Ultimate Fantastic Four

The first new “Ultimate” title in two years (kudos to Joe Quesada and company for not saturating the market), Ultimate Fantastic Four isn’t simply a re-imagining of a familiar concept, such as readers enjoy every month in Ultimate Spider-Man. Rather, it’s an alteration of more significant scope, with the titular team taken back to their childhood days. Unlike Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four #1, the foursome in this issue isn’t old enough to commandeer a rocket ship, and they have yet to absorb power-inducing cosmic rays. (This time around, it is entirely probable that The Fab Four will gain their powers in an altogether different fashion.)

The most jarring aspect of The Ultimate FF is Reed Richards’ childhood. The nerdy young scientist gets picked on at school (Do smart kids always have to be outcasts?), he has a jerk for a father, and it’s tough watching the character, who has always been proud, dignified, and aristocratic in Fantastic Four, having his head flushed. Having Ben Grimm (whom Reed’s father affectionately calls “The Grimm Reaper,” thanks to his prodigious football skills) stand up for Reed is a touching sentiment, however, and Reed’s ultimate triumph—able to be around people and things he likes—makes the story one of hope and happiness.

Reed as a newborn looks and acts older than his age (this could be by design, considering the panel at the bottom of page 2), but the art is otherwise excellent, evoking John Byrne’s classic run on the original Fantastic Four, but with a modern slant. Adolescent Reed looks fantastic (excuse the pun), as does his father, who appears to be an older, gruffer, less intelligent Reed Richards. Also nifty is the story’s clever use of the Negative Zone, one of the most memorable aspects of classic FF.

— Brett Weiss

Jump to issue:

#1

Feb 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

1st Appearance of Ultimate Fantastic Four; 1st appearance of Ultimate Human Torch; 1st appearance of Ultimate Invisible Woman; 1st appearance of Ultimate Mister Fantastic; 1st appearance of Ultimate The Thing; Origin of Ultimate Fantastic Four

6 copies from $2.50
#1 - 2nd printing

Jun 2011

Cover: $1.00

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

Marvel’s Greatest Comics reprint

1 copy for $2.99
#2

Mar 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

1st appearance of Ultimate Mole Man; 1st Appearance of Ultimate Victor Van Damme

11 copies from $0.99
#3

Apr 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

14 copies from $0.99
#4

May 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

11 copies from $1.25
#5

Jun 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Brian Michael Bendis · A: Adam Kubert

11 copies from $0.99
#6

Jul 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

17 copies from $0.60
#7

Aug 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Stuart Immonen

1st Appearance of Ultimate Doctor Doom

10 copies from $1.50
#8

Sep 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Stuart Immonen

15 copies from $0.99
#9

Sep 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Stuart Immonen

20 copies from $0.99
#10

Oct 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Stuart Immonen

18 copies from $0.80
#11

Nov 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Stuart Immonen

22 copies from $0.90
#12

Dec 2004

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Stuart Immonen

1st Appearance of Rhona Burchill; 1st Appearance of Robbie the Robot (Robert Burchill)

20 copies from $0.99
#13

Jan 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

19 copies from $0.80
#13 Variation A

Sketch Cover A by Adam Kubert

Jan 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

11 copies from $2.99
#13 Newsstand Edition

Newsstand Edition with cover by Adam Kubert

Jan 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

1 copy for $49.99
#14

Feb 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

14 copies from $0.90
#15

Mar 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

1st Appearance of Nihil (Ultimate Annihilus)

12 copies from $1.00
#16

Apr 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

19 copies from $0.90
#17

May 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

14 copies from $0.80
#18

Jun 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

12 copies from $1.00
#19

Jul 2005

Cover: $2.25

W: Mike Carey · A: Jae Lee

1st Appearance of Ultimate Mad Thinker

12 copies from $1.00
#20

Aug 2005

Cover: $2.50

W: Mike Carey · A: Jae Lee

Versus Rhona Burchill

13 copies from $0.99
#21

Sep 2005

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

1st Appearance of Marvel Zombies

3 copies from $39.99
#21 Variation A

50/50 Cover A by Greg Land

Sep 2005

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

1st Appearance of Marvel Zombies

1 copy for $50.00
#22

Oct 2005

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

1st Appearance of Magneto (Max Eisenhardt); 1st Full Appearance of Marvel Zombies

2 copies from $35.00
#23

Nov 2005

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

2nd Appearance of Marvel Zombies

6 copies from $4.40
#24

Dec 2005

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

1st Appearance of Ultimate Namor

18 copies from $0.99
#25

Jan 2006

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, John Romita Jr.

Flipbook with Ultimate Vision #3

11 copies from $0.90
#26

Feb 2006

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, John Romita Jr.

Flipbook with Ultimate Vision

11 copies from $0.80
#27

Apr 2006

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

1st Appearance of Ultimate Super Skrull

8 copies from $0.99
#28

Ultimate Vision #6 back cover by Greg Land and Arthur Suydam

May 2006

Cover: $2.50

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

17 copies from $0.50
#29

May 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, Mitch Breitweiser

1st Appearance Alicia Masters (Ultimate)

13 copies from $0.80
#30

Jul 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, Mitch Breitweiser

11 copies from $1.50
#30 Variation A

1:15 Tribute to Fantastic Four (Vol. 1) #1 Cover A by Arthur Suydam

Jul 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, Mitch Breitweiser

4 copies from $9.98
#31

Aug 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, Mitch Breitweiser

Marvel Zombies tie-in

21 copies from $0.25
#31 Variation A

Aug 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, Mitch Breitweiser

4 copies from $25.00
#32

Oct 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, Mitch Breitweiser

12 copies from $0.99
#32 Variation A

Oct 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land, Mitch Breitweiser

4 copies from $12.96
#33

Oct 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

1st appearance of Grail Fountain; 1st appearance of Magnificent Brute, 1st Appaerance of Tesseract, 1st Appaerance of Vykni; 1st Appearance of Threshold,1st Appearance of Dreamcatcher

20 copies from $0.50
#34

Nov 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

1st appearance of Capt. Chrysm; 1st appearance of Gallowglass; 1st appearance of Ravens; 1st Appearance of Verdura

23 copies from $0.90
#35

Dec 2006

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

1st appearance Ultimate Thanos

19 copies from $0.99
#36

Jan 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

23 copies from $1.00
#37

Feb 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

21 copies from $0.80
#38

Mar 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

21 copies from $0.80
#39

Apr 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Scott Kolins, Mark Brooks

1st Appearance of Andrea Vecchiato (Earth-1610); 1st appearance of Diablo (Mendendez Flores); 1st appearance of Donna Lynch (Earth-1610); 1st appearance of Rachel Grimm (Earth-1610)

18 copies from $0.90
#40

May 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Scott Kolins, Mark Brooks

11 copies from $0.70
#41

Jun 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Scott Kolins, Mark Brooks

1st Appearance of Spivey

12 copies from $0.80
#42

Jul 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

1st Appearance of Ultimate Silver Surfer

11 copies from $0.99
#43

Aug 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

8 copies from $1.10
#44

Sep 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

10 copies from $0.99
#45

Oct 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

14 copies from $0.90
#46

Nov 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

Versus Psycho-Man

14 copies from $0.80
#47

Dec 2007

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

Pasqual Ferry miscredited for artist

12 copies from $0.99
#48

Jan 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Mark Brooks

8 copies from $0.99
#48 Newsstand Edition

Newsstand Edition with cover by Mark Brooks

Jan 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Mark Brooks

1 copy for $94.99
#49

Feb 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Mark Brooks

4 copies from $2.25
#50

Mar 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

7 copies from $0.99
#50 Variation A

Sue Storm on Cover A

Mar 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

1 copy for $8.50
#51

Apr 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

7 copies from $1.75
#52

May 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

10 copies from $0.99
#53

Jun 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

8 copies from $0.99
#55

Aug 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

Quadriptych

6 copies from $2.50
#56

Sep 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Eric Basaldua

Quadriptych

9 copies from $0.99
#57

Oct 2008

Cover: $2.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

Quadriptych

9 copies from $0.90
#58

Jan 2009

Cover: $2.99

W: Joe Pokaski · A: Tyler Kirkham

8 copies from $1.40
#59

Feb 2009

Cover: $2.99

W: Joe Pokaski · A: Tyler Kirkham

4 copies from $2.20
#60

Apr 2009

Cover: $3.99

W: Joe Pokaski · A: Tyler Kirkham

Final Issue; Includes New Avengers: The Reunion preview

10 copies from $0.99
Annual #1

Oct 2005

Cover: $3.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Jae Lee

1st Appearance of Ultimate Inhumans

12 copies from $0.99
Annual #2

Oct 2006

Cover: $3.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Stuart Immonen, Frazer Irving

Versus Mole Man

18 copies from $0.90
Book #1

Sep 2004

Cover: $12.99

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

Collects Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #1-6

1 copy for $6.50
Book #1 - 2nd printing

Cover: $12.99

W: Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar · A: Adam Kubert

Collects Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #1-6

1 copy for $4.98
Book #3

Cover: $12.99

W: Warren Ellis · A: Adam Kubert

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #13-18; ca. 2005

3 copies from $9.99
Book #4

Cover: $12.99

W: Mark Millar, Mike Carey · A: Jae Lee

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #19–20, Anl #1; ca. 2005

2 copies from $14.00
Book #5

Cover: $12.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #21-26; ca. 2006

2 copies from $15.00
Book #6

Sep 2004

Cover: $12.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #27-32

2 copies from $4.50
Book #7

Cover: $16.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Scott Kolins, Mark Brooks

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #33–38; ca. 2007

2 copies from $6.50
Book #8

Includes 4-page cover gallery

Jun 2007

Cover: $12.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Stuart Immonen, Frazer Irving, Scott Kolins

112 pages; Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #39–41 and Annual #2

4 copies from $9.00
Book #9

Cover: $13.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #42–46; ca. 2007

1 copy for $16.00
Book #10

Cover: $15.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Mark Brooks, Tyler Kirkham

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #47–53; ca. 2008

1 copy for $18.00
Deluxe Set #3 Hardcover

Hardcover Edition with cover by Greg Land

Sep 2005

Cover: $29.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

Collects Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #21–32

2 copies from $22.95
Deluxe Set #4 Hardcover

Hardcover Edition with cover by Pasqual Ferry

Cover: $29.99

W: Mark Millar · A: Greg Land

Collects Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #33–41 and Annual #2; ca. 2007

2 copies from $29.00
Deluxe Set #5 Hardcover

Hardcover Edition with cover by Pasqual Ferry

Nov 2008

Cover: $34.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Pasqual Ferry

Collect #42-53

1 copy for $27.00
Deluxe Set #6 Hardcover

Hardcover Edition with cover by Billy Tan

Cover: $34.99

W: Mike Carey · A: Tyler Kirkham

Collects Ultimate Fantastic Four #54-57, Official Handbook of the Ultimate Marvel Universe #1-2 and Ultimate Secrets #1

1 copy for $24.99