To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the debut of Marvel Comics' first family, the Fantastic Four, the "House of Ideas" will be releasing a remastered collector's edition of the issue that started it all.
Before the arrival of the Avengers and X-Men, writer Stan Lee and expert artist Jack Kirby upended the comic book medium with the introduction of superheroic imaginauts Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm to the mass populace. Unlike superheroes of the past, the Fantastic Four were not depicted as conventional heroes but a dysfunctional family of explorers hanging on by a thread. Fantastic Four #1's November 1961 publication would herald the start of the modern age of Marvel superheroes, which quickly followed suit with now-iconic heroes Ant-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, and Thor. This fall, Lee and Kirby's initial journey with the four on the page will be recounted in a newly collected remaster of the team's very first adventure.
Set for a November release, Abram Books' 260-page reimagining of the first Fantastic Four issue, Fantastic Four No. 1 Panel by Panel, will not only act as a fresh remaster to the titular team's debut but an introspective gateway into the arrangement of the issue. The original pages remain completely intact, from the team's fateful journey into outer space to their climactic first battle with the villain Mole Man on Monster Isle. However, Panel by Panel will include a series of excerpts from several Marvel creators and executives, in addition to the issue itself. The new release will act as a stylish homage to long-time fans of the original series by Kirby and Lee.
Fantastic Four No.1 Panel by Panel features an array of talented creatives working on the book. At the head of the book's distinct design work is Eisner Award winner Chip Kidd (Batman The Dark Knight Strikes Again), an established writer and editor known for his comic book covers and artwork, who will be presenting this volume through an authenticated copy of issue #1. The issue's pages will be photographed for the book by TIME and Newsweek photographer Geoff Spear, who has attained enough photo credits to rival even Peter Parker. As if that was all Panel by Panel had to offer, there will be an introduction from author Walter Mosley (Devil in a Blue Dress) along with in-depth commentaries from Jack Kirby's former production assistant Mark Evanier (Kirby: King of Comics), and Marvel's own current editor Tom Brevoort.
Marvel Comics may have tried to distance themselves from their own "First Family" prior to the landmark Disney/21st Century Fox deal but the company has been making up for its mistake in spades in the last few years. The team's comic has returned, action figure lines are being continued, and even another big-budget feature film is on the way in the next few years. Though the Fantastic Four's MCU debut will not be released in time for the anniversary of their comic debut, it's welcome to know that Marvel is honoring the team with a collected edition worthy of their honorary status. Fantastic Four No. 1 Panel by Panel will be released on November 16, 2021, with pre-orders available now.
Source: Marvel. com