Fantastic Four #9

We're now nine issues into Ryan North, Ivan Fiorelli, and Iban Coello's run of this series, and yet again, we get a new and important perspective, this time from Alicia Grimm. Fantastic Four continues to excite with new ideas, clever perspectives, and a series that never holds back with strong characters. Read Full Review

Throughout the issue, all three of the team mates with their memories intact enact clever ideas that play out with a genuine sense of spectacle on the page. Metatextual adjustments, including a page depicting Alicia's perspective, contribute to the action rather than distracting from it. Read Full Review

Nice little wrap-up to this two-part story, which an interesting focus on Alicia Masters-Grimm as a blind narrator/protagonist. Read Full Review

Alicia Masters-Grimm's narration is both the best part of the issue and the biggest weakness of the narrative, making for an endlessly debatable total. Read Full Review

In Fantastic Four #9, Ryan North continues to be his own worst enemy by taking simple fights and simple ideas and making them more complicated than they need to be in an effort to make this comic needlessly profound. The art looks great, and the action reflects the kind of big battle excitement you want in an FF comic, but the issue is weighed down by silly execution and ponderous pacing. Read Full Review

KittyNone

Jul 10, 2023

This was easily my favorite issue of this series so far! Casually tossing out metafictional meditations on comics and the experience of art, big wild ideas about the underexplored potential of the FF's powers, wonderful art from Fiorelli (that two-page splash is perfect!) and this continues to be the best Alicia run ever. Daring so many things at once could come off as garbled and overstuffed, but North & Fiorelli make it look simple. Just a perfect comic.

General C K

Jul 05, 2023

I don't think I've ever seen Johnny and Sue use their powers in tandem before.

sawright20

Jul 08, 2023

This run feels totally at odds with Dan Slott’s before it, which played it so safe that it lost its appeal. Marvel has let North explore some really cool and unorthodox ideas here, though, and it’s paid off. This issue is basically one extended fight scene, but because it’s narrated by Alicia, North and Fiorelli get to shake up the tradition FF storytelling. Alicia’s blindness offers a fun meta commentary on the form of comic books, as well. Another element that I find important about this series is how much like a family the team continues to feel, and the touching moments North has been able to consistently implement into his narrative.

Prodigalson16

Jul 05, 2023

Beautiful art from Fiorelli. Alicia's narrative got a little confusing for me at times but that's ok.

ResearchReader

Jul 08, 2023

To get this out of the way first, I don't like North's writing 95% of the time. I think most of the time he is a hack and that this run started off weak. Now getting that out of the way. This issue I have to give him credit where credit is due. This is actually creative. The perspective from Alicia, and the sibling combo action is stuff that has never/or rarely ever been done. And this was done pretty well. The art is also great. The characters sound mostly in-character. In an era where so many writers only re-use and water-down ideas, it is rare to find something more unique. So for that I like it.

CrazyforRAMU

Oct 26, 2024

The cause-and-effect mechanics of the plot go slightly wonky at the climax, but the art is even stronger than the last issue. And there's Alicia's voice, which is insanely lovable even by this title's high lovability standards. This is a great finish to a great story. Appreciate that the way Alicia interacts with Sue's powers is a subtle nod toward her step-father, the Puppet Master.

K-23

Oct 10, 2023

This is far and away the best series Marvel has right now. I'm really excited to see Ryan North's career advance as he's already one of, if not, the best writer at Marvel this early in his career. Something Marvel is in desperate need of.

Kalaoui

Jan 16, 2024

Great issue and fun play on old school 60s ideas. I was lost sometimes trying to imagine the Alicia/Sue interactions but it worked out well towards the end. I just thank God I have eyes to see beautiful comics and can't imagine not having eyesight. Fiorelli's art is fantastic ;) with nice Aburtov colors.

daspidaboy

Jul 08, 2023

a pretty fun and interesting issue. I think this is The best Fantastic four series after Hickman's run

Kenjamin

May 10, 2025

Art: 3.5/5 Story: 3/5 Total: 6.5/10

Williamflipper

Mar 23, 2025

Downhill

Gio

Aug 09, 2025

Same issue as #8, just dull.