Fantastic Four: Full Circle: A Graphic Novel (Marvel Arts)

I think it's safe to say that if you purchased "Fantastic Four: Full Circle", you're an admirer of Alex Ross art. With this handsome book you also get Alex Ross the writer. I won't attempt to add to the volume of superlatives attached to Ross work. They're all deserved. What impresses here is his departure from his usual stylistic approach. The art has an organic and more spontaneous feeling while maintaining the solid construction Ross is known for. The results are superb and beautiful to behold. The story is essentially a science fiction tale starring the Fantastic Four and it works well here. I think that using Gary Conway as the template for Reed Richards yields the best depiction of the character I've ever seen. I certainly hope we see more of Alex Ross Fantastic Four stories in this format.

This new work by the legendary Alex Ross delivered on it's promise in every way possible. The art work is really exceptional given his signature realistic style but he also mixes it up with something new (old) - the original look of the 60's FF issues drawn by Jack Kirby. There are some beautiful full page panels that are jaw dropping mixed in with some modern Kirby-like drawings with the 60's technicolor look and feel. Everything is very vibrant and trippy as they head into another dimension. I thought I read that this is Ross's first work in which he is the writer as well as the artist and I have to say that the story is pretty good. I like that it is paying tribute to the legendary run of Stan Lee and Kirby when the comic first came out, but also the book asks some larger questions that you hold onto and think about over and over even after putting it down. I highly recommend this for fans of Alex Ross, the characters, and old school Sci-fi.

This is a beautiful blending of 2 of my favorites. Alex Ross artist extraordinaire and the Fantastic Four. I grew up a huge Fantastic Four fan. Those early FF comics were among some of the best stories coming out of Marvel. I'm 56 now so I got to enjoy many of Kirby's first run stories and artwork. This labor of love is clearly a love letter to the immortal Jack "the King" Kirby. Every page is vibrant, detailed, in true Alex Ross fashion. It's also full of that classic FF wit and charm. Even a few in jokes between Johnny and Ben, or some tension between Ben and Reed and that good ol' classic heart-to-heart adoration between Reed and Sue. The negative zone stories were always the best among the awesome tales that the FF had to present. We even get to see a classic fan favorite villain in Annihilus. There is so much truly going on in this book and for 64 pages (you can finish it in one sitting) and a great price, you get an exceptional 2-for-1 deal. Alex Ross' dynamic artwork and visual style and another great story involving Marvel's first family. A true gem.

Pros: great art, with a different inked style by Ross, although there is some painting in flashbacks. He also gives us the definitive FF personalities we haven’t seen since Stan Lee’s dialog over 50 years ago. Some very nice visual homages to Kirby as well. Nice call back to an earlier story, and the coloring was both vibrant and deserving of a reissue for a black light version. We also get perhaps the clearest and most comprehensive look we’ve ever gotten of the Negative Zone. Ross also upgrades the foursome’s costumes, with built in capabilities for the NZ, all very spot on and smart ideas worthy of Reed. Cons: the story starts out interesting, but there’s never any really conflict, or a satisfying climax. Could really have used some “Clobberin’ Time!”

Fantastic Four: Full Circle is a stunning achievement in comic book storytelling and easily one of the most beautiful books in my collection. Why this book stands out: • A Love Letter to Jack Kirby: Alex Ross moves away from his signature photorealistic style to embrace a psychedelic, pop-art aesthetic. It feels like a modern, high-definition tribute to the original 1960s "King" Kirby era. • Incredible Color Palette: The colors in this book are unlike anything else on the market. The use of vibrant neons and high-contrast shading makes the Negative Zone feel truly alien and immersive. • Premium Production: As a "Marvel Arts" release (a collaboration with Abrams ComicArts), the oversized format and high-quality paper make every page feel like a piece of fine art. • Classic FF Vibe: The story captures the perfect balance of scientific wonder and family dynamics that makes the Fantastic Four great. It’s a self-contained mystery that is accessible to new readers but deeply rewarding for long-time fans. Final Verdict: Whether you are a fan of the "First Family" or just an admirer of world-class illustration, this is a mandatory addition to your shelf. It’s more than a comic; it’s an experience.

First, let me just say the obvious...whether you're a DC comic fan or a Marvel fan, I know you've heard of the Fantastic Four, the "First Family of Comic Book Superheroes." Now the thing about this particular tale while not totally unfamiliar...the stunning art by one Alex Ross was without a doubt the real reason why I bought this FF book. If you're familiar with the work of Alex Ross, then you knew what to expect, but for those of you who weren't until now, I have to think your as stunned now, as I was the first time I saw any of this artist's comic book art masterpieces which include the Justice League, Kingdom Come, Earth X, Universe X, and Paradise X to name just a few of the many comic books Ross is associated with. So, dive into his take on the Fantastic Four and be ready to be astounded by what you see.

Great

Einer meiner lieblings Comiczeichner wird erneut auf das Marveluniversum losgelassen? Da kaufe ich das Buch natürlich ohne zu zögern! In gewohnter Alex Ross Manier überzeugt das Material auf jeder möglichen Ebene und enttäuscht zu keinem Zeitpunkt. Buchqualität: Das Hardcover ist in einem wunderschönen Schutzumschlag mit einem meisterhaft inszenierten Artwork vom King höchstpersönlich gewickelt. Das Hardcover selbst überzeugt durch eine für den Preis unschlagbare Robustheit und kommt locker an die bei DC üblichen Deluxe Editions ran. Preisleistungstechnisch unschlagbar. Story: Ich möchte so wenig wie möglich auf die Story eingehen, allerdings hat mich diese trotz der Kürze sehr beeindruckt. Sowohl für Fantastic Four Enthusiasten als auch Casual-Leser ein tolles Buch mit Anspielungen aus längst vergangenen Zeiten als auch der ein oder anderen Neuinterpretation bekannter Charaktere und Handlungsstränge. Artwork: Hier überzeugt der Comic auf jeder möglichen Ebene. Jede Seite ist ein Meisterwerk in sich, das minutenlang, von einigen Hardcorefans vermutlich auch stundenlang bestaunt werden kann. Poppige Farben unterheben den für Alex Ross fast untypisch psychedelischen Stil, der für diesen Comic gewählt wurde. Wahre Fans wissen, dass Alex Ross nicht mit mit einem höchst dynamischen, aber einem durchaus interessanten ultrarealistischen Stil jede Story perfekt rüberbringt. Dies ist auch bei Full Circle mehr als gelungen. Man fühlt sich zeitweise so, als würde man einen Film aus den 70er oder 80er Jahren schauen, der mit tonnenweise praktischen Spezialeffekten ausgestattet ist. Ich kann nicht oft genug betonen, wie gut das Artwork in diesem Buch ist. Fazit: Falls man eine Kaufempfehlung aus den bisherigen Punkten nicht ableiten konnte, betone ich es gerne erneut. Eine ganz klare Empfehlung für all diejenigen, die Fantastic Four lieben, aber auch alle da draußen, die Comicliebhaber sind. Egal ob Vertigo, Image, DC oder Marvelfan, dieses Buch muss in jeder Comicsammlung enthalten sein! Vom Preisleistungsverhältnis möchte ich an dieser Stelle gar nicht viel erzählen, da es keinen hochwertigeren Comic auf dem Markt gibt, der für 15€ erhältlich ist. Ein klares Muss!

Amazing art and a great story.

Excelente historia como art-book, la verdad que siempre es un gozo ver el dibujo de Alex Ross 🙌

Es un libro que resume algunas de las cosas que ya sabemos sobre el gran autor de teatro, y combate algunas de las teorías absurdas que se han difundido. Un libro, bien informado, y muy adecuado para la fecha, este 2016 conmemorativo. Si no quieres leer grandes estudios sesudos y extensos sobre el tema, este libro te servirá.

Alex Ross has gone all out and put together a beautiful tribute to Jack Kirby and Stan Lee with this amazing book! The book continues the story found in “This Man…This Monster!” from Fantastic Four #51 (1961) where "The Fantastic Four have no choice but to journey into the Negative Zone, an alien universe composed entirely of anti-matter, risking not just their own lives but the fate of the cosmos!". The hardcover was a little stiff out of the plastic wrap, the pages were a bit rigid and stuck together a bit here and there, I assume from the ink etc but the paper quality is thick and feels nice, the inks are vibrant and dazzling to look at, and the book has the fresh ink smell which I always enjoy... the spine is a bit stiff and can sometimes get in the way of large spreads but that's sort of the nature of these type of thinner hardcovers. All I can say is the art is easily one of Alex Ross's all time best efforts, and every page is very special, just packed with detail and things to look at. He’s emulating Kirby while maintaining his own realism and it looks great. The story is a little simple but that's ok, it's simply a wonder to look at across the board and a fun romp! Easy to recommend for fans of Ross, Silver age comics or pop art fans. Easily a 5 outa 5 for me!