Publishers / Marvel / Fantastic Four (1961) / #1
1November 1961
$0.10

Fantastic Four #1

Marvel · November 1961 · on sale 1961-08-08

First appearance: Ben GrimmFirst appearance: The ThingFirst appearance: Reed RichardsOrigin: Ben Grimm1 variant
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series)
Issue
#1
Publication date
November 1961
Key date
1961-11-00
On-sale date
1961-08-08
Indicia publisher
Canam Publishers Sales Corp.
Price
$0.10
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Ben Grimm - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of The Thing - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Reed Richards - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Johnny Storm - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Human Torch - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Mister Fantastic - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Susan Storm Richards - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Invisible Girl - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Harvey Elder - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Mole Man - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Giganto - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character. An independent public reference records the same first appearance.

First appearance of Tricephalous - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character. An independent public reference records the same first appearance.

First appearance of Ugu - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character. An independent public reference records the same first appearance.

Origin story on record for: Ben Grimm, Mole Man.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0-cover1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: George Klein; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie Simek, Sol BrodskyGiganto First, Ben Grimm First, Human Torch First, Invisible Girl First, Mister Fantastic First, Reed Richards First, Susan Storm Richards First, Johnny Storm First, The Thing First
2The Fantastic Four!comic story13script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: George Klein, Sol Brodsky; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBen Grimm First, Human Torch First, Invisible Girl First, Mister Fantastic First, Reed Richards First, Susan Storm Richards First, Johnny Storm First, The Thing First
5The Fantastic Four Meet the Mole Man!comic story6script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: George Klein, Sol Brodsky; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekHarvey Elder First, Giganto First, Ben Grimm First, Human Torch First, Invisible Girl First, Mister Fantastic First, Mole Man First, Reed Richards First, Johnny Storm First, Susan Storm Richards First, The Thing First, Tricephalous First
9The Moleman's Secret!comic story6script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: George Klein, Sol Brodsky; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekHarvey Elder First, Giganto First, Ben Grimm First, Human Torch First, Invisible Girl First, Mister Fantastic First, Mole Man First, Reed Richards First, Johnny Storm First, Susan Storm Richards First, The Thing First, Ugu First

Plus 10 pages of advertisements and other matter across 12 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 9d [0-0-9 GBP]

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Fantastic Four Annual #11963On eBay ›
Fantastic Four Annual #71969On eBay ›
Origins of Marvel Comics #[nn]
ISBN 0-671-21863-8		1974On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks #2
ISBN 0-87135-307-5		1987On eBay ›
Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four #81445
ISBN 0-671-81445-1		1977On eBay ›
The Fantastic Four: The Secret Story of Marvel's Cosmic Quartet #[nn]
ISBN 0-8249-8014-X		1981On eBay ›
Essential Fantastic Four #1
ISBN 0-7851-0666-9		1998On eBay ›
The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe #11985On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

1 of 416#2 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q63761219 (Susan Storm Richards), first-appearance property (CC0)
  • Wikidata, Q115424755 (Giganto), first-appearance property (CC0)
  • Wikidata, Q17035845 (Tricephalous), first-appearance property (CC0)
  • Wikidata, Q115424814 (Ugu), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com