198 FANTASTIC FOUR
Abel, Ho Che Anderson, Ivan Brunetti, Charles Burns, Dave Cooper, Kim Deitch,
Roberta Gregory, Bill Griffi th, Paul Hornschemeier, Tony Milionaire, Anders Nilsen,
Gary Panter, Johnny Ryan, Joe Sacco, Stan Sakai, Chris Ware , and Jim Woodring.
Fantagraphics has also introduced many international comics artist to American
readers, including the French Jaques Tardi, David B., and Lewis Trondheim, the Italian
Lorenzo Mattotti, the Spaniard Max, the Austrian Th omas Ott, the Swedish Max
Andersson, and the Norwegian Jason. Another vital part of the company’s publishing
is compilations of classic comics, like Popeye , Prince Valiant , Pogo , Krazy Kat , Feiff er:
Th e Collected Works , Th e Complete Crumb Comics , Dennis the Menace , and Peanuts.
One part of Fantagraphics’ publishing that goes under another banner altogether is
their erotic and pornographic comics, which are labeled the Eros Comics Line. Th is was
introduced in the beginning of the 1990s, when Fantagraphics was close to bankruptcy,
and it actually helped save the company.
Selected Bibliography: Merino, Ana. FANTAGRAPHICS : Creadores del CANON.
Gijón, Spain: Semana Negra, 2003.
Fredrik Strömberg
FANTASTIC FOUR. Created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in 1961, Th e Fantastic Four
were born as Marvel Comics’ response to the success of the superhero team book, Th e
Justice League of America. Like the JLA, the Fantastic Four would team up every month
to take on the latest threat to humanity, but unlike their rivals at DC , the Fantastic Four
could also be found fi ghting among themselves. A family of explorers and “imaginauts,”
at times beset by decidedly un-heroic foibles and faults, the team represented a shift in
comic book writing that would pave the way for a more realistic, character-driven style
of storytelling. Th e approach proved successful, with Th e Fantastic Four being one of
several Silver Age Marvel titles still published monthly into the 21st century.
Like many Marvel Comics characters, the Fantastic Four’s origin is rooted in Cold
Wa r paranoia: Driven by a desire to beat the Soviets into space, team leader and
scientifi c genius Reed Richards, his fi ancée Susan Storm, her brother Johnny Storm,
and Reed’s college pal and pilot Benjamin Grimm take a test fl ight in an experimental
space ship. Th e shielding on the vessel proves inadequate, and the foursome is bom-
barded by cosmic radiation from which they gain incredible powers. Reed gains the
ability to stretch his body and limbs; Sue gains the power to become invisible; Johnny
picks up the ability to fl y as his body becomes engulfed in fl ames; and Ben winds up
with superhuman strength and durability as his skin takes on a rock-like texture and
appearance. Ben’s displeasure with his monstrous new aspect notwithstanding (a long-
running motif in the book), the four immediately pledge to use their newfound abilities
for the good of mankind.
Adopting the aliases Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Girl (later the Invisible Woman), the
Human Torch, and the Th ing, the team breaks with the prevailing superhero tradition of
the time by never taking on secret identities, even eschewing colorful superhero costumes
