Fantastic Four Fanfare #1 featured image
Reviews

Fantastic Four Fanfare #1 Review

  • Written by: Mark Waid, Alan Davis, Andrew Wheeler
  • Art by: Ramon Rosanas, Alan Davis, Sara Pichelli
  • Colors by: Neeraj Menon, Matt Hollingsworth, Federico Blee
  • Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
  • Cover art by: Matteo Scalera (cover A)
  • Cover price: $5.99
  • Release date: May 7, 2025

Fantastic Four Fanfare #1, by Marvel on 5/7/25, presents three short stories of Fantastic adventure when Ben gets a tough court sentence, the FF finds an ancient alien craft, and Johnny tries his hand at reality shows.

Is Fantastic Four Fanfare #1 Good?

Plot Synopsis

You Realize, Of Course, This Means War (Waid, Rosanas)

Ben Grimm stands before a judge to account for his latest act of public destruction after he destroyed a subway kiosk while on his way to the dry cleaners. After so many visits, the judge has had enough and issues a new punishment – Ben Grimm is not allowed to lose his temper publicly or privately. Ben and Sue Storm take the judgment in stride, but Johnny perceives this ruling as the greatest invitation of his life. An invitation to unleash Prank-egeddon.

Love him or hate him, Mark Waid knows how to present a superhero comic with personality, wit, and charm. Waid runs circles around the ongoing title with a quick short story that gives new readers a perfect snapshot of the relationship between Ben and Johnny. Plus, Ramon Rosanas greatly improves the team by getting rid of Johnny’s stupid mustache.

Life’s A Gas (Davis)

Reed Richards leads the team into an underground cavern when one of his energy detection devices picks up something unusual buried deep in the Earth. Johnny can’t scout ahead in the caverns due to the high methane presence, so the team travels on foot to find an ancient alien craft half-buried in the magma. When Reed’s device gets too close to the ship, it sets off a series of automated systems, such as wild tentacles and a small army of robots, to get the device. The team’s only chance of escape rests with Johnny to make an explosively risky move.

Alan Davis is a legend in the industry, so it’s no surprise his script and art are classic in every sense of the word. The FF’s adventure in the bowels of the Earth is a classic setup that leads to classic threats and a thrilling resolution. Even Davis’s art stirs nostalgic feelings for a simpler, wholesome time with the Fantastic Four.

Monster Island Of Love (Wheeler, Pichelli)

Johnny Storm is looking for love in all the wrong places when he agrees to appear on a reality show called Isle of Love. With each date, Johnny can’t seem to break a string of bad luck when strange things happen to sabotage the romance. Johnny eventually figures out the Mole Man is responsible for the sabotage because Johnny’s vapid behavior disrespects his family and insults his enemies. However, Johnny has a chance to set things right when a giant insect attacks the Isle of Love.

Andrew Wheeler’s topical adventure is weirdly cute. The Mole Man’s motives are not well-formed, but the execution of the plot is well-done and amusing. This short has a lot of meat to the story, so it feels like the biggest one of the bunch. Plus, Sara Pichelli’s art is a good fit for the satirical atmosphere.

First Impressions

Fantastic Four Fanfare #1 lives up to its title by presenting an anthology filled with classic adventure and light-hearted fun. It’s ironic that a one-off issue understands the Fantastic Four better and is more entertaining than the current Fantastic Four ongoing series.

What’s great about Fantastic Four Fanfare #1?

By all accounts, this anthology was written by Fantastic Four fans by Fantastic Four fans. Waid, Davis, and Wheeler present the first superhero family in a series of short stories that spotlight their connections, their “out there” adventures, and the fun.

What’s not great about Fantastic Four Fanfare #1?

There’s not much to criticize that’s significant or a major bummer in this issue. Some readers may find Davis’s tale too old-fashioned or Wheeler’s tale too topical, but it all comes down to a matter of taste. But for a few nitpicks, this was a great comic.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Fantastic Four Fanfare #1 is an absolute treat for Fantastic Four fans, filled with classic tales, modern settings, and oodles of fun. Waid, Davis, and Wheeler nail the surreal fun of the situations the family finds itself in, and there isn’t a weak short story in the bunch.

9/10

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