Fantastic Four #50

Featuring: Fantastic Four
Release: February 10, 1966
Cover: May 1966
12 cents
Script: Stan Lee
Art: Jack Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Lettering: S. Rosen
20 pages

Previous	#517	Next
Fantastic Four #49	Reading order	Fantastic Four #51
Fantastic Four #49	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #51

Master! For the first time I realize the dread enormity of what you plan to do! You must not tamper with other worlds! You cannot destroy the entire human race!

Would you hesitate to tread upon an ant hill? These creatures are of no consequence to Galactus!

These are not ants, Master! They think… they feel… they have even created the primitive civilization which we see all about us!

Master! Say we may leave this world! My heart grieves at battling one with whom I shared… a universe!

You speak of me as though I am a monster! Do not the humans themselves slay the lesser beasts for food… for sustenance? Galactus does no less!

Galactus is not evil! He is above good.. or evil! He does what he must… for he is Galactus!

Emulate the Watcher! Stand and observe! Try to fathom the cataclysmic forces which have been unleashed! For you shall never see their like again!

Long have I cherished the stumbling, bumbling, but always aspiring human race!

Consider the courage they display! Though they are still in their infancy, you must not disdain them! Did not your race… and mine… evolve from such humble beginnings? Do they not possess the seed of grandeur within their frail, human frames?

And at last I perceive the glint of glory within the race of man! Be ever worthy of that glory, humans… be ever mindful of your promise of greatness! …For it shall one day lift you beyond the stars.. or bury you within the ruins of war!! The choice is yours!!

Generally, my plan is to pick a single quote from each issue to open these posts. I cheated last issue and am doing so again this issue. Too many great quotes. Also too many great images.

This isn’t the worst cover we’ve seen, but it is the most disappointing. Compare it to the awesome first page.

That’s a cool image. But the cover? No Galactus? The FF just as floating heads? Just a shot of the Silver Surfer. With the corner of the cover devoted to Johnny at college? What?

Notice they seem to have gotten the coloring of Galactus basically right now. Purple over red, wearing pants. Still bare arms, but that’s fine. Third time’s the charm. Here’s how it looks in the digital version with modern coloring.

I think the conclusion of the Galactus saga is excellent, but the structuring of this issue is again weird. To appreciate that, I’d like to peek ahead a few pages.

Recall where we were. Galactus is about to destroy the entire world in order to convert its resources into energy to feed himself. His herald has been convinced by Alicia that human life matters, so Silver Surfer has decided for the first time in countless eons to defy his master. Meanwhile, the Human Torch has journeyed across the universe to the giant space station that is Galactus’ home, to find the one weapon that may yet save them.

With all that to wrap up ahead of us, this is page 15.

We meet Coach Thorpe, who is very concerned his college football team is performing poorly. And his star quarterback is giving him attitude.

I cannot even begin to explain the surreality of the contrast between the first and fifteenth page of this comic.

Maybe it will make sense as we go on.

It won’t.

Silver Surfer argues passionately for both the human race and his relationship with Galactus, his master. He repeatedly calls him “Master”, and speaks of how long they have journeyed the stars together. When Galactus refuses to spare the human race, Silver Surfer declares himself no longer a herald.

One interesting thing is how helpless and passive the Fantastic Four are in their own story. Reed desperately wants to be doing something, but has no idea what. The Watcher has plans. Silver Surfer has power. The great Mr. Fantastic can only sit and watch helplessly. Which is plainly frustrating him.

Galactus has repeatedly called us ants. After his odyssey, Johnny seems to agree. “We’re like ants… just ants… ants!!”

Human Torch has brought back with him the Ultimate Nullifier. Reed just starts turning knobs until Watcher warns he could wipe out the star system. Galactus warns it could destroy a galaxy. He thinks it was foolish of the Watcher to give such an important device to one so primitive.

Galactus and Watcher then talk more cosmic philosophy. The Watcher suggests that Galactus is much like him, not so much a god but an advanced alien from an ancient species.

Galactus tells Reed to give him the weapon and he’ll leave. The Watcher tells Reed to do so. “The promise of Galactus is living truth itself! His word can never be questioned!” I’m not so sure of that. Even if I were, I’d make Galactus state a little more clearly what he’s promising. He says he “shall tarry here no longer”. Perhaps you should make him promise to also not come back.

Galactus describes malice and emotion as things for lesser beings. He has nothing against Reed Richards or Earth. However, Silver Surfer’s defiance must be dealt with. Galactus seems to suggest it is not a punishment, but a practicality. Since Silver Surfer will no longer act as herald, he no longer needs his space-time powers. This depowering will leave him unable to roam the galaxies.

This mention of space-time powers may be a hint of how we got so quickly from the Andromeda Galaxy to Earth. Presumably the Surfer is now limited to traveling at normal speeds, which won’t get him much past our star system.

Galactus makes a dramatic exit.

And like that… he is gone.

How do you defeat a god? I always find this question fascinating. And they’ve had to answer it a few times now. The X-Men didn’t defeat the Stranger. He decided to leave and take Magneto to his cosmic zoo. The first time Dr. Strange fought Dormammu, he couldn’t defeat Dormammu, but instead aided him, forcing Dormammu to make concessions as a matter of honor. The second time, honor was again appealed to, and Dormammu agreed to a duel without using the extent of his powers, and to abide by the outcome. Dr. Strange and Dormammu have one more confrontation coming. We’ll see how they resolve that imminenetly.

Galactus is the next biggest threat our heroes have faced. They defeated him by stealing one of his own weapons. And perhaps a bit of a bluff? And then it came down to the god-being’s word of honor again.

Mr. Fantastic had a device capable of destroying Galactus. He didn’t know how to use it. Galactus knew he didn’t know how to use it. But in attempting to use it, Reed may have blown up the whole universe. Galactus was unwilling to take that risk. Was Reed?

Would he risk a universe to save a world? If Earth was doomed anyway, would Reed take the whole universe with him? I assume he was bluffing. I assume. What if Galactus had called that bluff?

But then they’re at a stand-off at best. It only ends because Galactus gives his word of honor. Which is similar to how Dr. Strange has had to deal with Dormammu. These beings are basically omnipotent, but bound by oaths and codes of honor.

Is this a satisfactory conclusion to such a powerful threat? I’d say so. Particularly because I’m not quite certain Reed was bluffing.

And what to make of the Watcher? There’s interfering and there’s interfering. He didn’t just provide the Fantastic Four the key to defeating Galactus. He was also risking the entire universe for his plan. The Watcher’s actions could have led to the end of everything. That definitely goes against the spirit of that Oath.

I wonder if the Watcher will ever face consequences for what seems to me a pretty severe violation of his people’s most sacred edict.

What’s left is epilogue. Lots and lots of tangential epilogue.

Epilogue the 1st

A love triangle.

Alicia and the Silver Surfer grew close, perhaps too close for Ben’s tastes. He hears her speak of his nobility.

Silver Surfer speaks of his sacrifice. “…for in finding a conscience… I have lost… the stars!”

Thing walks away sad, jumping to conclusions. Alicia of course has not chosen Silver Surfer over Ben. He just walked away before she had the chance to greet him.

As the Surfer bids farewell, it’s a good moment to reflect on him.

Who or what is the Silver Surfer? He self-describes as a “creature of the cosmos”. His shtick the last two issues has been learning things. He learned about food, about beauty, about pity, about conscience. He has been learning for the first time what it means to be human.

So what is he, if not human? He seems to be a being of energy. He only thinks in terms of energy. Perhaps Galactus created him from some fundamental energies of the universe. He is a being who seemed to only know service to Galactus.

And this suggests a saga for the character, as the cover and issue’s title suggest. Now that he is trapped on Earth, he will continue to learn what it means to be human. And perhaps find his own humanity in the process. Perhaps find that this creature of the cosmos has a soul.

As discussed, the basic idea for Galactus was that the Fantastic Four would fight God. Galactus doesn’t resemble anyone’s interpretation of the Judeo-Christian God. But his plan has biblical echoes. Like the God of Noah condemning humanity to die in a flood, this is Judgment Day.

Does the Silver Surfer then have any biblical echoes? Is he the god’s child descended from the heavens to bring salvation to humanity? Or perhaps the fallen angel cast from the heavens for betraying his creator?

Epilogue the 2nd

TV newscasters declare the danger over. The Daily Bugle declares the whole thing a hoax. At least one bystander knows better than to believe Jameson’s editorials.

As was noted by commenter Brandon two issues back, Galactus is a unique experience even for the denizens of the Marvel Universe. The world has been on the verge of ending many times now, often from interstellar threats. But the battles have been quiet, often perhaps left out of the news. Sometimes Dr. Strange, Professor X, or Odin just make people forget the danger they were in. None of that this time.

