Publishers / Marvel / Fantastic Four (1961) / #45
45December 1965
$0.12

Fantastic Four #45

Marvel · December 1965 · on sale September 9, 1965

First appearance: Blackagar BoltagonFirst appearance: Black BoltFirst appearance: Crystal1 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
#45
Publication date
December 1965
Key date
December 1965
On-sale date
September 9, 1965
Indicia publisher
Canam Publishers Sales Corp.
Price
$0.12
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 Blackagar Boltagon - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Black Bolt - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

First appearance of Crystalia Amaquelin Maximoff - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

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

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

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

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
0Among Us Hide...the Inhumans!cover1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Joe Sinnott; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Sam RosenGorgon, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Karnak First, Medusa, Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards, Susan Storm Richards, Johnny Storm, The Thing, Triton First, Medusalith Amaquelin Boltagon
2Among Us Hide...the Inhumanscomic story20script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Joe Sinnott; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBlack Bolt First, Crystal First, Dragon Man, Gorgon, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Karnak First, Lockjaw First, Flint Marko, Medusa, Mister Fantastic, Peter Petruski, Reed Richards
3Journey into Mysterypromo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko; inks: Steve Ditko, Wally Wood; letters: Sam Rosen, Artie SimekSpider-Man [Peter Parker]; Thor; Odin; Absorbing Man; The X-Men [Professor X; Cyclops; Marvel Girl [Jean Grey]; Angel; Beast; Iceman]; Sentinels
11Strange Tales; Tales to Astonish; Tales of Suspensepromo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Jack Kirby, Gene Colan, Bob Powell, Marie Severin, Dick Ayers, Joe Sinnott; inks: Frank Giacoia, Vince Colletta, Mike Esposito, Marie Severin, Joe Sinnott; letters: Artie Simek, Sam RosenSub-Mariner [Namor]; Lady Dorma; Warlord Krang; Hulk [Bruce Banner]; Watcher; Dr. Strange; Nick Fury; Captain America [Steve Rogers]; First Sleeper; Sergeant Nick Fury; the Howling Commandos [Corporal Dum Dum Dugan; Dino Manelli; Izzy Cohen; Gabe Jones; Robert Ralston [Rebel Ralston]; Percival Pinke
12-in-house column1script: ? (promo copy); letters: typesetThe Thing [Ben Grimm]
13-letters page2script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Vince CollettaThing [Ben Grimm]

Plus 10 pages of advertisements and other matter across 11 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 10d [0-0-10 GBP]

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Marvel's Greatest Comics #331971On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks #25
ISBN 0-87135-990-1		1993On eBay ›
Essential Fantastic Four #3
ISBN 0-7851-0782-7		2000On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four #5
ISBN 0-7851-1184-0		2004On eBay ›
Fantastic Four Omnibus #2
ISBN 0-7851-2403-9		2007On 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

‹ #4445 of 416#46 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q114155173 (Triton), first-appearance property (CC0)

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