Okay, this might sound like something your dad would say, but yeah, Fantastic Four comics are officially coming back to newsstands. Marvel just announced a brand-new “bookazine” featuring the Fantastic Four, and it’s going to be available not just in comic shops, but at regular magazine spots too. Think grocery stores, gas stations, and anywhere you’d usually find magazines like National Geographic or People.
This is all part of Marvel’s throwback approach with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a story that takes place in the 1960s. They’re really going for that vintage vibe, and now they’re giving fans a taste of how comics used to be sold back in the day.
If you’re wondering what’s inside this Fantastic Four bookazine, it’s actually pretty loaded. It reprints three major issues from different eras of the team’s history:
Fantastic Four #60 from 2002, titled “Inside Out,” written by Mark Waid and drawn by Mike Wieringo
Fantastic Four #570 from 2009, “Solve Everything,” written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by Dale Eaglesham
Fantastic Four #1 from 2022, “The Last Town to the Left,” written by Ryan North and drawn by Iban Coello
That’s not all. The bookazine also includes a visual retelling of the Fantastic Four’s origin by the legendary Alex Ross, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks at the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, and interviews with Marvel Studios Executive Producer Grant Curtis and Creative Director of Visual Development Ryan Meinerding.
There are even two special covers to choose from. One by Phil Noto and the other by Arthur Adams and Christina Strain. Both look amazing and collectible for fans of any age.
The release date is pretty soon too. It hits newsstands on Friday, July 4. That’s a bit unusual since comics normally release on Wednesdays, but Marvel is clearly making this a special event. Plus, the new Fantastic Four: First Steps movie arrives in theaters on July 25, so this is a great way to get in the zone before the film drops.
If you’ve never had the experience of buying a comic next to gossip mags and crossword books, now’s your chance. Whether you’re a longtime Marvel fan or just getting into the Fantastic Four, this is something worth checking out.
