When that mysterious figure makes his way into the Baxter Building, interrupting one of Ben Grimm’s midnight Dagwood sandwiches, the Thing realizes that he knows this figure having encountered him in the aforementioned Fantastic Four #51 when the figure attempted to take Ben Grimm’s powers and place in the team to get at Reed Richards. This is the story of the Fantastic Four and what happens on a dark and rainy night in the Baxter Building. Ross uses that familiarity to throw us into his story. Four intrepid adventurers facing the unknown together, a family forged through the mysteries of the world around them– that’s what we know of these characters.

With that opening image, Ross shows us just what kind of story he is going to tell a “classic” Fantastic Four story that builds on the work of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, equal parts homage and exploration of those early Marvel texts. But this new story begins with a ragged figure standing outside of the classic Baxter Building, Ben Grimm and his family’s home. Alex Ross’ story begins much like Fantastic Four #51 where the Thing was mysteriously pulled toward a stranger’s residence. 6 min read Fantastic Four: Full Circle by Alex Ross (Abrams ComicArts)įantastic Four: Full Circle opens on a rainy night, focused on a monster or a man standing alone in the rain.

Fantastic four full circle