Millar + Hitch = "Fantastic Four"

[andy khouri]

WWC: Mark Millar is the New “Fantastic Four”-Man

2008 will be a grand year for “Fantastic Four” fans, because the acclaimed “Ultimates” team of Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch will take over the book. CBR News spoke with Millar about his plans for the series

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11567

WWC: Bryan Hitch-ing a Ride with the "Fantastic Four"

Announced today at WW Chicago, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch will follow-up their run on "Ultimates" with twelve issues of "Fantastic Four." CBR News spoke with Hitch in-depth.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11566

[Magneto Rocks]

*Explodes*

This is the most awesome thing to happen to the team since Waid and Ringo came on. I've been really hoping for this and can't help but say... HELL YEAH! AWESOME!

It's funny, a few days ago I nearly posted a thread musing on how much the FF have fallen- in sales and creativity- compared to what they once were and wondering what it would take for them to regain the top spot.

Guess we're about to freaking find out! :D

[Sam T.]

Hell yeah...this sounds exciting!!

[GRANT!]

So Dwane McDuffie is off :(

The art looks good though. I'll give it a shot.

[drwho]

It is nice to see FF getting handled by some super power creative team, but hopefully the book itself comes together better than what I saw an Ultimates.

[CaptainMech]

thats is some great new
bit im also enjoying it now
wonder if BP and storm will leave

[JimmyDee]

Uhmm, can you say Holy Crap? Hitch on FF? Book won't have looked so amazing in years. His discussion of working on the oversized pages, I'd love to see what those pages look like in context -- would love a photo of him working on a page.

[JimmyDee]

Can I just say Holy Crap once again?

[Toboe]

Awesome. Millar made a fan of the FF with his work on the Ultimate title, can't wait to see what he's doing with this. Although what is it with him and giant robots?
Hitch's art is gorgeous, as usual. Hopefully it won't get as many delays as the Ultimates.

I'm glad it seems they're finally letting Storm return to the X-universe, where she belongs.

[Acrosurge]

*waves buh-bye to McDuffie*

I'm really excited about the return to the classic team. I can't wait to see what the "Ultimates" team will do with the characters. It sounds like their heart is in all the right places.

[EnDwiGast]

I've been enjoying McDuffie's run and had been hoping to see him stay for a long run.

My guess is now, that he came in knowing it would be a short stay and was part of keeping quiet on the news of Millar/Hitch.

They seem excited and I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with.
They'll bring in the hype and attention. I hope they can match that with some new truly classic stories.

[Jack]

So, what? A five year run? This is pretty cool news, though. It's definitely a major push for FF.

[drwho]

I just hate the fact that ultimates had those annoying 2 page splash pages that showed one panel. If that is the type of setup we are gonna see here I'll definitely drop FF like a sack of potatoes. Also I guess it sounds like we are only going to get 2 FF story arcs for the whole year. The good thing about what is going on now is there are a bunch of little arcs which I prefer much more.

[spidervenom]

Im so excited millar and hitch are one my favorite creative teams.

[Expletive Deleted]

. . . well, it'll be pretty.

[Brian M.]

Wonder how many issues they are doing...but what hurts my eyes is that they shelved their X-Men plans. Ohwell, we got Carey/Brubaker, can't be that bad of a trade. Still, I eagerly await Millar/Hitch on X-Men.

[Toboe]

I just hate the fact that ultimates had those annoying 2 page splash pages that showed one panel. If that is the type of setup we are gonna see here I'll definitely drop FF like a sack of potatoes. Also I guess it sounds like we are only going to get 2 FF story arcs for the whole year. The good thing about what is going on now is there are a bunch of little arcs which I prefer much more.

To be fair, he did four three-issue arcs on his Ultimate Fantastic Four year long run. Maybe he'll go for a similar structure here.

I'm sure it'll be great, but I fear for the delays...

Wonder how many issues they are doing...but what hurts my eyes is that they shelved their X-Men plans. Ohwell, we got Carey/Brubaker, can't be that bad of a trade. Still, I eagerly await Millar/Hitch on X-Men.


They're on for a "year" (twelve issues). Pity they didn't went ahead with their plans for the X-Men. Maybe some day, but as of now Carey and Brubaker are doing quite well.

[Magneto Rocks]

So, what? A five year run? This is pretty cool news, though. It's definitely a major push for FF.

More like one year, I think.

Millar's a brilliant "Big Idea" man anyway. I love all the minor things he worked into UFF, Civil War and everywhere really. Reed curling up in a ball in a tank to think, Sue sending the kids an hour forward in time to avoid danger, Sue using her powers in creative ways, the Johnny/Ben rapport we BRIEFLY saw in Enemy of the State, basing the Baxter Building's defences on the immune system, etc. He's a great idea guy rivalled in today's comics only by Grant Morrison.

Plus I love how he writes the team anyway- loved his Sue back in Civil War.

[EnDwiGast]

These quotes from the article are very encouraging:

"I feel quite strongly that what made 'FF' the big book for the first five or ten years was the constant creativity and invention," Millar remarked.

FF at its best has been about discovering new threats out there. So fresh ideas from the writer are important, but so is the need to have an artist who can bring those kind of visuals. I think we'll be getting both.

