Fantastic Four Epic Collection, Vol. 2: The Master Plan of Doctor Doom

Fantastic Four Epic Collection

by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby (Illustrator)

Lee and Kirby set the standard for out-of-this-world imaginative adventure and launched the Marvel Universe in the pages of Fantastic Four. Now, with all the MU super hero players in place, it's time for the FF to run the gauntlet. The Thing throws down with the Hulk in a battle so huge it takes the combined might of the FF and the Avengers to stop it! The Sub-Mariner makes a play for Sue Storm! The FF tangle with the X-Men! Nick Fury drops by in the story that set the table for "Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."! And even Doctor Strange makes an ever-so-astral appearance!
VOL. 2; FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) 19-32, ANNUAL (1963) 1-2

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Collections, Graphic Novels Comics

434 pages, Paperback

First published July 11, 2017

About the author

Stan 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.

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of amazing how much of a jerkwad Mr. Fantastic can be sometimes. More like Mr. CRABtastic, am I right?

Huh? HUH??

[Jed Mayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This stretch of the comic starts out strong, but then ink duties are taken over by the inept George Roussos, losing all of the nuance and subtlety of Kirby's iconic pencil-work. The storyline cannot carry the weight, unfortunately, and the magazine has yet to mature to its later expert mixture of action and sentimentality. Fortunately, Chic Stone takes over from Roussos in issue 27, and the sequence ends on a high note, setting the stage for the brilliant episodes collected in Epic Collection 3.

[Paul Stanis · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Don’t blame Iron Man — in the heat of battle, he underestimated his transistor power!”

It takes the Hulk 24 hours to get from New Mexico to New York City (#25). If we take into account time zones, Hulk’s sonic jump speed is over 98 mph! If it’s 24 lived hours, the speed is still around 90 mph. And both those figures assume he never stopped for any reason. If he did stop, his jump is even faster!

The Infant Terrible (#24) is a worse version of the Impossible Man. The way he’s neutralized echoes into Star Trek in “Charlie X” and “The Squire of Gothos”. Beware omnipotent adolescents.

Look for: The villain who’s absurd yet relevant to the political landscape, the Hate Monger (#21); Sue expanding her power set (#22); the Mole Man’s plan to turn large cities like New York City and Moscow into his personal Towers of Terror, using giant hydraulic platforms built under them to pull them underground (#22); jarring uses of realistic photo scans to depict space (#29, 32); and Bob Banner? Stan Lee used alliterative names to easily remember them but remembered the wrong B name this time (#24).

MCU and other connections: The Thing had an Aunt Petunia, like Harry Potter (#22); the UN waits for votes and committees, but the Fantastic Four spring into action, and so the Sokovia Accords issue rears its figurative head (#30); and the Thing wonders if Doctor Doom ever lived on Yancy Street - we know from Marvel Super Hero Island at Islands of Adventure that the Latverian Embassy is on Yancy Street (#2 Annual)!

“If I saw this in a comic book, I wouldn’t believe it!”

[Edward Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first annual which guest stars Namor and Spider-Man starts off this epic volume. Plus we have first appearances by The Mad Thinker, The Watcher and The Super Skrull as the FF go from strength to strength. Half way through though, we get a Hulk versus Thing battle royale! But with fights against The Avengers and The X-Men, it feels like Marvel were trying to promote their other titles through the popularity of The FF.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my young boys. The art and storytelling has improved since the first volume and there are a number of fun cross-over appearances from the likes of the Hulk, the X-Men and the Avengers.

[Justin Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If I saw that in a comic book, I wouldn’t believe it!”

And with Annual #2 and #30-32, I find myself once more in the thick of the swingin’ sixties with my favorite superheroes ever. Even better, I find the title starting to hit a stride that will eventually become legendary in its ambition and personal scale.

And once more, this might sound a touch hyperbolic, but I sincerely cannot think of another comic that feels and reads and looks like this one. Especially in this section of its genesis.

It’s like everything that’s been interesting and exciting about them continues to get built out, the villain roster continues to expand, and we get even more back story and continued development of their characterizations as they start to grow out into the larger (and still flowering) Marvel “universe”.

It’s still so exciting to see and even more exciting to experience all over again.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby (who coplotted as well as drew) shook up the comics world when they introduced the FF — no secret identities, often not getting along amicably, capable of being jerks or foolish. By this point the creators have shaken out a lot of the kinks from the early stories and developing their distinctive brand of melodrama, notably in the fight against the Hulk early on and Namor's efforts to win Sue Storm's heart. This volume also gives us the origin of Dr. Doom and establishes him as monarch of Latveria.
A minor complaint is that after meeting his girlfriend Alicia, Ben stopped worrying about becoming human. Apparently Lee regretted giving up that source of drama because late in this volume Ben's all about the cure again.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opening up with the epic invasion of NYC by the armies of Atlantis, lead by Namor the Sub-Mariner, you know your in for a wild ride with this collection. Jack Kirby and Stan Lee are cementing their collaborative efforts and perfecting their synergy. These pages also include the very first appearances of Rama-Tut (the man who will become Kang the Conqueror), the Molecule Man, the Hate Monger (who reminds us just how dangerous authoritarian despots like Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are), the Infant Terrible, and Diablo. But there’s also returning menaces like: the Mole Man, the Super Skrull, the Mad Thinker and his (stolen) Android, the Puppet Master, the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes, and (of course) the diabolical Doctor Doom. But wait, there’s more! There’s a stream of guest stars to lend assistance to Marvel’s first family: Spider-Man, the Watcher, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange, the original X-Men, and the aforementioned Namor. But that’s not all! This volume also includes what could be considered the very first Marvel crossover event! The battle of the century as the Hulk invades NYC and the combined might of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers may not even be able to stop his rampage. The Human Torch, the Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, the Thing, Captain America, Giant-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and the wonderful Wasp are all put to the test of stopping the Hulk.

[Joosua Susi · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the two early Fantastic Four Epic Collections, it is easy to see why FF became popular and "started the Marvel Age". The stories have not endured as well as early Spider-Man stories, but there are still glimpses of genius in them.

Stories with Doctor Doom and Rama-Tut still have sense of wonder after almost 60 years. The recurring theme of Namor's attraction to Sue Storm is also intriguing. The Thing fighting Hulk is one of the high points. However, many of the stories have to be read through strong campy goggles and even then it may be hard to enjoy them. Issue #21 The Hate-Monger would fit better into 40s than 60s and issue #24 The Infant Terrible is simply terrible.

I would love to love this book more, but the unevenness permits me to rate this only at 3.0 stars. I will definitely continue reading the series.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second Epic Collection of the Fantastic Four is a perfectly fine collection. The stories have a nice bit of science-fiction and superheroics, with a fun cast of villains with some interesting motivations and conflicts. Fantastic Four may be one of the most well-regarded and influential comic book runs, especially for the Silver Age, not much of that can be found in this collection. It gets stronger towards the end, with Fantastic Four Annual #2 being perhaps the strongest issue to date and focusing on the origin of the complex arch-nemesis Doctor Doom, but the majority of the collection doesn't hold up too well. It's terribly dated with the very least its sexism, and has yet to reach the great heights that this series would come to be known for.

[Adam Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading these stories makes me understand how the Marvel Age of Comics really got going. Stan is at his best with the Fantastic Four and the villains and stories prove it.

I can't wait to dive into the next volume.

[Acton Northrop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a long slog in the middle with bad inkers and nonsensical storytelling but the annuals are amazing by the end Chic Stone and some new villains manage to raise the bar. Clearly the groundwork is laid for the great things to come in the next volume. Bring on Sinnott and Galactus!

[Federico Kereki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old fashioned stories, but showing the imagination of Stan Lee and the dynamic art of Jack Kirby!

[Surly Gliffs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even Goodreads doesn't quite give Kirby his due. "Fantastic Four [etc.] by Stan Lee (Text)" I've never read Stan Lee in depth before, but the historic accounts are correct: but for Kirby, Lee would have been just another kid turning out the pulps. Especially in those early books, where Lee's writing is particularly wooden, Kirby throws down page after glorious page of character design, hard-driving perspective, and architectural detail.

The writing gets better. Lee may never have been a great writer, but he had a genius for creating characters and for marketing. (I suppose I shouldn't be too tough considering that these books were written for boys and Lee was churning out how many scripts a month?) And about halfway through this collection, Lee catches a spark with how he writes dialogue, a point where the internecine conflicts between the F4 become just as interesting or more interesting than the inevitable confrontations with villains. All of a sudden, it's not just a comic but a Marvel comic.

Of course Lee can't create a woman character or write a woman's dialogue worth a damn. Sue Storm may be the most compelling example, though you can see Lee working clumsily to correct that over time. But otherwise, there's plenty of old-fashioned red meat for the fanboys. Supervillains and supervillain teams. Crossovers galore, including two straight issues of Thing and Hulk hitting each other. (Not even Lee had much clue how to write the Hulk, has anyone since?) Recommended for True Believers and comics scholars.

[Jimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a huge FF fan from the first time I read them. Family, friends, the ribbing between Torch and Thing, Reed and Sue's love that just kept getting put on hold, the whole thing.

These stories are great and introduce Kang and Rama-Tut and more Mole Man.

The only thing that is grating (why it isn't a five star, but a 4.5) is that the idea that Sue only likes to go shopping and get her hair done and that she isn't part of the team runs through. I realize that this is a historical thing of the early sixties, but in today's world it is just like nails on a chalkboard. (even chalkboards are old fashioned (LOL)

I don't believe that Marvel should go through and change a word of these old-fashioned ideas and statements (like what they are doing to Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl's books), but maybe in the introductions there could be added some context to the stories and the times. Forgetting history or changing it doesn't make sense, but acknowledging HOW we changed is a teaching moment.

Stan Lee in the early days is still obsessed with monsters. Those are the weakest stories.

[Alessandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fantastic Four Epic Collection, Vol. 2: The Master Plan of Doctor Doom" is a wonderful snapshot of early Marvel storytelling at its boldest. Collecting the classic Lee/Kirby issues from the mid-60s, it’s packed with energy, imagination, and that unmistakable sense of wonder that helped define the Marvel Universe.
Highlights include Doctor Doom at his most theatrical, the introduction of key supporting characters and villains, and Kirby’s art steadily evolving into the cosmic dynamism he’s remembered for. The stories are sometimes wild, even chaotic, but that’s part of their charm—the sheer creativity leaps off every page.
That said, some of the plots and dialogue feel dated, and there are occasional lulls between the high points. But taken as a whole, this volume shows why the Fantastic Four truly earned their title as “Marvel’s First Family.”
Not flawless, but absolutely essential for fans of classic Marvel and anyone who wants to see the foundation of so much that followed.

[Jay Emmerich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Things are starting to get cooking. It's very clear that the success of something like the Avengers, where characters were thrown together from less successful titles, caused Lee and Kirby to continue to do this with other characters. While this is a consistent theme in most of these issues, they're still fairly unconnected with minimal overall storyline. But I've continued to read these so it's clear that I've enjoyed some part of it.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the first volume felt dated but still thrived on wild energy, this volume suffers from being dated AND being repetitive. Most of the stories are the FF dealing with death traps and then dealing with each personalized trap one by one. Grouped together like this does that no favors. There's some good stuff in here, but it's hindered by lesser material.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite issues were #28 (where they fight the X-Men), #30 (first appearance of the Dreaded Diablo), and Annual #2 (The Final Victory of Dr. Doom was amazing).

[Justin Covey · Rating 5 out of 5]

They don't make em like they used to

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

classics

Classic FF adventures. Return of many old Villains and introduction of lots of new ones. These stories are truly Fantastic,

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m liking this era of the Fantastic Four more and more! Still wordy yes but I really love the art. It was fun to see other superheroes pop in for an issue. Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Arda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many exposition
Too many asbestos
And most importantly: too many “I’ll explain later” by Reed Richards

[Reba 🤠 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this is where they start finding their footing in the series

[Doug Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, not as good as the first book but also still really enjoyable. There is some really good stuff in here, such as Namor finding his people and Doctor Doom's backstory being revealed. There is also a story where Hitler is involved for some reason and I got a good laugh out of that. This book does suffer from a heavy amount of boring reads though which is why it gets the lower rating. Some high peaks, and low lows throughout.

[T.J.]

I wanted to read some classic FF stories to see what they were like - but I think this is more than I needed. As much as I dig Kirby's artwork, reading Stan Lee's stories is a chore. Think I'll put this on the shelf for awhile and take a peep at it again if the mood strikes me.