Fantastic Four Epic Collection, Vol. 4: The Mystery of the Black Panther

Fantastic Four Epic Collection

by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby (Illustrator)

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby unveil yet another unmatched Marvel milestone: the first appearance of the world's fi rst African super hero, the Black Panther and his kingdom of Wakanda! And that's just the start! The Thing goes toe-to-toe with the Silver Surfer, the Human Torch faces his 1940s namesake, and the FF must face Doctor Doom - when he's armed with the Silver Surfer's Power Cosmic! Next, it's another instant classic with the first appearances of Blastaar, the alien Kree and Ronan the Accuser, Sentry 456, and that spaghetti-headed wonder, the Supreme Intelligence. If that wasn't enough, the utopian scientists of the Enclave unleash a golden being known as "Him" (A.K.A. Adam Warlock) upon the Marvel Universe. COLLECTING: VOL. 4: FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) 52-67, ANNUAL (1963) 4-5; MATERIAL FROM NOT BRAND ECHH (1967) 1, 5

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Superheroes, Collections, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fantasy

448 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2019

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

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume opens with one of the most monumental moments in Marvel memorabilia … the coming of the Black Panther and the introduction of Wakanda. Next up is a story focusing on the Human Torch and his college roommate, Wyatt Wingfoot, which introduces another cosmic level device, the Evil Eye. After that is the much reprinted (and ridiculous) battle between the Thing and the Silver Surfer over the attentions of Alicia Masters. And as the team returns to the Baxter Building, they are set upon by Klaw, the Master of Sound. At this point we switch over to Fantastic Four Annual #4 which offers up the return of the Golden Age Human Torch. And that brings us the to an epic 4-part event that pits the Fantastic Four against a Doctor Doom who’s empowered by the cosmic forces syphoned off from the Silver Surfer. But during all this there’s also the ongoing arc featuring the Inhumans attempting to free themselves from their negative zone enclosure and the menace of the Frightful Four as the Sandman escapes from Prison. This leads us readers into a tale of Mr Fantastic being trapped in an antimatter reality (what will become confusingly called the Negative Zone, Stan Lee clearing forgetting that this was what he’d named the barrier imprisoning the Inhumans) where only Triton can rescue him. And this leads into Blastarr being introduced and following the heroes back to earth where he teams-up with the Sandman. Yikes! Does it ever end?! Ah, a breather, the Fantastic Four decide to take a much needed and long overdue vacation, but the island in the South Pacific is also the location of an ancient alien base belonging to the Kree and guarded by Sentry-459. But defeating the Sentry, only brings the wrath of Ronan the Accuser on our beleaguered heroes. Then we get the introduction of the Beehive and the birth of Him (not a very auspicious introduction for the character who will become known as Adam Warlock, but there he is). And then the volume wraps up with a tale pitting the Fantastic Four, the Inhumans AND the Black Panther against the menace of the Psychoman from the microverse (aka the Quantum Realm) and there’s even a short story featuring the Silver Surfer all on his own; both of these are from the pages of Fantastic Four Annual #5. Yep, Jack Kirby is firing on all pistons with this one. This volume also includes a couple of humorous self-parodies from the pages of Not Branch Echh #1 & #5.

[Jeffrey Greek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pure Silver Age.

[Justin Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Welcome to the Wonderful World of the Fantastic Four!”

Not really my favorite stretch of the FF so far, but I’m still having more fun with it than I expected. Mostly because of how well the cast is getting built out and how all these bigger stories continue to be bolted to like real deal relationship stuff in the family proper.

It’s ALSO very cool to see how it continues to keep building out its own mythology and semi-serialized narrative. Seeing a comic this early in comic history betting on itself this much and then continuously paying out is just…man, I love me some comics. Maybe this wasn’t such a terrible idea! Remind me I said that once I get to Bohn Jryne.

[Zack! Empire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is past what people consider to be the peak FF, but it's still really good. A lot of cool ideas here, and this era of Kirby's art is great.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The majority of this volume follows the streak of excellence from the last Epic Collection. Starting off with the introduction of the Black Panther, and including then introduction of the Negative Zone and the continuing Inhumans plot, the series features some great sci-fi action that constantly expands the limits of what the Marvel Universe is capable of. Sadly, as the volume progresses, the quality starts to drop. It's still in a better place than it was at the start of the series and the Jack Kirby/Joe Sinnott art team is incredible but it never quite reaches the same heights. Even with the introduction of the Kree and "Him" (later to be renamed and become a central figure for the cosmic side of Marvel) it's never quite the same. As Stan Lee starts to explore more of Reed and Sue's wedding, and Johnny and Crystal's burgeoning romance, and Ben's worries and insecurities about Alicia, there are some overt sexist themes to the issues that drag the series down. While still an enjoyable ride and well worth checking out I can't help but feel like their Fantastic Four run peaked and I've already seen the best of it.

[Jay Emmerich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in Lee and Kirby's time at Marvel. This starts to expand the world, adding more side characters that have their importance in the respective issues. Introduces Black Panther, Krees, Ronan the Accuser and what would end up becoming Adam Warlock. The final special also starts the plot of Sue's pregnancy, which is very fitting considering what's coming out in a few weeks. Somewhat confused by the choice to have two annuals in this collection, as there's not a solid break in the storyline in the monthly issues to fit the events of the annuals, but I guess that's part of the appeal of comics! Might take me a minute to get to the next issues, but I'll figure something out.

[Michael Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Fantastic Four Comics, essentially a graphic novel, immediately brought me back to my childhood in the 1960s. Some of these comics I read while waiting for a haircut in the barber shop. It was glorious. The Black Panther, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Doom, Klaw, the Inhumans, all in their initial iterations, appear in this book, exciting me again because they brought back the newness of discovery I had as a boy in the 60s. I cannot recommend this book any more strongly than I am now doing. I love it. I think you will too.

[Justin Covey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fourth volume one does feel a slight loss of steam, like Galactus was the peak and the all-star duo of Lee and Kirby are starting to coast. But even just coasting entails creating Wakanda, the Kree with Ronan and the Supreme Intelligence, Adam Warlock, and one of the greatest storylines ever with Dr Doom stealing the powers of the Silver Surfer, plus the resolution of the Inhumans being trapped beneath the Negative Dome.
Boy those two could cook.

[Jordan Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few good stories, but definitely dated. Cool to
See the origins of Black Panther, Ronin, and others, but these stories from the 60s don’t hold up as well as the Epic Collections from the 70s and 80s.

[Doug Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really solid book and honestly maybe my favorite of the series so far. There were a lot of really good stories here, and it does a good job of balancing all of the different characters and sub plots throughout.

[Brennan Donnellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these stories in my friend's basement thanks to his sister who had all of the 1960's Fantastic Four comics. These were not collectibles, these were mind-expanding tales for a 10-year-old.

This is one of the best super hero collections that you can buy.

[Adam Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stan and Kirby

Continue to build the Marvel universe with these incredible stories featuring Black Panther, Doctor Doom, Silver Surfer and so many more!

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite issues were #57-60 (where they team up with the Inhumans to fight Doom) and #65 (the FF fight Ronan the Accuser)

[Nick Lafontaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Black Panther stories were very cool. Seeing that side of the world introduced was neat but some of the other storylines dragged on a bit too long, specifically Johnny simping over Crystal smh

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

An awful lot of this collection is devoted to the Inhumans, and I’m afraid not even Stan & Jack can make them more than mildly interesting.

[Bob Wolniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of issues during the sweet spot of Kirby-Lee's great run on Fantastic Four is a must read.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Kirby the GOAT

[Harry Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as a team. Nuff Said!