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Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four #15
Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four, Vol. 15
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #151-163, Giant-Size Fantastic Four #3-4 and material from Marvel Treasury Edition #2.
It's a battle of the sexes as the FF find themselves in the midst of the fight between Femizons and Mahkizmo the Nuclear Man. Then, the Silver Surfer returns with a vengeance! The Machiavellian Dr. Doom has captured the Surfer's beloved Shalla-Bal and used her to turn him against the FF. And that's just the warm up! The FF and Inhumans team up against Xemu, the Invisible Girl returns to the fold, and Arkon the Annihilator initiates an adventure featuring an inter-dimensional alternate Thing. Topped off with a giant-size battle against the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the first appearance of Madrox the Multiple Man
It's a battle of the sexes as the FF find themselves in the midst of the fight between Femizons and Mahkizmo the Nuclear Man. Then, the Silver Surfer returns with a vengeance! The Machiavellian Dr. Doom has captured the Surfer's beloved Shalla-Bal and used her to turn him against the FF. And that's just the warm up! The FF and Inhumans team up against Xemu, the Invisible Girl returns to the fold, and Arkon the Annihilator initiates an adventure featuring an inter-dimensional alternate Thing. Topped off with a giant-size battle against the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the first appearance of Madrox the Multiple Man
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2013
About the author
Roy Thomas
4,616 books280 followersRoy Thomas was the FIRST Editor-in-Chief at Marvel--After Stan Lee stepped down from the position. Roy is a longtime comic book writer and editor. Thomas has written comics for Archie, Charlton, DC, Heroic Publishing, Marvel, and Topps over the years. Thomas currently edits the fanzine Alter Ego for Twomorrow's Publishing. He was Editor for Marvel comics from 1972-1974. He wrote for several titles at Marvel, such as Avengers, Thor, Invaders, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and notably Conan the Barbarian. Thomas is also known for his championing of Golden Age comic-book heroes — particularly the 1940s superhero team the Justice Society of America — and for lengthy writing stints on Marvel's X-Men and Avengers, and DC Comics' All-Star Squadron, among other titles.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
Also a legendary creator. Creations include Wolverine, Carol Danvers, Ghost Rider, Vision, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Valkyrie, Morbius, Doc Samson, and Ultron. Roy has also worked for Archie, Charlton, and DC among others over the years.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 11, 2021
A solid volume of the FF, with a bit of a wobble at the end in the shape of a groan-worthy ice hockey goalie themed villain called Gaard. I know, right?
The main purpose of this volume is returning the FF to their original status quo, as Roy Thomas gives Medusa the boot and returns Sue to the fold. He also gets rid of Johnny’s red and yellow costume, making the whole team wear the same uniform again.
A moment of note is the debut appearance of Madrox the Multiple Man. That’s right, newbie X-fans; Madrox started out as a Fantastic Four bad guy! Well, he was never really that bad... just confused and misunderstood. He also started out with super-strength, which even I’d forgotten!
I really enjoyed this one, despite the silliness, and would probably give it 3.5 stars if I could. As it is, I think I’ll round up.
My next book: Selections From the Writings of Lord Dunsany
The main purpose of this volume is returning the FF to their original status quo, as Roy Thomas gives Medusa the boot and returns Sue to the fold. He also gets rid of Johnny’s red and yellow costume, making the whole team wear the same uniform again.
A moment of note is the debut appearance of Madrox the Multiple Man. That’s right, newbie X-fans; Madrox started out as a Fantastic Four bad guy! Well, he was never really that bad... just confused and misunderstood. He also started out with super-strength, which even I’d forgotten!
I really enjoyed this one, despite the silliness, and would probably give it 3.5 stars if I could. As it is, I think I’ll round up.
My next book: Selections From the Writings of Lord Dunsany
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.
September 8, 2023
Pues no mucho que decir... continúa con el mismo ritmo y espíritu que el tomo anterior, y más allá de algún detalle como la primera aparición de Jamie Madrox en un especial guionizado por Chris Claremont y Len Wein, no tiene muchos más detalles brillantes. Los villanos siguen siendo un poco... descafeinados, como Xemu el invasor de la Quinta Dimensión (yo esperaba a Mister Mxylptlk, claro), una especie de yetis, o incluso el Doctor Muerte que vuelve... pero sin mucho interés, la verdad. Por lo menos, decidieron quitarle a Johnny el horrible traje rojo y acabar con el alargado hasta la saciedad tema del divorcio entre Reed y Sue, que finalmente vuelve al equipo, con Medusa regresando al Gran Refugio junto a Rayo Negro.
Pero por supuesto, todo mi respeto tanto a Roy Thomas como a Rich Buckler, principales artífices de este tomo, que más allá de que me guste o no, forman parte de la historia del cómic.
Pero por supuesto, todo mi respeto tanto a Roy Thomas como a Rich Buckler, principales artífices de este tomo, que más allá de que me guste o no, forman parte de la historia del cómic.
October 22, 2023
Oh man! This book starts out with Giant-Size Fantastic Four #3, which I got as a .50 back issue in the summer of 1985. I read that comic a dozen or more times that summer and can still recite parts of it. It brought a smile to my face to see it hold up as an adult, although it sort of ruined the Metallica song The Four Horseman for me because Metallica screwed up the names of them.
The 1970s were equal parts insanity and fun. See issues 151-153, a nonsensical mess where a world ruled by men brings their champion, Mahkizmo, to fight the most powerful woman from the world ruled by women, Thundra. Only in the 1970s did any of the faux science, alternate worlds, and battle of the sexes stuff make the least bit of sense. In 2015 it is good, silly fun that probably offends someone somewhere.
Issue 154 was one of those Oh crap, we really don't know how to run a company and get the comics out on time, slap this reprint and reframe it as a flashback story issues. It reprints a Human Torch story from the 1960s, although only the new pages are included here. It is assumed that you already own Marvel Masterworks: Human Torch Vol. 2 and can refer to it to read it. I don't, so I can't. Major disappointment, Marvel!
Then we get one of those silly Roy Thomas and Len Wein stories where Doctor Doom tricks the Silver Surfer into battling the Fantastic Four by holding his beloved Shalla Bal hostage...only it turns out to not be her...only it is revealed that it is really her, as it is all a trick by Mephisto, who does not reveal himself to anyone. His deception is unknown to all, making his inclusion at the end of this story pointless and confusing.
Then we get another it-could-only-happen-in-the-'70s stories, where three Earths are going to collide into one another so that Arkon can start three nuclear wars and use the energy from the nuclear bombs exploding to save his world. Klaatu and the Inhumans are along for the ride in this arc...an arc that shows the Thing battling a galactic goalie named Gaard for the fate of the Earth. Silly, silly stuff, but fun and entertaining nonetheless.
We are introduced to Madrox, the Multiple Man in Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4, a character who would go on to great popularity down the road. Here he is shown with power well beyond what he demonstrates later on, and there is almost certainly some convoluted explanation somewhere along the way explaining why this is not a mistake.
Rich Buckler handles the bulk of the pencils, and he and inker Joe Sinnott do their best to maintain the Marvel House style of the day, in this case the flavor of Jack Kirby's run. Nowadays every artist wants to put their “stamp” on their “IP”. I kind of dig these old school guys who served the story rather than themselves.
Things are all set back to normal by the end of the book, with Medusa returning to the Great Refuge with the Inhumans and the Invisible Girl resuming her role as a member of the FF. A great writer can take the toys, twist and mutilate and then put them back together right before leaving the sandbox so that others may play with them in the same condition that they found them in, which is the complete opposite of crybaby “star” writers found in comics today. Marvel Now? Please. Give me Marvel Then!
The 1970s were equal parts insanity and fun. See issues 151-153, a nonsensical mess where a world ruled by men brings their champion, Mahkizmo, to fight the most powerful woman from the world ruled by women, Thundra. Only in the 1970s did any of the faux science, alternate worlds, and battle of the sexes stuff make the least bit of sense. In 2015 it is good, silly fun that probably offends someone somewhere.
Issue 154 was one of those Oh crap, we really don't know how to run a company and get the comics out on time, slap this reprint and reframe it as a flashback story issues. It reprints a Human Torch story from the 1960s, although only the new pages are included here. It is assumed that you already own Marvel Masterworks: Human Torch Vol. 2 and can refer to it to read it. I don't, so I can't. Major disappointment, Marvel!
Then we get one of those silly Roy Thomas and Len Wein stories where Doctor Doom tricks the Silver Surfer into battling the Fantastic Four by holding his beloved Shalla Bal hostage...only it turns out to not be her...only it is revealed that it is really her, as it is all a trick by Mephisto, who does not reveal himself to anyone. His deception is unknown to all, making his inclusion at the end of this story pointless and confusing.
Then we get another it-could-only-happen-in-the-'70s stories, where three Earths are going to collide into one another so that Arkon can start three nuclear wars and use the energy from the nuclear bombs exploding to save his world. Klaatu and the Inhumans are along for the ride in this arc...an arc that shows the Thing battling a galactic goalie named Gaard for the fate of the Earth. Silly, silly stuff, but fun and entertaining nonetheless.
We are introduced to Madrox, the Multiple Man in Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4, a character who would go on to great popularity down the road. Here he is shown with power well beyond what he demonstrates later on, and there is almost certainly some convoluted explanation somewhere along the way explaining why this is not a mistake.
Rich Buckler handles the bulk of the pencils, and he and inker Joe Sinnott do their best to maintain the Marvel House style of the day, in this case the flavor of Jack Kirby's run. Nowadays every artist wants to put their “stamp” on their “IP”. I kind of dig these old school guys who served the story rather than themselves.
Things are all set back to normal by the end of the book, with Medusa returning to the Great Refuge with the Inhumans and the Invisible Girl resuming her role as a member of the FF. A great writer can take the toys, twist and mutilate and then put them back together right before leaving the sandbox so that others may play with them in the same condition that they found them in, which is the complete opposite of crybaby “star” writers found in comics today. Marvel Now? Please. Give me Marvel Then!
February 24, 2025
The weakest era of the FF
With Roy Thomas taking over writing duties it really goes into "filler" territory now. The only worthwhile thing that happens is Sue coming back to the team full time. The rest is just not well written with its overbearing dialogue.
Did make me realise how much I like Buckler's art though. He's a great continuation from Kirby.
With Roy Thomas taking over writing duties it really goes into "filler" territory now. The only worthwhile thing that happens is Sue coming back to the team full time. The rest is just not well written with its overbearing dialogue.
Did make me realise how much I like Buckler's art though. He's a great continuation from Kirby.
March 2, 2019
This isn't as annoying as the last few were, but it's now settled into typical 70s Marvel comics mode, which isn't very interesting.
November 27, 2020
Very average overall but the last story arc was pretty fun.
July 14, 2016
Volume 15 of the Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four series is marginally better than Volume 14, but also contains some of the worst issues of the series to date. Gerry Conway leaves and is briefly replaced by Len Wein. Then Roy Thomas comes back to the book and there's a couple of issues that are very fun and bonkers in that classic 70s Marvel way.
Avengers 128 wraps up the Quicksilver/Crystal wedding story and has a nice story where the FF's in-house witch/babysitter Agatha Harkness inducts the Avenger's Scarlet Witch into the mysteries of magic. It's no masterpiece, but the Steve Engleheart writing is a breath of fresh air after the drudgery of volume 14. That's followed by the stand-alone story of Giant-Size Fantastic Four 3. It introduces a team of villains so lame they are never seen again and their name is recycled: The Four Horsemen. It's also a kinda racist issue. Giant-Size Fantastic Four 4 introduces the mutant Madrox and has a cameo from a post-X-Men-cancellation, pre-revival Professor X. It's not all that good, but the different creative team (including Chris Claremont!) is at least interesting.
Issue 151 kicks of Conway's last arc and also introduces the theme of this volume: the multiverse. It also introduces Machizmo, a terrible new villain that is the male equivalent of Thundra. 152 has a fill-in inker rather than Joe Sinnot. The inker is terrible and so is the story. 153 wraps up the arc but Conway is gone and is replaced for one issue by Tony Isabella. It's a bad ending to a bad arc. It also has the Fantastic Four killing two people with no repercussions or commentary at all.
Issue 154 is likely the worst issue of the Fantastic Four up to this point. It's a reprint of a Johnny Storm 60s Strange Tales story wrapped in a framing story written by Len Wein. The Strange Tales stuff from the 60s was absolutely dreadful; the framing story isn't much better as it essentially recapitulates the original story. It's a truly pointless tale with bad art to boot.
Issues 155 - 157 are a Doom/Silver Surfer story and also the transition from Len Wein to Roy Thomas. They're pretty blah, but not as bad as the previous issues.
Issues 158 and 159 dredge up more nonsense from the 60s Johnny Storm Strange Tales issues. This time it's Xemu Lord of the 5th Dimension who wants to invade and conquer Earth. Of course he is foiled by our heroes in a boring fashion. However, these issues have a few nice moments as Roy Thomas gets his footing again. I really like the glimpses into the day-to-day life of the FF before the story kicks off. In particular, I love the panel of Medusa coming out of a library that is captioned "nothing interesting" and the idea of Sue Storm becoming a private detective that is mentioned once and forgotten.
Issues 160 through 163 are the best issues since the early part of Conway's run. It's a wonderfully convoluted plot with multiple Earths invading each other all egged on by a multi-dimensional company with Arkon, a wacky warlord from a 4th multiverse. Issue 160 is especially great as it's the Thing jumping around the multiverse with Lockjaw, the giant teleporting Inhuman dog, fighting monsters and otherwise having a great sense of derring do. It might be topped by 161, though; that one has the Thing fight a dinosaur. The 1970s Marvel madness maxes out in 162 with A DIAGRAM OF THE MULTIVERSE TO EXPLAIN THE STORY BECAUSE ITS TOO COMPLICATED. It's just like 2015's Secret Wars! Also, there's a villain that's a hockey goalie guarding a portal in hyperspace and his name is Gaard! The finale in 163 is a bit weak, but I really like the reveal that Gaard is a mind washed alternate universe Johnny Storm. I really hope that is followed up on.
Avengers 128 wraps up the Quicksilver/Crystal wedding story and has a nice story where the FF's in-house witch/babysitter Agatha Harkness inducts the Avenger's Scarlet Witch into the mysteries of magic. It's no masterpiece, but the Steve Engleheart writing is a breath of fresh air after the drudgery of volume 14. That's followed by the stand-alone story of Giant-Size Fantastic Four 3. It introduces a team of villains so lame they are never seen again and their name is recycled: The Four Horsemen. It's also a kinda racist issue. Giant-Size Fantastic Four 4 introduces the mutant Madrox and has a cameo from a post-X-Men-cancellation, pre-revival Professor X. It's not all that good, but the different creative team (including Chris Claremont!) is at least interesting.
Issue 151 kicks of Conway's last arc and also introduces the theme of this volume: the multiverse. It also introduces Machizmo, a terrible new villain that is the male equivalent of Thundra. 152 has a fill-in inker rather than Joe Sinnot. The inker is terrible and so is the story. 153 wraps up the arc but Conway is gone and is replaced for one issue by Tony Isabella. It's a bad ending to a bad arc. It also has the Fantastic Four killing two people with no repercussions or commentary at all.
Issue 154 is likely the worst issue of the Fantastic Four up to this point. It's a reprint of a Johnny Storm 60s Strange Tales story wrapped in a framing story written by Len Wein. The Strange Tales stuff from the 60s was absolutely dreadful; the framing story isn't much better as it essentially recapitulates the original story. It's a truly pointless tale with bad art to boot.
Issues 155 - 157 are a Doom/Silver Surfer story and also the transition from Len Wein to Roy Thomas. They're pretty blah, but not as bad as the previous issues.
Issues 158 and 159 dredge up more nonsense from the 60s Johnny Storm Strange Tales issues. This time it's Xemu Lord of the 5th Dimension who wants to invade and conquer Earth. Of course he is foiled by our heroes in a boring fashion. However, these issues have a few nice moments as Roy Thomas gets his footing again. I really like the glimpses into the day-to-day life of the FF before the story kicks off. In particular, I love the panel of Medusa coming out of a library that is captioned "nothing interesting" and the idea of Sue Storm becoming a private detective that is mentioned once and forgotten.
Issues 160 through 163 are the best issues since the early part of Conway's run. It's a wonderfully convoluted plot with multiple Earths invading each other all egged on by a multi-dimensional company with Arkon, a wacky warlord from a 4th multiverse. Issue 160 is especially great as it's the Thing jumping around the multiverse with Lockjaw, the giant teleporting Inhuman dog, fighting monsters and otherwise having a great sense of derring do. It might be topped by 161, though; that one has the Thing fight a dinosaur. The 1970s Marvel madness maxes out in 162 with A DIAGRAM OF THE MULTIVERSE TO EXPLAIN THE STORY BECAUSE ITS TOO COMPLICATED. It's just like 2015's Secret Wars! Also, there's a villain that's a hockey goalie guarding a portal in hyperspace and his name is Gaard! The finale in 163 is a bit weak, but I really like the reveal that Gaard is a mind washed alternate universe Johnny Storm. I really hope that is followed up on.
November 5, 2016
5 stars when i was a 7 year old kid.
2 stars now.
Fun nostalgia.
2 stars now.
Fun nostalgia.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews