Fantastic Four Fanfare is the perfect celebration of the Fantastic Four in Marvel Comics, with the first issue being nostalgia-rich. The hype is strong with Fantastic Four Fanfare #2, with three tales by some of comics’ best creators, including Jonathan Hickman, Dustin Weaver, Mark Buckingham, and John Tyler Christopher. With two tales written and drawn by a single person, you know you’re in for a treat.
Kicking things off is “Dinner and a Movie” by Hickman and Weaver with colors by Marcio Menyz. Fans of ’80s and ’90s horror movies are going to love this story. It opens with the Fantastic Four cozying up for movie night, but it happens to be Friday the 13th. Only on that day can the FF enter universes that need help. This leads to them taking on Michael Myers, Jason, Freddie Krueger, and even Chucky. It’s a blend of sci-fi and horror that only the FF could pull off.
The designs of each monster by Weaver are just different enough not to get them in legal trouble, but similar enough to know who they are referencing. The montaging works great, and Weaver keeps you invested till the very last bone-curdling cliffhanger page. The Thing also looks great with his rocky skin and standing out among the group.
Time for a movie.
Credit: Marvel
Next up is “Future Uncertain” by John Tyler Christopher with Andrew McIntosh. This tale focuses on Reed obsessing over his forecast machine, which allows him to prevent problems, but for some reason, the next one isn’t appearing. With his wife and kids away, he locks himself in a room, staying awake for days without sleep. It’s a fascinating look at Reed’s obsessiveness, which can be downright dangerous, told through an engaging layout structure and simpler linework. As is often the case with most anthology short comic tales, it has a fun twist.
Closing out this anthology is “Hide and Seeker” by Mark Buckingham with colors by Dave Stewart. Truly honoring the Fantastic Four legacy, Buckingham ties this tale into Fantastic Four #144. Doctor Doom’s lowly assistants want to impress their master and seem to be close to taking out one of the Fantastic Four in the process, but due to bad luck and poor timing, their machine fails comically. Mixing Doctor Doom’s classic evil demeanor with their bumbling robot adds up to good comic timing and a story well worth your time.
Buckingham brings a classic look and feel that suits the story. You’ll get nostalgic vibes from the art alone, let alone how Doctor Doom acts.
Joe Caramagna, who consistently wows with Amazing Spider-Man every month, does all the lettering. It’s concise, consistent, and never in the way.
Fantastic Four Fanfare #2 delivers an impressive celebration of Marvel’s First Family. Each story feels like a creative playground, proving that Marvel’s First Family can still stretch across genres just as well as they stretch across dimensions. Whether you’re here for the nostalgic horror riffs, the emotional character beats, or the slapstick Doom subplot, there’s something for every kind of FF fan.
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