FF #1

 I have not been keeping up with Marvel's First Family until recently and was saddened by the hype, uhm, I mean news about the death of Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.   The way it ended with him sacrificing himself before hordes of beings bent on overrunning the Earth was cool, but why didn't he just "nova" and wipe them out?   I am hopeful that this is a temporary comic book death.   Even so, the Torch has been around since 1961 and a Golden Age version years before that, so this is indeed the first.

This first issue is a great stepping-off point and re-introduction to the remaining cast: Sue and Reed Richards, their kids and Spider-man who gets a new uniform from the FF with the ability to change through its "unstable molecules" at the speed of thought.   Nope, it's not another Venom.   At least I hope not!

The explanation of why they could not go on as the Fantastic Four is poignant and Johnny Storm's last will and testament (in video holo form) is touching.   Steve Epting's script is really tight with decent action scenes, as well as conveying a mood that is not too maudlin and injects a bit of humor here and there.

"FF" is no longer "Fantastic Four" but is now the "Future Foundation."   With a change of uniform to these funky three hexagons and colored black & white ("it's a black & white world") it will be interesting to see how they figure all this out with new stories and art.

The art is pretty good and there's enough humor injected to make it decent entertainment.   The Wizard makes a comeback as a faction of A.I.M breaks him out – and Spidey at his first day on the job!  

Recommended.   From this issue you will decide whether you will continue with the series or not as well as being impressed by the surprise villain at the end of the story.  

Credits!

Publisher: Marvel

Writer: