Your Reading Order Checklist To Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four Run

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There are heaps of great Fantastic Four creative runs. However, there are very few that you could reasonably state set the bar for 21st-century runs like Jonathan Hickman’s. This 2009-2012 run features imaginatively bold ideas; great characterisations; deep Marvel lore; wonderful contributions from artists like Dale Eaglesham, Neil Edwards, and Steve Epting; and plenty of heart. As a result, it has become a reader and critical darling.

You can probably start to understand why so many people sing this run from the rooftops. Yet, Hickman’s Fantastic Four run can seem confusing to new readers due to its non-linear approach, spanning over multiple titles.

Luckily, this reading order is here to help make this run simple. It details the recommended reading order along with other handy details like background reading, collected editions, and more. Soon, you’ll be able to dive into this celebrated run and see why it’s so cherished.

Is this run new reader friendly?

Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four run is approachable for new readers. The writer is known for mining Marvel’s history and resurfacing concepts. But it’s implemented in a way that’s additive and isn’t a crutch on the story. Concepts are explained clearly, and they don’t tend to get in the way of the imaginative stories. You’ll have a lot of fun if you’re the kind of reader who’s happy to go with the flow. Those who feel like they may need their handheld throughout the reading experience may want to review the next section.

War of Kings #1 cover by Brandon Peterson.

Background reading

Are you the kind of reader who likes to do background reading before jumping into a run? While it’s not necessary, especially if you’re happy to go with the flow, here are a few comics I can suggest that help inform Jonathan Hickman’s run.

Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch’s Fantastic Four run

This is the creative run directly before Hickman takes on the title. Hickman doesn’t disregard what Millar and Hitch set up. Those who want to know more should read Fantastic Four #554-569.

War of Kings/Realm of Kings

Check out this pair of cosmic events if you want to know more about what has happened to The Inhumans during this time in Marvel history.

Fantastic Four #272-273
Written and art by John Bryne.

This pair of issues introduces Nathanial Richards.

Prisoners of Doctor Doom
Written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Art by Jack Kirby.

This issue is the first appearance of Doctor Doom. It also happens to have a flashback sequence to Doom and Reed Richard’s time at college together. Fantastic Four #581-582 is a time-travelling story that references that time.

Incredible Hulk #606
Written by Greg Pak. Art by Paul Pelletier.

This early chapter of the Fall of the Hulks storyline will explain what happened to Doctor Doom when you get to Fantastic Four #583.

Annihilation

Check out this much-loved cosmic event if you want to know more about Annihilus’ original Annihilation Wave.

Fantastic Four #570 cover by Dale Eaglesham and Paul Mounts.

Reading order

Below is the recommended reading order for Jonathan Hickman and collaborator’s run on Fantastic Four. Use this if you’re looking to find the optimal way to read the comics, whether that be in single issue form, trade paperback, digitally, or through Marvel Unlimited.

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #2

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #3

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #4

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #5

Note: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5 ties into the Dark Reign status quo of the Marvel Universe. This is not so much an event but a period of time in Marvel Comics where Norman Osborn and villains reigned supreme. You don’t need to have read anything else to understand this Fantastic Four miniseries. However, check out our reading order if you want to dive deeper into it.

Fantastic Four #570

Fantastic Four #571

Fantastic Four #572

Fantastic Four #573

Fantastic Four #574

Fantastic Four #575

Fantastic Four #576

Fantastic Four #577

Fantastic Four #578

Fantastic Four #579

Fantastic Four #580

Fantastic Four #581

Fantastic Four #582

Fantastic Four #583

Fantastic Four #584

Fantastic Four #585

Fantastic Four #586

Fantastic Four #587

Fantastic Four #588

Note: There is no Fantastic Four #589-599. The legacy numbering for this is taken up by FF (2011 series) until it reaches issue #600 and the main Fantastic Four series returns. There are some storytelling reasons why Fantastic Four is replaced by FF, which are made clear when you read it.

FF (2011 series) #1

FF (2011 series) #2

FF (2011 series) #3

FF (2011 series) #4

FF (2011 series) #5

FF (2011 series) #6

FF (2011 series) #7

FF (2011 series) #8

FF (2011 series) #9

FF (2011 series) #10

FF (2011 series) #11

Fantastic Four #600

Note: At this point there are two Fantastic Four series written by Johnathan Hickman. Treat these as two sides of the same coin and bounce back and forth between the two as detailed below.

FF (2011 series) #12

Fantastic Four #601

FF (2011 series) #13

Fantastic Four #602

FF (2011 series) #14

Fantastic Four #603

FF (2011 series) #15

Fantastic Four #604

FF (2011 series) #16

Fantastic Four #605

Fantastic Four #605.1

Note: Fantastic Four #605.1 is part of Marvel’s Point One initiative. These were one-and-done jumping-on points aimed at easing new readers in the publisher’s ongoing comics.

Fantastic Four #606

FF (2011 series) #17

FF (2011 series) #18

Fantastic Four #607

Fantastic Four #608

FF (2011 series) #19

FF (2011 series) #20

FF (2011 series) #21

Fantastic Four #609

Fantastic Four #610

FF (2011 series) #22

Fantastic Four #611

FF (2011 series) #23

Secret Wars (2015 series) #1

Secret Wars (2015 series) #2

Secret Wars (2015 series) #3

Secret Wars (2015 series) #4

Secret Wars (2015 series) #5

Secret Wars (2015 series) #6

Secret Wars (2015 series) #7

Secret Wars (2015 series) #8

Secret Wars (2015 series) #9

Note: Secret Wars (2015 series) is a line-wide Marvel event that is written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Esad Ribic. While Hickman used his Avengers/New Avengers run to build up to it, it’s just as much as Fantastic Four story and caps off his run nicely. See more about the Avengers/New Avengers run below.

The Complete Collection Volume 1 cover by Dale Eaglesham and Paul Mounts.

Collected editions

Prefer to read this run in a collected format? Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four run has been collected in several formats. See the details below:

Trade paperback collections

These are the trade paperbacks you’ll want to track down to read the full run. While many copies were printed, they’re long out of print. As a result, you may find it difficult to find some volumes. Check out the “Complete Collections”, listed below, if that happens to the case.

Dark Reign: Fantastic Four
Collects: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5

Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman Volume 1
Collects: Fantastic Four #570-574

Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman Volume 2
Collects: Fantastic Four #575-578

Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman Volume 3
Collects: Fantastic Four #579-582

Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman Volume 4
Collects: Fantastic Four #583-588

FF by Jonathan Hickman Volume 1
Collects: FF (2011 series) #1-5

FF by Jonathan Hickman Volume 2
Collects: FF (2011 series) #6-11

Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman Volume 5
Collects: Fantastic Four #600-604

FF by Jonathan Hickman Volume 3
Collects: FF (2011 series) #12-16

Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman Volume 6
Collects: Fantastic Four #605, 605.1, 604-611

FF by Jonathan Hickman Volume 4
Collects: FF (2011 series) #17-23

Buy trade paperbacks on:

Marvel Premier Collection

The Marvel Premier Collection is a budget collection line that highlights great stories for new readers to jump on with. The first 18 issues of Hickman’s run have been collected in this format.

Fantastic Four: Solve Everything
Collects: Fantastic Four #570-588

Complete Collections

These thick trade paperback collections collect the full run in four volumes, packaging Fantastic Four, FF, and more together.

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 1
Collects: Fantastic Four #570-578, Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5, and material from Dark Reign: The Cabal

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 2
Collects: Fantastic Four #579-588 and FF (2011 series) #1-5

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 3
Collects: FF (2011 series) #6-16 and Fantastic Four #600-604

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Volume 4
Collects: Fantastic Four #605-611, #605.1; and FF (2011 series) #17-23

Buy Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection on:

Omnibus

Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four run is also available in two chunky oversized omnibus editions.

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Volume 1
Collects: Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5, Fantastic Four #570-588, FF (2011 series) #1-5, and material from Dark Reign: The Cabal #1

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Volume 2
Collects: FF (2011 series) #6-23; Fantastic Four #600-611, 605.1

Buy Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus on:

Fantastic Four (2012 series) #1 cover by Mark Bagley.

What to read after Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four run?

So, you’ve finished Hickman’s Fantastic Four run and wondering what to read next? Here are a few reading recommendations.

Matt Fraction’s Fantastic Four/FF run
Written by Matt Fraction. Art by Mark Bagley. Art by Mike Allred.

Matt Fraction was the next writer to take on the Fantastic Four and FF. Like Hickman, Fraction went the duel series route with his run. However, each series has a distinct identity. Fantastic Four (2012 series) is a time-travelling adventure-of-the-month style family vacation. FF (2012 series), on the other hand, is an idiosyncratic comic starring Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Miss Thing. While the former was enjoyed by many, it was the latter that was the more celebrated series.

Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers/New Avengers run
Written by Jonathan Hickman. Art by various.

Jonathan Hickman’s next project at Marvel was his epic run on Avengers/New Avengers, starting in 2012. Both comic series told an intertwining of epic proportions that eventually set the scene for Secret Wars (2015).

Find out how to read Hickman’s Avengers/New Avengers with our reading order.