Writer: Steve Behling and Riccardo Secchi
Art: Lorenzo Pastrovicchio and Lucio Ruvidotti (colorist)
Publisher: Marvel comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 8th, 2024
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the What if…? Mickey and Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 Review.
THE DISPATCH
As with the previous Disney/Marvel mash-up titles, What if…? Mickey and Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 pays many homages to the first issue of the Fantastic Four, giving it a twist with the classic Disney characters. One of these twists happens in the depiction of how they get their powers. Whereas the regular FF get their powers out in space, Mickey and friends get bombarded by cosmic rays while in an amusement park ride. It’s a very clever reimagining that is fitting for the classic Disney characters. Pete also gets turned into the Mole Man or rather “Mole Pete”, and has a rather amusing origin story as an extremely lame thief who can’t intimidate anyone. There’s also a running gag throughout the issue of a song “I’m in love with an Inventor” playing.
ART
The artwork in What if…? Mickey and Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 cleverly pages tribute to the original Fantastic Four comics while meshing well with classic Disney characters. For instance, Mole Pete’s minions, the Terryfermians, are the same characters that previously appeared in a classic Uncle Scrooge comic and later on episodes of the Ducktales cartoons (both the original series and modern reboot). Mickey, Minnie and Goofy sport their Fantastic Four uniforms well, as does Mole Pete with the Mole Man costume. Donald Duck looks good as the Thing, but it would make more sense if his bill was rocky too. Horace Horsecollar and Claribelle Cow stand in for the friends of Johnny and Susan from the first Fantastic Four comic.
There are other callbacks to the first Fantastic Four comic too, such as the three-headed monster. The panel directly preceding the monster’s appearance features several eyeballs peering out into the darkness. The opening page is also a homage to the original Fantastic Four comic, which introduces us to the lead characters by having each member of the team’s face in a circle with their name underneath. The iconic panel of the FF all putting their hands on top of each other to unite and use their powers for good is paid tribute to too. The best part that stands out the best is the full page featuring Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie suited up in their outfits altogether for the first time and ready for action.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What if…? Mickey and Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 is fun for both fans of classic Disney characters and the original Fantastic Four comics. Even readers who are unfamiliar with each might enjoy it, but you’ll definitely appreciate it more if you’re aware of the source material. It was a nice touch adding in Gyro Gearloose into the mix and Pete got a longer origin story than Mole Man even did in the original FF comic. An explanation should’ve been given for how Mickey sent out the Fantastic Four signal though, since Reed Richards has a flare gun in the original comic. All in all, this was a great comic that the whole family can enjoy.