Fantastic Four #38
Fantastic Four #38 holds a unique place in Silver Age Marvel history as the first issue in which the Fantastic Four are genuinely, unambiguously defeated at the end of the story — a bold narrative choice by Lee and Kirby that signaled the title's willingness to let villains win. The issue also marks the formal debut of the Trapster identity: Peter Petruski's on-panel rechristening from the mockable 'Paste-Pot Pete' to the more intimidating 'Trapster' is a direct acknowledgment of fan ridicule — most famously cemented in Marvel lore by Spider-Man laughing the old name into obsolescence — and it planted a decades-long running gag about the character's wounded pride. The issue simultaneously serves as Medusa's second appearance and a crucial bridge issue in the slow-burn revelation of the Inhumans, a mythology that would reshape the Marvel Universe within the next few years. It also marks the beginning of the title's shift from self-contained episodic adventures to multi-issue continued storytelling, with this issue's cliffhanger flowing directly into subsequent arcs.
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Written by Stan Lee and penciled by Jack Kirby, with inks by Chic Stone and lettering by Sam Rosen, the issue went on sale February 11, 1965, carrying a May 1965 cover date. Stone's work here marks a notable transition point: this is effectively his farewell issue on the Fantastic Four before Vince Colletta assumed inking duties for the subsequent Frightful Four trilogy. The published cover differs from the unaltered original — changes to the Thing figure and other elements are attributed to Sol Brodsky by the Grand Comics Database. The story picks up directly from the unresolved Frightful Four threads introduced in Fantastic Four #36, reflecting the emerging serialized ambitions that Lee and Kirby were pioneering across the Marvel line.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Peter Petruski as the Trapster — his rechristening from Paste-Pot Pete occurs within this issue, with a new costume and expanded arsenal of trap-based weaponry.
- Second appearance of Madam Medusa (Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon), who had debuted in Fantastic Four #36; her true Inhuman identity would not be revealed until Fantastic Four #44.
- Second full team appearance of the Frightful Four (Wizard, Trapster, Sandman, Madam Medusa), following their formation in Fantastic Four #36.
- First time the Fantastic Four are conclusively defeated at the end of an issue — the team is knocked unconscious and lost at sea after the Wizard detonates a Q-bomb, with Sue's unconscious force field being the only thing that saves them.
- Ben Grimm begins reverting to human form in the closing panels as a result of the atomic blast — a dangling plot thread carried into subsequent issues.
- Created by Stan Lee (writer) and Jack Kirby (penciler), with inks by Chic Stone and lettering by Sam Rosen; on sale February 11, 1965 with a May 1965 cover date.
- The cover was altered from Kirby's original art, with changes to the Thing figure and other elements attributed to Sol Brodsky.
- Reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four Vol. 4 (1992/2003), the Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 2 (2007), Inhumans: The Origin of the Inhumans (2013), and the Fantastic Four Epic Collection Vol. 3 – The Coming of Galactus (2018), among other domestic and international editions.
Cast · 16 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
The Frightful Four kidnap Sue and lure the Fantastic Four into a nuclear blast.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).