The day many of us have been dreading is fast approaching. I've always loved FANTASTIC FOUR as it was one of the very first series I fully started collecting. We've seen many different creative teams come and go. Jonathan Hickman revitalized the series and took it to new levels. His final issues will be making their way to store shelves and to help him say goodbye, artist-extraordinaire, Ryan Stegman will be on hand to draw those final issues.

FANTASTIC FOUR #609 is on sale tomorrow, August 8, 2012 and is Stegman's first issue. It was a bummer when it was announced he was leaving SCARLET SPIDER but then great when immediately it was announced he was joining FANTASTIC FOUR. We'll apparently have to wait to find out what he has cooking after his F4 run.

We asked Ryan how he felt about drawing the Fantastic Four and he told us:

Drawing Fantastic Four is an honor almost beyond my comprehension. When you think that this was a series that Jack Kirby and Stan Lee started at number one and now I am drawing up to 611...It's mind boggling. Not to mention I get to close out Jonathan Hickman's legendary run!

If you've been following his Tumblr, you have an idea what he has in store for us. Check out his sketches and some preview images for tomorrow's issue.

It's great that Stegman will be on FANTASTIC FOUR but a bummer it's only for a few issues.

You know, for some reason, I like that Stegman fellow.

Do I See me a Doom ? SOLD!!!!!

Great art so far. Shamefully I only started reading Fantastic Four at issue 607 but I'll be interested to see how Hickman concludes his epic run.

@Lvenger: I highly recommend Hickmans entire run on the series.

I never much cared for the Fantastic Four, as the Fox movies were my first "real" experience ot them and frankly, those were pretty terrible. But after a friend got me to read Hickmans work, I loved it. Truly fantastic stuff. And I'm definitely looking forward to Stegmans art!

I wonder what stegman's doing after these fantastic four issues. I wish he would go back on Scarlet Spider.

Gorgeous. Id give him a chest bump if I could.

Hey can someone tell me if spiderman is still part of the team, i haven't picked up an issue since Johnny storms return?

i LIKE...I LIKE

Dang. All good things come to a end.

@Projector said:

@Lvenger: I highly recommend Hickmans entire run on the series.

I never much cared for the Fantastic Four, as the Fox movies were my first "real" experience ot them and frankly, those were pretty terrible. But after a friend got me to read Hickmans work, I loved it. Truly fantastic stuff. And I'm definitely looking forward to Stegmans art!

Well I was considering it and this comment has made up my mind. I'll check out some trades of it. Thanks again! And out of interest, will you be sticking with the Fantastic Four for Fraction's run? I most certainly will not. The guy's ruined Thor and written a terrible event. There's no way he's getting any of my money! Not that I'm saying Fraction is a bad writer, just that this kind of work doesn't suit him.

Perfect way to end the run than getting Stegman to draw. His art looks great

DOOOOOOOOOOM !!!!

Such a "fantastic" run, Synder and Hickman have been the best writer @ DC & Marvel for the last few years. Really looking forward to the end of the run.............. yet soooooooo sad :(

The art looks so cool!

Wow that art is Awesome :D

Really good art. But it seems to be that it is 'Welcome aboard, the books ending.' Sad.

I love this guy's style.

Stegman has become my new favourite artist. I really hope he comes back to Scarlet Spider after his run on FF. I can't stand his replacement, Khoi Pham.

That shot of Galactus/Cosmic Entity - is incredibly dramatic.

Mr.Hickman you had a great run on FF. I look forward to what you bring next.

This run has been very good, not often do we get this kind of long form storytelling in Marvel funny books. I have been raving about Hickman's run for a very long time.

Hickman and Stegman for these issues?! Where do I sign up to get?? :) Hickman's run on FF has been legendary and Stegman is just great. And is it me or is that Maestro in some of those black and white panels?

I may end up eating my words, but I don't see Fraction screwing this up. I think he has learned some things and will do just fine. Let's give him a chance to succeed. I really believe he will. If not, I will join the posse if we need to run him out of town.

Hickman's farewell would be EPIC!!!

@Lvenger: I don't think I will be sticking with it for Fractions run. I haven't really read much Fraction but one of the girls who works at my LCS absolutely hates him (something to do with what he did to Emma Frost for starters). So it's a combination of second hand hate and that I'm buying way too many series' right now and this is the perfect reason to stop getting Fantastic Four. I'll likely be getting either The Indestructible Hulk and/or the new Deadpool instead.

@Projector: Fair enough. I'm toying with the idea of getting either Iron Man, Thor: God of Thunder, Hulk or New Avengers once Marvel Now begins.

Great artwork - reminds me of Art Adams.

@Lvenger said:

@Projector said:

@Lvenger: I highly recommend Hickmans entire run on the series.

I never much cared for the Fantastic Four, as the Fox movies were my first "real" experience ot them and frankly, those were pretty terrible. But after a friend got me to read Hickmans work, I loved it. Truly fantastic stuff. And I'm definitely looking forward to Stegmans art!

Well I was considering it and this comment has made up my mind. I'll check out some trades of it. Thanks again! And out of interest, will you be sticking with the Fantastic Four for Fraction's run? I most certainly will not. The guy's ruined Thor and written a terrible event. There's no way he's getting any of my money! Not that I'm saying Fraction is a bad writer, just that this kind of work doesn't suit him.

If you're at it , you should check out SHIELD , and The Manhattan Projects as well . Hickman truly is a genius .

As far as Fraction goes , there are still 5 issues left before Hickman goes on to Avengers . I'll happily take what I can from him . I'll collect Fraction's titles , only from a (potential) battleboard discussions perspective , not for the horrendous stories that he's surely going to turn Hickman's divine titles into .

@Hyper_God said:

@Lvenger said:

@Projector said:

@Lvenger: I highly recommend Hickmans entire run on the series.

I never much cared for the Fantastic Four, as the Fox movies were my first "real" experience ot them and frankly, those were pretty terrible. But after a friend got me to read Hickmans work, I loved it. Truly fantastic stuff. And I'm definitely looking forward to Stegmans art!

Well I was considering it and this comment has made up my mind. I'll check out some trades of it. Thanks again! And out of interest, will you be sticking with the Fantastic Four for Fraction's run? I most certainly will not. The guy's ruined Thor and written a terrible event. There's no way he's getting any of my money! Not that I'm saying Fraction is a bad writer, just that this kind of work doesn't suit him.

If you're at it , you should check out SHIELD , and The Manhattan Projects as well . Hickman truly is a genius .

As far as Fraction goes , there are still 5 issues left before Hickman goes on to Avengers . I'll happily take what I can from him . I'll collect Fraction's titles , only from a (potential) battleboard discussions perspective , not for the horrendous stories that he's surely going to turn Hickman's divine titles into .

I've heard of both of those. More good work from Hickman as usual. I think I just might read these. It's a shame I didn't start reading Fantastic Four sooner if I'd only known how good Hickman was.

@Grey56 said:

That shot of Galactus/Cosmic Entity - is incredibly dramatic.

That's actually a dead Galactus from an alternate future .

@Hyper_God:Is it ? That's fascinating - and wonderfully creative.

@Grey56 said:

@Hyper_God:Is it ? That's fascinating - and wonderfully creative.

Its actually a resolution , a finishing touch , to the Nu-World plot , introduced many issues prior(probably even before Hickman started writing F4/FF) .