Marvel's First Family is having a moment. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps bringing Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben into the MCU in retro-futuristic style, and the team set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday this December, the comic side of the franchise is also thriving. Writer Ryan North's new run, Fantastic Four Volume 8, has been delivering inventive, character-driven stories since its launch in 2025. Now, Issue #14 introduces a chilling new mystery that threatens not just the team, but all of humanity.
A Strange Affliction Hits the Baxter Building
The preview for Fantastic Four #14, titled "Irrational," opens on an eerie note. The focus shifts to Ben Grimm and Alicia's adopted children, Jo and Nicki, as they recount a family dinner gone wrong. What starts as a normal evening—with everyone gathered around the table except Reed, who's lost in an experiment—quickly turns unsettling. When Sue goes to fetch him and doesn't return, Alicia and Johnny head downstairs, followed by Ben. Left alone with Franklin and Val, Jo and Nicki grow increasingly worried.
Eventually, the kids go looking for the adults and find them all mesmerized by a board covered in lines of letters and numbers. One by one, Franklin and Val also become transfixed, leaving only Jo and Nicki confused and scared. The affliction isn't limited to the Baxter Building—it's spreading worldwide, infecting heroes like Iron Man, as shown on the cover by Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgado.
Jo and Nicki Step Up
With the world's mightiest heroes incapacitated, the fate of humanity rests on Jo and Nicki. Thanks to their unique Cree and Skrull physiology, they're immune to the strange phenomenon. This single-issue storyline sees the two kids attempt to save everyone, even though they lack superpowers and a cure seems impossible. The art, by Ramon Rosanas with colors by Edgar Delgado, brings the tension to life.
This isn't the first time North has put the spotlight on unexpected characters. Earlier in the run, Sue solved a murder mystery to clear Felicia Hardy's name, and the return of her dark persona, The Invincible Woman, added layers to the story. Now, the Grimm children take center stage in a tale that balances family dynamics with cosmic horror.
A Special Backup Story for Disability Pride Month
In addition to the main story, Issue #14 includes a backup feature, "Mind and Matter: Part 3," celebrating Disability Pride Month. Marvel has been running these smaller stories throughout July, highlighting heroes like Hawkeye, Daredevil, Echo, Misty Knight, Silhouette, and Finesse. Writer Marieke Nijamp and artist Andrea Di Vito, with colorist Erick Arciniega, continue this series with a focus on representation and resilience.
For fans keeping an eye on Marvel's broader plans, the Fantastic Four comics are building toward the team's big-screen return in Avengers: Doomsday. Meanwhile, other Marvel projects like Marvel's Nova Movie Risks Repeating Disney+ Pacing Problems and X-Men '97 Season 2 Episode 4 Shatters IMDb Records keep the universe expanding.
Fantastic Four Volume 8, Issue #14 is available now at comic shops. Check out the full preview in the gallery above.
