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Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four #12
Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four, Vol. 12
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #117-128.
Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing face-off against their greatest adversary ever. In a word...Galactus! The world devourer returns and either the Silver Surfer must submit to his will or the Earth dies! It's a four-part epic that will make a True Believer out of comic fans young and old. That's worth the price of admission alone, but since we're so nice there's also the Human Torch's struggle to rescue his ladylove Crystal from the alchemical clutches of Diablo; a progressive parable of social consciousness in the Marvel Manner that Stan Lee championed; the secret of the Monster from the Lost Lagoon; and Roy Thomas' regular-series writing debut on a three-part saga featuring the menacing Mole Man and sultry Kala, Queen of the Netherworld-and topped of with a retelling of the FF's origin! Guest-starring the Inhumans, the Black Panther, the world's weirdest babysitter-Agatha Harkness-and Richard Nixon!
Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch and the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing face-off against their greatest adversary ever. In a word...Galactus! The world devourer returns and either the Silver Surfer must submit to his will or the Earth dies! It's a four-part epic that will make a True Believer out of comic fans young and old. That's worth the price of admission alone, but since we're so nice there's also the Human Torch's struggle to rescue his ladylove Crystal from the alchemical clutches of Diablo; a progressive parable of social consciousness in the Marvel Manner that Stan Lee championed; the secret of the Monster from the Lost Lagoon; and Roy Thomas' regular-series writing debut on a three-part saga featuring the menacing Mole Man and sultry Kala, Queen of the Netherworld-and topped of with a retelling of the FF's origin! Guest-starring the Inhumans, the Black Panther, the world's weirdest babysitter-Agatha Harkness-and Richard Nixon!
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2010
About the author
Stan Lee
7,577 books2,363 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.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 10, 2016
This is a real dogs breakfast of a collection as FF continued its post-Kirby time in the wilderness. Archie Goodwin kicks off with a pair of issues that are solid but also a bit racist. However, they have a coda featuring the Thing that is just fantastic. Then Roy Thomas does an issue with the Black Panther and some awkward social commentary about apartheid. After that Stan Lee comes back for six terrible issues. The Thing does eat a rifle though, so there's that. Roy Thomas returns for the last three. The first is a recap issue and the last has some serous writing problems (including an entirely forgotten about character) but they are all still a tea breath of fresh air and have some of the best dialogue the series had seen in years. They are Thing-centric, have campy pulp villains and manage to actually make the Mole Man threatening, which is a first.
February 9, 2016
The Marvel Masterworks volumes are fantastic reprints of the early years of Marvel comics. A fantastic resource to allow these hard to find issues to be read by everyone. Very recommended to everyone and Highly recommended to any comic fan.
June 9, 2024
Books like this are the reason that Goodreads is so useful. I need help remembering what was good about it.
Let’s start with the writing. It’s not particularly great. Stan Lee tends to repeat the same themes. And when Roy Thomas steps in, he’s doing his best imitation of Stan. All of these thing happen and all have done more than once in this series: they fight a herald of Galactus and then Galactus himself, get attacked by a misunderstood creature that only wants help, fight with their nasty landlord who acts suspiciously like J. Jonah Jameson, and repeatedly almost fall to their deaths before being caught at the last second.
You would think I hated this, but there are several good things about it. First and foremost, John Buscema’s art is great. My favorite images are Agatha Harkness’ long creepy face, which is especially cool when she is doing an astral projection, the funny depictions of President Nixon, Mr. Fantastic floating around like a sail, subterranean worm monsters, and Queen Kala with her bizarre head dress.
A couple of plots had potential, time will tell if they are used well. First, Crystal was stolen away and mind controlled for months. And second, in one of the earliest examples of an alternate dimension, Ben Grimm briefly visits a reality where Reed Richards became the Thing. Both of these plots could pay off in later issues.
Let’s start with the writing. It’s not particularly great. Stan Lee tends to repeat the same themes. And when Roy Thomas steps in, he’s doing his best imitation of Stan. All of these thing happen and all have done more than once in this series: they fight a herald of Galactus and then Galactus himself, get attacked by a misunderstood creature that only wants help, fight with their nasty landlord who acts suspiciously like J. Jonah Jameson, and repeatedly almost fall to their deaths before being caught at the last second.
You would think I hated this, but there are several good things about it. First and foremost, John Buscema’s art is great. My favorite images are Agatha Harkness’ long creepy face, which is especially cool when she is doing an astral projection, the funny depictions of President Nixon, Mr. Fantastic floating around like a sail, subterranean worm monsters, and Queen Kala with her bizarre head dress.
A couple of plots had potential, time will tell if they are used well. First, Crystal was stolen away and mind controlled for months. And second, in one of the earliest examples of an alternate dimension, Ben Grimm briefly visits a reality where Reed Richards became the Thing. Both of these plots could pay off in later issues.
January 22, 2023
3.5 stars.
This collection mainly feels like it's trying to figure out where it wants to FF to go, what's the next stage for this group of characters? There were a few moments I liked, like Johnny's bout of self-loathing, telling himself he's not a real man like Reed or Ben. I liked Ben going into the alternate universe where he meets that world's Thing, who turns out to be Reed. That's an interesting concept, esp when Ben tells this bitter version of the Thing that it doesn't do to hold onto resentment. I think a missed opportunity was the issue where Ben relives the memory of the FF's original voyage into space. If Ben's memory had been different to the actual story, if certain things were warped and twisted to fit his narrative, I think that would've been more interesting. Instead, we saw his version play out much the same as we did the actual story.
This collection mainly feels like it's trying to figure out where it wants to FF to go, what's the next stage for this group of characters? There were a few moments I liked, like Johnny's bout of self-loathing, telling himself he's not a real man like Reed or Ben. I liked Ben going into the alternate universe where he meets that world's Thing, who turns out to be Reed. That's an interesting concept, esp when Ben tells this bitter version of the Thing that it doesn't do to hold onto resentment. I think a missed opportunity was the issue where Ben relives the memory of the FF's original voyage into space. If Ben's memory had been different to the actual story, if certain things were warped and twisted to fit his narrative, I think that would've been more interesting. Instead, we saw his version play out much the same as we did the actual story.
January 10, 2025
With the departure of Jack Kirby, John Buscema steps brilliantly into the art chores for Stan Lee's final issues on Marvel's premier title. The stories are decent, but they lack the storytelling sparkle from before. The final few issues are Roy Thomas's debut on the title. This seems like a look back at the glory days of the FF rather than steps forward.
February 18, 2019
First Stan Lee comes back, bringing his painful scripting and dialogue with him, and when he finally leaves we get Roy Thomas....who seems determined to wedge as many words into a panel as is possible. Not the finest hour for this title.
January 13, 2025
When Stan stepped away it breathed life back into a series that was rather bitter. Then stan was back and it sucked.
July 2, 2024
This is why I am so disinterested in much of what Marvel does these days. These are fun stories by some of the best: Writers Archie Goodwin, Stan Lee and Roy Thomas and Artist John Buscema. That's an all-star bill if ever there was one. No member of the team has to "die" for a cheap momentary sales spike, no crossovers, things actually happen in each and every issue...just good, solid, comic book storytelling. I know that kids today couldn't give a rat's ass about comic books, but maybe if they presented material in a fun, energetic way they might. Cartoons like Ben 10 Alien Force and Star Wars: The Clone Wars appeal to my son, and they aren't the arrested development, "fanboy" pandering crap that seems to come out of most comics today. If you live in your parents' basement and like to see "boobies" in your comic books, then your mileage may vary.
November 18, 2020
Awful. Too much dialogue is crammed into the panels. Let the fucking panels BREATHE! Stan Lee, god bless his soul, may have built the foundation, but that doesn't mean his stories are filled with “show don’t tell” moments. Roy Thomas is no better; he and Stan’s writing styles are so similar, I’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference (the "show-don't-tell aspect at least). But, I slogged thru it and finished it, even though it was a chore to get thru. Cannot wait to finally get to Byrne’s run and get this taste of boredom out of my mouth
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews