I'm quite pleased to be a part of this handsome volume that Abrams Books is releasing in the next few days. I got my contributor copy the other day and I'm still going over and over it, especially the parts I had nothing to do with. It's Fantastic Four #1 — the issue that started the Marvel Super-Heroes dynasty — with its panels enlarged and analyzed and discussed.
This was done once before and I was a part of it and not too thrilled with the way it came out. This is much better, thanks to Charles Kochman at Abrams Books and to Chip Kidd, designer extraordinaire. It's called Fantastic Four #1 Panel by Panel.
So you understand: The book is 8-1/2" by 11" in hardcover. In the back of it is a full reprint of F.F. #1 as it originally appeared. It has not been retouched or recolored or altered. They borrowed a copy in great condition from a collector who was willing to share his precious copy with the world and it was carefully and perfectly photographed by Geoff Spear.
The same material is printed in the front of the book but there, the panels have been enlarged — one panel to a page or sometimes one panel covers two pages. This gives us a chance to get up close and personal with the artwork…to see it as you've never seen it before. I keep doing this and it's fascinating. I see what Jack Kirby did better than I ever did before.
Between these two presentations of F.F. #1, there are essays. Chip Kidd wrote one about the making of the book. Tom Brevoort wrote one about Kirby's page composition and apparent changes made in the art. I revised and expanded mine from the previous attempt at this kind of thing. It's kind of a deep dive into who did what on the comic.
So this is me recommending this book and offering you this link to "advance order" one from Amazon. I put that in quotes since it is all printed — like I said, I have my copies — and it should be out this coming week. Hope you like it as much as I liked being a part of it.