Fantastic Four

The first is Ryan North’s current, continuing run on Fantastic Four. You may know Ryan North’s work from Dinosaur Comics or his amazing Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. This Fantastic Four run is about family, it’s fun, and you don’t have to know about or read any other Marvel comic to enjoy it. While whimsically silly at times (what would the Fantastic Four look like if they were dinosaurs?), it is also insightful and emotional. One issue is from the perspective of Alicia Masters Grimm (a character who is blind) and attempts to convey one perspective on what comics can mean to a person who has a severe limitation in sight. Another issue made me feel deep sadness for a villain who emerged from a Pokémon Go-like mobile game.

We’re 16 issues in and the first few story arcs are out in TPB collections. Here’s the first one on Amazon, but I’m sure you can get it at your local library.

The Sacrificers

The second comic is The Sacrificers written by Rick Remender and drawn by Max Fiumara. As a person who doesn’t normally care about spoilers, I don’t want to go into too many details of this amazing book. We’re six issues in and it’s been a long, long time since I anticipated each new installment of any comic so eagerly. It’s a universe full of gods, science, magic, and bird-like peasants. The world is built so beautifully and it’s revealed to us at such a pace that allows us space to speculate and wonder. You don’t know exactly what’s going on or whom you’re supposed to care about until you suddenly care very, very much.

You can get the first six issues digitally or in single-issue form at your local comic book store. The first TPB collection is slated to ship in April 2024.