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Cover: Alan Davis
Essential Fantastic Four #1
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This massive black-and-white trade paperback collects the earliest adventures of Marvel's first family, reprinting Fantastic Four #1-20 and Fantastic Four Annual #1. It covers the team's origin against the Mole Man, the debut of Doctor Doom, the introduction of the Skrulls, and the first appearance of the Sub-Mariner in the modern age. As part of Marvel's Essential line, it offers a cost-effective way to experience the foundational Stan Lee and Jack Kirby run in a dense, phone-book-sized format.
A landmark issue in the Fantastic Four mythos, "The Fantastic Four" reimagines the team’s earliest days with a bold, high-stakes mission: infiltrating the Skrull mothership and posing as alien spies. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby, with inks by George Klein and lettering by John Duffy, this story captures the classic blend of science fiction and superhero bravado. The cover, by Alan Davis, presents a striking image of the team in their alien guise, setting the tone for a tale where deception and daring strategy are the real weapons.
Contains 66 stories
The Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]Thing [Ben Grimm]Invisible Girl [Susan Storm]Human Torch [Johnny Storm]] (introduction and origin of all)Mole Man (introduction and origin)
The Fantastic Four Meet the Mole Man!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Mole Man [Moleman] (introduction)Monsters of Monster Isle [GigantoTricephalous] (introduction, all unnamed here)French Army [Pierreunnamed soldiers]
The Moleman's Secret!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Mole Man [Moleman] (origin)Monsters of Monster Isle [Rock Monster Guardian [Ugu] (introduction)Giganto] (all unnamed)
The Fantastic Four Meet the Skrulls from Outer Space!
SThe Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Skrulls (introduction)
Part 2 Prisoner of the Skrulls
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Skrulls
The Fantastic Four Fight Back!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Skrulls
The Fantastic Four... Captured!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Skrulls
Chapter 1 The Menace of the Miracle Man
Fantastic Four [ThingInvisible GirlMr. FantasticHuman Torch [Johnny Storm]]Miracle Man (villain, introduction)
Chapter II The Monster Lives!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Miracle ManMonster from Mars-statue
Chapter III The Flame That Died!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Miracle ManMonster from Mars-statue
Chapter IV In the Shadow of Defeat!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Miracle Man
Chapter V The Final Challenge!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Miracle Man
The Coming of... Sub-Mariner! Chapter 1 On the Trail of the Torch!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Monster from Mars-statue (flashback)Miracle Man (flashback)
Chapter 2 Enter the Sub-Mariner!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Namor the Sub-Mariner
Chapter 3 Let the World Beware!
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]Namor the Sub-Mariner
Chapter 4 Sub-Mariner's Revenge!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Namor the Sub-MarinerGiganto (introduction)
Chapter 5 Return to the Deep!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Namor the Sub-MarinerGiganto (death)
Prisoners of Doctor Doom! Part 1
Fantastic Four [Mr. FantasticInvisible GirlHuman Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing]Dr. Doom (introductionorigin)Hulk (cameo)
Part 2 Back to the Past!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]Doctor Doom [Victor Von Doom]
Part 3 On the Trail of Blackbeard
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]
Part 4 Battle!
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]Doctor Doom [Victor Von Doom] (his hand only)
Part 5 The Vengeance of Doctor Doom!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]Doctor Doom [Victor Von Doom]Doctor Doom's robot
Captives of the Deadly Duo! Part 1
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Namor, the Sub-MarinerDoctor Doom
Part 2 When Super-Menaces Unite
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Namor the Sub-MarinerDoctor Doom
Part 3 When Friends Fall Out!
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Namor the Sub-Mariner
Part 4 Trapped!
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Namor the Sub-MarinerDoctor Doom
Part 5 The End... or the Beginning?
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Namor the Sub-MarinerDoctor Doom
Prisoners of Kurrgo, Master of Planet X Part 1 It Came From the Skies!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]Kurrgo (introduction)Kurrgo's robot (introduction)
Part 2 Outlawed
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]Kurrgo's robot
Part 3 Bound for Planet X!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]Kurrgo's robot
Part 4 Twenty Four Hours till Zero!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]KurrgoKurrgo's robot
Part 5 The End of Planet X!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]Kurrgo (death)
Prisoners of the Puppet Master!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Puppet Master (introduction)
The Hands of the Puppet Maker Part 2
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Puppet MasterAlicia Masters (introduction)Warden Williams (introduction)
The Lady and the Monster! Part 3
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Alicia Masters
Face-to-face with the Puppet Master! Part 4
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Puppet MasterPuppet Master's winged horseWarden Williams
Death of a Puppet! Part 5
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Puppet MasterAlicia Masters
The End of the Fantastic Four!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Namor, the Sub-MarinerAlicia Masters
Part 2 Sub-Mariner Gives the Orders!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Namor the Sub-MarinerJames ArnessAlfred HitchcockDean MartinBob Hope
Part 3 The Fury of Mr. Fantastic
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Namor the Sub-MarinerThe Cyclops
Part 4 The Flame of Battle
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Namor the Sub-Mariner
Vengeance Is Ours! Part 5
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]Namor the Sub-Mariner
The Return of Doctor Doom!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Alicia MastersDoctor Doom (villain)Stan LeeJack Kirby
Part 2 Back from the Dead!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Ovoids (flashback, introduction)Doctor Doom (villain)Stan LeeJack Kirby
Part 3 The End of Mr. Fantastic?
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Doctor Doom (villain)
Part 4 No Place to Turn!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Doctor Doom (villain)Alicia Masters
Part 5 The Real Doctor Doom!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]Doctor Doom (villain)Alicia Masters
A Visit with the Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]] (origin retelling)Willie Lumpkin (introduction]The Skrulls (flashback)
The Impossible Man
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]The Impossible Man (introduction)
The Incredible Hulk [Part 1]
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]The Hulk [Bruce Banner]Alicia MastersGeneral Thunderbolt RossCaptain Nelson (introduction)
Part 2 Mission: Stop the Hulk!
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Hulk [Bruce Banner]General Thunderbolt RossRick JonesDoctor Karl Kort (introduction)
Part 3 Who Is the Wrecker?
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]]The Hulk [Bruce Banner]Genral Thunderbolt RossRick JonesKarl Kort
Part 4 The Hulk at Last!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Hulk [Bruce Banner]Karl KortRick JonesGeneral Thunderbolt Ross
The Fantastic Four Versus the Red Ghost and His Indescribable Super-Apes! [Part 1]
The Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]The Red Ghost [Ivan Kragoff] (origin)The Red Ghost's super-apes (origin)
Part 2 Menace on the Moon!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]The Red Ghost [Ivan Kragoff]The Red Ghost’s super-apesThe Watcher [Uatu] (introduction)
Part 3 The Watcher Appears!
The Fantastic Four [The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Watcher [Uatu]The Red Ghost [Ivan Kragoff]The Red Ghost's super-apes
Part 4 Duel in the Dead City!
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Red Ghost [Ivan Kragoff]The Red Ghost's super-apesThe Watcher [Uatu]
Once Again, The Fantastic Four Face the Threat of Sub-Mariner, and “The Merciless Puppet Master” Part 1
Fantastic Four [The ThingInvisible GirlMr. FantasticHuman Torch]Puppet MasterSub-MarinerAlicia MastersMole Man (cameoflashback)Skrulls (cameoflashback)Dr. Doom (cameoflashback)
The Fantastic Four Battle the Mad Thinker and His Awesome Android
Fantastic FourMad Thinkerthe Thinker's Android
The Micro-World of Doctor Doom!
Fantastic Four [The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richard]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Doctor Doom [Victor Von Doom]Alicia MastersAnt-Man [Henry Pym]The Wasp [Janet Van Dyne] (cameo)
Defeated by Doctor Doom!
Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]]Dr. Doom (villain)Alicia MastersNikita Krushchev (cameo)
A Skrull Walks Among Us!
Fantastic Four [Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]the Super-Skrull (introduction)Dr. Doom (cameo)Skull Emperor (introduction)Skrulls
Prisoners of the Pharoah! [sic]
Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]Rama-Tut (villain, introduction)Alicia Masters
The Mysterious Molecule Man!
Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]The Thing [Ben Grimm]The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]The Molecule Man (introduction)The WatcherThe Yancy Street GangAlicia Masters
Sub-Mariner Versus the Human Race!
Fantastic Four [Mister Fantastic [Reed Richards]Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Human Torch [Johnny Storm]Thing [Ben Grimm]]Sub-Mariner [Namor] (origin recap)Dorma (introduction)Krang (introduction)Adlai StevensonNikita KrushchevLeonard McKenzieFenDr. Falton
The Fabulous Fantastic Four Meet Spider-Man!
Spider-Man [Peter Parker]Fantastic Four [Mister Fantastic [Reed Richards]Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]Thing [Ben Grimm]Human Torch [Johnny Storm]]
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Full credits
writer Stan Lee
artist Jack Kirby
inker George Klein
letterer John Duffy
cover pencils, inks Alan Davis
Variants (3)
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