Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 2 by Stan Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After a Fantastic run that was chronicled in Essential Fantastic Four, Vol. 1, this book begins off strong with Issue 21 featuring the first appearance of Nick Fury after World War II. Up to this time, he'd only been seen fighting with his Howling Commandos as they battle the Hate Monger turning the FF against each other.

Issues 22 and 23 were pretty weak despite featuring Mole Man and Dr. Doom and Issue 24 was silly with an alien infant wreaking havoc.

Issue 25 features a great Thing v. Hulk battle, but is continued in a less than stellar entry which featured the Avengers. The two groups of heroes incessantly got in each other's way in a not so satisfying comic book.

Issue 27 featured the return of the Sub-mariner and guest starred Doctor Strange as he once again attempts to woo Sue Storm via kidnapping. The Strange cameo works quite well.


Then Issue 29 features the Fantastic Four's return to Yancy Street and facing off against the Red Ghost in a surprise return appearance. Things really pick up with Issue 30 when Diablo is introduced and takes control of thing.

Dr. Doom returns and triumphs (or so he thinks) in Fantastic Four Annual #2 which also includes a solid 12-page origin story for the bad doctor.

Issue 31 features a much better Mole Man story and also an injury to Sue that brings a surprise visitor. Issue 32 features Sue and Johnny's father acting strangely and escaping from prison to emerge with all the FF's powers. What's really going on?

Issue 33 features the Fantastic Four fighting on the side of the Sub-mariner in a well-done story set in Atlantis. Issue 34 is another Fantastic Four turns against each other battle, but Lee and Kirby put a little different spin on the reason.

Issue 35 tells the most "okay" story in this book with Diablo's return and Reed Richards finally popping the question. Then in Issue 36, we're introduced to the Frightful Four, a great villain team to battle the FF. In Issue 37, after having fought the Skrull numerous times, the FF take the fight to the Skrull themselves to settle a score. Issue 38 features the FF's defeat at the hands of the Frightful Four, costing them their powers and setting up a two part battle with Doctor Doom with an assist from guest star Daredevil in Issues 39 and 40.

My first edition copy also contained a Spidey-Human Torch meet up in Strange Tales Annual #2 which features Spidey needing the Torch's help to clear the name while the Torch is determined to bring Spidey to justice because he envies Spider-man's media coverage.

Volume 1 was easily an overall 5.0 rating. This book is a little bit more of a mixed bag. If you can get by with weak stories in FF #22-24, and 26 and the more okay stories like X-men crossover in #28, this is a great book that I'd give a 4.5 rating to. These are some great adventures and in addition to featuring the Richards-Storm engagement, we also see Susan develop her invisible forcefield power which makes her perhaps the FF's most powerful member after struggling with reader acceptance in the past.



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