By VeVe Team · September 10, 2025
In the very first issue of Fantastic Four, readers witnessed the accident that started it all. Scientist Reed Richards, pilot Ben Grimm, and siblings Sue and Johnny Storm launched into space to beat the Soviets, only to be bombarded by cosmic rays that granted them extraordinary powers. Upon their return, they became Mister Fantastic, The Thing, Invisible Girl, and Human Torch. A family of superheroes who bickered and cared for one another in a way comic readers had never seen before.
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Four comics introduced flawed, relatable heroes whose adventures as “Marvel’s First Family” set the tone for the interconnected Marvel world to come. This 1961 debut was the birth of Marvel’s Silver Age, making it an essential cornerstone for fans and collectors alike.
Marvel’s greatest villain made his grand entrance in 1962. In Fantastic Four #5, the world met Doctor Victor Von Doom . The genius Latverian monarch in iron armor who would become Reed Richards’ arch-nemesis. In his first appearance, Doom menaces the team with time travel and treachery, immediately establishing himself as a formidable foe obsessed with sorcery, science, and personal vengeance against Reed.
Doom’s ongoing feud with Reed Richards became one of Marvel’s all-time greatest hero–villain dynamics. His mix of brilliant intellect, dark magic, and regal arrogance set a new standard for supervillains. This issue gave Fantastic Four comics their archenemy and the Marvel Universe one of its most enduring antagonists, making it a prized issue for collectors.
By 1965, Reed and Sue had been through cosmic adventures and personal trials. Now it was time for Marvel’s first family to truly become family. Fantastic Four Annual #3 depicts the long-awaited wedding of Reed Richards and Susan Storm, an event so momentous that virtually every hero (and villain) in the Marvel Universe shows up. Titled “Bedlam at the Baxter Building,” the story sees Doctor Doom inciting an attack on the ceremony, forcing the Fantastic Four and their many super-hero guests to fend off a who’s-who of villains before the happy couple can tie the knot.
Not only was it one of the biggest comic book weddings of all time, but it’s often cited as the first major crossover event in Marvel history. Nearly every major Marvel character of the era makes an appearance, making the wedding a grand celebration of the interconnected Marvel Universe.. The union of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Girl remains a high point in Marvel lore, a rare joyous milestone amid the cosmic drama.
In a groundbreaking 1966 trilogy (often called “The Galactus Trilogy”), the Fantastic Four face a threat bigger than anything on Earth: Galactus, the cosmic devourer of worlds, and his herald, the shining Silver Surfer. Beginning in Fantastic Four #48, the sky erupts with the ominous arrival of Galactus, who intends to consume Earth’s energy. The saga spans through issue #50 as the FF struggle to save humanity, with help from the Watcher and the rebel herald Silver Surfer. This story not only introduced two major characters, the god-like Galactus and the noble Silver Surfer, but truly blew open the scale of Marvel’s storytelling.
Fans and historians regard this arc as a watershed moment in comics. It significantly altered the landscape of Marvel Comics, proving that superheroes could confront threats on a truly universal scale. For the first time, a comic book battle for the survival of an entire world against a being beyond good and evil. The imagery and stakes were unforgettable. The Galactus Trilogy’s epic scope and moral depth (with Silver Surfer turning against his master to defend Earth) cemented it as one of the most celebrated Fantastic Four comics. These issues are highly sought by collectors as the debut of Galactus and Surfer, and for their historic role in elevating comic book storytelling to cosmic heights.
Issue #52 of Fantastic Four introduced readers to T’Challa, the Black Panther, marking the historic first appearance of Marvel’s first Black superhero in mainstream comics. In this issue, the Fantastic Four travel to the mysterious African nation of Wakanda, lured by an invitation from its young monarch. There they encounter the Black Panther, who initially challenges the Four in combat to test their abilities. T’Challa soon reveals himself as an ally – a genius warrior-king clad in a sleek black suit, ruling over a technologically advanced, hidden kingdom.
The debut of Black Panther in 1966 was a culturally significant milestone. T’Challa became the first Black superhero in mainstream American comics, a character who defied stereotypes by being a wealthy, intelligent monarch and scientific genius. He brought an Afrofuturistic vision to Marvel through Wakanda – a nation untouched by colonialism and more advanced than any other. Longtime Marvel fans cherish this issue for expanding the universe to include Wakanda and for the lasting impact of Black Panther on comics and pop culture. New readers, familiar with Black Panther from films, often discover with delight that he first appeared in a Fantastic Four comic. That makes FF #52 a key issue for collectors and a proud moment in Marvel history when the “first family” welcomed a groundbreaking new hero into their ranks.
This 1984 issue, written and drawn by John Byrne, is a standout of the Fantastic Four’s Bronze Age. In Fantastic Four #262, Reed Richards is abducted by an intergalactic court (led by Princess Lilandra of the Shi’ar Empire) to answer for a grave “crime”: years earlier, Reed saved the life of Galactus, allowing the planet-eater to survive – and go on to consume other worlds. Dubbed “The Trial of Reed Richards,” the story features cosmic beings like Uatu the Watcher, Eternity, and even Galactus himself as witnesses in a courtroom that spans the cosmos. Reed’s decision and the very nature of Galactus are put on trial, while the remaining Fantastic Four scramble to defend their leader across the vastness of space.
This issue is unforgettable for its ambitious exploration of morality on a cosmic scale. Reed is effectively prosecuted for condemning billions to death by saving Galactus, forcing readers to consider whether preserving a cosmic force of nature was right or wrong. The trial’s climax delivers a profound twist: Eternity reveals the “cosmic truth” that Galactus is a necessary part of the universe’s balance, vindicating Reed’s actions. In doing so, Byrne’s story expanded Marvel’s mythology by finally divulging Galactus’s origin and role after two decades of mystery. Longtime fans regard this as one of the best Fantastic Four comics, a story that mixes superhero adventure with philosophical depth and collectors prize it as a key issue of the Byrne era. “The Trial of Reed Richards” affirmed that even in a courtroom drama, the Fantastic Four could deliver awe-inspiring cosmic stakes.
By the mid-1990s, the Fantastic Four became central players in Onslaught, a massive crossover that shook the Marvel Universe. The culmination came in Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1 (1996), where an immensely powerful psionic entity named Onslaught threatened all life on Earth. In the final battle, virtually every major non-mutant hero joined forces to stop him. The Fantastic Four alongside the Avengers, Hulk, and even Doctor Doom, made the ultimate sacrifice: they bravely hurled themselves into Onslaught’s energy form to destabilize and destroy him. In doing so, they apparently perished, shocking readers as Marvel’s First Family and many of their hero peers vanished from the Earth.
This moment was one of the most dramatic events of the 1990s. For the first time, fans saw the Fantastic Four die in the line of duty, illustrating their heroism and resolve.Unknown to the heroes, young Franklin Richards, Reed and Sue’s son, subconsciously saved his family and their allies by creating a pocket universe to house them. This launched the “Heroes Reborn” era, where the Fantastic Four spent a year in an alternate reality before returning home. The sacrifice during Onslaught’s climax effectively ended the original Fantastic Four comics’ 35-year run (with issue #416) and led to a temporary reboot, making it an unforgettable turning point.
In 2004, Marvel reimagined Fantastic Four comics for a new generation with the launch of Ultimate Fantastic Four #1. Part of the separate Ultimate Universe, this series introduced younger, updated versions of the team. Reed Richards is depicted as a brilliant but socially awkward teenager, and alongside teen versions of Ben, Johnny, and Sue, he gains powers through a teleportation experiment gone awry. The first issue assembles the team’s new origin story: a lab accident at the Baxter Building grants Reed his elasticity, Sue her invisibility fields, Johnny his flame, and Ben his rocky form.
Ultimate Fantastic Four’s debut is significant for its contemporary reimagining of Marvel’s First Family. It made the characters accessible to 21st-century readers with updated science and a younger spin on their personalities. Longtime fans were treated to alternate takes on familiar events, while new readers found an easy entry point without decades of backstory. Notably, the Ultimate Reed Richards eventually evolves into the villainous Maker, a stark contrast to his classic counterpart and one of the Ultimate Universe’s defining twists.
The Fantastic Four have endured many losses, but perhaps the most heart-wrenching came in 2011 when Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, died… at least for a time. In Fantastic Four #587 , the team is trapped in the Negative Zone facing an Annihilation Wave of alien monsters. In a selfless last stand, Johnny forces Reed and Ben to take the others to safety while he stays behind to seal the portal. Johnny is swarmed by alien hordes and seemingly falls in battle, dying as a hero to save his family and the world. In the aftermath, the series ended, the remaining trio mourned, and Spider-Man eventually joined the team in a new title to carry on Johnny’s legacy.
Of course, in comics, no death is guaranteed permanent and Johnny’s fiery spirit wasn’t out for long. In Fantastic Four #600, readers were elated by a dramatic reveal: Johnny Storm was alive after all, having survived in the Negative Zone. Far from being a captive victim, Johnny had actually become a gladiator and led a rebellion against Annihilus. He returns to Earth triumphant, even dragging Annihilus in chains as his prisoner!. Johnny’s “death” and resurrection within a year showcased the emotional highs and lows that make Fantastic Four comics so compelling. For longtime fans, it reaffirmed the team’s bond and for new readers it was a crash course in the soap-operatic stakes of Marvel storytelling.
The Fantastic Four comics reached a cosmic crescendo during Secret Wars (2015), a multiverse-shattering crossover that served as the culmination of Jonathan Hickman’s run. Throughout this event, the villainous Doctor Doom seized omnipotent power from the Beyonders and created “Battleworld”, a patchwork planet of shattered realities, crowning himself God Emperor Doom. Missing from the Marvel Universe, Reed Richards, his wife Sue, and their children were presumed dead when the multiverse collapsed. In truth, Reed (from Earth-616) survived on a life raft and, alongside heroes from the 616 and Ultimate universes, became Doom’s ultimate challenger. The final issue, Secret Wars #9, delivered an unforgettable showdown: Reed Richards vs. God Doom with reality itself at stake. In their climactic confrontation, Doom and Reed viciously trade words and blows over who could have saved the universe. Doom finally admits defeat, conceding that Reed would have done a better job with godlike power. At that moment, the omnipotent Molecule Man transfers Doom’s stolen power to Reed, tipping the balance at last.
This moment is historic for many reasons. It’s the ultimate payoff to the decades-long Reed/Doom rivalry: the genius hero and the jealous villain battling not for a kingdom or a planet, but for the Multiverse. Reed’s victory isn’t just physical but moral, as Doom’s admission validates the integrity and ingenuity that define Mr. Fantastic. In the aftermath, Reed and Sue reunite with their children and, rather than return to Earth immediately, the Richards family embarks on a higher calling using godlike power to rebuild the multiverse, universe by universe. This effectively wrote the Fantastic Four comics out of Marvel’s main continuity for a few years, as they ventured off to create new worlds. For fans, it was a bittersweet but fitting temporary farewell: Marvel’s First Family set off to make a better universe, emphasizing the core theme that family and imagination can triumph even over a god.
Each of these ten moments shows why the Fantastic Four stand as Marvel’s first family, with stories that shaped comic history and continue to inspire today. On VeVe, you’ll find Fantastic Four comics for sale in premium digital format, complete with the ability to read in augmented reality and explore these tales in a whole new way. Start your Fantastic Four collection on VeVe and experience the adventure like never before.
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