Fantastic Four
# 1-10

November, 1961
Fantastic Four # 1:"The Fantastic Four Meet the Mole Man!" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Art Simek
Jay's Rating: JJJJJ
Synopsis:
A group of four adventurers rocket into space and are bombarded by mysterious cosmic rays. They crash land and discover that they've gained special powers. Together, they take on the threat of the Mole Man and his monsters. They defeat him and seal off Monster Island.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance and origin of the Fantastic Four. 
  • This issue situates the Fantastic Four's headquarters in Central City.

January, 1962
Fantastic Four # 2: "Skrulls from Outer Space!" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Jack Kirby
Jay's Rating: JJJJ1/2
Synopsis:
A series of crimes, apparently committed by the Fantastic Four, convince the army to bring them in. They escape and learn that alien Skrulls impersonated them. The Fantastic Four trick the leader of the Skrull invasion into withdrawing. The captured Skrulls are put out to pasture.

March, 1962
Fantastic Four # 3: "The Menace of the Miracle Man!" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Sol Brodsky
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
A stage magician, Miracle Man, turns to a life of crime. The Fantastic Four try to stop him, but are unable to since he is too powerful. However, the Fantastic Four learn that the source of his power is hypnotism and stop him.

Jay's Notes:

  • First use of costumes and the Fantastic Car.

May, 1962
Fantastic Four # 4: "The Coming of the Sub-Mariner!" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: ??
Jay's Rating: JJJJ1/2
Synopsis:
Reed, Sue and the Thing search for the Torch, who quit over an argument with the Thing. Johnny, trying to keep a low profile, stumbles upon Namor and restores his memory. Unfortunately, Namor decides to attack the surface world with Giganto. The Fantastic Four destroy Giganto and drive back Namor.

Jay's Notes:

  • First Silver Age appearance of Namor.

July, 1962
Fantastic Four # 5: "Prisoners of Doctor Doom!" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis:
Dr. Doom captures the Fantastic Four. With Sue as a hostage, he forces them to travel back into the past and return with Blackbeard's treasure. They return and trick Doom. With Sue's help, they foil Doom's plans.

Jay's Notes:

  • Their headquarters are now situated in New York City.

September, 1962
Fantastic Four # 6: "Captives of the Deadly Duo!" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Dick Ayers
Jay's Rating: JJJJ1/2
Synopsis:
Dr. Doom convinces Namor to join forces with him to destroy the Fantastic Four. Namor tricks the Fantastic Four into believing that he wants a truce and Doom's device which puts their headquarters into orbit. Doom betrays Namor, but Namor returns the favor and helps the Fantastic Four defeat Doom.

October, 1962
Fantastic Four # 7: "Prisoners of Kurrgo, Master of Planet X" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Dick Ayers
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
Desperate to save his planet from destruction, Kurrgo, Master of Planet X, sends a robot to Earth who uses a hostility ray to force the Fantastic Four off the planet. They accompany the robot to Planet X and Reed uses a shrinking ray to save its population. Kurrgo, blinded by his lust for power, is left behind.

November, 1962
Fantastic Four # 8: "Prisoner of the Puppet Master" 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Dick Ayers
Jay's Rating:
JJJ1/2
Synopsis:
The Puppet Master gains control of the Thing with his radioactive clay and uses him and his daughter Alicia to attack the Fantastic Four. The Puppet Master then orchestrates a prison break out, but the Fantastic Four stand in the way. With some help from Alicia, they stop the Puppet Master.

Jay's Notes:

  • First appearance of Alicia Master and Puppet Master.

December, 1962
Fantastic Four # 9: "The End of the Fantastic Four! " 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Dick Ayers
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis:
The Fantastic Four declare bankruptcy, due to Reed's loses on the stock market, and are offered money to star in a movie. The studio's producer turns out to be the Sub Mariner, who has used the wealth of sunken treasure to buy the studio. He tries to charm Sue, while putting the rest of the Fantastic Four through death-trap movie scenes. The Fantastic Four pull through though and force Namor to withdraw.

January, 1963
Fantastic Four # 10: "The Return of Doctor Doom! " 
Writer: Stan Lee 
Penciller: Jack Kirby 
Inker: Dick Ayers
Jay's Rating:
JJJJ
Synopsis:
Dr. Doom forces Lee and Kirby to lure Mr. Fantastic into his trap. Doom, back from his deep space exile where he met a race called the Ovoid, uses his mind-transfer technique on Reed. At that moment, the rest of the Fantastic Four rush in and capture Doom. Reed (Doom) imprisons Doom (Reed), but he escapes and proves his true identity. Doom is the victim of the reducing ray meant for the Fantastic Four. 
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