What do you think?
Rate this book
Fantastic Four (1961)
Fantastic Four (1961-1998) #2
Meet the Skrulls from Outer Space!
After their reputation is tarnished by shape shifting aliens known as the Skrulls, the Fantastic Four must clear their name. And if that wasn't enough, our heroes learn the Skrulls are planning a full-scale invasion of Earth!
After their reputation is tarnished by shape shifting aliens known as the Skrulls, the Fantastic Four must clear their name. And if that wasn't enough, our heroes learn the Skrulls are planning a full-scale invasion of Earth!
26 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 1962
11 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Stan Lee
7,564 books2,340 followersStan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 28, 2020
This still wasn't it for me. I don't know what it is about the way that Lee is writing the Fantastic Four that I'm not enjoying. I wish that we had the chance to not only learn more about the Skrulls but also more about the relationship between the Fantastic Four. Ben (The Thing) has some serious pent up anger about what has happened to him and while I think that it was briefly addressed in this issue, I do believe that it could end up getting a lot worse. I'm hoping to see the development of individual characters and their relationship as a team more in the next few issues.
June 6, 2021
The first appearance of the Skrulls!
This issue had more action and less relationship building between the team.
You see the Thing become Ben again for the first time (a recurring event in the FF comics) and read The Human Torch's famous catch phrase "Flame On"!
Plus the Thing still holds a grudge against Reed. I can't wait to read the next comic!
This issue had more action and less relationship building between the team.
You see the Thing become Ben again for the first time (a recurring event in the FF comics) and read The Human Torch's famous catch phrase "Flame On"!
Plus the Thing still holds a grudge against Reed. I can't wait to read the next comic!
August 2, 2025
diabolical to turn the skrulls into cows
November 6, 2025
In this second issue, we see both improvements—such as the introduction of the Skrulls, an alien race attempting to invade Earth—and some lingering flaws, particularly in the dialogue, which often feels unclear or overly childish. For instance, I found the way the four Skrulls explain their plan rather unoriginal, as if they were addressing the reader directly instead of revealing it through a clever narrative device. Overall, the dialogue tends to be either too simplistic or used as a substitute for the narrator’s voice.
The artwork also doesn’t show much progress and still feels more like a series of sketches, often lacking precision. Personally, I’m not fond of entire characters being filled with a single color, even though I understand that this was a common stylistic choice at the time.
From a storytelling perspective, though, I found the Skrulls’ initial plan quite engaging, as well as the team dynamics within the Fantastic Four. The Thing’s personality in particular reflects his emotions vividly, making him the most layered character; his relationships with each team member are distinct and compelling. The ending, however, feels a bit underwhelming, especially Reed’s plan to stop the Skrull invasion. Still, it manages to draw a smile with the clever and somewhat humorous way he prevents the three surviving Skrulls from escaping.
The artwork also doesn’t show much progress and still feels more like a series of sketches, often lacking precision. Personally, I’m not fond of entire characters being filled with a single color, even though I understand that this was a common stylistic choice at the time.
From a storytelling perspective, though, I found the Skrulls’ initial plan quite engaging, as well as the team dynamics within the Fantastic Four. The Thing’s personality in particular reflects his emotions vividly, making him the most layered character; his relationships with each team member are distinct and compelling. The ending, however, feels a bit underwhelming, especially Reed’s plan to stop the Skrull invasion. Still, it manages to draw a smile with the clever and somewhat humorous way he prevents the three surviving Skrulls from escaping.
July 31, 2024
I was surprised to learn that the Skrulls are introduced in issue 2 of the Silver Age of Marvel, but shape-changing aliens do make a pretty good foil for these four heroes. Anyway, our heroes are framed for committing some crimes, but when they attempt to clear their names they're arrested. They all escape prison easily and kidnap their impostors who turn out to be aliens. The alien Skrulls reveal that they're just scouts for an invasion fleet, tasked with destroying the Four. So in revenge we assume the aliens identities, slip onto their Skrull ship and show them "Earth's defenders" (some paper clippings from old "Strange Tales" and "Journey into Mystery" comics), this scares them away from Earth. Our kidnapped captives are then willingly turned into cows to live out their days in peace on Earth. Great ending, but weren't there four captive Skrulls?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2017
Hemos cambiado muchísimo, en muy pocos años.
June 5, 2022
Ep 1 1962
Read if you’re up for a bit of a slog in exchange for the introduction of the Skrull
Read if you’re up for a bit of a slog in exchange for the introduction of the Skrull
January 16, 2023
Segundo número, todavía la idea en crudo del grupo, Stan Lee definiendo personalidades, trabajando la dinámica grupal. Kirby ... siendo el dibujante de entonces, sin tanto lugar de momento de plasmar sus dibujos tecnológicos.
Y arranca el desfile de creaciones, es impensable hoy en día una publicación mensual que cada salida tenga una creación nueva. En este caso los Skrulls, que tanto aportaron a la mitología de Marvel.
Alucinante.
Y arranca el desfile de creaciones, es impensable hoy en día una publicación mensual que cada salida tenga una creación nueva. En este caso los Skrulls, que tanto aportaron a la mitología de Marvel.
Alucinante.
July 28, 2023
They came from outerspace, and they're hellbent on destroying our heroes' credibility and taking their lives for inexplicable reasons! A classic 60's Sci-fi trope that I could never get enough of. This issue does pose some very thought provoking questions, like "How does a giant rock man stay afloat to swim?" Of course, I know the Skrull from MCU, but I'm pleased to already be meeting within the comics.
July 28, 2025
The Fantastic Four are in deep waters now… a new menace has risen or should I say descended because this one comes from high up in the sky, way up… from outer space!
Four aliens, a species called Skrulls, are able to shapeshift into anything they want. And they want to eliminate a threat, the Fantastic Four themselves, by discriminating them!
But Reed, the Storms and Grimm are not so easily stopped and should not be messed with. And the Skrull party will learn soon enough!
Four aliens, a species called Skrulls, are able to shapeshift into anything they want. And they want to eliminate a threat, the Fantastic Four themselves, by discriminating them!
But Reed, the Storms and Grimm are not so easily stopped and should not be messed with. And the Skrull party will learn soon enough!
August 25, 2025
I suppose having the obligatory doppelgänger issue early on makes sense, so people would more readily believe that the Fantastic Four could be evil. The Skrulls, however, are dumb as rocks and are easily duped by our heroes. Reed refuses to have their captive imposters killed, which is interesting to see after coming off of reading early Human Torch (the OG, not Johnny) and Namor in the original Marvel Comics, where they murdered people left right and centre and often not just villains. Turning the skrulls into cows and hypnotising them to not remember being skrulls is… kind of crazy.
August 28, 2025
actually loving reading this, i hope i can finish all the issues some day
May 26, 2024
A lot better than the first comic but still it's a bit aged and a few inconsistencies in the storytelling make you scratch your head.
Does introduce the Skrulls here but without a proper backstory and explanation, feels a little hollow.
Single time read for the Skrulls.
Does introduce the Skrulls here but without a proper backstory and explanation, feels a little hollow.
Single time read for the Skrulls.
January 27, 2021
Better than the previous one, but don’t tell me the fourth Skrull went with the mother ship when you didn’t even bring him with you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
It’s so wild just how fast things are introduced and concluded in these issues, already on the second issue and the skrulls are introduced?! That’s so wild and awesome to me. But really the fantastic four should change their name to the gaslight brigade with how well they drove off the skrull invasion force. Also, I totally get now why Ben is such a fan favorite character, he’s the only one with any real depth at this point. Everyone got these amazing manageable powers, and he is stuck as a walking commercial for self doubt, with any smidge of hope of returning to his normal self being immediately ripped away. And he remains the only one willing to challenge the rest of the team, and Reed specifically, on their insane plans.
But to the story in this issue itself, I am betting that when this came out and no one knew who the skrulls were, that opening the pages and immediately seeing the fantastic four go around the city and commit crimes was not a surprise in the slightest. Just look at what they did at the start of the first issue, lol. It’s that fantastic four flare smoke I tell ya, it does something to them. But in all seriousness, finding your new favorite heroes commuting crimes and getting a kill on site order placed in them at the start of the issue must have been such a shell shock. Only to be shocked even more when you find out about an entire alien invading force ready to descend on Earth and they are able to shape shift into the fantastic four and use tech to mimic their powers in an attempt to use the public to take them down!
Conveniently, the fantastic four were out at a remote hunting lodge when everything went down with the skrulls mimicking them. Ben was immediately ready to head out and fight, but Reed wanted to play it safe a bit and wait and think it out. Fat lot of good that did them, apparently the military knew where they were, which you would think would give them an alibi, and the fantastic four surrendered themselves and were placed in highly specialized cells to contain them. Johnny hilariously got put in a cell covered in asbestos. But one by one each of the members broke out using their own powers. Sue broke out by turning invisible and waiting for her lunch to be delivered…you would think knowing her powers would prevent the guards from even opening the door. Johnny found an air vent and used the oxygen to light up. Ben just kept hitting the thick steel walls of his cell. And Reed, with his apparent stretchy clothes as well, found a small imperfection in his cell and bended his way through it. After they all escaped they met up at one of Reed’s many secret apartments to devise a plan. They realized someone was impersonating them, so they decided to set a trap by pulling off a public job and then getting picked up by the imposters who would think they are one of them. They land on a new rocket being tested and Johnny nominates himself to go. So on the pursuit of their imposters, the fantastic four commit crimes of their own by ruining a rocket test site. Luckily the plan worked and the skrulls came by and picked Jonny up and took him to their base…only to realize way too late he was the real thing! Johnny whipped out his fantastic flare gun and called the others to his location! They were able to defeat and tie up the skrulls and find out all the details of their invasion. And that’s when the four hatched a new hilarious plan. They used the skrulls ship, disguised on the roof as a water tower, to fly up to the mother ship. While there they met with the higher ups, who thought they were their agents in fantastic four disguises, and then proceeded to show them pictures from sci-fi movies to prove that earth is too dangerous to invade. This immediately convinced the skrulls to high tail it out of there, lol, but the four told them that they wouldn’t be returning with them. Instead returning to earth to wipe clean all evidence of their presence. And instead of questioning them on this…the skrulls gave them a medal and sent them back down to earth.
On the return trip to earth, they once again passed through those pesky cosmic rays…but this time the only one effected was Ben. But it actually reversed the effects of his rock like body and turned him human again! He didn’t even realize it until they got back to earth and were immediately surrounded by cops and they pointed out they had no clue who he was. I have no clue where Ben got normal sized pants and shoes but I’m glad he did. Unfortunately right as Ben has hope of being normal again…his skin immediately starts to shift back as he turns into the thing. Damn, that is tragic as hell. Anyway, the four convince the cops that they can explain everything back at their apartment where they have shape shifting aliens tied up and those were the ones impersonating them. Thankfully the cops decided to play along, and the four were quickly proven right as they opened the door to find that the skrulls had once again shifted into giant monsters that the four had to take down! With their shifting on full display the cops were convinced and decided to keep this whole encounter a secret from the public. Reed knows that the cops don’t have a prison that could hold the skrulls, so he sent the cops on their way while they determined what to do with them. The skrulls were of course terrified they were going to be killed, but Reed gave them a different suggestion. Transform into whatever he chooses then he will hypnotize them to forget their past life. Apparently they found the three skrulls who hate being skrulls and would way rather live peacefully. As such, Reed made them turn into cows then erased their minds of being skrulls and left them to live out their lives on a farm. Honestly, what the hell?! That’s insane. Do they have the same lifespan as a cow, will they turn back once they are dead?! Hahaha, what?!
But to the story in this issue itself, I am betting that when this came out and no one knew who the skrulls were, that opening the pages and immediately seeing the fantastic four go around the city and commit crimes was not a surprise in the slightest. Just look at what they did at the start of the first issue, lol. It’s that fantastic four flare smoke I tell ya, it does something to them. But in all seriousness, finding your new favorite heroes commuting crimes and getting a kill on site order placed in them at the start of the issue must have been such a shell shock. Only to be shocked even more when you find out about an entire alien invading force ready to descend on Earth and they are able to shape shift into the fantastic four and use tech to mimic their powers in an attempt to use the public to take them down!
Conveniently, the fantastic four were out at a remote hunting lodge when everything went down with the skrulls mimicking them. Ben was immediately ready to head out and fight, but Reed wanted to play it safe a bit and wait and think it out. Fat lot of good that did them, apparently the military knew where they were, which you would think would give them an alibi, and the fantastic four surrendered themselves and were placed in highly specialized cells to contain them. Johnny hilariously got put in a cell covered in asbestos. But one by one each of the members broke out using their own powers. Sue broke out by turning invisible and waiting for her lunch to be delivered…you would think knowing her powers would prevent the guards from even opening the door. Johnny found an air vent and used the oxygen to light up. Ben just kept hitting the thick steel walls of his cell. And Reed, with his apparent stretchy clothes as well, found a small imperfection in his cell and bended his way through it. After they all escaped they met up at one of Reed’s many secret apartments to devise a plan. They realized someone was impersonating them, so they decided to set a trap by pulling off a public job and then getting picked up by the imposters who would think they are one of them. They land on a new rocket being tested and Johnny nominates himself to go. So on the pursuit of their imposters, the fantastic four commit crimes of their own by ruining a rocket test site. Luckily the plan worked and the skrulls came by and picked Jonny up and took him to their base…only to realize way too late he was the real thing! Johnny whipped out his fantastic flare gun and called the others to his location! They were able to defeat and tie up the skrulls and find out all the details of their invasion. And that’s when the four hatched a new hilarious plan. They used the skrulls ship, disguised on the roof as a water tower, to fly up to the mother ship. While there they met with the higher ups, who thought they were their agents in fantastic four disguises, and then proceeded to show them pictures from sci-fi movies to prove that earth is too dangerous to invade. This immediately convinced the skrulls to high tail it out of there, lol, but the four told them that they wouldn’t be returning with them. Instead returning to earth to wipe clean all evidence of their presence. And instead of questioning them on this…the skrulls gave them a medal and sent them back down to earth.
On the return trip to earth, they once again passed through those pesky cosmic rays…but this time the only one effected was Ben. But it actually reversed the effects of his rock like body and turned him human again! He didn’t even realize it until they got back to earth and were immediately surrounded by cops and they pointed out they had no clue who he was. I have no clue where Ben got normal sized pants and shoes but I’m glad he did. Unfortunately right as Ben has hope of being normal again…his skin immediately starts to shift back as he turns into the thing. Damn, that is tragic as hell. Anyway, the four convince the cops that they can explain everything back at their apartment where they have shape shifting aliens tied up and those were the ones impersonating them. Thankfully the cops decided to play along, and the four were quickly proven right as they opened the door to find that the skrulls had once again shifted into giant monsters that the four had to take down! With their shifting on full display the cops were convinced and decided to keep this whole encounter a secret from the public. Reed knows that the cops don’t have a prison that could hold the skrulls, so he sent the cops on their way while they determined what to do with them. The skrulls were of course terrified they were going to be killed, but Reed gave them a different suggestion. Transform into whatever he chooses then he will hypnotize them to forget their past life. Apparently they found the three skrulls who hate being skrulls and would way rather live peacefully. As such, Reed made them turn into cows then erased their minds of being skrulls and left them to live out their lives on a farm. Honestly, what the hell?! That’s insane. Do they have the same lifespan as a cow, will they turn back once they are dead?! Hahaha, what?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2025
Fantastic Four #2, "The Fantastic Four Meet the Skrulls from Outer Space!"
I really love this issue of FF. Opening to the Fantastic Four committing heinous crimes like toppling oil rigs to stealing jewelry, the reader is left nonplussed that their favorite superhero team from the past month has already gone rogue. The funniest of said crimes is Reed turning off the entire city's power with just one switch. But fear not, dear reader. These are not, in fact, your beloved Fantastic Four. These are imposters...from space!
Enter the Skrulls, the now iconic alien species featured in numerous issues of Marvel Comics over the decades. The Skrulls plan to weaken Earth's defenses by having the people turn against the FF, but though they can imitate appearances, they can only use trickery to convince the unwashed masses that they actually have the cosmic powers of our beloved heroes. The Skrull plan looks to work initially, with the FF taken prisoners by the US government (poor Johnny has to be locked up in an asbestos cage). The FF escape easily, and decide how best to uncover the plot behind their nefarious impersonators.
Two can play the impersonation game, and the FF decide to pretend to be Skrulls to infiltrate their ship. Defeating all but one of the Skrulls, the FF hypnotize the remaining three to live out their existence as future hamburgers:
Witty and grandiose, this issue of FF really sets the stage for some of the most impressive adventures yet to come.
I really love this issue of FF. Opening to the Fantastic Four committing heinous crimes like toppling oil rigs to stealing jewelry, the reader is left nonplussed that their favorite superhero team from the past month has already gone rogue. The funniest of said crimes is Reed turning off the entire city's power with just one switch. But fear not, dear reader. These are not, in fact, your beloved Fantastic Four. These are imposters...from space!
Enter the Skrulls, the now iconic alien species featured in numerous issues of Marvel Comics over the decades. The Skrulls plan to weaken Earth's defenses by having the people turn against the FF, but though they can imitate appearances, they can only use trickery to convince the unwashed masses that they actually have the cosmic powers of our beloved heroes. The Skrull plan looks to work initially, with the FF taken prisoners by the US government (poor Johnny has to be locked up in an asbestos cage). The FF escape easily, and decide how best to uncover the plot behind their nefarious impersonators.
Two can play the impersonation game, and the FF decide to pretend to be Skrulls to infiltrate their ship. Defeating all but one of the Skrulls, the FF hypnotize the remaining three to live out their existence as future hamburgers:
Witty and grandiose, this issue of FF really sets the stage for some of the most impressive adventures yet to come.
February 10, 2020
To the world, it looks like the Fantastic Four have gone bad ! Crimes are being committed by the team members and no one can stop them. But this is merely a scheme to discredit the heroes to pave the way for an alien invasion - of Skrulls!
The story was actually a little better than the first issue. The Skrulls were a more interesting antagonist than the Mole Man and I don’t think there were as many plot conveniences or lapses in logic this time. The idea that the Skrulls are afraid of the powered Fantastic Four is sound and I enjoyed the creativity displayed in how the aliens mimicked the heroes’ powers. And the fact that Reed basically scares off the invasion fleet with comic book pages is priceless!
Johnny gets a little more familiar this issue and we start to see some of the relationship between him and Ben in an early stage. They’re still pretty contentious here, but a lot of that is still due to the fact that the Thing is pretty angst-ridden and angry over his mutation. He tends to yell and smash things a lot…kind of like the soon-to-debut Hulk. Even this early, Reed and Sue are getting the short end of the character stick. Not a lot beyond broad stereotypes for them.
While this isn’t the greatest example of Kirby’s art, there are still some really great panels scattered throughout. The lead panel of Chapter 2 is particularly cool - soldiers approaching through fog and tall grass. Very nice image!
Overall, a nice debut for the Skrulls and some plot points that will keep them coming back for decades!
The story was actually a little better than the first issue. The Skrulls were a more interesting antagonist than the Mole Man and I don’t think there were as many plot conveniences or lapses in logic this time. The idea that the Skrulls are afraid of the powered Fantastic Four is sound and I enjoyed the creativity displayed in how the aliens mimicked the heroes’ powers. And the fact that Reed basically scares off the invasion fleet with comic book pages is priceless!
Johnny gets a little more familiar this issue and we start to see some of the relationship between him and Ben in an early stage. They’re still pretty contentious here, but a lot of that is still due to the fact that the Thing is pretty angst-ridden and angry over his mutation. He tends to yell and smash things a lot…kind of like the soon-to-debut Hulk. Even this early, Reed and Sue are getting the short end of the character stick. Not a lot beyond broad stereotypes for them.
While this isn’t the greatest example of Kirby’s art, there are still some really great panels scattered throughout. The lead panel of Chapter 2 is particularly cool - soldiers approaching through fog and tall grass. Very nice image!
Overall, a nice debut for the Skrulls and some plot points that will keep them coming back for decades!
February 13, 2022
The Skrulls' first appearance is a fun story. Expanded upon later, though there do seem to be some apparent editing errors (the FF lose a Skrull somewhere). The Skrulls would definitely be back to plague the FF and the rest of the Marvel Universe. Innocent beginnings here, but enjoyable enough. The comic hasn't hit its creative stride yet, but these stories are not bad by any means. The best is yet to come.
January 26, 2023
It's crazy how different the page and character designs are compared to comics of this current era, This book made me feel for Ben I know what it's like to be different It was sad to see he was to be normal again just for that to change I think this comic book line has really held up to modern times and Im excited to see the rest of them, I think these comic books are good for beginners to start reading for their first comics they read
August 19, 2020
This certainly has some interesting themes that it wants to explore, especially with Ben, I do like the transitions back and forth from The Skrulls and the FF. The Silver Age baggage is still very prevalent here though (and would be for a few years yet) which really stops this from getting a better rating.
February 26, 2023
Mimo, że jest to niezwykle prosty komiks z całą swoją "klasycznością" tamtego okresu to zaskakuje. Jest całkiem wciągający i naprawdę sprawnie napisany. Poza tym rozwiązanie akcji jest dość nieoczekiwane, gdyż „pokonanie wroga” nie jest tym razem równoznaczne z finalną bijatyką. Ponadto mamy tu nasze pierwsze spotkanie ze Scrullami 😎 Naprawdę pozytywne zaskoczenie.
October 1, 2024
"Bah! While the three of you beat your gums, the whole country is hunting us as though we're four monsters!
Well, maybe they're right! Maybe I am a monster! I look like one - and sometimes I feel like one!
But nobody's catchin' me without a fight! If they say I'm a menace, I'll be a menace! I'll show 'em all!"
Well, maybe they're right! Maybe I am a monster! I look like one - and sometimes I feel like one!
But nobody's catchin' me without a fight! If they say I'm a menace, I'll be a menace! I'll show 'em all!"
February 15, 2022
Probably another one between 3 and 4 - good introduction of the Skrulls, but the finish was a bit weak, though better than Independence Day, and some stuff seems unresolved, but maybe will see more in future.
January 7, 2026
Ben is completely dehumanized (I mean, they literally call him Thing, for crying out loud) & he thinks he should be destroyed for being a monster & the best Reed can do is say "I'm sorry"? My brother in Christ, you took away his entire life. You gotta do better than that.
October 4, 2020
MOO epic ending
July 26, 2022
was cute!!
October 4, 2022
Every Skrull solution should be turning them into cows forever
August 6, 2024
Wild that this is where the Skrulls debuted. The look so doofy for a race that will later become so dangerous.
February 14, 2025
First one that feels like they're planning ahead, with some twists I didn't see coming. :)
Read
February 26, 2025THE ENDING??????? & REED CAN DO HYPNOSIS???? HELLO??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews