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

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We may have awarded 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 that crown, it was Fantastic Four. Under the pen of writer Ryan North and his talented collaborators, this iconic series has reached a level of excellence not seen in years. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps set to debut in theaters soon, Marvel is clearly aiming to bring in an even broader audience this summer.

Marvel will be relaunching Fantastic Four this July—but rest assured, Ryan North remains at the helm. This new volume teams North with artist Humberto Ramos (The Amazing Spider-Man), who will bring their unique vision to a fresh series of adventures. As Marvel’s First Family continues to navigate the aftermath of the One World Under Doom crossover, they’ll also find themselves hurled through time—setting the stage for epic storytelling ahead.

To give readers a better sense of what to expect from this new volume—and why it serves as such a natural entry point for newcomers—we spoke with Ryan North via email. Before diving into the interview, check out our exclusive preview of the first issue in the gallery below, and then read on to discover how this new chapter explores the Fantastic Four not only as family, but as friends.

Fantastic Four #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery

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At first glance, renumbering the series might seem unnecessary given that the creative team isn’t changing and the direction remains largely consistent (though Marvel has never been shy about soft reboots). However, for North, the reasoning is straightforward: there's a major movie coming up, and anything that makes the comic more inviting and accessible to new fans is a win.

“Comics offer a unique opportunity to grow the medium,” North explains to IGN. “There are millions of people who don't read comics and assume they’re not for them—but they’re wrong. There are so many great stories out there that would speak directly to them, they just haven’t discovered them yet or haven’t felt welcome. In superhero comics especially, where every book has a number and readers might feel like they need to start from the beginning, a new #1 can help remove one of those barriers.”

With the upcoming film likely to draw in viewers unfamiliar with the source material, launching a new #1 issue becomes a smart way to make the comic feel like a natural next step for moviegoers.

A key shift in this new volume is the change in artistic direction with Humberto Ramos now on board. North reveals that he and Ramos have been discussing and planning this relaunch for quite some time.

“We actually met for breakfast at San Diego Comic-Con before he started drawing and before I even began writing these new issues,” North recalls. “That gave us a chance to really talk about the characters and what we both love about them. He’s incredibly creative and collaborative—always open to refining ideas and bringing them to life with incredible energy. It’s been tough keeping all this artwork under wraps—it’s just too good not to share!”

Ramos is known not only for his artistic flair but also for his speed, which allows for a more stable and consistent art team—a benefit North appreciates when scripting.

“I’ve worked with so many amazing artists on Fantastic Four, but often I’m writing scripts far ahead without knowing who the artist will be,” North says. “Knowing Humberto is attached long-term lets me tailor my writing specifically to his strengths, making each issue a richer collaboration between our styles.”

While a new #1 helps attract attention, it’s worth noting that North’s run has always been easy to jump into. His approach has been structured around standalone issues that contribute to a larger narrative—similar in spirit to shows like Rick and Morty. Does the relaunch alter that format?

“Not really—I’m just leaning a bit more into the overarching story,” North clarifies. “Each issue will still stand alone, offering a complete experience for anyone picking it up for the first time. But I’m giving the big-picture plot a little more room to breathe. Think of it as adding a few spices to an already great dish—just a touch more zip.”

When the relaunch was announced, North emphasized his desire to focus on the Fantastic Four as friends, rather than simply family. We asked him to unpack that distinction.

“It’s a subtle difference, but important,” North says. “I love my friends, and I wanted to explore relationships that are chosen rather than inherited. That’s not so different from family, really—because while you’re born into a family, staying there takes effort. You have to choose to maintain those bonds. With the Fantastic Four, only Johnny and Sue are blood relatives. The others chose each other. They built something deeper together. That idea is fun, beautiful, and compelling. Maybe the line between found family and close friends isn’t as wide as I thought.”

Another major factor influencing the new series is the ongoing One World Under Doom storyline. North confirms that the relaunch won’t ignore this crossover but instead use it as a springboard for a high-stakes Doctor Doom arc right from the start.

“One challenge of relaunching mid-event is balancing accessibility for new readers with continuity,” North admits. “Our first story is all about Doom—giving the Fantastic Four a shot at undoing everything he’s done. It’s packed with wild sci-fi concepts, and after that, we’re off to explore even more strange and exciting ideas.”

One major development in One World Under Doom is Doom finally curing Ben Grimm of his rocky form—an attempt to prove he’s superior to Reed Richards. However, early preview art suggests Ben is back as The Thing in the new series. So what happened? North teases that this will be resolved just before the relaunch, ensuring no loose ends hold back new readers.

“We’ll wrap up that storyline in the final moments of the previous run,” North assures. “It’s important that anyone new to the series can jump in without needing a crash course in decades of history. I’ve been doing this throughout my run—making sure each issue is welcoming and self-contained. Everyone deserves to feel like they belong at the party.”

FANTASTIC FOUR #1
Releases July 9—just weeks before The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters. Check out the solicitation for FANTASTIC FOUR #2 below:

FANTASTIC FOUR #2

Written by RYAN NORTH
Art and Cover by HUMBERTO RAMOS

Sue Storm finds herself stranded in the distant future, the last living remnant of Earth. How can she return to her own time before perishing? Meanwhile, Reed Richards is trapped in the ancient past, waiting for a rescue that may never come—unless their bond can somehow transcend time itself...

Back in the present, Doom unveils the secret behind his dominance over the Fantastic Four: a hidden truth that turns every defeat into victory and makes Emperor Doom unstoppable...

On Sale 8/13

In related news, the upcoming Fantastic Four movie will also receive a prequel comic exploring the origin of Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards and his family. This marks one of the first comics directly tied to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent memory.