It needs to be something new and so that extends to the supporting cast as well as villains. The characters are all in a slightly different place to where we might have seen them before.

This seems to address a concern from another thread that the personal lives of the FF be a little less static.

I just handed in our tenth issue last week and Bryan is just finishing the fourth. So, we're in good shape.

Definitely a good thing.

[Michael P]

Well, that's three bucks I'll be saving every month. Thanks, Marvel!

[Omega Alpha]

I've been enjoying McDuffie's run and had been hoping to see him stay for a long run.

My guess is now, that he came in knowing it would be a short stay and was part of keeping quiet on the news of Millar/Hitch.

They seem excited and I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with.
They'll bring in the hype and attention. I hope they can match that with some new truly classic stories.

Or Marvel decided to get rid of him because he's writing JLA. Or he just signed an exclusive with DC.

[Brad Barton]

Millar and Hitch on "616" Fantastic Four?

eh.

They may say it's the main Marvel U FF title, but it won't seem like it. It'll look and read like an Ultimate title. (Which, come to think of it, could be their intention.)

I'd rather have seen them on a completely original project or another Ultimate Project. It's going to be funny as hell when the 8th issue and on have 4 month gaps between releases.

[Magneto Rocks]

I'd rather have seen them on a completely original project or another Ultimate Project. It's going to be funny as hell when the 8th issue and on have 4 month gaps between releases.

So you believe that it will take Bryan Hitch 13 months to do 4 issues? At a current rate of one per 3 weeks?

Yeah, I can't wait to see the amount of crow that will be eaten when this comes out with at worst minor delays.

[Pyro]

Interesting news. I hope McDuffie is given ample time to finish his run. I'm just as excited for the rest of his run as I am the incoming of Millar and Hitch. Good stuff. I'll be very happy if Millar makes the FF huge like he's done with other properties! I've been a big FF fan since Waid/Ringo.

[Brad Barton]

So you believe that it will take Bryan Hitch 13 months to do 4 issues? At a current rate of one per 3 weeks?

Yeah, I can't wait to see the amount of crow that will be eaten when this comes out with at worst minor delays.Okay, you're being extremely optimistic.

We got 25 issues of the Ultimates from Bryan Hitch, the most recent released this year, the first in 2001.

25 Issues / 6 years = About 4 issues per year. And they supposedly had Issues of Ultimates 2 "in the can" before it started as well, and we all know how that turned out...

Now why on Earth are we to believe they'll go any faster on this project than they did the last?

[EnDwiGast]

Or Marvel decided to get rid of him because he's writing JLA. Or he just signed an exclusive with DC.

I was going by the apparent starting point for Millar which he said was Christmas. I'm looking through the original articles around that time - but the way i remember it - McDuffie's announcement was well after that.

I don't think Marvel had Millar working on FF behind McDuffie's back. I am curious though about how the whole sequence played out.

I hadn't heard McDuffie had signed an exclusive with DC - but it makes sense because right now DC would want to lock in whoever they had picked to take over JLA and not risk him getting a better offer elsewhere.

They can't mess around with any of their top books at the moment.

EDIT: How time flies. Joe Q made the announcement McDuffie would be taking over for JMS on Sept 29. So there is a couple month gap there.

[Pyro]

I skimmed through the Newsarama discussion and someone brought up something interesting. How exactly does Millar and Hitch on FF jive with the clues that were given a long time ago?

1. New title but not a #1

2. Not a solo book as such.

3. The choice is apparently very obvious.

4. Focus is on 3 female characters. One from 40's the 60's and a third.

5. It somehow involves the orginal Miss America.

6. There is a school in the first issue.

7. Has something loosely to do with th Lady Liberators issues of the Avengers.
Millar states 'Take a look at that scene near the end with The Wasp and others and that's exactly what I was thinking of.PS That's another clue.
1. Ok, I get this one. It's new title for the creative team I guess, as in one they haven't done before, and it's continuing the numbering.

2. It's a team book.

3. People guessed this a long time ago.

4. Huh? He said his team would be Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben... But this is curious. Most of the preview art has just shown various women. Maybe that's what he's talking about. I think at least one scene of the preview art shows Invisible Woman, Wasp, and She-Hulk, and maybe Black Widow. I'm not sure about the dates though...

5. No idea.

6. We'll have to wait and see how a school is involved. (Maybe they pick up Franklin or something?)

7. I've never read this. I'll have to check it out. A quick google search tells me to try Avengers v1 #83.

[Charlie_1981]

This news is the best thing that I have seen and hearing in all my life, Mark Millar and Brian Hitch in The Fantastic Four, the only thing for that I wait is that the issues are not delaying too much and happens the same thing that with the Ultimates.

[Dusty.]

I've been saying it forever, Marvel needs to put high profile creators on the FF if they want it to become center of the universe again. A high profile artist for sales.

It's a shame, because McDuffie and Pelletier are doing great, but if Marvel wants sales and creative freedom, Miller and Hitch are a much better pick.

The only Millar stuff I've hated was stuff that had to do with Cap and him spouting off his uninformed yap about America. I loved his Wolverine stuff, though, and really enjoyed the FF appearance. I love Hitch. Millar loves Byrne!

This is great news!

[Pyro]

I was going by the apparent starting point for Millar which he said was Christmas. I'm looking through the original articles around that time - but the way i remember it - McDuffie's announcement was well after that.

I don't think Marvel had Millar working on FF behind McDuffie's back. I am curious though about how the whole sequence played out.

I hadn't heard McDuffie had signed an exclusive with DC - but it makes sense because right now DC would want to lock in whoever they had picked to take over JLA and not risk him getting a better offer elsewhere.

They can't mess around with any of their top books at the moment.

EDIT: How time flies. Joe Q made the announcement McDuffie would be taking over for JMS on Sept 29. So there is a couple month gap there.
Is it possible McDuffie knew someone was taking over, he just wasn't told who? Because a thing like that is big news, and they would only tell on a need-to-know basis, so it wouldn't leak out too early. Still, I would think McDuffie should have been told. Eh. I dunno.

[Fatguy]

This should be interesting, I like Miller a lot and Hitch is ok. I really do hope that this doesnt spiral off into ridiculous delays though. If it doesnt, should be a fun story.

I will miss McDuffie though, I've enjoyed his run so far.

[Brad Barton]

It's a shame, because McDuffie and Pelletier are doing great, but if Marvel wants sales and creative freedom, Miller and Hitch are a much better pick.I was just going to say, this must be a bit of a slap in the face to McDuffie, who supposedly had "Big plans" for the series...

I wonder what it feels like to be streamrolled off a project you've invested so much work in because a higher profile writer, on a whim, decided he wanted your title.

[Magneto Rocks]

Considering the lack of hype and interviews and whatnot McDuffie did on FF, and the way they were always rather vague about how long he was on for- PLUS how he knew for certain that he wasn't using some characters, I don't think it comes as a big surprise.

I wonder what it feels like to be streamrolled off a project you've invested so much work in because a higher profile writer, on a whim, decided he wanted your title.]

Considering what we've heard and that Millar said "They didn't have a team lined up" when they asked about Fantastic Four, I think McDuffie always knew.

[XPac]

I kind of always assumed that McDuffie's FF would be temporary.

His version of the FF is interesting enough... but we all know the original team would return sooner or later.

[EnDwiGast]

I skimmed through the Newsarama discussion and someone brought up something interesting. How exactly does Millar and Hitch on FF jive with the clues that were given a long time ago?


I had the same question.

But since there was a switch - from taking over the X-books to taking over FF -- its hard to know which of these projects the clues were about.

They do sound more like FF though.

[Magneto Rocks]

I kind of always assumed that McDuffie's FF would be temporary.

His version of the FF is interesting enough... but we all know the original team would return sooner or later.

Hell, aren't they returning at the end of the CURRENT arc? I'm pretty sure next issue is the last of the new Fantastic Four in any case...

[XPac]

Hell, aren't they returning at the end of the CURRENT arc? I'm pretty sure next issue is the last of the new Fantastic Four in any case...

Maybe. I honestly don't know.

I'm just saying that my assumption (right or wrong, probably the later) was that this new team was temporary, and that would define McDuffie's run on the book.

[Magneto Rocks]

I think the timing all clicks out, as I understand it, it's like this:

ORIGINALLY, Millar and Hitch were supposed to take over Fantastic Four this September. (That's pretty much what we were hearing at the start of the year.) That would be after McDuffie's 6 issue stint, which would be the "New Fantastic Four" storyline and is consistent with the rumor of a big change at issue 550- September's issue.

BUT that was delayed until January. So now McDuffie gets an extra 4 issues. Since "Reconstruction" had already been plotted out, that meant for his next 4 issues, he'd have the old, original FF.

Makes sense.

I kinda wish McDuffie had been given a longer run with the normal team though- obviously I enjoyed what we got and I know I'll LOVE Millar/Hitch, but McDuffie had some great ideas and he seemed more comfortable with the original four than the new additions. The biggest problem his issues suffered from, IMO, is being cramped, packing too much in (a 3 issue Galactus arc?)- which makes sense if he thought he only had 6 issues on his dream book.

[EnDwiGast]

1. New title but not a #1

Doesn't fit FF.

2. Not a solo book as such.

Fits FF.

3. The choice is apparently very obvious.

??? maybe because of his work on ultimate FF

4. Focus is on 3 female characters. One from 40's the 60's and a third.

40s - Miss America (see below), 60s - Invisible Woman, 3rd - could be any female

5. It somehow involves the orginal Miss America.

(see above)

6. There is a school in the first issue.

Maybe Miss america is valeria richards' teacher. (wild guess) But the Richards kids and school or that Sue spent time as a school teacher could play into Millar's plans

7. Has something loosely to do with th Lady Liberators issues of the Avengers.
Millar states 'Take a look at that scene near the end with The Wasp and others and that's exactly what I was thinking of.PS That's another clue.

One of these days the Liberators will stage a comeback... a comment made by Scarlet Witch that Wasp agreed with. This clue makes no sense unless there is a Lady liberators sub-plot with Sue Richards, Miss America and someone else.

[Exo]

Good things can only come out of this union. I feel like laughing.

[Pyro]

I don't understand why everything Millar does has to be twelve issues long (or thereabout).

[EnDwiGast]

I think the timing all clicks out, as I understand it, it's like this:

ORIGINALLY, Millar and Hitch were supposed to take over Fantastic Four this September. (That's pretty much what we were hearing at the start of the year.) That would be after McDuffie's 6 issue stint, which would be the "New Fantastic Four" storyline and is consistent with the rumor of a big change at issue 550- September's issue.

BUT that was delayed until January. So now McDuffie gets an extra 4 issues. Since "Reconstruction" had already been plotted out, that meant for his next 4 issues, he'd have the old, original FF.

Makes sense.

I kinda wish McDuffie had been given a longer run with the normal team though- obviously I enjoyed what we got and I know I'll LOVE Millar/Hitch, but McDuffie had some great ideas and he seemed more comfortable with the original four than the new additions. The biggest problem his issues suffered from, IMO, is being cramped, packing too much in (a 3 issue Galactus arc?)- which makes sense if he thought he only had 6 issues on his dream book.


I wish he'd had a longer run too. I will wait to hear something from McDuffie before i start wondering if he was caught up in any double-dealings.

I thought the galactus story felt a bit rushed too. But I thought the reason for that was to wrap up his Gravity story from beyond! and adjust it - from previous plans to make Gravity the new Captain marvel.

The thing i thought was missing is that i felt all the tearing down JMS did of the FF should have led to some kind of pay-off. But i was hoping it would be worked through a little more in-depth (mini series?). So far the follow through has been a little disappointing. I thought, maybe, McDuffie wanted to start on a more upbeat note and get into it later - but it looks like it will get skipped over entirely.
The book, for him (Millar), is all about this family who loves each other, and he’s had enough of them being broken up.

That said, I like Millar's take on reed richards

My take? Well, Reed is not just the most brilliant brain on the planet, but he's also the leader of the team. A natural leader emerging from such a strong set of personalities means Reed has to be incredibly charismatic. They got this a little better in the second movie than the first, but Reed should be the guy who makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end when he walks into the room to solve a problem. He's the JFK of the group

[Rod G]

I sure they come up with a new logo for FF.


I LOVED the logo from Mike Wieringo's first run.

[Pyro]

I thought the galactus story felt a bit rushed too. But I thought the reason for that was to wrap up his Gravity story from beyond! and adjust it - from previous plans to make Gravity the new Captain marvel.Just curious, what exactly were these plans? I've read both Beyond! and McDuffie's FF and I've heard about these plans, but I don't get it. What does he have to do, if anything, with Captain Marvel? If anything, I kinda saw him as Captain Universe. I'm not the most knowledgeable about this, but wasn't Captain Universe the one you become when you get the Cosmic Awareness? I dunno. Is there somewhere I could read McDuffies comments on this?

The thing i thought was missing is that i felt all the tearing down JMS did of the FF should have led to some kind of pay-off. But i was hoping it would be worked through a little more in-depth (mini series?). So far the follow through has been a little disappointing. I thought, maybe, McDuffie wanted to start on a more upbeat note and get into it later - but it looks like it will get skipped over entirely.I'm not so sure about that. If you're looking for a payoff for the FF's break up, so am I, and I think McDuffie has one planned. Throughout his run on FF, he's been sprinkling the idea that Reed has a grand plan for the world to make it better. It was his excuse for his actions in Civil War, and why the team broke up. He discussed it with Sue on Titan and said that he would share it with the entire group. We still don't know what his plan is yet, though. In an upcoming issue (550 I think), A Doom from the future will come to prevent Reed from enacting whatever plan he has, so I'm hoping that'll be the arc where the payoff is. Then, I think we'll move on to Millar's stuff.

[EnDwiGast]

Just curious, what exactly were these plans? I've read both Beyond! and McDuffie's FF and I've heard about these plans, but I don't get it. What does he have to do, if anything, with Captain Marvel? If anything, I kinda saw him as Captain Universe. I'm not the most knowledgeable about this, but wasn't Captain Universe the one you become when you get the Cosmic Awareness? I dunno. Is there somewhere I could read McDuffies comments on this?


There may be other interviews that go into more detail, but here is (what i believe) is the beginning of it directly from Joe Quesada (JQ):

Q: motteditor 05-15-2007 05:38 PM

Joe, now that Capt. Marvel and Gravity both appear to be back, can you tell us what the original plans for the two were? From the various hints (and I forget now if you've actually straight out said this), it seems obvious that Gravity was intended to be the new Capt. Marvel before plans changed.

JQ: the plan was simple, motteditor, Gravity was to die in Beyond or at least appear to die. He would later be resurrected as the new Captain Marvel. We would discover that he had this secret destiny, but in the end, we decided against doing it.

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:xasWqyjvwWsJ:www.newsarama.com/NewJoeFridays/JoeFridays100_2.html+%22captain+marvel%22+gravity+ quesada&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us (http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:xasWqyjvwWsJ:www.newsarama.com/NewJoeFridays/JoeFridays100_2.html+%22captain+marvel%22+gravity+ quesada&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us)




I'm not so sure about that. If you're looking for a payoff for the FF's break up, so am I, and I think McDuffie has one planned. Throughout his run on FF, he's been sprinkling the idea that Reed has a grand plan for the world to make it better. It was his excuse for his actions in Civil War, and why the team broke up. He discussed it with Sue on Titan and said that he would share it with the entire group. We still don't know what his plan is yet, though. In an upcoming issue (550 I think), A Doom from the future will come to prevent Reed from enacting whatever plan he has, so I'm hoping that'll be the arc where the payoff is. Then, I think we'll move on to Millar's stuff.

You could be right about the payoff. I sure hope so. I have a lot of faith in McDuffie's ability to show excellent character interaction grounded in those character's history. He has been doing this in FF, and he really impressed me during Beyond!

[Magneto Rocks]

Yeah, I was wondering wh yhe was climaxing that plot thread so early but I think the Doom arc will be the closure to that particular plot line, and I'm sure it will be good. Reed will realise his big, grand schemes which he tells no-one about are a bad idea and will see what they might lead to in the alterna-doom's future. He and Sue will love each other again like a happy family.

If anything this confirms WWH will have no consequences for the FF- not that it was ever going to.

[Maestro]

See Millar talk about here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eniYrao1T3U

[Cayman]

Couldn't ask for much better news.

[EnDwiGast]

See Millar talk about here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eniYrao1T3U

So we don't get Rick Rolled, what is Millar talking about in that clip?

[TotalWorldDomination]

*Explodes*

This is the most awesome thing to happen to the team since Waid and Ringo came on. I've been really hoping for this and can't help but say... HELL YEAH! AWESOME!

It's funny, a few days ago I nearly posted a thread musing on how much the FF have fallen- in sales and creativity- compared to what they once were and wondering what it would take for them to regain the top spot.

Guess we're about to freaking find out! :D

YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YA Y!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY! YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!YAY!

My Life just got so much better. This has been my greatest hope since they announced they were working on a household name. I'm so excited, I may join you in exploding.

And yes, as soon as Milliar and Hitch are on this book, it rockets back to top ten status. Look out Avengers!

Yay!

*Explodes*

[Harold of the Rocks]

I kinda wish McDuffie had been given a longer run with the normal team though- obviously I enjoyed what we got and I know I'll LOVE Millar/Hitch, but McDuffie had some great ideas and he seemed more comfortable with the original four than the new additions. The biggest problem his issues suffered from, IMO, is being cramped, packing too much in (a 3 issue Galactus arc?)- which makes sense if he thought he only had 6 issues on his dream book.I have really enjoyed McDuffie on this book as well. It is bittersweet to have him depart to make room for Millar and Hitch... bittersweet with the emphasis on the Suh-Weeet!

I see nothing wrong with the length of the 'Galactus' arc... which I see as more of as Silver Surfer/Ego/Gravity arc anyways. Wasn't the whole Galactus v. High Evolutionary back in the day only a few issues? I thought the pacing was "up", but not crowded. The only thing McDuffie's run is suffering from in my opinion is Michael Turner covers...

An occasional one is fine, but they are starting to wear on me a bit. They probably really don't help sales a whole lot. I have no evidence to back this up, other than observation that many people find Turner as a cover artist either not to their liking, or that the market is saturated with them. I'm guessing there is a segment of potential buyers that just walk past The Fantastic Four on the rack, and never even open the book at all.

Then again, maybe there's a big Michael Turner fanbase who open the book and see Paul Pelletier's work and put it back on the rack. I'm just speculating.
I've been saying it forever, Marvel needs to put high profile creators on the FF if they want it to become center of the universe again. A high profile artist for sales.

It's a shame, because McDuffie and Pelletier are doing great, but if Marvel wants sales and creative freedom, Miller and Hitch are a much better pick.What do you mean by 'creative freedom'? Are you saying that McDuffie is working under an editorial mandate of some kind? I would think Mr. McDuffie knew about the team makeup and Reed & Sue being "on the rocks" going into this... so, other than those two elements, I would think he can do as he pleases more or less. Are you saying that editorial is going to gove Millar & Hitch more freedom? If so, how do you know this? I just don't know what you mean by this. If you are saying that Millar is more creative than McDuffie... that's a hard one to prove. If you are saying that editorial is saying to McDuffie, "You can't use Doom. The next team has plans and we don't want you to touch him." while telling Millar "You can do whatever you want with Doom. Kill him off forever for all we care."... can you point to an interview or something that demonstrates this?

You could be right about the payoff. I sure hope so. I have a lot of faith in McDuffie's ability to show excellent character interaction grounded in those character's history. He has been doing this in FF, and he really impressed me during Beyond!I didn't read Beyond!, but I think McDuffie is doing a lot of good and he has my faith that he will deliver a satisfying outcome to this plot.

As much as I enjoy the current creative team, it is pretty exciting news! I was afraid I would have to add a book to my pull list, with today's news. Turns out they dropped Millar & Hitch onto a book I'm already reading!

