Fantastic Four reading recommendations

tommysheroes

I was wondering if folks could recommend some good Fantastic Four runs to me. I have never read the book for a sustained period, just random issues here and there. In general I find a lot of older books hard to read so I would prefer a recommendation for something in the modern age or an older book only if you think it is an absolute must read. Thanks in advance!

Greg

Hickman's run starting at #570, you will have to get the FF stuff to go with it though.

Byrne's run is great, not sure if that's too old for what you're looking for, I do consider that a must read for FF fans.

RickM

The first 101 issues (plus the annuals from that period) were done by Lee and Kirby and are some of the greatest comics ever made. Much of the current Marvel Universe was established in that run. I think its all been collected in trades.

I'm partial to the late 70s, especially when George Perez was the artist. After he left, folks like Keith Pollard captured that look pretty well. There is a nice story arc culminating in FF #200, written by Marv Wolfman, that is one of the better stories from that era of Marvel.

The Mark Waid-Mike Wieringo partnership from the early 2000's was superb.

I've heard great things about Byrne's FF but have yet to read it.

rogervestal

Top 5 runs of FF: 1.Lee/Kirby 2.John Byrne 3.Mark Waid/Mike Wieringo 4.Jonathan Hickman 5.Walt Simonson

John_Steed

I treasure that first FF Essentials. A ton of awesome comics for little cash.

Elsiebub

I'd go with the Byrne stuff. Just pick up any collection (or issue) of it, really. Unlike many other runs of the '80s, I DON'T find that these comics are "dated" in any sort of way that results in inaccessibility. And while you COULD just try to go through the entire run sequentially, it isn't like Byrne was "writing for the Omnibus" the way Hickman seemingly was. In other words, even random issues will make for satisfying reading.

The Lee/Kirby run is obviously hugely important, and there are many, many great issues in it. The first ten issues are absolutely vital to read at some point, but, yeah, they're dated. It isn't Kirby's best stuff by a longshot, and you really have to be in the mood for Stan Lee dialogue. When you are in the mood for it, of course it's great. I find that the later stuff in the run has better art and usually better stories, but those issues kind of assume and play off of familiarity of earlier issues in a way that I don't think the Byrne run really does as much.

The Hickman run is good and many people praise it. I feel that it kind of assumes a familiarity with the FF and an extended cast of characters. Everyone from the Inhumans to the Celestials to Dragonman to characters from Power Pack show up, usually with very little if any introduction. You also have to be in the mood for Hickman's at times standoffish brand of storytelling. It is a good run, but I think it's been somewhat overpraised in recent years.

Also, if you just want some fun FF comics, the Millar/Hitch run was fine. Not their greatest stuff, but I've often seen those two collections for like $5 each.

playdohsrepublic

RickM said:

The first 101 issues (plus the annuals from that period) were done by Lee and Kirby and are some of the greatest comics ever made. Much of the current Marvel Universe was established in that run. I think its all been collected in trades.

I'm partial to the late 70s, especially when George Perez was the artist. After he left, folks like Keith Pollard captured that look pretty well. There is a nice story arc culminating in FF #200, written by Marv Wolfman, that is one of the better stories from that era of Marvel.

The Mark Waid-Mike Wieringo partnership from the early 2000's was superb.

I've heard great things about Byrne's FF but have yet to read it.

This is basically the perfect list. Byrne's run is a must... and I'm not a fan, but its hard to deny that Hickman's FF run will go down as one of the seminal runs.

Mr_Cosmic

Four good starting points:

Fantastic Four, Vol. 1 (Marvel Masterworks)

Fantastic Four Visionaries - John Byrne, Vol. 1

Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Ultimate Collection, Book 1

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 1

jbrassard42

I'm surprised no one mentioned Walt Simmonson's run. It's relatively short and a ton of fun. The team takes the time sled on a trip with Thor, Iron man, and the she-thing Ms. Marvel.
It starts at issue 337 and goes until 354, though there are a couple of fill-ins. It's also been collectednin Fantastic four visionaries Walt simonson #1-3.

bralinator

The John Byrne Fantastic Four Omnibus is a solid launching point.

fredzilla

bralinator said:

The John Byrne Fantastic Four Omnibus is a solid launching point.

And Amazon has that very omnibus for around $45 (new!). Not the cheaper $33-$38 that it used to be, but still a very affordable tome for such a run.

bralinator

fredzilla said:

bralinator said:

The John Byrne Fantastic Four Omnibus is a solid launching point.

And Amazon has that very omnibus for around $45 (new!). Not the cheaper $33-$38 that it used to be, but still a very affordable tome for such a run.

And retail on that most-awesome tome was $125!!! I happened to get mine for the aforementioned $34.99, but $45 is a steal, containing somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 issues of the first family of Marvel.

