Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 1 (New Printing) Hardcover – 11 Sept. 2018

Its the 1960's and Marvel decide they need a super hero team, Marve'l's first family - The Fantastic Four was born. Presenting for the 1st time ever, issues 1 to 30 of Fantastic Four, collected in a hard back book (weighing in at over 800 glossy pages!).The issues this book reprints have already been reprinted in B&W in Essential Fantastic Four Vol.1 and Vol.2, and also in colour in Marvel Masterworks Fantastic Four Vol.1, Vol.2 and Vol.3. However, this omnibus edition includes some unused Jack Kirby covers, various forewords from Stan Lee, Tom DeFalco and Roy Thomas - and (this is the most important part), the reprinting of all the letters pages!I know it seems like a small thing, but reading fans reactions to the comics as they saw print is quite a tribute to the era and the comic.So what do the 30 issues contain? The origin of the Fantastic Four, fights with Dr. Doom, Red Ghost, Mole Man, Miracle Man, Molecule Man, Skrulls (including Superskrull), Rama-Tut and Puppet Master!Add in guest appearances (maybe some tussles with) The Watcher, The X-Men (Original), Sub-Mariner and The Hulk, and you've got a pretty excellent line up of issues.So what's the downside? Price for one thing (currently £55 for the Kirby cover and £65 for the Alex Ross cover), although the original issues would set you back in the thousands of £££'s and the Masterwork reprints would set you back around £75.The other (although its also an advantage) is the simplicity of the issues. Story wise there is no hidden plot devices or super in-depth character revelations and art wise...well its the King (Jack Kirby) but compared to today's over used splash pages and awkward character poses some may find the art a bit bland.So to wrap up - great read for the classic comic fan, or any Fantastic Four/Marvel devotee. However newbies to comics/Fantastic Four may be better off with the Ultimate Fantastic Four (a different universe and set in the present) hardcover (2005) or "The Best Of The Fantastic Four" hardcover from earlier this year (2005).

What can I say this is classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby at their greatest. The Fantastic four omnibus 1 is a dream come true, will be pre ordering the 2nd one.

At the age of eleven I got into the fantastic four as I watched the first hanna Barbara episodes on channel 4. I outomaticly liked it straight away. I went out and about in the early ninetys. picking up bronze age ff comics. ive always wanted the first issue now I have. with this amazing hard cover issues one to 30 by stanlee jack Kirby etc. I'm so happy the storys are brilliant and the art work. a must have for any fantastic four fan don't wait pick up this omnibus edition. fantastic.

Great Comic

I loved the Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 1 - it brought back so many memories of my childhood and yes, I still enjoyed the stories. I got the same pleasure from reading them as I did when I was a boy. I'm now looking forward to wading through F.F. Omnibus Volume 2...

Awesome

Classic Lee and Kirby - Nuff Said

Back in 1961, Stan Lee was tasked with creating a new superhero team book to compete with DC's recently launched Justice League. Teamed with the late great Jack Kirby, what resulted was the birth of Marvel's First Family and beginning of the Marvel Age of Comics!Collecting Fantastic Four issues #1-30 and Annual #1, this book allows you to enjoy the early beginnings of the Marvel universe as we know it today. The Fantastic Four has always combined superhero fantasy with sci-fi, and Lee and Kirby seemed to revel in it even right from the start; there was seemingly no premise too absurd to make it into a mag, and Kirby's pencils were perfectly suited to giving them life. Within these issues we first meet classic villain Doctor Doom, and other Marvel mainstays like the skrulls and the Watcher, as well as many other more forgettable villains. The stories are a little bit of a mixed bag as Lee and Kirby seemed to take some time getting to know their characters, but it's all entertaining.This book is fascinating to read through if you have an appreciation/interest in comic book history or of course if you like the Fantastic Four. I enjoy these stories, but have rated it 4 rather than 5 stars purely because I believe Lee and Kirby really hit their stride with Fantastic Four around issue #40 onwards, making omnibus volumes 2 and 3 truly as fantastic as the characters within.