Hot Thing Summer: Fantastic Four First Steps magazine

One of my first comic book buying experiences was at my local Foodland, a grocery store which I think has been out of business for, like, 20 years at this point (I should have tried to get their spinner rack when it closed). I wanted to get one of those Spider-Man 30th anniversary hologram cover issues (the heart wants what it wants), and my mom balked at the cover price, which, I mean, was fair. But hey, Amazing Spider-Man #365 introduced Spider-Man 2099 to the world, so they provided some lasting cultural value.

Anyway, comics, and printed magazines in general, probably won't see a return to the newsstands and racks that I barely witnessed growing up, at least not in the way people get nostalgic for, but every once in a while you do see superhero comics show up in some unlikely-ish places. This summer, Marvel released a Fantastic Four: First Steps magazine, and I found it at the grocery store!

This issue came, in true comic book form, with two different covers. Both of the covers have previously published art, which is kind of disappointing, but at least they picked two good compositions. The cover on the left of the picture above has art by Phil Noto, and the one on the right is by Art Adams.

The interiors, similarly, barely have any original content, but I guess the potential audience for these is different than your regular comic book reader. I say this as someone who has no idea who picks up magazines from the checkout line.

The magazine mostly serves to reprint three separate, 21st century Fantastic Four issues, each of them the first chapters of storylines that are probably easily found in trade format.

I know that Alex Ross gets a king's ransom for his page rate, but Marvel publishes whatever he does over and over again, ad infinitum, so they get their mileage from it. Pages 1, 3, 4 and 5 are all Ross, from previously published works.

There are only a few short articles in this magazine, and they serve to tie the comics into the movie (hey, there's more Alex Ross art). I would have liked to see more pictures from and information about the movie, but I'm glad that there's a big focus on the comics throughout the publication.

Each comic issue has an introduction page that precedes it. Fantastic Four #60 might be the most published FF story since the '60s. This was sold as a 9-cent issue back in 2002.

The other two stories are from the Hickman/Eaglesham "Solve Everything" run, and the first issue of the 2022 series. All of the stories look really nice printed on glossy stock.

Around this same time, DC put out similarly sized and formatted collections for Superman and Batman, and I just saw a Teen Titans Go! issue out on my last trip to the store. It's great to see comics show up in places like these, beyond the standard Archie fare.

I wonder how many of these magazines were sold, not just because of reader interest, but because of the hefty price tag that accompanied them. These issues were $14.99 each! By comparison, some trade collections, with more material and a complete story, often run at around $9.99. So this was not what I'd consider an impulse buy. Since the DC issues are priced the same, this is apparently the cost of getting the rack space. I was supremely motivated to both find and buy these, but I was still taken back by the price, especially since there's almost no new content to be had. If you compare these to DC's 100-page Wal-Mart comics from five years ago, which had new lead stories and cost five bucks, these come up a little short.

The back cover was an ad for the movie, which was the natural choice.

I'm glad these exists, and was excited to see Fantastic Four comics outside of a comic shop! I definitely sorted through the entire stack to make sure I got the ones that were in the best shape. They're aimed at new readers, but I bet that collectors and existing comic fans were the ones to snatch these up.

Let's talk about that trailer

You know I'm talking about that newly-released Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer! AND NOW I MUST DISCUSS IT!

Years ago, Marvel surreptitiously de-emphasized their Fantastic Four and X-Men lines in a roundabout attempt to regain the film rights to their wayward franchises. They stopped publishing Fantastic Four altogether for years, even though the Thing, the Human Torch and Dr. Doom showed up in titles like Uncanny Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel 2-in-1 and Infamous Iron Man. I knew the point of this embargo, but I still thought at the time that no single movie would be worth doing without the comics for so long. So, after seeing Marvel and Disney's new teaser trailer for this July's Fantastic Four movie, have I changed my mind?

NO! NEVER!

I'll never forgive them for it. That being said...boy, am I excited for this movie. I loved the trailer and I can't wait to see the whole thing later this year. It seems that the folks behind this movie finally learned the lessons about what didn't work with each of the previous versions.

