Nearly a year ago, artist Tom Scioli shared some concept art on social media for a Fantastic Four project similar in concept to Ed Piskor’s X-Men: Grand Design series. At the time, Scioli said Marvel had asked him to pitch the series, and that it may still happen, though not for a while. As of today, ‘a while’ is officially over, as Marvel has announced, via comicbook.com, a two-issue miniseries for Scioli’s Fantastic Four: Grand Design, and the unofficial start of a new ‘Grand Design’ franchise.
As with Piskor’s X-Men: Grand Design project, Scioli’s Fantastic Four: Grand Design will retell the FF’s history from the beginning, paying homage to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original work while streamlining elements and incorporating retcons into a straight-line narrative. The creator will write, draw, color, and letter the series himself. An unabashed Jack Kirby acolyte, Scioli is the perfect choice for a project like this. He’s previously funneled his love for The King into his work on books like Godland and GI Joe/Transformers. It’s unclear at this point if FF: Grand Design will be limited to just the two-issue series, or if it will ultimately be a trilogy of miniseries as Piskor’s recently-wrapped and critically-acclaimed X-Men project was.
The solicitation text for Fantastic Four: Grand Design #1 also mentions a “Grand Design franchise,” indicating there could be more of these series from esoteric creators down the line. How about an Iron Man series by Chris Ware? Just a suggestion, Marvel. You can check out the solicit text, as well as three covers and a three-page preview for the new series below. Fantastic Four: Grand Design #1 is due in stores in October.
FANTASTIC FOUR: GRAND DESIGN #1 of 2
Written by TOM SCIOLI
Penciled by TOM SCIOLI
Cover by TOM SCIOLI
VARIANT BY ED PISKOR
CORNER BOX VARIANT BY TOM SCIOLIBecause you demanded it! The bestselling GRAND DESIGN franchise continues with Marvel’s First Family! Brought to you by critically-acclaimed cartoonist TOM SCIOLI (GODLAND, TRANSFORMERS VS. GI JOE) in the sole-authorship tradition made famous by ED PISKOR’S X-MEN: GRAND DESIGN trilogy! Join the Watcher and witness how it all began… Plus appearances by the biggest names in Marvel history!: Doctor Doom! Black Panther! Namor! Galactus! Mole Man! The Inhumans!
48 PGS./Rated T …$5.99
Comments are closed.