Just one year after DC Comics debuted the Justice League, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby crafted a super-team of their own called the Fantastic Four. Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Thing, and the Human Torch are cosmic explorers, and their paths have crossed with plenty of other Marvel superheroes.
The Fantastic Four comics are so integral to the makeup of the Marvel Universe. Some of the greatest heroes and villains have either debuted in FF comics or joined the FF team. The Fantastic Four team-up comics are exciting and almost always feature a hero vs. hero showdown.
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10 Spider-Man, Daredevil & Thor
Fantastic Four #73 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Joe Sinnott
Misunderstandings in the Marvel Universe usually result in superhero clashes, proven once again in Fantastic Four #73. Doctor Doom tricked the Fantastic Four, making them believe that Daredevil is Doom in disguise. As Daredevil battled the FF, Spider-Man joined the fight, enlisting Thor.
Most of the Fantastic Four team-ups usually began with superhero vs. superhero brawls, especially in the Silver Age. Thankfully, Sue convinced them all that Daredevil is not Doctor Doom. The bombastic battle was fun, but the plot and Doom’s trickery for fairly thin, acting as a filler issue.
9 Infinity War
By Jim Starlin, Ron LIm, Al Milgrom, Max Scheele & Ian Laughlin
The Infinity War limited series was not strictly a Fantastic Four team-up event, but it counts considering the FF teamed up with the majority of Marvel superheroes. The core of The Infinity War existed in its own six-issue miniseries where Earth’s heroes battle an evil version of Adam Warlock in a follow-up to Infinity Gauntlet just one year prior.
However, a the Fantastic Four comic series housed a large portion of the event in issues #366-370. While The Infinity War was not as memorable as the original Infinity Gauntlet, the FF play huge roles in the story, and an evil Mister Fantastic appears as well.
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8 The Inhumans
Uncanny Inhumans #1 by Charles Soule, Steve McNiven, Jay Liesten & Sunny Gho
The All-New, All-Different era really shook up the status quo for many Marvel comics. The Avengers separated into different teams led by Captain America and Iron Man ahead of the “Infinity” crossover, the original five X-Men traveled to the present, and Human Torch left the Fantastic Four to join the Inhumans. Additionally, Beast left the X-Men to fight alongside Medusa, Queen of the Inhumans.
The Uncanny Inhumans comic featured a fun new collection of heroes, picking members from different teams. While the book unfortunately only lasted 22 issues, it provided a nice extended crossover between the Inhumans and the Fantastic Four; fitting, considering the Inhumans debuted in Fantastic Four #45.
7 Secret Wars
By Jim Shooter, Michael Zeck, John Bearty & Christie Scheele
The Beyonder only chose three members of the Fantastic Four to transport to Battleworld, leaving Sue Storm on Earth. While Reed, Ben and Johnny were away, they encountered an alien world with its own civilizations. Along with Earth’s other heroes, including the X-Men, Spider-Man, and members of the Avengers, the Fantastic (Three?) battled Doctor Doom, Doctor Octopus, and an array of other Marvel villains.
While not strictly a “Fantastic Four team-up,” Secret Wars was the first major Marvel crossover comic event, uniting all of its major heroes in an epic battle that spanned 12 issues, adding depth to Doctor Doom’s character as well.
6 Future Foundation
Fantastic Four #579 by Jonathan Hickman, Neil Edwards, Andrew Currie & Paul Mounts
Marvel’s Future Foundation first appeared in Fantastic Four #579. Reed Richards founded the new heroic team with an emphasis on science, technology, and the development of young, bright minds around the world to create a better tomorrow. Reed may have overcompensated following Johnny Storm’s death, but the Future Foundation was a good idea.
The FF changed their costumes, sporting a striking black and white suit with new logos and invited many other Marvel heroes to join them. She-Hulk, Ant-Man, and even Doctor Doom briefly joined the team while Spider-Man famously donned a sleek new Future Foundation suit that he wore for several issues of his own Amazing Spider-Man comic.
5 She-Hulk
Fantastic Four #265 by John Byrne & Glynis Wein
Following the events of Secret Wars, the Thing suffered episodes where he lost his cosmic powers, reverting to the human form of Ben Grimm at the worst moments while Earth’s heroes battled Doctor Doom and his villains. To learn more about this phenomenon, Thing stayed on Battleworld as She-Hulk replaced him in the FF on Earth.
Given their similarities in strength, She-Hulk was a perfect replacement for the Thing, bringing as much charm and levity to the comic. While Jennifer eventually left the team to rejoin the Avengers, she did lead a secondary version of the Fantastic Four/Future Foundation in the F.F. comic series.
4 The Incredible Hulk
Clobberin’ Time #1 by Steve Skroce & Bryan Valenza
The Fantastic Four first met the Incredible Hulk in their 12th issue, naturally battling the gamma-enhanced behemoth. Who’s stronger: Hulk or the Thing? This question was far more interesting back in the 60s when most Marvel hero power levels sat closer to one another. In modern comics, the Hulk far outweighs Thing in the Marvel heavy-hitters.
The Thing stars in his own comic series outside the rest of the Fantastic Four. The first issue of the perfectly titled Clobberin’ Time featured a Thing/Hulk team-up, proving these two could sustain their own, ongoing buddy-cop comic series.
3 Human Torch & The Thing
Marvel 2-In-1 #1 by Chip Zdarsky, Jim Cheung, John Dell, Walden Wong & Frank Martin Jr.
Even though the Thing and Human Torch were on the same team for decades in the Fantastic Four, the relaunched Marvel 2-In-1 comic series showcased their friendship and superhero partnership without dedicating pages or narrative space to Reed, Sue, and the rest of the Richards family.
Ben and Johnny always acted like the siblings of the FF, pranking each other, riling the other up, but like siblings, they looked out for each other and knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The first issue of Marvel 2-In-1 showcases their compatibility as they uncover the mystery of Reed and Sue’s disappearance.
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2 Black Panther
Fantastic Four #52 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott & Stan Goldberg
The Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 as a brief adversary. The FF accepted an invitation to the hidden land of Wakanda within Africa, but they didn’t expect the trap laid by the king himself. Black Panther tested the Fantastic Four’s might and ingenuity, ultimately losing to the FF’s creativeness and teamwork.
The following issue explored the official FF/Black Panther team-up as T’Challa opened Wakanda’s resources to Red Richards, ensuring they could help each other defeat Ulysses Claw. Issue #52 set the stage for the amazing Black Panther run that followed in the pages of Marvel’s Jungle Action.
1 Silver Surfer
Fantastic Four #48 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby & Joe Sinnott
So many amazing characters debuted in Fantastic Four comics, including Silver Surfer. Marvel’s First Family traverses the cosmos, so they’re a natural vessel for Marvel creators to explore new, otherworldly characters. Silver Surfer and Galactus’ arrival changed the fabric of the Marvel Universe and expanded the spectrum of power.
The Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer’s team-up may be one of the most epic comics from Marvel’s Silver Age, setting the tone for many crossovers to come, introducing cosmic concepts that future Marvel writers and artists would expand on. Additionally, Galactus and the Surfer are true Kirby creations and fit nicely within the ever-growing FF universe.
The Fantastic Four are cosmic explorers, and their adventures lead them across the Marvel Universe, teaming up with Avengers and Inhumans. Read More