The threats the public has visibly seen have been smaller. Maybe Zemo trying to cover a city in paste. Or Vulture robbing banks.

This was a giant in the middle of Manhattan who made it clear to any listening that today was the day Earth ended. The threat couldn’t be ignored, and nor could the gravity of the situation.

Unless you read Jameson’s papers.

We’re up to page 14. Recall we looked at page 15 above. How did Coach Thorpe seem to take Galactus attempting to devour the world?

Epilogue the 3rd

An unnamed man is reading the newspaper reporting on the Fantastic Four. He has his own plans to destroy the Fantastic Four. And seems confident even though they literally just overcame a world-devouring god.

The headlines are interesting. The Evening News reports as you’d expect that Galactus vanished. But another paper seems more interested in tabloid gossip. Its main headline is about Thing roaming the streets. “Public asks why does Thing prowl back alleys of city?”

We can infer it’s because he’s jealous of the attention Alicia gave to the Silver Surfer, and perhaps because he is generally sad about being a rock monster. But why is the public more interested in these questions when a giant god nearly devoured them yesterday?

Epilogue the 4th

Or is this even an epilogue? It seems to be just an unrelated story. I almost wonder if it was pasted in from another series.

It’s the page we saw above. Coach Thorpe of Metro College fears he’s a has-been. His team is not doing well. Their only hope is their star quarterback Whitey Mullins. But he has a serious attitude problem.

Is Whitey’s attitude because the world almost ended? Is that what has made this old Coach desperate to win, recognizing his own mortality? Nobody mentions Galactus. Life seems to have just gone on.

This is either random juxtaposition or surreal commentary on how humans would react to things like Galactus. Forget it happened and go on with their lives.

Epilogue the 5th

Sue again expresses to Reed that she thinks he’s neglecting her for his experiments. The last time she expressed this was right after the sky was literally on fire. And now it’s right after their epic battle with Galactus. I respect her concerns but question her timing.

Epilogue the 6th

Thing is sad.

The poor kid! She wuz scared stiff of me! An’ who can blame ‘er? The only reason Alicia put up with me wuz… she’s blind! ‘N even then she couldn’t take me any more! She ditched me for some freak from another world! And why shouldn’t she…? Even I git the goosebumps when I see my pan in the mirror! If only I had some nutty fairy godmother, like Cinderella, who could change me inta Prince Charmin’… But not me! I’m just the pumpkin that ya git turned into if ya don’t git home by midnight! I’ll never be nothin’ but… the Thing!

More on Thing being sad next issue.

Epilogue the 7th

“Forgive us if our tale seems to ramble…” No kidding, Stan.

Johnny is starting college.

Which is odd. Because it was only a few days ago that we learned he was postponing college. And in the meantime he’s met this girl Crystal who is trapped behind a Negative Zone barrier he seemed desperate to get back to. Then he had a weird cosmic experience that made him think of himself as an ant compared to the scale of the cosmos. Now he’s starting college after all?

Ah, his thoughts explain. He is hoping that college will help him forget Crystal. Hence the sudden change of plans. We’ll see how well that works.

Johnny meets Wyatt Wingfoot. He’s transferring from an Indian school near Tulsa.

Wingfoot is special but we don’t learn why. Johnny zones out as the Dean explains. His mind still is on Galactus and his trippy cosmic journey.

What can an ordinary college life hold for someone who’s travelled beyond the galaxy… someone who’s had a glimpse at the wonders of the unknown cosmos? Will I be able to sit in class, day after day, after having soared through space… after having tasted the excitement, the freedom, and the glory of being the Human Torch??

Johnny thinks of Crystal, and we see that she is also thinking of him. But Medusa reminds her that they are trapped in their dome forever. Maybe the glimpse of the Inhumans marks the 8th epilogue to all this?

Johnny and Wyatt will be roommates.

“A strange way to end a tale?” asks Stan. It’s a strange way to end this tale, Stan!

Final notes

On a personal note, this is the earliest Fantastic Four comic I have in my collection.

Here are the letters pages. Fans sing the praises of the Inhumans saga.

I’d like to spotlight a letter by Gerard Conway. Better known to comic fans as Gerry Conway, he’ll go on to succeed Stan Lee as writer on Amazing Spider-Man. Among his many notable, achievements, he’ll co-create a Marvel character named the Punisher. Not to be confused with the servant of Galactus we met last issue.

Gerry also seemed to like the Inhumans Saga.

Dear Stan,

“Beware the Hidden Land” was the greatest story printed in this century! The artwork was second only to Da Vinci! And (just so Artie Simek doesn’t feel left out), the lettering as good as Gutenberg’s best! When you first introduced Gorgon and the Inhumans, I thought they were just a bunch of costumed kooks. But issue #47 cleared up this misconception immediately. Even Gorgon, who at first seemed like a real fink, turned out to have honor and a moral code. Black Bolt is the best new character you’ve invented since Daredevil! The fact that he can’t speak is indeed novel! And the fact that his brother stole his crown is a stroke of genius. I was tempted to say as I read this, “Ah, the plot thickens!” Just like an old movie, eh? Speaking of movies, in the M.M.M.S. letter which I received the other day, it said that a motion picture company wanted the rights to produce a movie about some of our heroes. Come on, tell your frantic fans which one. OK, guys, this is the end of my letter (sob) so until Irving Forbush is arrested for reading Brand Ecch, I say the time-honored words of Black Bolt, “………………………………”

Gerry Conway, age 14

If he liked that Inhumans issue so much, I wonder what Gerry thought about the next issue, with Galactus and all.

And movies about Marvel heroes seems like a fun idea. Wonder if there have ever been any.

The stuff about the football team was weird. The last 7 pages go in all kinds of directions, though many of the random epilogues are quite good on their own terms. Despite that weirdness, this is still pretty close to the greatest comic ever made.

Next issue… even closer to being the greatest comic ever made.

Rating: ★★★★★, 95/100
Significance: ★★★★★

Bit of a spoiler, but the next issue of Fantastic Four will also be great. Between these two issues, they will displace both parts of Strange Tales #142 off the Best We’ve Read list. That Dr. Strange story may have been a bit over-rated anyway. I just tend to like Ditko Dr. Strange stories. It is the issue that sent the great Dormammu/Mordo arc off track for a few issues.

For those keeping score, this knocks Kirby ahead of Ditko in the rankings, with now 47 Kirby stories and 46 Ditko stories.

Characters:

• Silver Surfer
• Galactus
• Invisible Girl
• Mr. Fantastic
• Thing
• Watcher
• Human Torch
• Alicia Masters
• Strange brooding man
• Coach Sam Thorne
• Whitey Mullins
• Belle Thorne
• Wyatt Wingfoot
• Dean Asher
• Black Bolt
• Crystal
• Medusa
• Gorgon

Story notes:

• Galactus will strip Earth of its energy to sustain himself, but will also drain away all life from the world.
• Silver Surfer imprisons Galactus in cocoon of energy.
• Silver Surfer declares himself herald no longer.
• Galactus’ Absorba-shield deflects Silver Surfer’s rays of star-fire.
• Human Torch returns from Galactus’ space station with the Ultimate Nullifier. Watcher warns Reed to never turn the control lever to full power. It could erase the entire solar system in one microsecond!
• Galactus warns the Nullifier can destroy a galaxy, lay waste to a universe.
• Galactus removes Surfer’s space-time powers since he’ll be a herald no longer.
• Daily Bugle: “Publisher Calls Galactus Hoax– Editorial by J. Jonah Jameson”
• One reader suggests it’s best to believe the exact opposite of what Jameson writes.
• Evening news: “Galactus Vanishes– Fantastic Four Not Available for Comment”
• Daily [?]: “Thing Reported Roaming Streets! Dodges Press!” Lower headline: “Public Asks Why Does Thing Prowl Back Alleys of City?”
• Coach Thorne oversees Metro College scrimmage.
• Metro College is across the river from Manhattan.
• Whitey is insubordinate, skips practice, calls Coach Thorne a has-been. But without Whitey, the team has no chance.
• Reed finds loose connection on printed circuit projecto-analyzer.
• Johnny has changed his mind about postponing and started at Metro College.
• Ben scares a woman coming around the corner with his appearance.
• Torch is still friends with Dorrie, but the old feelings are gone since he met Crystal.
• Dorrie lent Torch her car because his Sting Ray was damaged in battle with Dragon Man.
• Torch cites Crystal as his reason for enrolling suddenly at Metro. His averages were high enough to get him in.
• Wyatt comes from the Indian Mission School outside Tulsa, OK.
• Johnny daydreams during Dean’s talk and Dean notices.
• Johnny and Wyatt will share a room at the Northfield Dorm.

Previous	#517	Next
Fantastic Four #49	Reading order	Fantastic Four #51
Fantastic Four #49	Fantastic Four	Fantastic Four #51