr. Reed Richards (scientist and inventor), his girlfriend Sue Storm (scientist and semi-socialite), her brother Johnny Storm (ladies man and mechanic), and their friend Ben Grimm (ex-military and pilot) embark on the world's first privately funded and developed space flight. They soar through a cosmic storm, damaging their ship and giving them all powers and abilities.
- Reed becomes Mr. Fantastic, able to stretch out as if made of elastic
- Sue becomes the Invisible Woman, able to turn herself and other things invisible, as well as create bubble-like forcefields
- Johnny becomes Human Torch, able to self-immolate and use the energy of the fire to fly and shoot blasts
- Ben becomes The Thing, covered in rock-like skin, he has super strength and near invulnerability
The story not only shows their origin and how they become established as a super team, but they also deal with both Mole Man and Namor. I really loved Namor's remembering of who he is and trying to reclaim that, and would honestly love to see the continuation of that storyline.
A fun ride, a great origin, all wrapped in wonderful art.... I miss the Fantastic Four and look forward to their return soon.
High recommend.
November 26, 2019
You know, this could have been 3 stars easily. But I had to take a star down for one reason.
People went to this graphic novel specifically because it was revealed that Mr. Fantastic, one of the smartest characters in the Marvel Universe, is autistic. That's incredible and I absolutely believe it. This could have been an opportunity to become a champion for those who have autism. Instead it is immediately revealed that he is seeking a cure. There is legit research in the world regarding a cure but a lot of people don't believe one is needed. This is why the term neurodiversity exists. Yes, there are side effects that are not ideal and I understand wanting to take care of those. So what if someone is flapping their hand, have weird obsessions, or doesn't pick up on some social cues? Does that mean it needs a treatment like cancer? It just sends the wrong message. I'd like to see it as purely ignorance on the writers point but it's really disappointing. If you are going to bring up such a sensitive topic, you need to be prepared to handle it carefully.
The rest of the story was fine. I didn't really become attached to any of the characters but I guess that's a lot to ask in a short graphic novel that has to introduce a bunch of new characters. The dialogue was fine and nothing really stood out. The pacing was okay and the action was simple.
The artwork had no problems and had a pretty clean look.
People went to this graphic novel specifically because it was revealed that Mr. Fantastic, one of the smartest characters in the Marvel Universe, is autistic. That's incredible and I absolutely believe it. This could have been an opportunity to become a champion for those who have autism. Instead it is immediately revealed that he is seeking a cure. There is legit research in the world regarding a cure but a lot of people don't believe one is needed. This is why the term neurodiversity exists. Yes, there are side effects that are not ideal and I understand wanting to take care of those. So what if someone is flapping their hand, have weird obsessions, or doesn't pick up on some social cues? Does that mean it needs a treatment like cancer? It just sends the wrong message. I'd like to see it as purely ignorance on the writers point but it's really disappointing. If you are going to bring up such a sensitive topic, you need to be prepared to handle it carefully.
The rest of the story was fine. I didn't really become attached to any of the characters but I guess that's a lot to ask in a short graphic novel that has to introduce a bunch of new characters. The dialogue was fine and nothing really stood out. The pacing was okay and the action was simple.
The artwork had no problems and had a pretty clean look.
August 9, 2025
"Fantastic Four: Season One" by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (writer) and David Marquez (artist) is a fresh, engaging retelling of Marvel’s First Family’s origins, seamlessly updated for the 21st century without losing the spirit of the original.
Aguirre-Sacasa balances action, humour, and humanity in a way that honours Stan Lee’s famous “superheroes with superproblems” formula, while David Marquez’s sleek, dynamic art brings both the cosmic scale and the personal moments vividly to life. The story revisits the team’s earliest adventures, bringing back two classic adversaries — Mole Man and Namor, the Sub-Mariner — in reimagined form. The modern touches don’t feel forced; instead, they make Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben feel relevant, real, and relatable for new readers while still recognisable to long-time fans.
What stands out is the emotional depth woven into the spectacle: Ben’s gruff vulnerability, Johnny’s impulsive charm, Sue’s quiet strength, and Reed’s obsessive intellect are all here, but reframed in ways that make their relationships the true heart of the story. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue sharp, and the tone strikes a satisfying balance between classic adventure and contemporary sensibilities.
