Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Possession Of Franklin Richards

by Doug Moench

Collecting Fantastic Four (1961) #215-231 And Annual (1963) #14-15.

Marvel's next blockbuster movie will bring the Fantastic Four into the Marvel Cinematic Universe! FANTASTIC FOUR has always been the home for Marvel's biggest ideas and most creative concepts. It's a tradition of rapid-fire creativity established by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and Doug Moench and Bill Sienkiewicz carry the torch (no pun intended) forward in this Epic Collection. Giant monsters will invade New York. A possessed Franklin Richards threatens all reality with his immeasurable power. The FF joins Captain Marvel in a cosmic war with the Skrulls. Doctor Doom retakes Latveria. A lost race of technologically advanced vikings, powered by a blind god's tears, needs the FF's aid. A trip to the great outdoors ain't no picnic when alien brain parasites attack. John Byrne makes his writer/artist debut! And more! And H.E.R.B.I.E.? You better watch out for H.E.R.B.I.E.!

Genres: Comics

472 pages, Paperback

Published August 5, 2025

About the author

Doug Moench, is an American comic book writer notable for his Batman work and as the creator of Black Mask, Moon Knight and Deathlok. Moench has worked for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics and many other smaller companies; he has written hundreds of issues of many different comics, and created dozens of characters, such as Moon Knight. In 1973, Moench became the de facto lead writer for the Marvel black-and-white magazine imprint Curtis Magazines. He contributed to the entire runs of Planet of the Apes, Rampaging Hulk (continuing on the title when it changed its name to The Hulk!) and Doc Savage, while also serving as a regular scribe for virtually every other Curtis title during the course of the imprint's existence. Moench is perhaps best known for his work on Batman, whose title he wrote from 1983–1986 and then again from 1992–1998. (He also wrote the companion title Detective Comics from 1983–1986.)

Moench is a frequent and longtime collaborator with comics artist Paul Gulacy. The pair are probably best known for their work on Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, which they worked on together from 1974–1977. They also co-created Six from Sirius, Slash Maraud, and S.C.I. Spy, and have worked together on comics projects featuring Batman, Conan the Barbarian and James Bond.

Moench has frequently been paired with the artist and inker team of Kelley Jones and John Beatty on several Elseworlds Graphic Novels and a long run of the monthly Batman comic.

Reviews

[Steven desJardins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the period just after I stopped reading Fantastic Four as a child, and I don't think it's just nostalgia which makes me think this run just isn't as good as the preceding volumes. It's not terrible, but, for instance, the conceit of having Trapster impersonate Spider-Man is serviceable but less memorable than when the Frightful Four took over the Baxter Building to hold auditions for a new member.