Alex Ross, the legendary artist whose work has been elevating Marvel books for many years will finally draw AND write his first Graphic Novel for the publisher when Fantastic Four: Full Circle is released on 22nd August 2022. In another first, the OGN will be a collaboration with Marvel and Abrams ComicArts, in a venture dubbed MarvelArts.
There are a number of reasons to be excited about this project: The book will be a large-format publication in the style of the Marvel Graphic Novel line released in the 1980s, which will better showcase Ross’ incredible painted art. In addition, the FF’s origin story will be retold in a full-colour, fully painted foldout poster! Full Circle will be edited by Charles Kochman, Ross’ longtime editor and editorial director of Abrams ComicArts, overseen by executive editor and Marvel’s VP of Publishing Tom Breevort. The book will be 64 pages when completed. In its 64 pages, Full Circle will take the FF into the Negative Zone after a mysterious intruder invades the Baxter building.
Speaking today about the project, Alex Ross said: "This is the Fantastic Four story I have been wanting to tell for years, and visually it is one of the greatest artistic experiments I have attempted. I'm excited to share this work with everyone, as it unites the two great publishing forces of Marvel and Abrams ComicArts in a bold new collaboration."
Charles Kochman added: "Alex and I have been working together for close to 30 years when I was an editor at DC Comics and hired him to paint his very first book cover back in 1993 before Marvels was published. In Fantastic Four: Full Circle, Alex revisits a classic Stan Lee-Jack Kirby comic from the 1960s and introduces the storyline for a new generation of readers."
Ross’ art has been the definitive look of superheroes for decades. His work genuinely inspires wonder and awe in these characters, as showcased in his work for both Marvel and DC, where he painted several treasury-sized one-shots with Mark Waid and co-created the maxi-series, Justice. Ross will be using a more experimental style for this book, which promises to be every bit as awe-inspiring as his earlier work. As with his Kingdom come: Superman special a while back, here Ross will pencil and ink, rather than paint, the artwork. Not only that, but he will be colouring the book, moving away from his usual style.
Fantastic Four: Full circle will be the first Graphic Novel that Marvel has licensed to another publisher in over 40 years and launches the new MarvelArts collaboration with Abrams ComicArts.