The Fantastic Four (1961-1988)...was the Great American Novel |
"Lee and Kirby's Fantastic Four run is the Mount Olympus of comic book storytelling. Nothing else can touch it in its innovation, sustained excitement, consequential events, and unprecedented character development." - Mark Engblom, Comic Coverage: March 21, 2009
Ten covers that sum up the 27 years:
The Fantastic Four (1961-1988) was a family epic told in over 300 chapters: over 6,000 pages told over 27 years, with a beginning, a middle and an end. it was the greatest soap opera ever, the greatest page turner ever. It explored every aspect of human life, it was the origin and center of the biggest and most diverse fantasy universe the world has ever known. It earned the title 'the world's greatest comic magazine!'
In "Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American comic book" it is said that Stan Lee really wanted to write the Great American Novel. It strikes me that maybe he did - or at least co-wrote it. What is more American than the comic book? What story has a bigger scope than the Fantastic Four? What other single story revitalized an entire industry?
Don't let the the light hearted treatment fool you - Mark Twain was light as well. Don't let the "paid by the page to a deadline" fool you - Charles Dickens worked the same way. Don't let the sometimes simplistic approach fool you: Greek mythology is also simplistic on the surface, but it rewards those who delve deeper. Don't let other inferior comics fool you: the world is full of classic novels where the author tried to make an equally good sequel and failed. Judge the work on the appropriate criteria:
The Great American Novel, according to Wikipedia, is one that represents the zeitgeist of its time. What represented the optimism and danger of the 1960s more than the FF? What represented American culture more than the 1960s FF? What represents the hopes and dreams of the ordinary citizen more than a family that is also a team of superheroes? What represents what the ordinary, non-literary people were reading more than the comic book? The defining characteristic of the FF, what set it apart from other comics in the early days, what has been endlessly imitated (usually poorly), is its realism. As we chart the FF through the first 27 years (13 years in Marvel Time) they represent the zeitgeist of the nation at the height of its power: the comics of each decade represent the images and ideas of that decade.
Nothing else equals the classic FF in either its scope (30 years of stories) of the purity of its ideas (being a comic book, its ideas are displayed in simple bold colors: heroes are more heroic, villains are more villainous, etc.). The superpowers are merely an excuse to tell stories that can involve anything, anywhere, on a larger than life scale.
I suggest that, if the phrase Great American Novel means anything, the FF from 1961 to 1988 is The Great American Novel.
As the Great American Novel, the Fantastic Four is a guide to the ideas of the time. This is especially true of the 1960s under Jack Kirby. Some of the cultural ideas that influenced the FF include:
And do it goes on. The 1970s covered racism, feminism, the oil crisis, etc. The 1980s saw a harsher, grittier style, and so on. The Fantastic Four is the fastest and most enjoyable way to experience all the great themes and ideas in American culture.
Most people describe the Fantastic Four in terms of a family, or in terms of superheroes. But how are the Fantastic Four different from other families, or other superheroes? In my opinion, nobody has described the FF concept better than Steve Englehart:
"We live in the real world, but that world is a whole lot bigger than we knew."
The FF is the only superhero concept that can make sense in the real world. But that's a different topic. And the FF is the only superhero concept to make sense from a literary perspective: they are designed as a McGuffin to allow bigger stories. Whatever story you want, whatever the topic, whatever characters, whatever location or time period, the FF can tell it.
The four members were the greatest archetypes in all literature, and each followed their own thirty year story.
Mr FantasticAs the name suggests, this is a man who thought he could do everything. Over the thirty years he learns the limits to his abilities, and finally has to choose between career and family.
The Invisible GirlAs the name suggests, this is a woman who has trouble being noticed, but over the thirty years she eventually fulfills her dream.
The Human TorchAs the name suggests this hot headed youth wants excitement! Over the thirty years he grows up and emerges from the shadow of the others.
The ThingAs the name suggests, this is a quest for identity. Is he a man or a monster? Is he master of his own destiny? Over the thirty years he finds himself and is finally at peace.
1961-1962
The catalyst for the story, the hook that turns everything upside down, is four friends gaining super powers. Their goal is to save the world, each in his or her own way:
Reed is a scientist and leader! He wants a technological fix.
Sue is the heart who holds the team together! She wants to focus on the family.
Ben is the hero, but he only wants to be normal.
Johnny is the kid brother who wants to be a hero (see Strange Tales for example).
The point of no return is in the first five issues, where Ben and Johnny decide to stay, Reed builds a headquarters and Sue gives them an identity.
The main villain is an old friend and rival, Doctor Doom.
The big secret is that you can't put family first and put the world first. That conflict gives shape to the next 300 issues.
The romantic subplot is that Reed must choose between family and science. Other subplots are Johnny and Ben finding and losing and finally regaining their soul mates.
1963-1964
Almost every month sees a new conflict! Over the years the challenges become bigger and more dangerous, not just physically but emotionally. Each has a temporary triumph, where the villain appears to be defeated, only to come back later even stronger. (The greatest false dawn of all is in issue 200.)
1965-1969 (stretches over 1965-1970)**
The wedding is a kind of great council, where the Fantastic Four are publicly accepted as the great defenders of mankind. There follows an increase in action - bigger and greater adventures. But the arrival of a new baby, Franklin, highlights the hidden conflict - you can't put both family and mankind first - you have to make the choice!
1970-1973 (stretches over 1971-1987)**
The years of crisis (FF issues 105-149), are where the ever increasing strain takes its toll: the marriage breaks up, Ben goes on a rampage, the people hate the FF, Johnny loses Crystal, etc.time)
The decision: Byrne's run, after the Tiny Town event, culminates in the Secret Wars. The team accepts that it must change. Ben leaves, Johnny decides to grow up, Reed withdraws into himself (compare this skinny, disconnected Reed with the muscular hero of previous years). the ever increasing Franklin crisis reaches breaking point. After almost losing Franklin to Mephisto himself (twice!), Reed finally decides the inevitable: to put family first.
1974-1988 (with an untold story gap, then The Last Fantastic Four Story)**
The lovers return: each ends up with their true love (see how it all ends).
The final push: Ben finally faces himself (in the form of leadership and She-Thing) and defeats his doubts. Johnny (see 'what happens next') finally becomes the man he always wanted to be.
Secrets revealed, prized for everyone: all characters finally face the truth of what they are and what they want. The end is clear and satisfying.
Family values: like all "well made plays" it ends with a reaffirmation of family values. Putting Franklin first!
Like all great stories, the end of one story is the beginning of another. Sadly some of the last chapters were never published, but the very last chapter was, so we can piece together what happened, and what would probably happen next. A new team was about to be born, led by Johnny and Crystal, with Franklin and Luna always nearby. This new Fantastic Four would be younger and more action-oriented than play-it-safe-Reed and don't-take-chances-Sue. And thanks to Lockjaw, Sue, Reed and Ben are always just a heartbeat away.
* This three act play structure (the quest, rising action and the ball, denouement) should be very familiar to students of storytelling.
** In the early years the story took place in real time. Starting in 1968, stories were stretched out so that one year in the comic took several years in our time. This stretching finally made continuity impossible.
Note that the events of each year lead to the events of the next. This is a single big story.
Issues 1-3 (dated Nov,Jan,Mar)
team: radiation (and Gormuu's space tech) leads to super powers.
family: the shared powers lead to setting up as a team together
1962: year of decisionfamily: adjustments lead to conflict (Johnny leaves, Ben has serious issues)
team: similar radiation leads to Spider-Man, X-men, etc.
family: Johnny's teen hormones lead to him to want to prove himself (Strange Tales)
team: overconfidence leads to their first major defeat (Frightful Four)
family: Johnny finishes High School, Reed and Sue become engaged
team: Medusa (of the Frightful Four) leads to the discovery of the Inhumans. Also, defeat leads to the need to beef up Baxter Building technology.
family: Engagement leads to marriage (Reed and Sue)
team: ever increasing danger leads to Galactus
family: marriage leads to pregnancy; also, Johnny enrolls in college after a gap year
team: Sue's absence leads to Crystal joining the team. Also,danger from Galactus leads Reed to research subspace (the negative zone)
family: pregnancy leads to birth (late in the year, reported in the next year)
From 1968 real time begins to stretch. The years of publication are in brackets. Historical details - e.g. names of presidents, fashions and types of rockets - are updated for the date of publication.
team: experience leads to invading enemy territory (Latveria, Skrull world)
family: Crystal's presence leads to true love for Johnny
Circa issues 100-120: it all starts to go wrong
team: previous time away from home leads to more focus on New York this year (let the Avengers deal with the foreign stuff!)
family: Reed's guilt over Ben leads to taking risks - and disastrous results (it affects Ben's mind and he runs amok)
Circa issues 120-150: the lowest point. (Dates: issue 130 begins on New Year's Day)
team and family: this is the year when the ever increasing dangers finally took their inevitable toll on the team. Reed and Sue's marriage had been under stress for months, and they finally broke up. Crystal and Johnny's enforced separation led to her marriage to someone else. Ben, frustrated at his inability to make the changes he really wanted, tried and failed to save Alicia's sight. This was the FF's Annus Horribilis.
Circa issues 150-200. marriage fixed, Doom defeated.
team: the continued strain (possibly related to his health problems when Reed blacked out the previous year) leads to Reed losing his powers. The ever increasing danger means he can no longer lead, and this leads to the team breaking up. But Doom's need for revenge leads to him re powering Reed (even more than before - useful next year against Psycho-Man). The long running problem with Latveria is finally solved.
family: Reed and Sue get back together, but the new status quo leads Sue to consider a new career (see FF 158). Franklin, now recovered from his coma, is never stable (once he's possessed, another time a repressed alter-ego escapes)
Circa issues 200-250. Pretending all is well. Reed retreats psychologically.
team: the endless danger, and the existence of other super beings to take the slack, leads the team to cut back on their crazy schedule (smaller stories then Byrne's back to basics).
family: the 'Tiny Town' story leads to Alicia seeing that her relationship can go nowhere. Johnny, realizing that Reed and Sue need more space, moves out. He's now recovered from Crystal enough to seriously date (the she-torch). Franklin still has problems.
Circa issues 250-305. Things have to change.
Team and family: more emphasis on family leads to a second honeymoon (to the neg zone) and a second pregnancy. Which leads to the miscarriage which leads to the Malice persona. All of this leads to Johnny needing stability more than ever, which leads to a relationship with Alicia while Ben is away, which leads to marriage. The ever increasing danger leads to the destruction of the Baxter Building and the new Freedom's Plaza headquarters. Continuing problems with Franklin - especially his being trapped by Mephisto, twice - lead Reed and Sue to finally do what they tried before ('A House There Was,' and the house they had when Mephisto attacked) - to permanently set up home away from the FF, but this time to focus entirely on raising Franklin.
Circa issues 305-321, The Last Fantastic Four Story, plus unprinted stories.
team and family: Ben leads the team until Johnny's divorce, then after one final major adventure the older members retire. Johnny marries Crystal, and with junior members Franklin and Luna (and possibly other adult members, and occasional help from Reed, Sue and Ben) form a new, more fiery and invigorated Fantastic Four. Some of these events are not yet published and must be extrapolated from what is known. Click here for details.
From the origin to the classics
1: the origin of the Fantastic Four
2: the Skrulls. Not a classic story, but the Skrulls became very important
3: the Baxter Building, Fantasticar and costumes
4: the Sub-Mariner
5: Dr Doom!
6: first team up
7: Planet X. Most people don't consider this a classic, but I do, since I first read it in large scale hard back format as a little kid, and I was deeply impressed.
8. First Alicia, the Thing's girlfriend
12: the Hulk, the first of many battles between old green skin and the Thing.
13: the Watcher (and the red ghost)
Annual 1: Atlantis versus the surface world
25-26: First multi-issue crossover event
29: Yancy Street
32: the Invincible Man (notable for the story, not the character)
36: first Medusa and the Frightful Four
38: first major defeat
Annual 2: origin of Dr Doom
Annual 3: Wedding of Sue and Reed
44-47: Inhumans
48-50: Galactus (and Silver Surfer) - probably the greatest FF story ever
51: "This Man This Monster"
52-53: Black Panther
57-60: Doom steals the Power Cosmic
61-63: Negative Zone (and Blastaar)
64-65: Sentry (Kree empire)
66-67: Him (Adam Warlock)
72-77: Second Galactus saga (and Microverse)
Annual 6: Birth of Franklin
81: Crystal joins the FF
84-87: Latveria
90-93: The Thing enslaved
105-116: The monster, the Thing amok, Janus, Overmind. A very enjoyable run.
132: Crystal leaves Johnny - emotional highlight of series. New red costume.
141: Reed blasts Franklin: Sue leaves (marital problems started in 130)
142-144: Doom, Latveria, Darkoth, Alicia - a classic arc
150: wedding of Crystal and Pietro
155-157: the Surfer and Shalla Bal (originally planned as a Giant Size special)
164-165: Crusader (Perez art)
168-170: Power Man (Perez art)
176-179: Impossible Man, Frightful Four, Brute (Perez art).
188: Reed resigns, FF break up (Perez art)
198-200: son of Doom, and Latveria is freed
232: Diablo (first all-Byrne issue, complete story, "back to basics" in many ways)
236: Terror in a Tiny Town (triple sized 20th anniversary issue)
238-239: Frankie Raye and Aunt Petunia
240: Inhumans leave for the Moon
242-244: Reed saves Galactus, Galactus takes a new herald
245: Franklin grows up, needs mental dampers
246-247, 258: return of Doom
260: annihilation of doom (literally) - returns in 288
Annual 17: Skrull cows. Just a great FF story.
262: trial of Reed Richards
265: return from Battle World (Secret Wars 1); She-Hulk joins
267: "A small loss"
271: Gormuu (affectionate tribute set before FF 1)
272-273: Nathaniel Richards (Reed's father)
277: the Thing returns, discovers Alicia and Johnny, leaves the FF
278-179: Kristoff becomes Doom; destruction of Baxter building
280-281: Malice
285: "Hero"
286: return of Phoenix
289: new headquarters, Four Freedom's Plaza
296: the Thing returns to the FF. Not really a classic (his changed appearance is quickly reversed) but a giant anniversary issue by many artists, and ties up some loose ends from the end of his own book.
300: wedding of Johnny and Alicia
310-311: Pineapple Thing; Ms Marvel becomes She-Thing
Annual 20: Doom versus Kristoff. Not everyone loves it, but I do.
318-319: Dr Doom and the Beyonder (climax to Secret Wars II)
320: the Thing beats the Hulk (briefly, under unusual circumstances)
321: the final in-continuity story
For what happened next, click here.
There are many other Fantastic Four stories: cartoons, movies, What Ifs, 2099, 1602, Reborn, Zombie, Apes, Manga, Adventures, Knights, Amalgam, Ultimates, one shots, and main title stories written after 1991, etc., but they are all short and derivative. This page is about the original story, the Big One.
Today's non-continuity storiesThe modern day Fantastic Four is a mere shadow of its past. Part of the problem is the lack of any direction - the big story cannot continue, thanks to the curse of Marvel Time. But even without that, the FF should NATURALLY be the most action packed comic in the world. This is why: Think of action video games, there are four basic types:
1. Stealth, leading to explosions. ( This is Sue.)
2. Fantasy, where the screen is filled with giant and amazing stuff. (This is Reed, the living morphing mech suit.)
3. Flying and shooting. (This is Johnny.)
4. Raw fighting. (This is Ben.)
But over the years this natural dynamic has been neutered:
Mr Fantastic has stopped doing anything. He became Mr Weedy And Unpopular.
The Invisible Woman ignores her natural role (danger!), and instead became EVEN MORE invisible. You don't make invisible powers more visible just by making them bigger.
The torch - the guy we should relate to - has become an idiot.
The strongest guy on Earth has become one of the weakest (at least among his peers).
And they wonder why the book no longer sells.
Here are some simple things that modern editors can do to make the Fantastic Four exciting again.
Make it OK for Reed to change volume. Look at the early issues - like the two examples from issue 42. He didn't just stretch, he changed size. That's how he can stretch hundreds of feet and maintain muscle strength. Reed stretching is related to how Giant Man or the Skrulls stretch.
Reed has to fill the whole room with his presence!
Let Sue fulfill her wish to become a private detective, or give her a secret agent type role. Sue's natural role is stealth based. Stealth is cool. Secret agents are cool. Sue can naturally go into MORE DANGEROUS PLACES than the others, and she has to do that alone, because only she has complete control over invisibility. And she'll have to be invisible on ALL wavelengths. She should specialize in laying explosives. Why? First, that's how stealth adventures always end. Second, her forcefield is only visually interesting when containing explosions, as in the unforgettable first Latveria arc. beyond that, her invisible forcefields are a complete non-starter for a visual medium like comics.
Ben and Johnny:
To be continued!