There were a few things that stood out to me, and hey, this is my blog, so let's talk about them here.

I'm starting off with the Thing. You all knew this! Let's start by saying that I like it. It's a comic-accurate Thing with a thick brow and I can't wait to see him run through a wall. I know that sometimes studios will release a trailer before the visual effects are completely finished, so I wonder if this is the absolute final version of Ben Grimm for this film. If it is, it's pretty good, even if it's slightly more cartoony than I had expected.

I want to see this guy in blue trunks. I like the uniforms and I understand that the consistency among the four main characters is visually important. But give me this guy in the trunks. At some point. Do it.

I did think that the Thing's voice would be lowered a bit, but maybe Marvel wanted to do something more to distinguish this Ebon Moss-Bachrach version from the Michael Chiklis version.

H.E.R.B.I.E. looks...good? I don't know that they had to R2D2 the little guy's voice, and it's one of those tropes where people in the film can understand what he's saying while the audience doesn't. But we all know that the FF has translators sewn into their suits, so there's an in-universe explanation for it! Please send me my No-Prize.

Did they finally get the visual for Sue's powers right? You bet your buns they did. So glad to see (or not see) it!

TRENCHCOAT THING. Trenchcoat Thing!! This is a requirement for the movie to be good. I'm glad to see that they got my letters.

How much of an effect did Alex Ross's work, and the Marvels series in general, have on the look of the movie, including Johnny's powered-up form? Ross paints in that photo-realistic style, so maybe it's a coincidence. But the Torch here made me think of Ross's art more than anything else in the trailer.

There were several things in this trailer that made my heart beat faster, and this is one of them. These are versions of the Ben Cooper Thing Halloween costume. They're pretty much exact copies. I absolutely love this, and I really, really hope that some company makes and sells new versions of these again this year. Also make them in adult sizes and I will wear one. If they make them before July 25th, I'll buy one and wear it on opening night.

The Fantasticar should be a flying bathtub, but I will also accept this four-wheeled version. Maybe it flies? Splits up into four individual components? I'm excited to see it in action.

John Malcovich's appearance was the most out-of-place part of the trailer, but I guess if John Malcovich is in your movie, you should put him in the trailer. Maybe he'll be the Mole Man, hiding away on Monster Island? He kind of looks like one of the Council of Reeds here. I know that parts of the Hickman/Eaglesham "Solve Everything" storyline were adapted in the film. Who can say?

Others have said it, but it bears repeating: I'm glad they decided to use an apparently comic-accurate Galactus in this movie.

I'm buying the soundtrack the day it comes out. I assume you all figured as much. I was very happy when the choir's "Fantastic Four!" line was part of the theme music that played in the background. Thank goodness that the powers that be decided that it was time to lean into what makes the comic and the concept so wonderful. So Galactus looks like he has a bucket on his head. Who cares? So the team wears matching blue jumpsuits. Perfect! So the Thing and H.E.R.B.I.E. make dinner. Give me more of this!

It looks like they're going to make it fun, bright, and optimistic. Sign me up.

I'm hoping that there'll be a Super Bowl commercial for the movie - maybe even something different from this teaser. I'm also hoping to start seeing toys in stores before too long. Let's get some new Thing fists! It's been a long, long time coming for this movie. I'm going to enjoy it.

Original art from the wedding of the Thing and Alicia!

In December, 2018, in the pages of Fantastic Four #5, Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters finally got married! When I read the issue, I said to myself, "if the artist ever sells pages from this issue, I need to get one." Well, Aaron Kuder, the book's regular artist, put a bunch of pages from this issue on sale recently and I jumped at the chance to get one. Let's take a look!

This is page 58 of the oversized issue, and this particular page happens immediately after Ben and Alicia share their "you may now kiss the bride" moment. Kuder both pencilled and inked the page, so I didn't have to choose between one and the other.

Ben and Alicia have been destined for each other since Fantastic Four #9 (1962), so it's great to see them finally tie the knot, more than 50 years later. One of the covers for the issue (by Alex Ross, pictured below) was an homage to FF Annual #3, which featured the wedding of Reed and Sue.

The Thing appears in every panel of this page, from the top sequence where he's breaking the glass:

At the bottom half of the page, we can see quite a few other supporting characters, including Reed, Sue and Johnny, Alicia, Franklin, Valeria, Aunt Petunia and more!

I kinda never thought I'd be able to buy artwork from such an important issue in the life of the Thing, but the page I bought was surprisingly affordable and I managed to grab it before someone else came along. This is a great page and I'm so happy to have it!

Lastly, here's the page as it was in print:

And they lived happily ever after. It's clobberin' time.

Pictures from the 2014 Comic-Con International, part 6: We'll Never Stop (Matt Groening, Godzilla, Venture Bros. and more!)

You thought that I was done showing pictures from Comic-Con?  NEVER!  Who knows...maybe these will wrap right around until Comic-Con 2015 shows up.  It'd be like a party that never ends.  Let's see some pictures!

This was the result of the furious last-minute work that I witnessed on the day before the convention started.  Why Godzilla came back to Comic-Con, as the movie was already released months in advance of the show, is beyond me.  But it provided something for the back lawn of the convention center, which had in previous years been mostly...lawn.  I look to see more and more take up space in this area in years to come.

I spotted this at the Alex Ross booth while walking the floor in the morning.  It was tempting to buy some Fantastic Four art at the show, and though this is most likely the only original Ross art that I'll ever be able to afford, $500 seemed a bit much for these sketches.  I might regret not ponying up for this one day.

I didn't go to too many panels at Comic-Con this year, but I was glad that I was able to sit in on the Venture Bros. panel at an adjacent hotel.  I waited in line in the hot sun (it was warmer than usual this year) and got a nice burn on the top of my head (...), but it was a fun panel, as always.  On the double screen is co-creator and Tick alumni Jackson Public!

Friday was a big costume day.  I mean, they're all big costume days, but I saw more on Friday than on previous days.  Here's an in-character Judge Dredd!

I assume this fellow is wearing stilts.  A very impressive costume on a very hot day.  Also, hi, Sailor Moon.

After the convention, it was time to stop at the should-be-world-famous Taco Truck.  I was thrilled to see it back this year, and it did not disappoint.  Delicious.

After eating my chicken burrito, I made my way over to the New England Comics booth.  On the way there, I passed by Simpsons and Futurama creator Matt Groening (!), who was just browsing, probably happy that no one was bothering him at the moment.  I, of course, ruined that peace and solitude, but Groening was very friendly and gracious.  I gave him a copy of The Naked Man at the Edge of Time, which I luckily happened to be carrying with me, and got this nice picture.  I made sure that I blabbed a bit about Futurama, which I'm convinced will return with new episodes before long.

This gentleman was trying his hardest to make it to the bathroom, but he kept being stopped by passers by for pictures.  It's hard to blame them when a Ninja Turtle walks by.  This picture was taken, no lie, right after he knocked a little kid over.  It was something.

This guy obviously made a good Silver Surfer.  Here he is with the Invisible Woman - don't see enough good Fantastic Four costumes at these shows - and the Sandman.

We had a small (but enthusiastic!) FUBAR signing at Jenny Wood's "Flutter" booth on Friday afternoon.  We had posters made up for it and everything!  It was very exciting.  Here's Jennie signing a poster as fellow FUBAR contributor (and "Punky Brewster" artist) Lesley Vamos looks on!

Group shot!

James Urbaniak, voice of Dr. Venture on The Venture Bros. cartoon, walked by the booth and I immediately chased him down.

I was having a string of luck as soon after I saw Bruce Timm, a fantastic artist and one of the driving forces behind the 1990s Batman: The Animated Series.

Then it was back to the Tick booth, where Ben Edlund signed books and sketched for fans.  It's pretty awesome that Ben still hangs out at this booth (and recognizes my existence) after all he's accomplished as a writer and producer.

I'm pretty sure that this guy dressed up as the Sub Mariner in 2013.  Here he is as the Weapon X Wolverine.  The pouches on his waist were apparently functional, as he answered a phone call soon after.

I'll never get tired of seeing Chairface Chippendale costumes.  This was a very good one.  The lycra headpiece really sells it.  Top notch.

I'll leave you with this nightmare imagery as this closed down Friday at the convention for me.  I'll save some pictures from the evening for next time.  There'll always be a next time, folks.

Pictures from the 2012 Pittsburgh Comicon, part 1

The 2012 Pittsburgh Comicon has come and gone, and now all that's left are the tales to tell and the pictures to show.  It was a fun time and I appreciate all of you who came out and stopped for a little bit at the Wagon Wheel Comics booth.  Conventions, especially smaller ones such as the Pittsburgh show, can get lonely in the small press section, so it was great to see everyone who said hello, bought a comic, or just stared, frightened and confused, as they walked on by.

Let's get to the picture showing, already!  At the top is the first of two attendees I saw dressed up as X-23, Wolverine's girl clone, and both were very well done.  The addition of the "foot claw" was nice.

The Batmobile (referred to as the "Gotham Supercar") from the 1960s tv show was on hand and it was looking spiffy.  For ten bucks you could get your picture taken inside the car.  For no bucks you could take pictures with your iPhone real quick and hope no one noticed.

You don't see too many Dr. Doom costumes at conventions, and you see even fewer ones that are well done.  This certainly counts as a good Doom costume.  I asked the man inside about his armor - he said that he made much of it himself.  Pretty impressive!  Oh, and later on, I found out that I went to college with the girl in the background in the purple pullover.

The cape was a little stiff, but otherwise, this was a fantastic costume.  Whoever was underneath had the right build for Batwoman and she did a great job at making the suit.  I'll never understand why the character from the comics is so pale - is she an albino?  Does she paint herself?  Regardless, the face paint was a nice touch and it really added to what was an incredible costume.

Speaking of body paint, here's an Orion Starfleet cadet straight from the new Star Trek movie.  In the original series (and furthered by Enterprise), Orion women were portrayed as slaves (with an interesting twist) who danced provocatively.  I wonder what the story is with Uhura's roommate.

Pirate Deadpool!  With sneakers.

This guy even has a general Robert Downy, Jr. look to him.  He apparently showed up too late for the costume contest on Sunday, which is a shame (I guess), because he almost certainly would have taken home a prize.  Costumes in general were top notch over the weekend.  A small show like Pittsburgh's doesn't usually draw this many meticulously detailed costumes, from what I've seen in the past, but the attendees really outdid themselves this year.

It took me a while to get the meaning behind this guy's shirt, but once I did...YES!  Bravo.  Apparently, a lot of people were coming up with Dark Crystal comparisons, but those are incorrect!

The pot always makes or breaks this classic Red Tornado costume.  This one is pretty good.  Also, the girl in the back (with the pink hair) worked on an animated music video for "Weird Al" Yankovic, forever cementing her in the category of "people I admire until I die and even then probably longer".

Jeff McComsey and Stephen Lindsay were at the show hawking FUBAR and 215 Ink products (and a few other things).  This picture proves that yes, they did actually sell stuff, unless Jeff here was just making change for a passerby.  These guys got a corner booth near the entrance and had a nice display going on.  After the show on Saturday, we had dinner and talked FUBAR and comics in general.  It was a great time out.

I'll stop with this picture, because it'll be difficult for others to live up to what's happening here.  The guy on the left is sporting a really well done, Alex Ross-inspired Batman suit.  On the right we have Larry, dressed up (for the second time, even!) as Macho Man Randy Savage.  Check out the belt!  It's great quality and is really heavy.

There are more pictures to show, so stick around for the next few days (if not, you know, longer) to see more great costumes and other images and stories from the 2012 Pittsburgh Comicon.