The 1961 premiere of this self-proclaimed,
“World’s Greatest Comic Magazine” ushered in the Marvel Age of
Comics. It all started when Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm,
and Ben Grimm took part in a space shot. Everything went perfectly until
they were bombarded with cosmic rays. Their inadequately-shielded
spaceship did nothing to protect them, and suddenly the four found
themselves altered by the radiation. Reed’s body became elastic; Susan
found herself able to turn invisible at will; Ben became mutated into
the Thing; and Johnny became a Human Torch. Together, they became the
Fantastic Four. In the decades which followed, the FF has saved the
world more times than can be counted, and introduced us to such
legendary characters as the Inhumans, the Silver Surfer, Galactus, and
Dr. Doom. They’re Marvel’s longest-running team, and a pivotal force
in the Marvel Universe.
