Fantask #2
Fantask #2 is the second installment of the first dedicated Marvel Comics publication in France, making it one of the earliest conduits through which Silver Age Marvel storytelling reached a French-speaking audience. Its lead story reprints Silver Surfer #2 (October 1968), which marks the French debut of the Brotherhood of Badoon — a reptilian alien species that would go on to become recurring antagonists across decades of Marvel cosmic comics — as well as the first appearance of the term 'Power Cosmic' to describe the Silver Surfer's abilities. Together with the Fantastic Four story in its interior, the issue gave French readers a concentrated introduction to Stan Lee and John Buscema's philosophically charged Silver Surfer series alongside the foundational Kirby-era FF, at a moment when these characters were entirely unknown on French newsstands.
In "Prisonniers du Docteur Fatalis," the Four Fantastic are trapped in the fortress of the sinister Doctor Fatalis, who holds the Invisible Girl hostage to control her teammates. Sent back to the age of Blackbeard, the Torch, the Thing, and Mister Fantastic must retrieve the pirate’s treasure—while the Thing, now posing as Blackbeard himself, struggles to stay in the past. The issue’s cover by John Buscema and Joe Sinnott captures the high-stakes tension of a classic 1969 adventure, with Stan Lee and Jack Kirby leading the creative charge.
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Fantask was conceived after Claude Vistel, daughter of Editions Lug founder Auguste Vistel, returned from a 1968 trip to New York and persuaded publisher Navarro to license Marvel Comics for French translation — the first such arrangement in France. The Atelier Lug, a small in-house production team including Rémy Bordelet, Yves Mondet, Jean-Yves Mitton, and Claudy Bordet, handled the retouching, lettering, and coloring of each issue, adapting the American pages into the French 'petit format' (roughly 15 × 21 cm) digest size. Fantask #2's main cover reproduced the original John Buscema and Joe Sinnott artwork that had been rejected and reworked for the American Silver Surfer #2, meaning French readers in March 1969 saw a version of that cover that was never published in the United States in that form. The series was shut down after only seven monthly issues when French censorship authorities banned it, citing its science-fiction imagery and 'traumatizing combat' — a fate that nonetheless led directly to Lug relaunching Marvel characters the following year in the long-running magazine Strange.
Trivia · 8 facts
- On sale March 5, 1969, published by Editions LUG (Lyon, France); edited by Claude Vistel, 100 pages, monthly digest format.
- Lead story: French translation of Silver Surfer #2 (October 1968, Marvel), 'When Lands the Saucer!' / 'Let Earth Be the Prize!' — written by Stan Lee, penciled by John Buscema, inked by Joe Sinnott — the French debut of the Badoon (Brotherhood of Badoon, Brother Royal, and Monster of Badoon).
- Silver Surfer #2 also contains the first use of the phrase 'Power Cosmic' to describe the Silver Surfer's abilities, making Fantask #2 the first French publication to carry that landmark descriptor.
- Second story: French translation of Fantastic Four #8 (November 1962, Marvel), 'Prisoners of the Puppet Master!' — Stan Lee / Jack Kirby / Dick Ayers — featuring the Puppet Master (Phillip Masters) and the broader FF cast including Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm.
- The inner front cover illustration, drawn and inked by Roger Médina, features the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man; GCD notes that Spider-Man was still unknown to French readers at this point and does not appear in any story in this issue.
- The cover art used for Fantask #2 was derived from the original Buscema/Sinnott artwork for Silver Surfer #2 that had been refused and reworked before American publication, making this the only contemporary publication to feature that original composition.
- The interior lettering for story sequences was handled by Jean-Yves Mitton of the Atelier Lug, the production unit that adapted all Fantask material from English originals.
- The Silver Surfer material from this issue was later collected in IDW's Artisan Edition: John Buscema's Silver Surfer (February 2022), giving modern readers an archival presentation of the same Buscema/Sinnott pages.
Cast · 23 characters
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Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Le Docteur Fatalis prend en otage la Fille Invisible pour s'assurer de l'obéissance de ses coéquipiers. Il amène les Quatre Fantastiques dans son château fort aux États-Unis. Là, il envoie la Torche, la Chose et Mister Fantastic dans le passé pour récupérer le trésor du pirate Barbe Noire. La Chose prend les commandes d'un voilier à l'époque du pirate Barbe Noire et endosse le rôle de Barbe Noire le Pirate souhaitant rester dans le passé. Fatalis essaie de tuer les Quatre Fantastiques à leur retour du passé, mais la Fille Invisible les sauve. Fatalis s'échappe avec son jetpack.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).
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