Marvel Knights 4 Volume 1: Wolf At The Door Tpb (Fantastic Four)

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Summary: Marvel's first family gets knighted
Review: Some months ago, Marvel Editor in Chief Joe Quesada made the brilliant idea of firing Fantastic Four scribe Mark Waid; a writer who has made the comic the best it has been in years. Even though it was resolved and Waid is still on board as the writer, this storyarc was originally supposed to take shape after Waid's departure. With Waid still on board, Marvel issued a new ongoing series with the Fantastic Four under the Marvel Knights banner. Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's script finds the super hero family celebrating young Franklin Richards' birthday, followed by the team learning that they are ruined financially and are subsequently kicked out of the Baxter Building. The idea is fresh, but it doesn't take off the way it should. What makes this book worth reading however, is the art by rising superstar Steve McNiven. He's making quite a name for himself with Marvel, and this book is proof positive he will be a force to be reckoned with. All in all, Wolf at the Door is worth checking out for longtime FF fans looking for something different, but McNiven's art is it's selling point.

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Summary: "You squirts wanna hear a scary story?"
Review: Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, artist Steve McNiven, inker Mark Morales, and colorist Morry Hollowell bring the Fantastic Four under the Marvel Knights banner and it is clear from the outset that this is not your father's Stan Lee-Jack Kirby produced Fantastic Four. There are no larger-than-life super villains threatening the team here - just a white collar criminal and the real culprits behind an urban legend.

After the Fantastic Four is swindled out of their fortune by their financial manager, the team is forced to move out of their home and find normal jobs to make ends meet. Reed Richards is tasked with repairing a law firm's computer network, Sue Richards becomes a teacher, Ben Grimm is hired as a construction worker, and Johnny Storm discovers that potential employers are not exactly banging on his door. After settling into their new apartment, Reed, Sue, and Ben embark on a camping trip with Franklin and his young friends. Upon reaching the campsite, they discover the Jersey Devil might not be such an imaginary figure after all.

"Marvel Knights 4 Volume 1: Wolf at the Door" collects the first seven issues of "Marvel Knight 4". In keeping with the tone of other Marvel Knights titles, the storytelling has more of a realistic bent to it. While the premise of the Fantastic Four being forced to become members of normal society is interesting, credibility is stretched due to what we already know about the characters. In light of their high-profile status and unique abilities, it becomes difficult to believe that they would find themselves experiencing the problems they do with their new jobs and their new home. This puts a damper on the first story arc that establishes the team's new status-quo, but the second arc centered around the Jersey Devil fares much better. The book hits its stride when Reed, Sue, and Ben find themselves in an unanticipated situation and are forced to rely on their wits and their powers to win the day. While the stories in the first reprint collection are not groundbreaking in any sense, Aguirre-Sacasa and McNiven do deliver a good read and treat the characters with respect. Especially noteworthy of their efforts is a short sequence that showcases Mr. Fantastic at his most human as he helps a man contemplating suicide. Overall, the issues comprising "Marvel Knights 4 Volume 1: Wolf at the Door" are a nice start to a title that hopefully will become more intriguing as more issues are published.