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Cover: Rich Buckler

Fantastic Four #151

Name: Fantastic Four #151
Brand: Marvel
Availability: InStock

Oct 1974 · Marvel · 0.25 USD

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“Thundra and Lightning!”

★ 1st appearance — Mahkizmo

About this Issue

Fantastic Four #151 delivers the first appearance of Mahkizmo — the hyper-masculine, nuclear-powered ruler of the alternate-future world of Machus — and simultaneously provides the first in-continuity origin for Thundra, explaining for the first time why she had been battling the Thing since issue #129. Together, Mahkizmo and the Machus/Femizonia dynamic placed Bronze Age Marvel squarely in conversation with the gender politics of the mid-1970s, pitting exaggerated caricatures of patriarchy and matriarchy against each other in a way that was unmistakably shaped by the ERA debates of the day. The issue also opens a three-part arc that would become one of Gerry Conway's most discussed — if contested — contributions to the FF's Bronze Age run, and it stands as a genuine time-capsule of how superhero comics processed social upheaval during the post-Kirby era.

In "Thundra and Lightning!", the Fantastic Four face an unexpected threat when the interdimensional warrior Mahkizmo arrives from a future beyond their world, demanding Thundra be handed over. With Johnny and Ben caught off guard during a routine errand, the Baxter Building becomes a battleground as the mysterious Nuclear Man also seeks Thundra—leaving the team to confront a crisis with no clear answers. Written by Gerry Conway and brought to life by Rich Buckler’s dynamic art and Joe Sinnott’s sharp inks, this 1974 issue delivers a tense, high-stakes clash with lingering questions. The cover by Rich Buckler captures the moment of confrontation with bold, dramatic flair.

writer Gerry Conway · artist Rich Buckler · artist, inker Joe Sinnott · colorist P. Goldberg · letterer Artie Simek · cover Rich Buckler

ComicBooks.com Value

Our Model is In Beta

Raw (Fine) $7

CGC 9.8 · 15 in census $314

CGC 9.6 · 40 in census $81

CGC 9.4 · 28 in census $55

CGC 9.2 · 16 in census $38*

CGC 9.0 · 13 in census $31*

CGC 8.5 · 6 in census $25*

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CGC 8.0 · 4 in census $23*

CGC 7.5 · 6 in census $20*

CGC 7.0 · 2 in census $20

CGC 6.5 · 3 in census $20*

CGC 6.0 · 3 in census $20*

CGC 5.5 $20

CGC 5.0 none in existence

CGC 4.5 none in existence

CGC 4.0 · 3 in census $20*

* estimate — limited direct-sales data at this grade

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History

The issue was produced during Rich Buckler's two-year tenure as the title's regular penciller, a run that stretched from #142 (January 1974) through #171 (June 1976), with Joe Sinnott providing inks throughout for visual consistency. Gerry Conway was nearing the end of his own run on the book — he wrote issues #133 through #152 — and #151 represents the opening chapter of the last major arc he would plot before departing, with his plot for the concluding issue (#153) executed by another hand after he left. Editor Roy Thomas oversaw the issue, and it was colored by Petra Scotese (also credited as Petra Goldberg), lettered by Artie Simek, and released with a July 1974 on-sale date despite carrying an October 1974 cover date.

Trivia · 8 facts

First appearance of Mahkizmo (also called 'the Nuclear Man'), the hyper-masculine ruler of the alternate-future world Machus (indexed as Earth-74101 in the Marvel Encyclopedia: Fantastic Four), created by writer Gerry Conway and penciller Rich Buckler.
First in-continuity origin of Thundra and her home reality of Femizonia (Earth-715), delivered via flashback — retroactively explaining her appearances and motivations dating back to Fantastic Four #129.
Part 1 of a three-issue story arc titled 'Thundra and Lightning!' (continuing through #152–153); written by Gerry Conway, pencilled by Rich Buckler (layouts), inked by Joe Sinnott (finishes), colored by Petra Scotese/Goldberg, lettered by Artie Simek, and edited by Roy Thomas.
Thundra's flashback origin draws on material previously established in Savage Tales #1, tying those earlier pages into main Marvel continuity for the first time.
The letters page features a letter from Richard A. Pini, who would go on to co-create ElfQuest, one of the most celebrated independent comics of the late 1970s and 1980s.
The issue contains Marvel Value Stamp series A #21 (Kull), illustrated by Michael Ploog — making intact copies without the stamp cut out more complete as physical artifacts.
Conway would later reuse Mahkizmo's in-story title 'the Nuclear Man' as the inspiration for Firestorm, the superhero he co-created for DC Comics shortly after leaving Marvel.
The story has been reprinted in Fantastic Four Epic Collection Vol. 9: The Crusader Syndrome (2023), Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 15, and multiple international editions including Swedish (Atlanticserien), German (Die Fantastischen Vier, Condor), French (Nova/Editions Lug; Fantastic Four L'intégrale, Panini France), and Canadian (Editions Héritage) printings.