Fantastic Four: Point of Origin (Comics) | Review

A museum ceremony triggers a bold mission by returning the team to their most defining moment. This isn't just another cosmic adventure filled with inter-dimensional threats. Here's the thing: Reed Richards has carried guilt for six decades over what happened to Ben Grimm.

The storyline collects issues 14-20 from the 2018 series, delivering a six-chapter arc that digs into what makes Marvel's First Family tick. It starts with a museum unveiling their original spacecraft, which triggers Reed's obsession with finishing what they started when cosmic rays transformed four explorers to the Fantastic Four.

Writer Dan Slott (Spider-Man: Big Time, Spider-Man: Dying Wish) handles the narrative with restraint before diving into cosmic spectacle. This volume follows the Thing Vs. Immortal Hulk storyline but functions as standalone, making it accessible for readers jumping mid-stream.

Art duties split across illustrators including Paco Medina (Deadpool: Dark Reign, Venom: Run), Sean Izaakse, Carlos Magno, Francesco Manna and Bob Quinn. This rotating roster creates visual inconsistency that may frustrate readers but colorist Erick Arciniega works overtime to keep atmospheric cohesion across shifting styles.

The story opens with Reed Richards attending the unveiling of their preserved spacecraft at a museum. Seeing the vessel triggers something in him, a need to complete what they set out to do. He convinces the team to rebuild the ship and finish the mission properly this time.

What makes this hook work is how Slott frames it through Johnny Storm's perspective. The opening chapter spends time exploring why Johnny joined the space program, that inexplicable pull toward the stars he felt as a kid. It's character work that treats the Human Torch with respect rather than reducing him to comic relief.

The team travels 44 light-years to a planet called Spyre, discovering something unexpected. The cosmic rays that gave them powers didn't just affect four humans on Earth; they reached Spyre and transformed its inhabitants into super-powered beings waiting for the Fantastic Four.

These beings call themselves the Unparalleled, a team of seven heroes who've been told through prophecy that the Fantastic Four are coming as a threat. Their entire culture has been shaped by fear of Earth's heroes, creating a twisted mirror version of the FF's own origin story.

The Unparalleled's leader is a winged warrior named Sky and she has a connection to Johnny Storm that rewrites a crucial piece of Fantastic Four history. Without spoiling specifics, Slott reveals one of the team's biggest secrets, something hidden since their first mission. The revelation hits hard as it changes their dynamics.

Middle chapters focus on the team splitting across Spyre's regions, each encountering aspects of alien society shaped by Fantastic Four's actions. Reed deals with Spyre's scientific council who view him as dangerous. Sue navigates political complexities of a world built on prophecy.

Ben Grimm gets the most emotionally resonant sub-plot. On Spyre, he encounters beings who worship the Thing as a heroic figure rather than seeing him as a monster. It's exactly what Ben needed after decades of feeling like Reed's biggest mistake and Slott plays it perfectly.

The pacing drags considerably in the middle. What could have been a tight four-issue arc stretches into six, with repetitive action sequences that don't advance the plot meaningfully. The Unparalleled members function well as obstacles but lack individual personality beyond their powers and Arthurian-styled designations.

The climax involves Reed choosing about Spyre's future, forcing him to confront his role in this mess. There's a clever twist involving the society's engineered nature and how new possibilities undermine authoritarian control. It's smart science fiction buried under superhero punch-ups.

Issue 20 pivots away from the main storyline for a Human Torch solo adventure that serves as both palette cleanser and emotional coda. It's a lighter chapter featuring Johnny dealing with the aftermath of revelations from the Spyre arc and it works precisely because it gives readers breathing room after six issues of cosmic stakes.

The final revelation about the FF's origin is subtle enough that future writers can ignore it without breaking continuity but meaningful enough to add emotional depth to Reed and Ben's relationship. It re-contextualizes their dynamic in a way that feels earned rather than forced.

The rotating art team creates the volume's biggest weakness. Medina, Izaakse, Magno, Manna and Quinn bring technical skill but their different approaches to character design and panel composition make reading jarring. One issue might feature clean action from Izaakse while the next shifts to Magno's heavier, stylized linework.

Erick Arciniega's coloring deserves recognition for maintaining consistency despite the artistic chaos. His palette creates atmospheres for different Spyre locations, from ethereal blues to warm oranges. The Unparalleled look alien without tipping into generic sci-fi territory.

Slott's dialogue maintains efficiency throughout. Characters sound distinct, family banter feels natural and exposition integrates smoothly. He pulls from deep Fantastic Four lore without making it homework, which long-time readers appreciate while newcomers won't feel lost.

What the writing nails is treating Johnny Storm like an adult character with agency and emotional depth. Too many writers reduce him to the team's comedic wildcard but Slott gives him genuine motivations and consequences. The Sky connection hits because Johnny matters beyond throwing fireballs or just cracking jokes.

Point of Origin delivers Slott's strongest Fantastic Four work to date, even with pacing issues and inconsistent artwork. Core family dynamics shine when the script gives room to interact. Emotional beats land because Slott understands these characters need grounding moments.

The arc works better as part of the larger run than standalone reading. It builds toward Empyre event while exploring themes about legacy, responsibility and how our actions ripple across galaxies. Readers invested in Slott's slow-burn approach will find plenty to appreciate here.

This isn't perfect superhero comics but it's far from a misfire. The Fantastic Four lose control of situations, question their choices and still find ways to protect people, which captures what makes this team essential. Point of Origin pushes crucial pieces into place while delivering just enough spectacle to justify the journey to Spyre.

The Human Torch solo issue proves Slott understands characters need breathing room. Those quieter beats make cosmic warfare feel earned rather than exhausting, reminding readers why Marvel's First Family fights hard to protect a universe that doesn't appreciate their sacrifices.

Fantastic Four: Point of Origin storyline is collected in Fantastic Four Vol. 5: Point of Origin, available in trade paperback through major bookstores and various online retailers. Readers who prefer digital access can find it on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and Marvel Unlimited.