I think it was over-ordered and that is why I got it so cheap at the time. I'm doubtful that the latest Byrne FF Omnibus volume 2 that was released just last month will drop that cheap so quickly, but I'm hopeful...

Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus Volume 2 - $68.75
INSTOCKTRADES.COM

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Furthermore, the Fantastic Four Omnibus HC Volume 02 which printed again over the summer and collects some quintessential stories, but these are strictly silver age... FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #31-60 and ANNUAL #2-4

It can be picked up for $55 HERE

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If these editions are simply too dated for your liking, then the next best run of all is collected in the Fantastic Four By Hickman Omnibus HC Vol 01 - also on sale for around $55 and collects around 30 issues (DARK REIGN: FANTASTIC FOUR #1-5, FANTASTIC FOUR #570-588, FF #1-5 and material from DARK REIGN: THE CABAL #1) and clocks in at around 800 pages.

Any of these are worth your time and hard-earned shekels.

Mr_Cosmic

Suggesting an omnibus is fine but I would recommend starting with a smaller volume.

bralinator

Mr_Cosmic said:

Suggesting an omnibus is fine but I would recommend starting with a smaller volume.

I agree. Either the Perez or Byrne Visionaries are great and you can probably pick up volume 1 of Hickman's run for about $5

DennisCuzinski

The Byrne run on FF may be my favorite run on any title ever. Also, Simonson did a storyline that was later redone in a company-wide crossover, but good ol' Walt did it better

shroud68

Not to state the obvious but Bryne's run is a great catch all. It honors the Lee Kirby stuff and embraces the entirety of the Marvel Universe. Given one start, that is the one

tommysheroes

Thanks for all the feedback. I am definitely going to check out the Waid run. Everybody is making the Byrne run sound awesome so I will give it a shot but I am worried I might have a hard team enjoying it as I usually find older stuff to be a bit difficult.

While I appreciate the Lee/Kirby run for its historical importance I know there is basically no chance I will appreciate it so will end up passing. Anyway, thanks for the feedback!

Krescan

this will go in the minority of suggestions but try one that has Ultimate in the title, they're modern writing which sounds like something you like and they cover a lot of the history but in a slightly different way

until later when they write their own history

and there might be a zombie crossover

bralinator

In my opinion, while Waid's FF run was excellent, John Byrne was in his prime doing the Fantastic Four and took the team to a whole new level. Byrne at that point was one of the all-time best super-hero artists in the business. He was what every super-hero book should be about and should look like. His writing fleshed out the mythology of the FF, while pushing the limits and still respecting it, even reinventing elements to make them stronger.

I would have to rank it in my list of the top 5 best super-hero runs. So for me, it is definitely Byrne over Waid, particularly if you are a fan of the Lord of Latveria - Doctor Doom. Another amazing thing about Byrne's run was that there were long stretches when he was doing it all. He wrote, penciled, inked and lettered in addition to answering the fans in the letters pages! Waid's run is good but I don't think even he can claim to come close to the level of commitment John Byrne made to the FF. It was one of his favorite titles of all time and a labor of love for him.

Of course, Waid's run is more in-style with today's way of producing comics and each issue will flow into the next. He's good, but I submit that Byrne's run it hasn't aged. If you can get into the pacing and dialogue of those older comics from the 80's then I recommend you go for Byrne, but if you prefer a more modern feel - read Waid's run. Either way, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

You could get both titles on Amazon for about $10 bucks (with shipping) here, then here.

Mr_Cosmic

Waid's run is a good place to start. He does a really great job with Doom.

Webhead

bralinator said:

Mr_Cosmic said:

Suggesting an omnibus is fine but I would recommend starting with a smaller volume.

I agree. Either the Perez or Byrne Visionaries are great and you can probably pick up volume 1 of Hickman's run for about $5

I love the Pérez run on the FF
Some of my favorite stories were drawn by him, you can't go wrong with the Pérez visionaries.

Hex

I will echo the accolades for Byrne's run. I have all the original issues, but I couldn't resist picking up the 1st omnibus when I saw it on sale for $25! Now I'll have a hard time waiting to to pick up Volume 2 until it gets relatively low in price.

My 8 year old daughter's favourite is Essentials FF Volume 2. I found Volume 1 was PAINFUL to slug through Stan's dialogue and exposition.

bralinator

Byrne and Perez are my two favorite runs, followed closely by Waid, Hickman, then Kirby & Lee

wrecking_crew

aside from the much aforementioned and excellent runs by Kirby/Lee, Hickman, Waid/Wieringo, and Byrne runs, I'd actually add Marvel Adventures FF, expecially the Fred Van Lente or Jeff Parker issues. Fun, fast, and devoid of any MU continuity... good stuff