NERD INITIATIVE

Earlier this year, when Marvel announced their new “Midnight” universe, it was met with excitement from some, harsh judgment from others. Then, when it was revealed that none of the starting runs would involve the Midnight Sons, the criticism became even further mixed. Well, allow Shawn and me to hopefully lay those fears to rest as we review Benjamin Percy’s “Midnight: Fantastic Four”!

Writer: Benjamin Percy
Artist: Kev Walker
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’sJoe Sabino

The Writing

Shawn: What an outstanding way to start the Fantastic Four edition of Midnight. Benjamin Percy beautifully taps into a dark Eldritch Horror-type feel for this story. Right out of the gate, Percy crafts an issue that feels familiar through characters we know, but with a distinct Lovecraftian feel to the story. While there are some elements of the Fantastic Four you know, Percy eschews many of the familiar aspects of the story for a chance to reset the Fantastic Four origin story. Despite some changes, there’s still key aspects of the characters to latch on to.

Sue Storm remains a distinctly powerful individual. Every time she’s on the page, Percy’s characterization of her has her power radiating from the panel. It was nice to see a new and unique version of Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm, and even Reed Richards. Percy seems to be setting up a unique adaptation of the Fantastic Four’s signature Negative Zone with a distinct horror element. The story paces well, allowing the darkness to creep into you like the water overflowing the top of a cup. Percy’s narrative sits on you until you feel the darkness of the story.

Eda: First off, the way Benjamin Percy started this run was… fantastic! If you’re a fan, you know the classic backstory and setup for the team. Here, Percy manages to take aspects of that story and make it more horrifying than it already was, while taking some cues from the classics. If that wasn’t enticing enough, imagine if Lovecraft wrote “Frankenstein”. A part of this, too, is that he makes clear these characters have histories in this new universe that are set to be expanded upon later.

Second, I absolutely adored the pacing of the issue. Percy made the great decision to essentially break the book into three acts. Each act is separated by a page that features something for further info, whether it be a quote or a page of Reed’s diary. This really works to not only build the tension and keep the pacing on track, but to get readers into the minds of the characters and drive home the story in a really unique way. Overall, Percy delivered fantastic work right out of the gate!

The Art

Shawn: What a treat to see what Kev Walker and Frank D’Armata came firing out of the gate with in this issue of Midnight: Fantastic Four. Walker leans heavily into the redesign that this new setting allows and crafts versions of the Fantastic Four that, while identifiable to their main 616 continuity counterparts, are distinct and unique. In doing so, Walker introduces perhaps the most significant update or alteration to the Fantastic Four since the world was introduced to The Maker. Walker’s line work looks polished while at times appearing intentionally messy to help sell the Arkham style of the art.

Frank D’Armata steps up to the challenge of having such a dark story beautifully. The horror aspect means that D’Armata really had to lean into the colors available while also heavily utilizing shading and shadow. As he consistently does, D’Armata executes this perfectly. There are subtle little choices in color palettes that, while not glaringly obvious, allow you to form a sense of connection and familiarity with these new versions of the characters. Joe Sabino comes in clutch with lettering to close out the art team’s work. It really feels like Sabino is helping not only set the pacing but also set the tone the narrative and visual team is hoping to convey for this series.

Eda: Personally, I’m already loving what Kev Walker and Frank D’Armata are doing here. First, when it comes to Walker’s art, the new character designs are amazing. At first glance, they look classic yet contemporary. To add to it, the creature designs are already absolutely nightmarish. Something I especially loved, however, was how Percy tackled the paneling on certain pages. Whenever a character starts to seem to lose themselves, the panels break apart, and the lineup falls away beautifully.

As for the coloring from D’Armata, I absolutely loved it. One decision he made that I thought was genius was to continue giving their lab wear the classic white and blue. In a universe where we’re getting used to new things, it’s smart to give readers something familiar. A decision like that prevents things from feeling completely alienating. Lastly, the lettering from Sabino was absolutely great work. He managed to take reading and make it feel like a cinematic experience through text box placement and sound.

Final Thoughts

Shawn: What a great start for Percy, Walker, D’Armata, and Sabino. This is everything I could have wanted out of Midnight: Fantastic Four, and it gives Marvel a strong three for three on amazing Midnight series launch titles. Midnight: Fantastic Four #1 makes it clear right out of the gate that this is not the same Fantastic Four you’ve come to know and love, but something much deeper, darker, and intriguing.

Eda: If “Midnight Fantastic Four” is anything to go by, this new universe is off to a truly great start. If you’re not already one, Percy will make a Fantastic Four fan out of you yet. The thrills and chills are building, so here’s to hoping the payoff will be fantastic.

Shawn’s Grade:10/10
Eda’s Grade: 10/10
Overall Grade:10/10

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Comments

Have you been looking forward to the Midnight universe? Which are you picking up first? Let’s discuss in the comments below!