I Truly Believe The Fantastic Four Is the One Great Thing In Marvel Right Now

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Marvel is facing some challenges lately. While the Ultimate Universe had been a highlight for many fans, its cancellation has disappointed a lot of people. There are some strong titles currently, like Zdarsky’s Captain America and Al Ewing’s Immortal Thor and Mortal Thor, but overall, many of Marvel’s comics feel stagnant. However, one area is consistently thriving: the Fantastic Four. This team, often called the First Family of the Marvel Universe, has been a bright spot since 2022, despite not being particularly popular for years.

As a huge Marvel fan, I have to say Ryan North taking over Fantastic Four in 2022 was a stroke of genius! It’s easily become Marvel’s best team book right now – though I’ll always have a soft spot for Gail Simone’s Uncanny X-Men, things haven’t been great for the X-Men lately. What I really love is how the Fantastic Four have quietly become the backbone of the entire Marvel Universe, and they’re even leading the charge in the latest big event, One World Under Doom. Honestly, the success of this book is exactly what Marvel needs, and I think the whole company could really benefit from paying attention to what’s working so well with the Fantastic Four.

The Fantastic Four Have Become Marvel’s Best Team Again

Back when DC Comics launched the Justice League, superhero comics were becoming popular again. Seeing this, Martin Goodman, who ran Marvel, decided it was time to bring superheroes back after focusing on other genres like monster stories, science fiction, Westerns, and romance. He tasked Stan Lee and Jack Kirby with the job. They drew inspiration from a DC team called the Challengers of the Unknown—which Kirby had also helped create—and used those ideas to develop the Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four quickly became successful and paved the way for Marvel’s future triumphs.

While the Fantastic Four hasn’t always reached the heights of its early, classic years, it remains a truly beloved team. Its members – Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Thing, and the Human Torch – are iconic characters who work incredibly well together as a family. When the writing is strong, that family dynamic always shines through. Plus, with compelling supporting characters like Alicia Grimm, Franklin and Valeria Richards, and the unforgettable Doctor Doom, their stories offer everything a comic book fan could ask for.

Ryan North’s run on Fantastic Four is exceptional, perfectly blending science fiction, family relationships, and superhero action. It’s difficult to remember a time when the team was written so well – Jonathan Hickman came close – because he truly understands how to combine grand sci-fi concepts with the characters’ personal lives. His work, like the subplot of the Human Torch falling for an alien, is a great example of this. North makes the Fantastic Four consistently engaging – something many writers find challenging – and breathes fresh life into familiar themes and ideas.

Marvel is facing some challenges, largely because many of its iconic characters and teams feel off course. The Avengers aren’t functioning well, Spider-Man has been reduced to a simplistic version of his former self, the X-Men are stuck in a perpetually grim storyline, and the Hulk’s complexity has been replaced with endless displays of power. In trying to safeguard these characters, Marvel seems to have lost sight of what made them special. While maintaining consistency is important, Marvel isn’t doing it effectively. However, the current Fantastic Four run feels like a refreshing return to classic storytelling while still innovating, and that’s exactly what the rest of Marvel needs.

Marvel Needs to Bring the Fantastic Four Feel to the Rest of Their Line

The Fantastic Four hasn’t always been consistent, but it’s easy to overlook how essential they are to the entire Marvel Universe. Writer Ryan North has really captured what makes the team special, and it’s working wonderfully. He understands the heart of the Fantastic Four without simply copying the styles of past creators like Lee/Kirby, Byrne, or Hickman. He’s created a fresh, unique take on the team, and it feels just right.

Marvel often says they keep characters and teams unchanged to make them accessible to new readers. But that’s not really happening with most of them. The current run of Fantastic Four is different – it feels like a fresh take on the team without repeating old storylines. They’re tackling familiar villains like Doctor Doom and Galactus, but in unexpected ways. This is exactly what the book, and Marvel as a whole, should be doing: building on the past instead of being stuck in it, and forging a new path forward.

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2025-11-01 19:12