Showing posts with label Fantastic Four. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fantastic Four. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

How Reed and Sue spent Valentine's Day

Today, we present a very special pictorial about how Reed and Sue Richards (of the Fantastic Four) spent Valentine's Day. 

The day began with a message from their sworn enemy (and Reed's old college roommate) Dr. Doom in which he stated, "Doom shall not threaten you on this day, because I respect the love and dedication you have shown each other through the years. Tomorrow is soon enough for my revenge."

Portrait of Doctor Doom by Bob Layton


And then it was off for a day of fun and romance, without the chaos that seemed to follow their teammates Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm around. (Johnny and Ben watched the kids while Reed and Sue relaxed.)

Reed and Sue Richards by Steve Rude






















But it was the night that was truly eventful... and Sue may be announcing another period of maternity leave from the FF in a few months.

Sue getting frisky with Reed by Neal Adams

 




Friday, August 26, 2022

It's a Fantastic Friday with She-Hulk

She-Hulk and the Fantastic Four

During John Byrne's excellent run on "Fantastic Four" during the 1980s and 1990s, She-Hulk joined the team (covering first for the Invisible Woman's leave of absence, than the Thing's). Today, we bring you few illustrations in memory of those days (and in celebration of the new show on Disney Plus, "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law").

She-Hulk in Fantastic Four uniform
She-Hulk in Fantastic Four uniform
Jennifer Walters and Wyatt Wingfoot
She-Hulk and the Fantastic Four

 

 

Friday, July 22, 2022

Friday, June 17, 2022

Fantastic Friday

On Thursday, June 16, 2022, artist Tim Sale (perhaps best known for his work on "The Long Halloween" and "Dark Victory" from DC Comics) passed away after being briefly hospitalized. We're dedicating this Fantastic Friday to the memory of Mr. Sale by presenting a trio of portraits that arose from direct commissions from Dr. Victor Von Doom, King of Latveria.

Doctor Doom by Tim Sale
Doctor Doom by Tim Sale

Outside Castle Doom by Tim Sale

Friday, May 20, 2022

It's a Fantastic Friday...

... and we dedicate it to honoring the work of George Perez, one of the most fabulous artists to ever draw portraits of the First Family of Comics!
 
Fantastic Four by George Perez

Fantastic Four and Friends by George Perez
Can you name the FF's friends behind them in this picture?
Fantastic Four by George Perez
Can you name the FF's foes and frenemies behind them?

Friday, April 1, 2022

It's 4/1 and a Fantastic Friday

 Here's a little off-color fun featuring the First Family of the Marvel Comics Universe, courtesy of Frank Cho.



Friday, February 11, 2022

Fantastic Friday!

Fantastic Four group headshot by Jack Kirby

"The Fantastic Four" first appeared in 1961, in a comics magazine published by Marvel Comics. Created and co-plotted by Jack Kirby (artist) and Stan Lee (writer), their early appearances were reminiscent of DC Comics' sci-fi/adventure title "The Challengers of the Unknown" (which Kirby illustrated, and possibly co-plotted, for a while before creating this group). The Fantastic Four, however, quickly evolved into something wholly unique, with Kirby and Lee spinning tales featuring equal amounts of cosmic mysteries, superhero action, and down-to-earth--if tending toward the soap-operatic and melodramatic--family dynamic between the characters and their growing supporting cast.

A Fantastic Four family portrait by Steve Rude


Lee and Kirby wrote and drew the "Fantastic Four" for roughly 110 monthly and annual issues. These issues, and the 200 or so that followed, still remain my favorite Marvel Comics... and the Fantastic Four (as they existed in the stories told by Kirby & Lee, followed by Marv Wolfman, Doug Moench, and a variety of a artists, and, ultimately, John Byrne) was a cornerstone of the entire Marvel Universe.

The Fantastic Four in action, by John Byrne

The Fantastic Four began to drift as a property as of issue #301 and by the mid-1990s, they had fallen from their position as Marvel's First Family. Over the past 30 years, there has been numerous reboots and re-inventions of the Fantastic Four, in addition to several cancellations and revivals of their title... but none of the creators that have brought us those tales have been able to recapture the Golden Age of the first 25-30 years of the characters. (As a big fan of Sue, Reed, Johnny, Ben, and all their family and friends, I have kept hoping someone might... but so far, I've only been disappointed.)

The Fantastic Four in action, by Paul Smith

This post series presents drawings that celebrate the glory years of the Fantastic Four! This year, I hope to make at least one each quarter.

The Fantastic Four by Pat Lee


Friday, May 28, 2021

Friday, March 19, 2021

Fantastic Friday

There will never be another comic book family and their foes who will replace the Fantastic Four as my favorites. It's been awhile since I've posted an artistic tribute to them, but I fix that with a couple fantastic Fantastic Four drawings from Claudio Castellini!

Fantastic Four Foes by Claudio Castellini

The Fantastic Four by Claudio Castellini

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Wonder Woman Wednesday

Wonder Woman is spending this Picture Perfect Wednesday with friends and frienemies.

By Jose Luis Garcia Lopez
By George Perez
By John Byrne
By Ben Dunn




Friday, August 3, 2018

Fantastic Friday!

Next week, the new "Fantastic Four" #1 arrives in comics shops. I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am! As I have on the past few Fridays, here's are some glances back at the Fantastic Four that has been...

By John Byrne


By Art Adams

By Dean Kotz

By George Perez
By Art Adams
By Brian Ching

And, finally, a brief look at the Fantastic Four, brought to us by the first artist of their new series, Sara Pichelli.

By Sara Pichelli

Friday, July 27, 2018

Fantastic Friday!

The first Fantastic Four incarnation I encountered was that drawn by the team of John Buscema (pencils) and Joe Sinnott (inks). Sinnott is perhaps the artist whose work has graced more pages than anyone one else since he inked the the title steadily from 1965 through 1981. In addition to being teamed with Buscema, Sinnott inked Jack Kirby, George Perez, John Romita, Rich Buckler and more.

While, as a whole, the John Byrne era of the Fantastic Four is my favorite, visually it's the John Buscema/ Joe Sinnott team that will always be the definitive Fantastic Four for me, because they are the art team that brought their adventures to life when I first fell in love with Reed, Sue. Ben, and Johnny.

There's a new chapter in the long history of the First Family of Comics starting next month. August 2018. Will it come close to matching my favorite periods in FF history? I hope so. Meanwhile, here's a look back with portraits of the Fantastic Four by the four fantastic artists who made them look their best.

By Joe Sinnott
By John Buscema
By John Byrne


By Jack Kirby (who started it all)