MRL - Fantastic Four (1961) #1-11

Fantastic Four (1961) #1-11 - Stan Lee/Jack Kirby

Finally, the book that started the Marvel Age!

The Fantastic Four were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, after their editor asked for a team that could rival the Justice Society of America. Lee wanted the team to be different, more human - “heroes with hangups”. They bicker and are a bit dysfunctional family, they don’t have secret identities and they live in New York (but only after issue #3, note). The book was a success and the rest is History.

Issue #1 starts with a message in the sky calling for the Fantastic Four. We then meet Sue, who immediately turns invisible and causes mayhem in the street; Ben, who uses his strength causing some destruction as he makes his way; and Johnny, who flies away and is instantly pursued by some jets. Eventually, the three meet Reed, who informs them they have a mission.

We then take a brief flash back to their origin. Reed has created a spaceship but Ben doesn’t think it’s ready to fly. He relents when Sue calls him a coward and the four end up sneaking in the base and go into space, where they get bombarded by cosmic rays and changed forever.

They quickly decide they must use their new powers to help other and the Fantastic Four are born.

We return to the present, where Redd tells the others that nuclear reactors around the world are missing. He did a bit of geographic profiling, and found the location of the mythical Monster Island.

The island is there, despite Ben’s disbelief, and it sure has monsters. Each member gets to fight one - except Sue (unfortunately, that's a recurring theme in the beginning).

Johnny and Reed fall underground and meet the person responsible for the thefts - the Mole Man. He was a funny looking guy who was tired of being laughed at. He wandered alone until he found Monster Island. He fell into Diamond Cave and was blinded by the brightness, and now he’s basically Daredevil.

Still, the Fantastic Four prevail, drag the Mole Man to the surface - only to abandon him there, so he can blow up the island and hide in the Underground forever.

 

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