Fantastic Four
Creation & Design
The Fantastic Four were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, intended to be a family-oriented superhero team that would appeal to a broader audience.Early Years
The team debuted in 1961 and quickly became one of Marvel's flagship titles, introducing a mix of science fiction and superhero elements.Character Development
Over the years, the Fantastic Four have evolved from a simple superhero team to complex characters dealing with personal struggles, family dynamics, and their place in the universe.Cultural Reception
The Fantastic Four have been critically acclaimed and are considered one of the most important superhero teams in comic book history.Character Details
Real Name:
Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm
Aliases:
The First Family of Marvel, The Fantastic Ones
Species:
Human
Gender:
Various
Affiliations:
Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., Inhumans
Abilities:
Superhuman strength, Invisibility, Elasticity, Flight, Rock-like durability
Equipment:
Fantasticar, FF Headquarters
Weight:
Unknown
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
Various
Hair Color:
Various
Clicking on the eBay link and making a purchase may result in this site earning a commission from the eBay Partner Network.
Fantastic Four #1
Marvel
•
1961
•
Vol. 1
1st team appearance and origin of the Fantastic Four: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, The Thing
1st appearance of Mole Man
1st appearance of Giganto, a Deviant Mutate from Monster Isle
1st appearance of Tricephalous
Landmark issue that launched the Marvel Age of comics
💰 In April 2022, a 9.2 sold for $1.5 million
💰 In September 2024, a 9.6 sold for $2,040,000
1st team appearance and origin of the Fantastic Four: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, The Thing
1st appearance of Mole Man
1st appearance of Giganto, a Deviant Mutate from Monster Isle
1st appearance of Tricephalous
Landmark issue that launched the Marvel Age of comics
💰 In April 2022, a 9.2 sold for $1.5 million
💰 In September 2024, a 9.6 sold for $2,040,000
Fantastic Four #2
Marvel
•
1962
•
Vol. 1
1st team appearance of the Skrulls, the shape-shifting alien race
2nd team appearance of the Fantastic Four
1st team appearance of the Skrulls, the shape-shifting alien race
2nd team appearance of the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four #3
Marvel
•
1962
•
Vol. 1
1st team appearance of the Fantastic Four in costume
1st appearance of the Miracle Man
1st appearance of the Baxter Building, Fantastic-car and Fantastic-copter
1st team appearance of the Fantastic Four in costume
1st appearance of the Miracle Man
1st appearance of the Baxter Building, Fantastic-car and Fantastic-copter
Fantastic Four #4
Marvel
•
1962
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age
First time the Human Torch activates his power while shouting, 'Flame On'
1st appearance of Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age
First time the Human Torch activates his power while shouting, 'Flame On'
Fantastic Four #5
Marvel
•
1962
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of Doctor Doom
1st appearance of a Doombot
1st appearance and origin of Doctor Doom
1st appearance of a Doombot
Fantastic Four #6
Marvel
•
1962
•
Vol. 1
First team-up of two super-villains in the Marvel Universe, Doctor Doom and Sub-Mariner
2nd appearance of Doctor Doom
2nd appearance of the Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age
First team-up of two super-villains in the Marvel Universe, Doctor Doom and Sub-Mariner
2nd appearance of Doctor Doom
2nd appearance of the Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age
Strange Tales #101
Marvel
•
1962
•
Vol. 1
Origin of the Fantastic Four retold
Human Torch solo stories begin
Classic cover art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers
Origin of the Fantastic Four retold
Human Torch solo stories begin
Classic cover art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers
Fantastic Four #12
Marvel
•
1963
•
Vol. 1
First battle of the Hulk and the Fantastic Four
Amazing Spider-Man #1
Marvel
•
1963
•
Vol. 1
2nd appearance of Spider-Man
1st appearance of J. Jonah Jameson
First meeting of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four
1st appearance of Chameleon, Dmitri Smerdyakov, half-brother of Kraven the Hunter
2nd appearance of Spider-Man
1st appearance of J. Jonah Jameson
First meeting of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four
1st appearance of Chameleon, Dmitri Smerdyakov, half-brother of Kraven the Hunter
Fantastic Four Annual #1
Marvel
•
1963
•
Vol. 1
Origin of the Fantastic Four retold
1st appearance of Krang, an Atlantean warlord
1st appearance of Lady Dorma in the Silver Age
Namor finds Atlantis
Origin of the Fantastic Four retold
1st appearance of Krang, an Atlantean warlord
1st appearance of Lady Dorma in the Silver Age
Namor finds Atlantis
Fantastic Four #18
Marvel
•
1963
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance and origin of Kl'rt, a Super Skrull who utilizes the main power of each Fantastic Four member
1st appearance of Emperor Dorrek, unnamed
2nd team appearance of the Skrulls
1st appearance and origin of Kl'rt, a Super Skrull who utilizes the main power of each Fantastic Four member
1st appearance of Emperor Dorrek, unnamed
2nd team appearance of the Skrulls
Amazing Spider-Man #8
Marvel
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of the Living Brain
First battle Spider-Man vs Human Torch
1st appearance of the Living Brain
First battle Spider-Man vs Human Torch
Fantastic Four #25
Marvel
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
2nd appearance of Captain America in the Silver Age
First solo battle of the Hulk versus the Thing, briefly fought in Fantastic Four #12
Cover appearance of the Hulk versus the Thing
2nd appearance of Captain America in the Silver Age
First solo battle of the Hulk versus the Thing, briefly fought in Fantastic Four #12
Cover appearance of the Hulk versus the Thing
Fantastic Four #26
Marvel
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
Classic battle of the Avengers & Fantastic Four vs the Hulk
First time The Thing mentions his Aunt Petunia, an ongoing reference until she finally appeared for the first time two decades later in Fantastic Four #238, identified in #239
Classic battle of the Avengers & Fantastic Four vs the Hulk
First time The Thing mentions his Aunt Petunia, an ongoing reference until she finally appeared for the first time two decades later in Fantastic Four #238, identified in #239
Daredevil #2
Marvel
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
2nd appearance of Daredevil
2nd appearance of Electro
First crossover of Matt Murdock and the Fantastic Four after the team hires him as their lawyer
2nd appearance of Daredevil
2nd appearance of Electro
First crossover of Matt Murdock and the Fantastic Four after the team hires him as their lawyer
Fantastic Four #27
Marvel
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
First meeting of Doctor Strange and the Fantastic Four
1st full cover appearance of Doctor Strange
First meeting of Doctor Strange and the Fantastic Four
1st full cover appearance of Doctor Strange
Fantastic Four #28
Marvel
•
1964
•
Vol. 1
First crossover of the X-Men in the Fantastic Four title
2nd appearance of the Mad Thinker
First crossover of the X-Men in the Fantastic Four title
2nd appearance of the Mad Thinker
Fantastic Four Annual #3
Marvel
•
1965
•
Vol. 1
Marriage of Reed Richards and Sue Storm
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are briefly seen outside of the wedding, angry that they were denied entry
1st appearance of Hedy Wolfe in the mainstream Marvel Universe, one panel
Marriage of Reed Richards and Sue Storm
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby are briefly seen outside of the wedding, angry that they were denied entry
1st appearance of Hedy Wolfe in the mainstream Marvel Universe, one panel
Fantastic Four #48
Marvel
•
1966
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Silver Surfer
1st cameo appearance of Galactus
1st appearance of Silver Surfer
1st cameo appearance of Galactus
Fantastic Four Annual #5
Marvel
•
1967
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Psycho-Man
First solo Silver Surfer story
Short story with an illustrated Stan Lee and Jack Kirby showing readers how they develop a plot
1st appearance of Psycho-Man
First solo Silver Surfer story
Short story with an illustrated Stan Lee and Jack Kirby showing readers how they develop a plot
Fantastic Four Annual #6
Marvel
•
1968
•
Vol. 1
1st appearance of Annihilus, ruler of the Negative Zone
1st appearance of Franklin Richards, as an unnamed infant, considered by Marvel to be the most powerful mutant in the Marvel Universe
[November 2024 - it is rumored Marvel is looking to cast a child in the role of Franklin Richards who will play the character through various ages in future projects]
Introduction of the Cosmic Control Rod, a weapon used by Annihilus that manipulates matter
[December 2024 - Annihilus rumored to be the villain for the Nova TV series]
1st appearance of Annihilus, ruler of the Negative Zone
1st appearance of Franklin Richards, as an unnamed infant, considered by Marvel to be the most powerful mutant in the Marvel Universe
[November 2024 - it is rumored Marvel is looking to cast a child in the role of Franklin Richards who will play the character through various ages in future projects]
Introduction of the Cosmic Control Rod, a weapon used by Annihilus that manipulates matter
[December 2024 - Annihilus rumored to be the villain for the Nova TV series]
Fantastic Four #81
Marvel
•
1968
•
Vol. 1
Crystal, the Inhuman joins the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four #100
Marvel
•
1970
•
Vol. 1
Issue #100 milestone
Fantastic Four #132
Marvel
•
1973
•
Vol. 1
1st full appearance of Omega the Ultimate Alpha
Medusa joins the Fantastic Four after Sue Storm quits
Debut of new Human Torch costume
1st full appearance of Omega the Ultimate Alpha
Medusa joins the Fantastic Four after Sue Storm quits
Debut of new Human Torch costume
Fantastic Four #167
Marvel
•
1976
•
Vol. 1
Classic battle of the Fantastic Four vs the Hulk
Fantastic Four #265
Marvel
•
1984
•
Vol. 1
She-Hulk joins the Fantastic Four
The Thing quits the Fantastic Four
The Skrull, Lyja replaces Alicia Masters in this issue which is later revealed in Fantastic Four #357
She-Hulk joins the Fantastic Four
The Thing quits the Fantastic Four
The Skrull, Lyja replaces Alicia Masters in this issue which is later revealed in Fantastic Four #357
Variant Venomized cover art by Kalman Andrasofszky
Variant cover art by Arthur Adams
Variant cover art by John Hickman
Fantastic Four #1
Marvel
•
2018
•
Vol. 6
1st appearance of Astronomica
1st appearance of Zora Vukovic, later becomes Victorious, the Herald of Dr. Doom
1st appearance of Astronomica
1st appearance of Zora Vukovic, later becomes Victorious, the Herald of Dr. Doom
Variant virgin cover art by Alex Ross
Variant cover art by George Perez
Remastered edition
Virgin variant cover art by Jen Bartel
Variant cover art by R.B. Silva
Variant cover art by Ryan Stegman
Variant cover art by Mike Mignola
Hidden Gem edition
Variant cover art by Patrick Zircher
Variant cover art by Michael Cho
Variant cover art by Paul Renaud
Variant cover art by Jack Kirby
Hidden Gem edition
Variant cover art by Claudio Castellini
Adjust Your Filters To See More Comics!
By default Key Collector searches for Standard Cover Key Issues.
Adjust the "Variants" and/or "Non-Key Issues" search filters above for additional content:
- Variant Covers ([[totalVariants]])
- Non-Key Issues ([[totalNonKeys]])
At Key Collector, our primary focus is on unearthing those rare Standard Cover Key Issues for you. However, the world of comic collectibles is vast and varied. We want to make sure you have the tools to explore it all!