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Fantastic Four (1998) (Single Issues) #60-70, 500-502
Fantastic Four, Volume 1
The evil Doctor Doom attacks the Fantastic Four with new-found supernatural power, forcing Reed Richards into unthinkable predicaments as he tries to save his family. Collects TPB vol. 1+2.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,196 books1,285 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 25, 2018
The FF bar is set pretty high for me with the Lee/Kirby, Byrne, and Hickman runs propping it up. I heard Waid's run was at least decent, but does it meet the bar? Too soon to tell but it's a good start. So far I'm enjoying this more than the Fraction/Bagley run.
This first volume starts a little slow but ends on a high note with some unexpected revenge from a villain and a good analysis of Reed's character and the family overall. Wieringo's art is beautiful to look at, occasionally a little too cartoony for the story beats, but fun to gaze upon. Looking forward to reading the next volume.
This first volume starts a little slow but ends on a high note with some unexpected revenge from a villain and a good analysis of Reed's character and the family overall. Wieringo's art is beautiful to look at, occasionally a little too cartoony for the story beats, but fun to gaze upon. Looking forward to reading the next volume.
March 11, 2018
The danger of writing legacy characters is the precarious balance between familiarity and new ideas. Mark Waid consciously acknowledges this balance, and from there begins his run, injecting some excitement into the Fantastic four while maintaining those core elements. It takes a few issues to get going, but once it starts running, its a real page turner.
Mike Wieringo proves he can handle any situation, from tender heart-felt moments between friends and family, to the good ol' super tech, alternate dimension imagery that the Fantastic Four has always been known for.
Honest writing from Mark Waid, who always manages to surprise me by inserting very real emotional experience into these fictional characters.
And DOOM. Always Doom.
Mike Wieringo proves he can handle any situation, from tender heart-felt moments between friends and family, to the good ol' super tech, alternate dimension imagery that the Fantastic Four has always been known for.
Honest writing from Mark Waid, who always manages to surprise me by inserting very real emotional experience into these fictional characters.
And DOOM. Always Doom.
November 13, 2014
I wrote a review of this back when that was my job, praising it to the point the author himself e-mailed me to express his delight that I enjoyed it. My opinion has not changed on repeated readings, this volume remains in my top three runs of Greatest Fantastic Four comics of all time, above John Byrne and sort of tickling that space underneath the incomparable Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. I've been a fan of the FF since before I could even read, and Reed Richards' opening up to his infant daughter early in the run reminded me of why. He admitted his arrogance, his weaknesses that turned his only friends, the most important people in his life, into something Else, something they can never come back from. So he changed speed and instead of trying to make them normal he advanced towards the extranormal. The extraordinary. He devoted his life to giving them a life few people can even think about. Even poor Ben Grimm, cursed to be a horrible Thing, becomes a man stronger than most in his spirit and heart, willing to give up being a normal man if it means saving his family (the movies got that right, at least).
Waid takes these elements and crafts, not a reinvention, but a repurposing of Marvel's First Family and brings them back to what makes them so great in the first place. They're not superheroes. They're adventurers. They eat the unknown for breakfast, return in time for lunch, and deal with the paparazzi. They're celebrities back when that term meant something. Reed's work has changed the world (particularly unstable molecules). Waid writes him like he's lived in his head, in a place where the burden of his guilt still weighs on his mind as he's discovering other worlds and changing the face of science with every move he makes. The large and the small, the immutable understanding of human curiosity finds its echo in Reed Richards.
And that's just the opener.
Addressing the artwork by the late Mike Weiringo. There's nothing like it. Simple, daring, clean but full of detail. So far from the 90's with their pouches and guns and gritted teeth expressions, an animated style that isn't cartoony, but still active and kinetic. Not poses but posture, not grit or glamor, just fluid and alive. There's so few artists in comics these days that understood his style and the loss of him is something I lament every time I return to this book. Not fully sadness, but immense respect and awe at his storytelling and wishing we could have more. There's a lot out there, thankfully, and should you start here, you won't be disappointed.
Waid takes these elements and crafts, not a reinvention, but a repurposing of Marvel's First Family and brings them back to what makes them so great in the first place. They're not superheroes. They're adventurers. They eat the unknown for breakfast, return in time for lunch, and deal with the paparazzi. They're celebrities back when that term meant something. Reed's work has changed the world (particularly unstable molecules). Waid writes him like he's lived in his head, in a place where the burden of his guilt still weighs on his mind as he's discovering other worlds and changing the face of science with every move he makes. The large and the small, the immutable understanding of human curiosity finds its echo in Reed Richards.
And that's just the opener.
Addressing the artwork by the late Mike Weiringo. There's nothing like it. Simple, daring, clean but full of detail. So far from the 90's with their pouches and guns and gritted teeth expressions, an animated style that isn't cartoony, but still active and kinetic. Not poses but posture, not grit or glamor, just fluid and alive. There's so few artists in comics these days that understood his style and the loss of him is something I lament every time I return to this book. Not fully sadness, but immense respect and awe at his storytelling and wishing we could have more. There's a lot out there, thankfully, and should you start here, you won't be disappointed.
September 27, 2012
Waid is pretty up-front in here about why the FF have sucked so much over time, but he really does a great job of capturing the reasons this series SHOULD be good. He uses a much more open-ended, soap-operatic style, more akin to the original run of FF, instead of the modern 5-or-6-issue thing. He's got a great feel for the characters, and makes them really feel human. He's not afraid to spend a lot of page time dealing with an emotional issue, if it deserves it, and he doesn't even feel the need to bring in big villains. Some of the time, we spend dealing with everyday type problems. Really, really good.
The first arc, with the math-themed villain, I really enjoyed, even though the math bit was ridiculously inaccurate, if that's even the correct word for something that doesn't even seem to know what math IS. But I have to give Waid props for even trying a math-themed villain. (I mean, really, can you think of anything that would turn people off more?)
We follow this up with some adventure stories, and dealing with Johnny running the company. I have to say the issues revolving around the unstable molecules getting loose are really tight. I always enjoy when an author takes something that's been around for a very long time and puts a new spin on it. And the revelations around baby Val...also, quite nice.
Issue 67, revolving around Doom, is now in my list of "10 greatest comics ever." Truly brilliant.
The final (long) arc isn't perfectly plotted, but works out quite nicely. It's obvious Waid spent a lot of time trying to decide what sort of scenario would really challenge Reed as a character (again, showing his deep understanding of these as people) and enacting it. The pacing is a little off, but I have to say it all works exceptionally well. And best of all, we get a very extended decompression (2 whole issues!) with no big fight scenes, just the family trying to deal with what has happened. Really human, and really nice.
The first arc, with the math-themed villain, I really enjoyed, even though the math bit was ridiculously inaccurate, if that's even the correct word for something that doesn't even seem to know what math IS. But I have to give Waid props for even trying a math-themed villain. (I mean, really, can you think of anything that would turn people off more?)
We follow this up with some adventure stories, and dealing with Johnny running the company. I have to say the issues revolving around the unstable molecules getting loose are really tight. I always enjoy when an author takes something that's been around for a very long time and puts a new spin on it. And the revelations around baby Val...also, quite nice.
Issue 67, revolving around Doom, is now in my list of "10 greatest comics ever." Truly brilliant.
The final (long) arc isn't perfectly plotted, but works out quite nicely. It's obvious Waid spent a lot of time trying to decide what sort of scenario would really challenge Reed as a character (again, showing his deep understanding of these as people) and enacting it. The pacing is a little off, but I have to say it all works exceptionally well. And best of all, we get a very extended decompression (2 whole issues!) with no big fight scenes, just the family trying to deal with what has happened. Really human, and really nice.
May 11, 2015
I am not a Fantastic Four fan traditionally but I quite enjoyed this one.
December 31, 2017
I've known these characters for 20 years and I've never really loved them. Mark Waid changed that with the fist issue.
"These guys aren't superheroes. Not really. They don't fight crime. They don't go on patrol. They're astronauts. They're envoys. Adventurers. Explorers. Sure, Galactus comes to town, they'll step up. Trouble finds them, they'll kick its ass. But that's not the job. It just comes with. Maybe they've been around a while, but the only thing old about the Fantastic Four is that they never stop taking us into the new."
It's an amazing story with incredibly real characters. I highly recommend this volume to anyone who has some interest in comic books!
"These guys aren't superheroes. Not really. They don't fight crime. They don't go on patrol. They're astronauts. They're envoys. Adventurers. Explorers. Sure, Galactus comes to town, they'll step up. Trouble finds them, they'll kick its ass. But that's not the job. It just comes with. Maybe they've been around a while, but the only thing old about the Fantastic Four is that they never stop taking us into the new."
It's an amazing story with incredibly real characters. I highly recommend this volume to anyone who has some interest in comic books!
March 4, 2023
Amazing family relationships and characters. This book’s dynamics were on-point, with lots of action and heart. But after this book… woah. Doctor Doom is officially the most wicked, terrible villain! Who does that to children?!?! It was intense… but with an ending that ultimately was one of family and hope. This book was perfect Fantastic Four!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2021
The beginning of the Waid-Weiringo era, the sequence that rivals the original Lee-Kirby run for sheer inventive, non-stop, feel-good adventure.
April 23, 2023
After having the movies as my only lackluster reference point for Fantastic Four it's nice to experience an actual good representation of the super hero family.
April 22, 2025
Fantastic introduction to Marvel's first family. The art is great and the story feels pretty fresh. You don't need any previous info to get a feel for what's going on or who these people are.
December 10, 2025
the stories were entertaining enough!
November 5, 2013
I recall having read issue 60 when it came out ages ago and being impressed by Waid's fresh take on Marvel's favorite family. So after dragging my feet all these years, I've finally got my hands on this collection. Waid in the his essay in the back speaks to how so many writers and fans feel that FF are boring or predictable, and how Waid himself did not feel as deep of a connection to the comic as other classic Marvel properties. Waid found a way to not only honor the characters as written, but as he hoped, found a way to experiment and put the group into challenges never before seen, just like the classic tales back with Lee & Kirby.
The first issue of the run is a dozy, day in the life tale that works as a nice summation of Waid's mission on the comic, followed my a threat from living math(!?), Johnny having to grow up and help the FF's company, and finally a spectacular throwdown with Doctor Doom. I love Dr. Doom, and I am really happy that Waid found a fresh approach for him to take against the FF (in a nutshell, him fully leaning on his magical abilities rather than technology). The collection wraps up a few quieter issues, which I appreciated. I can't believe that I've gone this long without mentioning the late, great Mike Wieringo's art, which is beautiful. What a comic!
The first issue of the run is a dozy, day in the life tale that works as a nice summation of Waid's mission on the comic, followed my a threat from living math(!?), Johnny having to grow up and help the FF's company, and finally a spectacular throwdown with Doctor Doom. I love Dr. Doom, and I am really happy that Waid found a fresh approach for him to take against the FF (in a nutshell, him fully leaning on his magical abilities rather than technology). The collection wraps up a few quieter issues, which I appreciated. I can't believe that I've gone this long without mentioning the late, great Mike Wieringo's art, which is beautiful. What a comic!
February 5, 2020
Fan-fucking-tastic. This is literally the book that got me into comics. Re-reading it with Raven has been really fun. Years ago when I last read this, I was kinda annoyed at the couple small arcs and one-and-done stories that the book has before launching into the amazing Doctor Doom story. But now I understand those stories more, they give you insight into the characters and give some time to seed the larger story, build tension around a mystery side plot that becomes the main plot. Good stuff. Raven really liked the math villain. I also enjoy him. Doom's transformation issue is one of my favorite issues in all of comics, and on this re-read it did not disappoint. The art throughout is excellent, the perfect mix of cartoony and grounded. Bright colors mostly, but moody atmosphere when called for. Reading Ben's voice is so much fun, I give him a deep brooklyn growl. Doom gets the same one I use for Thrawn, the high-cultured villain voice. No one else is quite as distinct, but fun to read nonetheless. I can not wait to read him the epic story that follows this one.
May 25, 2010
This was my first Fantastic Four book, and I was really happy with Mark Waid's approach. As opposed to the movies, the characters feel genuine, the adventures are fun, and the pace is great. Mike Wieringo's art was a pleasure to view. Very colorful art, which is a little cartoony but definitely stylish.
There is a nice dose of fun and sharp wit among the Four. This is also the only comic book I can think of where little kids were portrayed well and contributed to the story. The only drawback for me was how Doom's appearance drastically changes the tone of the book. Fortunately, by the end of this first volume, Doom's actions prove worthwhile for providing character motivations and growth.
There is a nice dose of fun and sharp wit among the Four. This is also the only comic book I can think of where little kids were portrayed well and contributed to the story. The only drawback for me was how Doom's appearance drastically changes the tone of the book. Fortunately, by the end of this first volume, Doom's actions prove worthwhile for providing character motivations and growth.
June 1, 2012
Waid’s biggest strength with this book is his balance. A strength that’s very much appreciated considering this is a team book, and more importantly, a family book. He does a nice job with each of the main four, they’re all relevant, they all have obvious roles, they all have faults (except maybe Sue Storm?), and they all have merits. Waid keeps the tone playful, sprinkling in laugh out loud comedy, but he keeps the tension up by using complex & original antagonist that challenge the team physically and mentally.
This is a great place for new readers of the Fantastic Four to jump on, because Waid is courteous enough to introduce and define the team members through his dialogue and power displays. I’d label this book a smart and enjoyable read.
This is a great place for new readers of the Fantastic Four to jump on, because Waid is courteous enough to introduce and define the team members through his dialogue and power displays. I’d label this book a smart and enjoyable read.
July 25, 2013
I haven't read much Fantastic Four, but since I have been collecting the Marvel Ultimate Graphic Novel Collection, I have read a few stories. They have all been excellent, I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. This one was a great story, dealing with death, heaven and God ( A great cameo by...........), sorry, no spoilers...
This is well written and very well drawn, a worthy addition to anyone's collection....
This is well written and very well drawn, a worthy addition to anyone's collection....
July 18, 2012
I'm going to consider this my first real dive into the world of comic books, and IT WAS AMAZING. I loved the storyline in the whole Waid/Weiringo run of FF, especially this first volume. The art was absolutely gorgeous and I was so sucked into the story I had to force myself to slow down for the sake of the art.
April 3, 2016
Previously read in January 2006.
May 31, 2014
My favorite version of FF is probably somewhere between the original Kirby/Lee stuff, Hickman and Waid.
March 3, 2016
Some of the best FF stories I've read in years. Waid gets to the core of what makes the FF so good.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews