Fantastic Four #1

In somewhat of an odd way to launch a new title, Fantastic Four #1 only gives us one member of the team and sticks him in a time loop for the entire issue. The Thing and Alicia Masters check-in to a hotel in the small town of Cedar where time resets every morning at 4am. Sticking around to try and figure out what the hell is going on in the oversized first issue the plays on several classic themes including Ben scaring the local populace (as the loop started well before the Four made their first appearance).

Quirky and unexpected, the first issue of the new Fantastic Four hints at larger problems for the family but sticks with our couple who find a lovelorn soul who unintentionally caused the loop (but doesn’t know how to stop) in a story featuring the humor and consternation of characters stuck in a loop.

[Marvel, $4.99]