Hello there! Padawan J here, the resident Star Wars expert from the ODPH! This week I'm going to be reviewing the crossover issue of Gargoyles x Fantastic Four #1 from Dynamite Comics!

The Manhattan Clan has teamed up with Marvel's first family

Gargoyles x Fantastic Four #1 by Greg Weisman (Writer), George Kambadias (Artist) & Jeff Eckleberry (Letterer) is an action packed adventure that has twist, turns & surprises from start to finish!

The Story

Greg Weisman brings his A game for this story, and it's a blast from start to finish. The story starts with the Human Torch, The Thing, Angela & Broadway all underground taking on none other than the Mole Man and his forces!

Meanwhile you have Reed, Sue, Valeria, Franklin, Goliath, Elisa, Brooklyn, Katana, Nashville & Tachi back at the Baxter Building preparing to help the group underground by preparing an anti-kaiju serum. But of course trouble ensues.

I really liked the pairings that Greg did in this issue, and they all work so well. I also liked the choice of villains in this as well because they all made sense and were well thought out. Admittedly there was a four legged cameo appearance from the Marvel side of things I didn't expect, but worked out so incredibly well.

The story really excels when it comes to the family aspect of things, and it makes for such a fun read. Seeing the kids from both groups come together and cause some chaos was such a blast to read. I'd really enjoy seeing a mini series run with just the kids, it would be so much fun.
The Artwork

George Kambadias does a tremendous job with the art in the issue, and especially with the way he draws the characters. The backgrounds really enhance how great the panels are, plus you've got the stellar coloring in the issue as well.

FINAL POINT: If this is the end of the Fantastic Four/Gargoyles crossover (and I don't think it is), than it's been an amazing two issue run between both issues. Greg's story is just simply spectacular and the artwork is stunning as well. This is an issue you cannot miss whatsoever!

Overall Grade: 10/10

Thank you for checking out my review! Be sure to reach out to me on Twitter & let me know what you thought of the issue!

Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points, the complementary comic book blog to the ODPH Podcast! For this entry, we’re taking a look at the first project from Marvel Arts, which is a partnership between Abrams Comic Arts and Marvel Comics. FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE #1 by Alex Ross (legendary artist of “Marvels” and “Kingdom Come”), Josh Johnson, and Ariana Maher is the debut graphic novel from this venture. If graphic novels sound a bit familiar, they were a staple of Marvel in the 1980’s (One notable one was X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills which was the inspiration for “X2 X-Men United” movie). To bring them back, it has to stand out at the comic shops and deliver. There is a tremendous amount of hype behind this project. Let’s take a deeper dive and see how this new project shapes up, shall we?

FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE #1 - On Sale Sept. 6th
Creative: Alex Ross, Josh Johnson, and Ariana Maher
Credit: Marvel Arts (Abrams ComicArts/MARVEL COMICS)

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic). Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (The Human Torch) and Ben Grimm (The Thing) comprise one for the most legendary teams in all of pop culture fandom. No adventure is ever normal and the one happening here fits the mold perfectly.

The story opens up on a rainy evening with Ben making the most of his evening in the Baxter Building. A midnight snack gets interrupted by Johnny. The playful banter that has been long associated with the first family of Marvel gets stopped when a mysterious figure appears. The intruder’s identity turns out to be someone who tried impersonating Ben in the past tying into Reed’s first adventure into the Negative Zone. However, before they can really examine why he has returned, mysterious creatures start flying out of his mouth, basically using his body as a Trojan horse to attack the family.

After the creatures are subdued, Reed goes to work breaking down what has happened. The creatures gave off negative energy. That is a trademark of what readers might have already suspected but it was confirmed: The Negative Zone and it’s ruler Annihilus looks to be prime suspect. The team suits up and makes their way into the every-dangerous environment.

Once they arrive, they start tracking down the source of the creatures. When they come across what’s happening, it’s a sight they’re not ready to expect. What do they see, better yet WHO do they see? The story begins an epic journey into the unknown as readers are taken on a roller coaster ride of imagination. How will this story unfold from here? Readers will have much excitement to enjoy as this book brings out the strengths and charm of Marvel’s First Family in a vintage tale for everyone.

What a fantastic read! Ross takes themes from Fantastic Four #51 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (1961) and introduces them to an entire new fan base. Ross steps away from his traditional painted art storytelling style to really hone in on the Kirby energy for this book. The scenes pop from page to page. Take a look at the incredible preview art for this book. When anyone can give the visual impression of recapturing “The King’s” magic, it is one of the highest complements someone can give (IMO). Ross nailed it out of the park. The story felt like a throwback but not losing any appeal to modern readers who might not be as familiar with the early days for the FF.

The story itself was one that carried itself with wonderment. Diving into the world of the Negative Zone can be tricky yet, was pulled off flawlessly here. Tying in other elements of the FF’s world (The banter between Ben & Johnny, Reed’s quest for knowledge) presented excellent moments throughout. At no point did this book feel dated to where it lost interest. It reminded older readers why the Fantastic Four was a staple at the comic shops since the 1960’s. It also catches new readers with how unique it looks and reads. It’s quirky, vibrant and engaging. It’s a fantastic experience all around (pun intended). Great work.

Overall, Fantastic Four: Full Circle #1 is an excellent story with mind-blowing visuals throughout. Ross takes a risk going away from his traditional style which fans come to expect and wins the gamble. The experience is nothing short of a memorable read that comic fans need to make a point to check out. Don’t miss this book at the comic shops this week.

Hit me up on Twitter and let me know what you thought of Fantastic Four: Full Circle #1. Thanks for reading.

Gargoyles x Fantastic Four #1 (DYNAMITE COMICS/MARVEL COMICS)

FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE (Abrams Comic Arts/MARVEL COMICS)