The Fantastic Four (1961-1991) was a family epic told in over 300 chapters: the greatest soap opera ever, the greatest page turner ever. It explored every aspect of human life, it was the origin and center of the biggest and most diverse fantasy universe the world has ever known. It earned the title 'the world's greatest comic book' and for good reason: each event led inexorably to the next, forming a vast three act play:
ACT 1: Mankind is in danger!
1961-1962
The catalyst for the story, the hook that turns everything upside down, is four friends gaining super powers. Their goal is to save the world, each in his or her own way:
Reed is a scientist and leader! He wants a technological fix.
Sue is the heart who holds the team together! She wants to focus on the family.
Ben is the hero, but he only wants to be normal.
Johnny is the kid brother who wants to be a hero (see Strange Tales for example).
The point of no return is in the first five issues, where Ben and Johnny decide to stay, Reed builds a headquarters and Sue gives them an identity.
The main villain is an old friend and rival, Doctor Doom.
The big secret is that you can't put family first and put the world first. That conflict gives shape to the next 300 issues.
The romantic subplot is that Reed must choose between family and science. Other subplots are Johnny and ben finding and losing and finally regaining their soul mates.
ACT 2: Rising action!
1963-1964
Almost every month sees a new conflict! Over the years the challenges become bigger and more dangerous, not just physically but emotionally. Each has a temporary triumph, where the villain appears to be defeated, only to come back later even stronger. (The greatest false dawn of all is in issue 200.)
ACT 2a: The ball*
1965-1973 (stretches over 1965-1988)**
The wedding is a kind of great council, where the Fantastic Four are publically accepted as the great defenders of mankind. But the arrival of a new baby, Franklin, highlights the hifdden conflict - you can't put both baby and mankind first - you have to make the choice!
The outburst: this is the years of crisis (FF issues 105-149), where the ever increasing strain takes its toll: the marriage breaks up, Ben goes on a rampage, the people hate the FF, Johnny loses Crystal, etc.time)
The decision: Byrne's run, after the Tiny Town event, culiminates in the Secret Wars. The team accepts that it must change. Ben leaves, Johnny decides to grow up, Reed withdraws into himself (compare this Reed with the hero of previous years). the ever increasing Franklin crisis reaches breaking point. After almost losing Franklin to Mephisto himself (twice!), Reed finally decides the inevitable: to put family first.
ACT 3: the denouement
1974 (stretches over 1988-1991 and The Last Fantastic Four Story)**
The lovers return: each ends up with their true love (see how it all ends).
The final push: Ben finally faces himself (in the form of leadership and She-Thing) and defeats his doubts. Johnny (see 'what happens next') finally becomes the man he always wanted to be.
Secrets revealed, prized for everyone: all characters finally face the truth of what they are and what they want. The end is clear and satisfying.
Family values: like all "well made plays" it ends with a reaffirmation of family values. Putting Franklin first!
The new Beginning
Like all great stories, the end of one story is the beginning of another. Sadly some of the last chapters were never published, but the very last chapter was, so we can piece together what happened, and what wouold probably happen next. A new team was about to be born, led by Johnny and Crystal, with Franklin and Luna always nearby. This new Fantastic Four would be younger and more action-oriented than play-it-safe-Reed and don't-take-chances-Sue. And thanks to Lockjaw, Sue, Reed and Ben are always just a heartbeat away.
* This three act play structure (the quest, rising action and the ball, denouement) should be very familiar to students of storytelling.
** In the early years the story took place in real time. Starting in 1968, stories were stretched out so that one year in the comic took several years in our time. This stretching finally made continuity impossible.
Other Fantastic Four stories
There are many other Fantastic Four stories: those written after 1991, Cartoons, movies, What Ifs, 2099, 1602, Reborn, Zombie, Apes, Adventures, Knights, etc., but they are all short and derivative from the original. This page is about the original story, the Big One.
Year by year, issue by issue
Late 1961: year 1
Issues 1-3 (dated Nov,Jan,Mar)
to be continued
1962: year of decision
to be continued
1963: year of heroes
to be continued
1964: year of love
to be continued
1965: year of marriage
to be continued
1966: year of Galactus
to be continued
1967: year of being trapped
to be continued
1968 (1968-70): year of Franklin
Timing: Their years are stretched over our years (in brackets).
to be continued
1969 (1970-72): year of operational crisis
to be continued
1970 (1973-74): year of personal crisis
Timing: issue 130 begins on New Year's day
to be continued
1971 (1974-78): year of false dawn
marriage fixed, Doom defeated
to be continued
1972 (1978-81): year of Tiny Town
pretending all is well
Reed retreats
to be continued
1973 (1981-87: year of decision
things have to change
to be continued
early 1974 (1988-91): year of happy endings, and new beginnings
to be continued
From the origin to the classics
2: the Skrulls. Not a classic story, but the skrulls became very important
4: the Sub-Mariner
5: Dr Doom!
6: first team up
7: Planet X. Most people don't consider this a classic, but I do, since I first read it in large scale hard back format as a little kid, and I was deeply impressed.
12: the Hulk, the first of many battles between old greenskin and the Thing.
13: the Watcher (and the red ghost)
Annual 1: Atlantis versus the surface world
25-26: First multi-issue crossover event
29: Yancy Street
32: the Invincible Man (notable for the story, not the character)
36: first Medusa and the Frightful Four
38: first major defeat
Annual 2: origin of Dr Doom
The classic run, the 40s - 90s
Annual 3: Wedding of Sue and Reed
44-47: Inhumans
48-50: Galactus (and Silver Surfer) - probably the greatest FF story ever
51: "This Man This Monster"
52-53: Black Panther
57-60: Doom steals the Power Cosmic
61-63: Negative Zone (and Blastaar)
64-65: Sentry (Kree empire)
66-67: Him (Adam Warlock)
72-77: Second Galactus saga (and Microverse)
Annual 6: Birth of Franklin
81: Crystal joins the FF
84-87: Latveria
90-93: The Thing enslaved
Between the classics and Byrne
105-116: The monster, the Thing amok, Janus, Overmind. A very enjoyable run.
132: Crystal leaves Johnny - emotional highlight of series. New red costume.
141: Reed blasts Franklin: Sue leaves (marital problems started in 130)
142-144: Doom, Latveria, Darkoth, Alicia - a classic arc
150: wedding of Crystal and Pietro
155-157: the Surfer and Shalla Bal (originally planned as a Giant Size special)
164-165: Crusader (Perez art)
168-170: Power Man (Perez art)
176-179: Impossible Man, Frightful Four, Brute (Perez art).
188: Reed resigns, FF break up (Perez art)
198-200: son of Doom, and Latveria is freed
John Byrne
232: Diablo (first all-Byrne issue, complete story, "back to basics" in many ways)
236: Terror in a Tiny Town (triple sized 20th anniversary issue)
238-239: Frankie Raye and Aunt Petunia
240: Inhumans leave for the Moon
242-244: Reed saves Galactus, Galactus takes a new herald
245: Franklin grows up, needs mental dampers
246-247, 258: return of Doom
260: annihilation of doom (literally) - returns in 288
Annual 17: Skrull cows. Just a great FF story.
262: trial of Reed Richards
265: return from BattleWorld (Secret Wars 1); She-Hulk joins
267: "A small loss"
271: Gormuu (affectionate tribute set before FF 1)
272-273: Nathaniel Richards (Reed's father)
277: the Thing returns, discovers Alicia and Johnny, leaves the FF
278-179: Kristoff becomes Doom; destruction of Baxter building
280-281: Malice
285: "Hero"
286: return of Phoenix
289: new headquarters, Four Freedom's Plaza
Between Byrne and Heroes Reborn
296: the Thing returns to the FF. Not really a classic (his changed appearance is quickly retconned) but a giant anniversary issue by many artists, and ties up some loose ends from the end of his own book.
300: wedding of Johnny and Alicia
310-311: Pineapple Thing; Ms Marvel becomes She-Thing
Annual 20: Doom versus Kristoff. Not everyone loves it, but I do.
318-319: Dr Doom and the Beyonder (climax to Secret Wars II)
320: the Thing beats the Hulk (briefly, under unusual circumstances)
337-341: Walt Simonson at his best! 'Nuff said.
347-349: the New FF! This is a "must have" arc (by Simonson)
350: Doom returns and retcons most of his appearances (Simonson)
351-354: time stream, last of Simonson's run, Ben back to normal Thing
The Biggest Story Ever Told
The Fantastic Four, 1961-1991