Fantastic Four By Waid & Wieringo: Unthinkable

One of the greatest creative pairings on FANTASTIC FOUR since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo brought Marvel's First Family into a golden era - and straight into one of their most monumental showdowns with the greatest foe, Doctor Doom!

The Fantastic Four’s arch-nemesis, Doctor Doom, has leveled up by doing the unthinkable! But what great sacrifice did Doom make to gain his frightful power — and his terrifying new armor? Victor strikes at the very heart of Marvel’s First Family by targeting the children of Reed and Sue Richards. To save Franklin and Valeria from their fates, the FF must fight harder than ever before — and Mister Fantastic, ever the scientist, must force himself to learn and believe in magic! Even if they survive this deadly encounter, the emotional scars left will not be gone anytime soon — so what can the Thing do to help?

COLLECTING: Fantastic Four (1998) 67-70, 500-502

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs