Fantastic Four #3

The Menace of the Miracle Man/The Monster Lives!/The Flame that Died!/In the Shadow of defeat!/The Final Challenge!
Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: December 12, 1961
Cover: March, 1962
12 cents
Credits: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Inks: Sol Brodsky (uncredited)
23 pages

I read this comic in Fantastic Four Omnibus vol. 1. The issue has signatures for Stan and Jack. The Table of Contents for the Omnibus credits Sol with inks.

The price of the comic has jumped up from 10 to 12 cents. Not sure we’ll be able to afford to continue this series at this rate.

The Fantastic Four battle Miracle Man, a largely forgotten villain. We see he can: fly; become a giant; change into water, metal, or gas; control elements, storms, thunder, and lightning; slice a tree trunk in half with his finger; withstand the Thing’s strongest blow; etcetera. How can the FF defeat such a villain? Well, there’s a twist I’ll let you read for yourselves.

The issue is most notable for introducing costumes to the Fantastic Four that Sue designed. Thing has a helmet and full costume. Why was he the only one who got a mask? Are you implying he’s ugly, Sue? For battle, he removes the helmet and rips off the shirt.

Why are you trying to cover Ben’s face, Sue?

Some characterization is repetitive from the previous issues. Thing throws a temper tantrum. Reed has to stop him by tying Ben up using his arms. Ben and Johnny start fighting. What’s new is that Johnny gets quite angry about Ben’s nagging. He complains to his friends about it. And in the end quits the team.

Next issue: The Fantastic Three… Hmmm… not alliterative enough. What about… The Thunderous Three?

Also notable, we learn the FF own the top of a skyscraper and have their “secret” headquarters there. It houses the fantasticar. A pogo space plane. A fantasticopter. And a passenger missile.

Ooh… maps.

It also introduces the letters page. This is where Stan really shined, interacting directly with fans. One letter was from S. Brodsky, the uncredited inker on the issue. Perhaps a little tongue-in-cheek.

Stan’s true genius is found here

Rating: ★★★☆☆, 51/100
Significance: ★★★★☆

Miracle Man not a significant new character. Big significance here is introducing costumes and fantasticar. And of course the letters page. Some character work repetitive, but Johnny quitting an exciting development

Characters:

  • Miracle Man
  • Mr. Fantastic
  • Invisible Girl
  • Thing
  • Human Torch

Some notes:

  • Each cover has had the date in a different spot, and changed the style and positioning of the “The”
  • Thing still wearing his shades
  • Susan is referred to sometimes as Susan and sometimes as Sue
  • “And none of the tenants suspect that we own the entire tower of this building!”
  • The issue includes a diagram of their secret (??) headquarters, including: pogo orbit plane hangar; fantasticopter hangar; fantasticar hangar; photo analysis room; observatory; anti-vibration wall; long-range passenger missile… can reach any part of the world in minutes; launch pad; giant map-room; conference room; projection room; hidden elevator; missile monitoring room; missile ready room; living quarters and laboratories
  • The issue inconsistently spells ‘fanatasticar’ or ‘fantasti-car’.
  • Human Torch pin-up
  • First Fantastic 4 Fan Page, including letter from S. Brodsky
  • Online sources identify the army general with a cameo as General Fredericks
  • Includes recap of origin
  • Fantasticar can split into 4 cars

#5 story in reading order
Next: Tales of Suspense #27, Story D
Previous post: Mystery Tales #21, Story E
Previous in order: Tales to Astonish #28

Author: Chris Coke

Interests include comic books, science fiction, whisky, and mathematics.

One thought on “Fantastic Four #3”

  1. Uhm, probably the most significant thing about this issue—altho Kirby’s iconic costume design which went nearly unchanged for over half a century is a close 2nd—is the change in the design of the Human Torch from a barely distinct blob of flames to the grill pattern. Carlos Burgos’ Torch design is that of an android which caught fire—Kirby’s Torch design looks like a person who has the power of fire. It makes the character far more relatable while he’s aflame, better connecting Johnny Storm with his Human Torch persona bc he’s not buried in flame.

    Kirby-Lee invented the relatable superhero, made them 3-dimensional characters with humanity. A blob of fire is hard to relate to as a human, the grill design seem like a small link betw the meta-human & the person, but it’s an important one. When I first saw the Golden Age Torch as a child I found his flame-blob design thoroughly un-interesting & less human, I much preferred Kirby’s design, which has gone unchanged since FF 3.

    Reply

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