Whether you’re a veteran of Marvel lore or meeting the Fantastic Four for the first time, this volume is a fun, accessible, and heartfelt entry point — proof that some origin stories are worth telling again.
Aguirre-Sacasa balances action, humour, and humanity in a way that honours Stan Lee’s famous “superheroes with superproblems” formula, while David Marquez’s sleek, dynamic art brings both the cosmic scale and the personal moments vividly to life. The story revisits the team’s earliest adventures, bringing back two classic adversaries — Mole Man and Namor, the Sub-Mariner — in reimagined form. The modern touches don’t feel forced; instead, they make Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben feel relevant, real, and relatable for new readers while still recognisable to long-time fans.
What stands out is the emotional depth woven into the spectacle: Ben’s gruff vulnerability, Johnny’s impulsive charm, Sue’s quiet strength, and Reed’s obsessive intellect are all here, but reframed in ways that make their relationships the true heart of the story. The pacing is brisk, the dialogue sharp, and the tone strikes a satisfying balance between classic adventure and contemporary sensibilities.
Whether you’re a veteran of Marvel lore or meeting the Fantastic Four for the first time, this volume is a fun, accessible, and heartfelt entry point — proof that some origin stories are worth telling again.
March 11, 2025
A totally serviceable revamp of the classic FF origin. While it doesn't do anything particularly exciting, it doesn't have any real notable flaws either. Most of my problems stemmed from some personal preferences-- namely how Susan was depicted immediately, the lack of real focus on the character's relationships, and some of the very modern mid-200os-isms that bled through the book as a whole.
None of these issues are dealbreakers and are mostly my personal preference. The standout character was, of all things, Mole Man. He gets a neat little arc. Ben also carries the book's emotional throughline and does so well. This is a solid place to start if you're wanting a quick understanding of the F4's beginning and don't want to go back to the original issues.
The book includes an issue from Jonathan Hickman's acclaimed run at the end. This doesn't really tie anything together narratively, but moreso serves as an extended enticement for future F4 content. Without it Season One becomes a very quick read.
None of these issues are dealbreakers and are mostly my personal preference. The standout character was, of all things, Mole Man. He gets a neat little arc. Ben also carries the book's emotional throughline and does so well. This is a solid place to start if you're wanting a quick understanding of the F4's beginning and don't want to go back to the original issues.
The book includes an issue from Jonathan Hickman's acclaimed run at the end. This doesn't really tie anything together narratively, but moreso serves as an extended enticement for future F4 content. Without it Season One becomes a very quick read.
July 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fantastic Four: Season One
A sleek, character-driven reimagining of Marvel’s First Family that hits all the right notes.
Fantastic Four: Season One takes the classic origin story and gives it a much-needed modern polish. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa nails the voices of each team member, especially Reed and Ben, whose fractured friendship carries real emotional weight. The book doesn’t rush through the cosmic rays and superhero reveal—instead, it leans into the aftermath: the fear, the fame, the fractured dynamics.
David Marquez’s art is clean and cinematic, giving the FF a youthful energy that helps sell the rebooted tone. Sue gets more agency, Johnny gets more depth, and even the villain choices feel deliberate and earned. This isn’t just a retelling—it’s a human story inside a sci-fi shell.
Some of the plot points are familiar, but they’re handled with care, and the grounded emotional focus makes this one of the better “Season One” entries Marvel’s done. A perfect intro for new fans and a fresh perspective for longtime readers.
Fantastic Four: Season One
A sleek, character-driven reimagining of Marvel’s First Family that hits all the right notes.
Fantastic Four: Season One takes the classic origin story and gives it a much-needed modern polish. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa nails the voices of each team member, especially Reed and Ben, whose fractured friendship carries real emotional weight. The book doesn’t rush through the cosmic rays and superhero reveal—instead, it leans into the aftermath: the fear, the fame, the fractured dynamics.
David Marquez’s art is clean and cinematic, giving the FF a youthful energy that helps sell the rebooted tone. Sue gets more agency, Johnny gets more depth, and even the villain choices feel deliberate and earned. This isn’t just a retelling—it’s a human story inside a sci-fi shell.
Some of the plot points are familiar, but they’re handled with care, and the grounded emotional focus makes this one of the better “Season One” entries Marvel’s done. A perfect intro for new fans and a fresh perspective for longtime readers.
February 20, 2023
A pretty solid retelling of the FF's origins, though something about the way Reed was written seemed off to me. I know his character doesn't necessarily have a lack of confidence (to put it lightly), but there was something about this book that focused more on that and less on the other parts of his personality. But as the book went off, we definitely got to see more of the family-minded side of him--that he's a caring person who just can't get out of his own head. Honestly, though, my favorite issue was the Hickman preview at the very end, which isn't technically a part of this story. Maybe I just like Reed better as a father? Maybe parenthood mellows out his personality? I don't know, but it's an interesting discussion. All in all, though, I enjoyed this modern take on the FF's beginnings.
July 19, 2022
This is a good edition to give to people who think the F4 is lame and if you want to force them to get into Hickman's run without violence (I have not done this... well maybe just twice).
This origin retelling is very 2010s dated with pop culture references galore and snippy one liners (Sue had a Mad Men ref I appreciated). But aside from this time capsule of an era when Tik Tok was a song, Aguirre-Sacasa (current Archie Head) did such a good job of making everyone likable, including Moleman and jerkstore Reed.
Edition also has the first issue of Hickman's run (well technically its the 5th, because I do believe you start with Dark Reign. Basically this makes the F4 freaking cool
I miss the 2010s
This origin retelling is very 2010s dated with pop culture references galore and snippy one liners (Sue had a Mad Men ref I appreciated). But aside from this time capsule of an era when Tik Tok was a song, Aguirre-Sacasa (current Archie Head) did such a good job of making everyone likable, including Moleman and jerkstore Reed.
Edition also has the first issue of Hickman's run (well technically its the 5th, because I do believe you start with Dark Reign. Basically this makes the F4 freaking cool
I miss the 2010s
July 18, 2018
Reading it back-to-back with the original stories it draws from, this is a decent update for new readers who might not get in line with the writing and pace of Lee and Kirby's classic work. The art is really good, and its one-shot structure is well done, plus the bonus Hickman story that gives people a taste of more recent F4 "in canon" stories.
Not a buy for long time fans who know the drill about this characters, but a good coffee table book, alongside with the rest of this series of one shots OGNs (if you happen to stumble upon it on a bargain bin somewhere), to have to introduce friends the characters in a way they don't feel dated.
Not a buy for long time fans who know the drill about this characters, but a good coffee table book, alongside with the rest of this series of one shots OGNs (if you happen to stumble upon it on a bargain bin somewhere), to have to introduce friends the characters in a way they don't feel dated.
October 21, 2019
Got this in preparation for Hickman's Fantastic Four The Complete Collection volumes since I felt the need to read the modern adaptation of FF's origin before diving in to one of the best FF stories written throughout the years. I gave this only a 3 stars rating because of the poor writing by Aguirre-Sacasa. There's this lazy feel to the whole plot and then an abrupt cliffhanger end to it. The only redeeming factor for this book is David Marquez' artwork and a bonus issue from Hickman's FF. So wrapping it up; Story: 2 stars and Art: 4 stars.
March 14, 2020
The art is great and then we get a modernized retelling of the FF origin. Did we need ANOTHER take on this origin? Is this take exciting a fresh? Nope. It is actually very lame. Some "new" things are, the Moleman gets defeated by Sue Storm talking him down because she took the time to ask him his name. Aw. Sweet. But not worth a reboot to see that. In the end it isn't BAD but there was no need for it. There was nothing interesting or original. It was just the story of the FF coming into existence that we've seen before. PASS. But the art was good.
July 2, 2019
La collana Season One è stato un tentativo di far conoscere le origini, rivisitate in chiave moderna, dei personaggi classici Marvel. Un tentativo generalmente malriuscito e poco valido.
Il caso di questo albo è emblematico del fallimento artistico del tentativo. Quasi inguardabili i disegni (specie se uno ha in mente Kirby) e scarse le sceneggiature.
Il caso di questo albo è emblematico del fallimento artistico del tentativo. Quasi inguardabili i disegni (specie se uno ha in mente Kirby) e scarse le sceneggiature.
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