[bulbasteve]

Yeah, I was wondering wh yhe was climaxing that plot thread so early but I think the Doom arc will be the closure to that particular plot line, and I'm sure it will be good. Reed will realise his big, grand schemes which he tells no-one about are a bad idea and will see what they might lead to in the alterna-doom's future. He and Sue will love each other again like a happy family.

If anything this confirms WWH will have no consequences for the FF- not that it was ever going to.

Hmmm, yeah but you gotta think that Millar will keep going with these idea anyway... he came up with the whole think tank and stuff in Wolverine long before CW so I gotta think he is going to keep going in a bit of the same direction. And it's not like registration and stuff is going away...

[Young Avenger]

Millar + Hitch = Me buying FF.

[Mister Mets]

I think this is awesome news.

I also believe Ultimates 2 was the best comic book of the last decade, so I'm biased. :D

[GRANT!]

I anxiously await Hitch's perfectly rendered stubble on Reed's face when he's stressed out.

You know some bad shit is coming when Reed has stubble.

[Kefky]

This is amazing news. I've been saying that Millar needs a run on this book ever since his UFF ended. He totally gets the concept, the characters, and how it all works. This is definitely gonna be a classic run, and I hope they stay for at least two years. Both Millar and Hitch are saying that they wanna stay for a long time, so it most likely won't be just one.

[Pyro]

The only thing McDuffie's run is suffering from in my opinion is Michael Turner covers...You said it. They are so bad, they actually prevented me from picking up the books for the longest time. I'm glad I got over it because the insides are so good. But I see no reason why Paul Pelletier can't do them. He deserves to be able to do them.

[Frank]

They should put Pelletier on the Omega Flight book if it becomes an ongoing.

[StoneGold]

Thing about McDuffie's FF, it was good, but it was kind of predictable. Well, as predictable as it could be with the Black Panther on it, anyways. But it felt like classic superhero stuff. Which is nice, but to be honest, it felt kind of done before.


I doubt I'm going to get that feeling from this run, for better or worse. Millar's hyperbole aside, it probably really is the kick in the pants FF needs to get to that top tier book again.

[heretic]

WWC: Mark Millar is the New “Fantastic Four”-Man

2008 will be a grand year for “Fantastic Four” fans, because the acclaimed “Ultimates” team of Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch will take over the book. CBR News spoke with Millar about his plans for the series

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11567

WWC: Bryan Hitch-ing a Ride with the "Fantastic Four"

Announced today at WW Chicago, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch will follow-up their run on "Ultimates" with twelve issues of "Fantastic Four." CBR News spoke with Hitch in-depth.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11566I'd rather have McDuffie.

This guy runs neck and neck with Hudlin.

This news is making my memories of DeFalco's run seem quite rosey.

In short, I am Not Pleased.

HTG

[XPac]

Thing about McDuffie's FF, it was good, but it was kind of predictable. Well, as predictable as it could be with the Black Panther on it, anyways. But it felt like classic superhero stuff. Which is nice, but to be honest, it felt kind of done before.


I doubt I'm going to get that feeling from this run, for better or worse. Millar's hyperbole aside, it probably really is the kick in the pants FF needs to get to that top tier book again.

Yeah... regardless of how you feel for Millar as a writer, I think he'll help make the FF a top tier book. And that's not something that arguably marvels first superhero team comic can really claim in a long long long time.

It may end up being the equivalent of what Bendis did to New Avengers (though likely to a lesser degree since Millar can't make Wolverine and Spidey members of the team).

[Yaw]

Or Marvel decided to get rid of him because he's writing JLA. Or he just signed an exclusive with DC.

McDuffie has no exclusive. When he signed on he was only suppose to be writing 6 issues but he ended up doing more.

[Yaw]

From McDuffie himself (http://www.thevhive.com/forum/index.php?webtag=DWAYNEMCDUFFIE&msg=1774.10):

It was pre-planned. I was supposed to write a few issues (four, I think) to give Mark and Brian time to get ahead on the schedule. I actually ended up writing six more issues than I initially agreed to. And hey, there's still five issues left in my run!

[Dusty.]

This is amazing news. I've been saying that Millar needs a run on this book ever since his UFF ended. He totally gets the concept, the characters, and how it all works. This is definitely gonna be a classic run, and I hope they stay for at least two years. Both Millar and Hitch are saying that they wanna stay for a long time, so it most likely won't be just one.

Well, I don't know what he was doing in Civil War, but he definitely WASN'T getting the characters of Reed and Sue in that sloppy piece of dung.

[Gene M.]

Anyone else think that Hitch's Reed looks like George W. Bush?

[Jack Zodiac]

So, what? A five year run? This is pretty cool news, though. It's definitely a major push for FF.

Five years? Yeah, they should probably be able to get about twelve issues out in that time.

[Jack Zodiac]

I will miss McDuffie though, I've enjoyed his run so far.

He's taking over Justice League of America. And it's about damn time! I'm gonna' miss him on Fantastic Four, but I'm glad he's getting another team book, and one he's worked with so well before, at that.

[Will.S]

Anyone else think that Hitch's Reed looks like George W. Bush?
I was just about to bring that up actually:

http://www.newsarama.com/Chicago_07/Marvel/Sat/Hitch_FF_3.jpg

http://images.wikia.com/uncyclopedia/images/9/99/Cute-George-W-Bush.jpeg

[Jack Zodiac]

Maybe Hitch could get it out on time if all he did were background and... somebody good did the characters.

[Spenser for Hire]

I have stayed away from Marvel for quite a while now, but I am giving some titles a try. Amazing Spider-Man is looking good. Uncanny, Astonishing, and X-Men, along with Wolverine have caught my eye. But this FF announcement has me really excited. I am hoping that they bring back the good times in the FF the way Byrne did.

[Will.S]

You know, I've been collecting FF almost all of my life so unless it was some abysmal team I would still be picking it up but Millar and Hitch on a FF just raises my excitement for the book tenfold.

My worries though as someone pointed out is that it might look and feel like an Ultimate title since Hitch's work has become so much of a staple of the Ultimate look and Millar's characterizations at times don't ring true. Another thing is Hitch's pace, I'll believe Hitch can do a year worth of comics when I see it but I feel that Millar and Romita Jr. would have been a perfect duo where it would be on time every month but I really hope Hitch can do it. Otherwise this definitely gives the FF the kick in the pants it needed since Waid left the book.

McDuffie's current stuff is good, I'm enjoying it while it lasts but McDuffie and Paul stuff seem to be just having fun playing with the various characters until the next team comes in who are in this case Millar and Hitch. Heh, it's almost become the Fantastic 6 given all the characters in there now.

[EnDwiGast]

From McDuffie himself (http://www.thevhive.com/forum/index.php?webtag=DWAYNEMCDUFFIE&msg=1774.10):

Thanks for finding this. I will accept this as proof that McDuffie wasn't wronged in this situation. Plus, he gets to write Justice League of America. So its a win-win situation.

By the way, during the message board conversation in that link, McDuffie also says he and marvel may have an announcement soon about a three issue mini series coming up that he might begin working on for marvel ..so it does not seem as if he is DC exclusive.

[Pyro]

Anyone else think that Hitch's Reed looks like George W. Bush?
Yeah... And I really don't like it. Reed just doesn't look like the smartest man on earth with George W. Bush's face...

[DasPoppen]

Good news. I will pick up an FF ongoing for the very first time in my comic-reading career.

[tjarvis]

Maybe Hitch could get it out on time if all he did were background and... somebody good did the characters.

To be fair, before he did Ultimates, Hitch was pretty good about hitting a monthly schedule. His Authority run was rarely late.

By his own admission, he's cranking out the FF pages, so I'm guessing we're going to be seeing a return to form in terms of his timeliness.

[Iron Maiden]

Duplicate post

[Iron Maiden]

Triplicate post!! The db update went fubar

[Iron Maiden]

If Marvel found it necessary to use McDuffie and Pelletier to give Hitch a year's head start then I don't think we're out of the woods yet when it comes to maintaining a monthly schedule.
The mind boggles at the thought of Jack Kirby having that luxury...

[Magneto Rocks]

I think the most amusing thing is that people continue to snot on about how it l be delayed, which blatantly ignores that Millar has stated at least thrice that if they look like they have to delay, they'll use a fill-in artist to get it out on time, so it WILL be monthly.

Of course, the same people who will moan about a fill-in artist and say they'd prefer Hitch will be the same people as would moan if Hitch was delayed.

I'd rather the delays myself but ah well.

[Jake V]

The confirmed that they'll use fill-in artists?

Well, that kills half my interest in the book.

[Crimson]

I like this.

It's annoying to hear fans and the industry to praise Fantastic Four left right and center... yet it only sells 40k so all these fans aren't buying it (the just seem to respect the legacy) and they haven't stuck a big name on it in years.

I'm enjoying the book at the minute but I'm glad they are trying to push it.

[Iron Maiden]

I think the most amusing thing is that people continue to snot on about how it l be delayed, which blatantly ignores that Millar has stated at least thrice that if they look like they have to delay, they'll use a fill-in artist to get it out on time, so it WILL be monthly.

Of course, the same people who will moan about a fill-in artist and say they'd prefer Hitch will be the same people as would moan if Hitch was delayed.

I'd rather the delays myself but ah well.

I'd rather it remain a monthly and if Hitch has to be subbed, so be it. I missed that statement by Millar and I wonder if they will really follow through on that. As for Hitch, I don't buy anything just because his name is on it... I buy a title because of the interest I have in the characters. I really don't think his art is all that even when he is given all the time in the world to complete it. His work always looks rather static to me and I wonder if he can handle a Kirby-styled slugfest. I think his Reed looks awful and it wouldn't surprise me if he isn't copying GW photos for his reference :p

I think in the end, the delays in the Ultimates hurt the sell through figures. Several local comic book shops in my area loaded up on it and had a lot of copies sitting around when that issue came out after a seven month delay. The owner said he thought his customers just lost interest.

[XPac]

I think the most amusing thing is that people continue to snot on about how it l be delayed, which blatantly ignores that Millar has stated at least thrice that if they look like they have to delay, they'll use a fill-in artist to get it out on time, so it WILL be monthly.

Of course, the same people who will moan about a fill-in artist and say they'd prefer Hitch will be the same people as would moan if Hitch was delayed.

I'd rather the delays myself but ah well.

For me it depends. If you're delayed the way Ultimates was delayed (and as bad as that was, he frankly deserves whatever flack he gets from that), then I think you need fill in artists.

I frankly like the way Bendis uses fill in artists. He'll use them for specific story arcs and writers the story to fit that artist. And it doesn't hurt that Bendis can pretty much get creme of the crop... I assume the same will be said for Millar.

[Keith_Martineau]

I loved Loved LOVED LOVED LOVED Mark Waids run on FF. It's the only time that I've read it where it didn't feel like Avengers with 4 characters. It felt like it was about a family of Imaginauts.

Once JMS came on, I took the opportunity to drop the title, because I couldn't afford as many comics as I was getting at the time, and as much as I enjoy JMS on Spidey---his huge scale ideas always left a little something to be desired.

But I'm going to have to start collecting again. Millar annoys me when his writings become deliberately political, but I enjoyed is UFF run, and I think here he's gonna be able to just blast forward with ideas and it's going to be fun.

And what can you say about Bryan Hitch? He knows when, how, and why he messed up in Ultimates, and really wants to make amends and do a nice MONTHLY monthly book. At the very least, if they only stay on a year we're almost guaranteed to have it ship monthly, since he's already over a 3rd done and we won't even see the first issue till January. If they stay on longer, they'll use a fill-in, which is fine. They're looking to make a big idea, super awesome monthly title. Not a collected artistic political statement like in Ultimates.

Bring it on, I'm ready.

[RolandJP]

Hopefully Alan Moores take on the new fan criteria for books isnt correct. And The FF will offer something different then this quote-
Moore said in George Khoury's book a few years ago regarding a lot of his Image work that: "I think the mistake I was making was that I was trying to second-guess what this largely unknown new audience would want." (as he'd been away from the mainstream for a while) That it just seemed like "the bulk of the audience really wanted things that had almost no story; just lots of big, full-page pin-up sort of pieces of artwork" and that he was a little curious at the time to see if he could write stories for an audience like that

[mattx110]

The confirmed that they'll use fill-in artists?

Well, that kills half my interest in the book.

they confirmed that they will if they have to. maintaining a monthly schedule is more important then giving hitch extra time on his deadlines. this way you get all the hitch work you would have gotten, but if he gets too far behind, you still have a fantastic four book to read while he gets some extra time to make sure he can get the next book out in time.
marvel wants to enforce it's deadline policies while getting the most out of the artists, and this is the only way they can do it if leeway time isn't enough.

oh, and millar better give hitch some fricken great scifi tools and gadgets to draw, and at least a little interdimensional transportation. the man was born for it.

and it looks like mcduffie won't be starved for work anytime soon. so that's a good thing. it's not like him only being on JLA for team books is a huge loss.

[streator]

i'll most likely be picking this up. whether or not i get single issues or tpb's i don't know yet.

[Magneto Rocks]

Bumping with news.

http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom_Brevoort

Some updates- Hitch's first cover, another interior page from the fourth issue, and two tidbits I thought were cool:

(which will carry a new and distinctive trade dress to help it stand out from the rest of the Marvel line),

One wonders what that could be... nice idea though.

"In 2008, FANTASTIC FOUR becomes Marvel's flagship title once again. Bet on it."

Such confidence is reassuring, and what it says is simply awesome.

[StoneGold]

Bumping with news.


I don't think what you did counts as bumping. And I mean that in a good way.

[CapnCaveman]

WWC: Mark Millar is the New “Fantastic Four”-Man

2008 will be a grand year for “Fantastic Four” fans, because the acclaimed “Ultimates” team of Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch will take over the book. CBR News spoke with Millar about his plans for the series

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11567

WWC: Bryan Hitch-ing a Ride with the "Fantastic Four"

Announced today at WW Chicago, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch will follow-up their run on "Ultimates" with twelve issues of "Fantastic Four." CBR News spoke with Hitch in-depth.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11566



Does this mean we will only see 2 issues produced a year?

[StoneGold]

Does this mean we will only see 2 issues produced a year?

Not much one for reading the actual story, are you? No, it means that at the very least, it will be like Ultimates 2. On time for the first 6 issues or so, and then it will take forever. Except they're apparently going to use fill ins if that happens, so no.

[Magneto Rocks]

An update from Millarworld: Mark Millar apparantly planned out a second year, then realised his contract was expiring so it's likely he'll be very busy and may only get one year done. :(

In better news, Hitch says:

" I'm already talking new schedules with Tommy Brevoort as my intention is to aim at a much longer run than 12."

Which makes me think he'll do the 12 issues with Millar, take a break for a while to stockpile more, then do more.

Even though, if I'm brutally honest, Hitch is not the half of the creative team I would have picked to stay on past the other, it's still great news.

[Kefky]

Well, for what it's worth, now there's a VERY slim chance we'll see any delays during the entire run.

[xmanson]

Which is gonna be a great thing, of course.

I'm far from being a Millar fabn, but I'm really interested in this. Hopefully, it won't be CW Reed we'll get.