COMICS: Jonathan Hickman Talks About The Shocking Events Of Fantastic Four #600

When it was first revealed that Fantastic Four writer Jonathan Hickman would kill off a member of the team in issue #587, the reaction was fairly mixed from readers. It became even more so when it was fan favourite Johnny Storm who ended up seemingly meeting his maker at the hands of Annihilus' forces in the Negative Zone. Since his death, a new series was launched featuring Spider-Man as a member of the team in the retitled FF. (Future Foundation) In issue #600, which went on sale today, the Human Torch returned and Comic Book Resources caught up with Hickman to discuss where things go from here.

"Johnny's death and then resurrection in the Negative Zone was always part of my initial plan for the book," Hickman said. "That's why when I heard talk about editorial mandates I chuckled, because it just wasn't the case with this at all. Even though I tried to write 'Fantastic Four' like it was the most important book in the world, I never believed that a bunch people would start buying it again. I never imagined that Johnny dying would be as big a deal as it was or that it would get promoted that way, and I never thought we'd split the book and all that other stuff. Of course, I wanted it to be important, but at its core, it was just part of the larger, broader story I was telling."

In Fantastic Four #600, it is revealed that Johnny really did die in those dramatic last few pages of issue #587 but was brought back by Annihilus in order to fight in the villain's gladiator arena. Eventually, he and a group of his fellow prisoners formed a resistance group called 'The Light Brigade' and overthrew the Negative Zone ruler. However, this may have all still come at a cost for Johnny as he was actually killed and resurrected several times during his time as Annihilus' prisoner. "You'll see in #601 and #602 what Johnny gets from going through all of that," Hickman confirmed. "This is something we'll be dealing with months and months down the road. Right now he's literally just walked through the door a distilled version of what he always was."

"All the trappings are really just set design for what has been the thematic heart of Johnny's arc -- The world says, 'everything dies.' Johnny is the opposite of that; everything lives. That's always been his role. The Light Brigade and all of the other stuff is cool window dressing for what is essentially a story about Johnny representing life when things look their bleakest." In the rest of the interview, Hickman discusses the other parts of the anniversary issue and what both those segments and the return of Johnny mean for Fantastic Four and FF from here. You can check that out for yourselves by clicking on the link below to read the interview in full.

Here's the official statement sent out via press release from Marvel Comics.

New York, NY – November 23, 2011 – "FLAME ON" once more! Fantastic Four #600, available today in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app, brings the Human Torch back to the Marvel Universe. But, after his dramatic death, how did this founding member of the FF return? And, when one of their deadliest enemies mounts his greatest assault, will this family reunion be short-lived? The answers arrive in this giant-sized issue—with 100 pages of all-new stories—from writer Jonathan Hickman and some of the most acclaimed artists in comics today, including Steve Epting, Leinil Yu and more! This issue also features covers from the some of the biggest names in comics, including John Romita Jr, Gabriele Dell’Otto, Arthur Adams and Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada!

“As befits the 50th anniversary of the team, this is the biggest Fantastic Four story we’ve ever told, from the scope of the story to the sheer amount of new—and important—stories in this issue.” said Tom Brevoort, Marvel SVP/Executive Editor. “Jonathan Hickman, along with our unrivaled art team, have pulled out all the stops for a story that epitomizes why the Fantastic Four are some of the most important characters in pop culture history. Fantastic Four #600 is going to blow you away!”

Then, next week, the story continues in FF #12, from Hickman and artist Juan Bobillo, as the story you’ve demanded is finally told—learn just how Doctor Doom and the youngest members of the Future Foundation will save us all!

Fantastic Four #1 debuted in 1961, kicking off the “Marvel Age” of comics and dramatically increasing the popularity of super heroes. As the progenitor of Marvel Universe, the Fantastic Four set a new tone for super hero comics with its nuanced characterization, reflection of real world fears and progressive depiction of super heroes. Through the years, the Fantastic Four have been involved in many of comics most important & memorable storylines, from the introduction of Galactus to the chart-topping Civil War and the recent death of the Human Torch, which garnered mainstream media attention worldwide. Earlier this year the group was reinvented as the Future Foundation in the new FF series and has been one of Marvel’s top-selling, most acclaimed launches of the year.

It’s the book that has everyone buzzing—check out Fantastic Four #600, available right now in comic stores and on the Marvel Comics app!