FF #9

Few superhero teams look this carefree — Michael Allred's sun-drenched cover for FF #9 captures the extended Future Foundation family in full beach-day chaos, with human and alien members alike tumbling through surf and sky alongside a very large beach ball, a surfboard, and what appear to be underwater Atlantean figures lurking in the waves below. The playful pop-art energy suits Matt Fraction's run perfectly, and colorist Laura Allred bathes the whole scene in warm yellows and cool ocean blues that make it feel like the most gloriously weird summer vacation in Marvel history. If you've been following this series, issue #9's "Last Splash" promises that the fun — and the strangeness — is far from over.