Eric's Marvel Comics Review: FANTASTIC FOUR: SEASON ONE - PREMIERE HARDCOVER

From the dark, angst-ridden miniseries Unstable Molecules to the poorly received film adaptions, the origin story of the Fantastic Four is nothing new to comic readers or even the general public, yet with a property of that classic and enduring the need for reintroduction is constant (See: Batman Begins, Beyond, Brave and the Bold, etc.). Enter Fantastic Four: Season One, a celebration of Marvel's semicentennial.

Thanks to digital distribution, the “Essentials” omnibus series, and Twitter, many have come to know and love (possibly deride) the exaggerated, dramatic writing style of the supergroup's creator Stan Lee. Here, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa captures that essence and distills it for a modern audience. There's still heavy narration, but instead of stating what is obvious within the visuals, it provides an inner monologue throughout the story. Despite being a pretty lengthy graphic novel, there's still a lot of plot covered, so the extra characterization is appreciated and efficient. On the latter point, has plenty of references to the greater Marvel U without becoming inaccessible to new initiates. It's a precarious balance, but it seems the creative team have hit it here. Also in equilibrium are the moments of genuinely funny humor and compelling drama that keep the story engaging. It's quick and focused in a way that should find fans en masse.

While not explicitly an all-ages book, Fantastic Four: Season One keeps things relatively safe in terms of racy content. The modernization isn't something on par with the much more cynical Ultimates series and there's an emphasis on the group as a loyal family. Outside of a few “dammits,” “hells,” or innuendo that wouldn't be misplaced in a Shrek film, things stay pretty safe and thus makes a pretty good recommendation for aunts, uncles, or parents to get the younger readers in their lives into Marvel comics. Beyond the tone of the script, Aguirre-Sacasa really captures these characters in their purest (and, yes, sometimes their cheesiest) form. There's great Americana on display here that keeps itself both relevant and nostalgic in a way that is easy to read and enjoy.

With a book like this, there are always going to be qualms, but there are a few obvious items worthy of critique. While the dialog on a whole is strong, Susan Storm is possibly presented as the least compelling character. Some of her lines can be stereotypical Sex and the City-esque writing (There's a cringe-inducing line using the “gay, married, or both” cliché.) or needy. There is progression in which she becomes more dynamic after being seasoned in a couple of super-powered battles, but it might happen too late for some. Johnny Storm can be annoying at times, but one could argue that his adolescent portrayal is true to the original creation. He does, however, have enough clever lines to even things out.

Part of these issues are brought along by necessity. The creative team has this huge story to tell in this limited time and space, so it seems concessions had to be made. It's amazing how much quality material they have here, but there are times in which plot points are rushed with some resolutions more satisfying than others. It still adds up to an enjoyable read, but it shows the potential for even more. With the realization that this is a book almost exclusively about the Fantastic Four (as opposed to their rogues gallery), the reasons for the creative decisions become more apparent. Plus, there's the matter of contrast. The presence of good makes flaws more apparent and there's lots of strong material here! In fact, the product in its entirety overcomes most of its modest hurdles to be something very enjoyable.

In reviewing this, it seems that equilibrium has been the theme and measure of this assessment, which remains true of the art by David Marquez. In the opening pages, his work is sleek and polished, but doesn't seem to distinguish itself too much with some typical super-skinny/muscled comic body types. Even Ben Grimm, who is referenced as having a gut, is portrayed with a burly musculature that defies the idea of him being out of shape. It's never offensive, but not impressive either. That is until the transformation of powers happens. There is a panel in which a scared Johnny Storm, newly imbued with his flame powers, looks directly at the reader with his face ablaze. Any previous slightly negative/indifferent notions taken by the first chapter were quickly quelled there. Marquez does some great work showing the amazing abilities of the Fantastic Four. The Human Torch's flight conveys his almost childlike fun at the concept, Invisible Girl's (not “Woman” at this point) power set is portrayed with amazing visual flair despite it's namesake, and Mr. Fantastic's stretch is eerily organic looking. Also, the more bulky version of The Thing as shown in this graphic novel is a great homage to the original Kirby design (not to mention a subtle shoutout to the character's religion). This all results in a truly epic showdown in the books final pages.

Fantastic Four: Season One is not without its quirks, but Marvel really seems to have done what was intended in this portrayal of their first family. It's not as hokey as their original presentation or as cynical as the Ultimate and/or Unstable Molecules version. It trods a very happy medium in which most readers should find something to like.

There's quite a bit of story content offered in this book, but to sweeten the pot the editors have provided a pretty in depth image gallery showing the designs at various phases with notes. Also, there's Fantastic Four #570 in its entirety included to show what's going on with the characters in the current run. It's a smart move from someone in marketing team because it gives new readers a glimpse at what they have to look forward to and what progressions the characters have made in 50 years of publishing.

Story: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art: David Marquez & Guru E-FX
Cover: Julian Totino Tedesco
136 Pages/FC (Hardcover)
$24.99
On Sale February 8, 2012!