FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (1962)
Written by Stan Lee, drawn by Jack Kirby
Well, so much for reviewing an issue of Fantastic Four everyday, I guess. After reading the first and second, work and life got in the way and it slipped my mind. I guess that’s what I got for not including it on my blog calendar. Anyway, the third issue of FF was pretty interesting, more like the first than the second, thankfully, because I had no idea where it was going. Not only do they FF get their costumes for the first time–Sue even makes a helmet to hide Thing’s face which he’s not a fan of–but also a look at their headquarters and the Fantasti-Car. The action follows a man called The Miracle Man who not only knows who the FF are in their civilian identities (though I’m guessing that was probably public knowledge at the time), but also proved to be stronger than Thing and brought a movie monster to life.
As it turned out, however, SPOILER Miracle Man didn’t really have any powers at all, but instead could hypnotize many people into thinking the same thing. I dug that this issue hadn’t been mined to death by later writers and also that Stan and Jack went a different route by duping the readers. And boy, did Jack get to show off by drawing a big mohawked monster. I also think it’s funny that, while Thing still looks like a pile of clay, Johnny Storm looks absolutely like a Kirby creation when in his human form. Speaking of Johnny, there’s a really strange moment at the end of the issue, where Johnny leaves in a huff–he and Ben have been getting into it all issue–and Reed worries what might happen if The Human Torch turns against them. Seriously, Reed? He’s just a hot headed kid blowing off some steam and you’re worried that he’s going to join your rogues gallery which only currently includes Cosmic Rays, the Mole Man and his monsters and some Skrulls you scared away and others you tricked into turning into cows. Chill out man. This dude’s been kind of a dick from the beginning hasn’t he? Really explains Civil War.
Oh, my friend, you are only scratching the surface of the iceberg that is Reed Richards’ dickishness! Just wait until he and Sue get married!