Empyre: Fantastic Four #0

History

Written by Dan Slott, who had been the primary steward of the Fantastic Four title since 2018, the issue was drawn by R.B. Silva — the House of X/Powers of X artist whose cosmic-scale linework had already proven itself — with additional interior art by Sean Izaakse and coloring throughout by Marte Gracia. Editor Tom Brevoort and editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski oversaw the issue as part of the coordinated Empyre event launch, which paired this Fantastic Four prelude with a simultaneous Avengers #0 prelude by Al Ewing. Marvel editor Alanna Smith described the issue publicly as the start of 'another big chapter in the lives of the Fantastic Four,' signaling the long-term character plans baked into what could have been a disposable event tie-in. The issue was released July 8, 2020 with a September 2020 cover date, one week before the main Empyre #1.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of the Profiteer, a previously hidden Elder of the Universe whose obsession is the acquisition of wealth — she operates the Casino Cosmico, an intergalactic gambling and gladiatorial arena she acquired from the Grandmaster.
• First appearance of Jo-Venn, a Kree child soldier engineered by the Supreme Intelligence and imbued with the chronicles of Kree warriors and a deep hatred of Skrulls.
• First appearance of N'Kalla, a Skrull child soldier baptized in the blood of fallen Skrull warriors and imbued with parallel anti-Kree conditioning — the narrative mirror to Jo-Venn.
• Both Jo-Venn and N'Kalla subsequently became lasting members of the Fantastic Four's extended family, adopted by Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters by imperial decree of Emperor Hulkling at the conclusion of the Empyre event.
• Written by Dan Slott with interior art by R.B. Silva and Sean Izaakse, colors by Marte Gracia, letters by Joe Caramagna, and a cover by Jim Cheung; edited by Tom Brevoort under editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski.
• The cover forms the right half of a diptych whose left half is the Jim Cheung cover for the simultaneous Empyre: Avengers #0, intended to be displayed together.
• A background alien patron at Casino Cosmico is visually modeled after Mojo Jojo, the villain from the animated series The Powerpuff Girls — a background Easter egg noted in the Marvel Database.
• The issue is collected in the Empyre hardcover and trade paperback alongside Empyre: Avengers #0, Empyre #1–6, Empyre Aftermath: Avengers #1, and Empyre Fallout: Fantastic Four #1.

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