(November 1961)

Marvel, 1961 Series
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Volume
1
Price
0.10 USD
Pages
36
Indicia Frequency
monthly
On-sale Date
1961-08-08
Publisher's Age Guidelines
Approved by the Comics Code Authority
Indicia / Colophon Publisher
Canam Publishers Sales Corp.
Brand
MC
Printer
Printed in the U.S.A.; The Eastern Color Printing Co., Waterbury, Conn.
Editing
Stan Lee (editor)

Issue Notes

The date of release is noted in the letters page of Fantastic Four #600. It is confirmed by the publication date reported to the U.S. Copyright Office found in the Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series, Volume 15, Part 2, Number 2, Periodicals, July-December 1961. Class B periodical. Copyright registration number B917811. Copyright given to Canam Publishers Sales Corp.
This issue has variants:
Parts of this issue are reprinted:

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents)

Fantastic Four / cover / 1 page (report information)

Script
Stan Lee
Pencils
Jack Kirby
Inks
George Klein (see notes)
Colors
Stan Goldberg (see notes)
Letters
Artie Simek (cover lettering and logo design); Sol Brodsky (logo design, see notes)

First Line of Dialogue or Text
I -- I can't turn invisible fast enough!! How can we stop this creature, Torch?
Genre
superhero
Characters
The Fantastic Four [The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]; The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; The Thing [Ben Grimm]; Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]]; Giganto
Reprints
Keywords
monsters

Indexer Notes

Timely-Atlas expert Michael Vassallo has examined hundreds of known Klein art and inking samples, as has Nick Caputo, and both agree that Klein is the inker of the cover. Mark Evanier also agrees on Klein's credit. Inkers originally cited as possibilities included Chris Rule and Dick Ayers (who has affirmed he did not ink the cover or interior).

Goldberg coloring credit disclosed in February 2011 http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31016 http://www.firstcomicsnews.com/?p=20698 and mentioned on Fantastic Four #600 letters page.

Logo design credit from Todd Klein and Mark Evanier from Klein's Facebook page, used by permission. Klein says generally early Marvel logos were designed by Brodsky and either inked or finished by Simek.

Characters added by Per Sandell (2005-12-05).

An entire facsimile issue including the front cover and complete story was reprinted (minus the ads) in Golden Book and Record Set # SLP-185 in 1966. Maximum Fantastic Four contains the full issue (with ads) as a poster.

How to Gain up to 50 Lbs. of Mighty Muscles! (Table of Contents: 1)

Jowett Institute of Physical Training / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
? (photo)
Inks
? (photo)
Letters
?

Characters
George Jowett; John Sill; Tony Pascarella; Jim Norman
Synopsis
Body-building ad.

Indexer Notes

Inside front cover.

The Fantastic Four! (Table of Contents: 2)

Fantastic Four / comic story / 13 pages (report information)

Script
Stan Lee (signed as Stan Lee [early- to mid-career])
Pencils
Jack Kirby (signed as Jack Kirby [signature])
Inks
George Klein; Sol Brodsky ? (see notes)
Colors
Stan Goldberg
Letters
Artie Simek

Job Number
V-372
First Line of Dialogue or Text
With the sudden fury of a thunderbolt, a flare is shot into the sky over Central City!
Genre
superhero
Characters
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]; The Thing [Ben Grimm]; Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]] (introduction, origin); the Mayor of Central City; Central City Police Department [Pete; unnamed members]; National Guard unnamed members
Synopsis
Dr. Reed Richards takes his friends on a rocket trip that changes their lives forever.
Reprints
Keywords
automobiles; Central City; cosmic rays; Fantasti-Flare; fighter jets; flare guns; missiles; National Guard; parachutes; rockets; spacecraft

Indexer Notes

Characters, synopsis: Added by Per Sandell (2005-12-05).

Timely-Atlas expert Michael Vassallo has examined hundreds of known Klein art and inking samples, as has Nick Caputo, and both agree that Klein is the primary inker, with alterations likely by Sol Brodsky.

In the letters page of issue #281 it states according to Roz and Jack Kirby, via Steve Leialoha, that it was Artie Simek who inked the first issue of FF and that Sol Brodsky started inking with issue #2 (Brodsky actually started inking with # 3). Previous indexer credited Chris Rule as possible inker.

Good Job, More Money and Greater Security (Table of Contents: 3)

Commercial Trades Institute / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

Between pages 6 and 7

Will You Work Saturday Mornings for $5.00 to $20.00 Extra? (Table of Contents: 4)

Mason Shoe Mfg. Co. / advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

Between pages 11 and 12

The Fantastic Four Meet the Mole Man! (Table of Contents: 5)

Fantastic Four / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Stan Lee
Pencils
Jack Kirby
Inks
George Klein; Sol Brodsky ? (see notes)
Colors
Stan Goldberg
Letters
Artie Simek

Job Number
V-372
First Line of Dialogue or Text
And now, having met our four amazing characters, let us resume our tale...
Genre
superhero
Characters
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]; The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]; The Thing [Ben Grimm]]; Mole Man [Moleman] (introduction); Monsters of Monster Isle [Giganto; Tricephalous] (introduction, all unnamed here); French Army [Pierre; unnamed soldiers]
Synopsis
Atomic plants disappear all around the world. Reed Richards pinpoints a place which is at the same distance from them all: Monster Isle.
Reprints
Keywords
aircraft; diamonds; French army; French Equatorial Africa; monsters; nuclear power plants; Subterranea; Valley of Diamonds

Indexer Notes

Timely-Atlas expert Michael Vassallo has examined hundreds of known Klein art and inking samples, as has Nick Caputo, and both agree that Klein is the primary inker with Sol Brodsky likely providing corrections. Previous indexer credited Chris Rule.

[no title indexed] (Table of Contents: 6)

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
various
Pencils
various
Inks
various
Colors
various
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

Between pages 14 and 15

Boys 12 or Older Sell Grit (Table of Contents: 7)

Grit Newspaper / advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
? (photograph)
Inks
? (photograph)
Colors
?
Letters
typeset
Editing
?

Indexer Notes

Ad soliciting salespeople for newspaper.
Between pages 19 and 20

Reward $2,000.00 for this coin (Table of Contents: 8)

advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Synopsis
Ad, with order coupon, for coin catalogue from Best Value Co., Coin Dept.
Keywords
coin; coin collecting; numismatist

Indexer Notes

Between pages 19 and 20

The Moleman's Secret! (Table of Contents: 9)

Fantastic Four / comic story / 6 pages (report information)

Script
Stan Lee
Pencils
Jack Kirby
Inks
George Klein; Sol Brodsky ? (see notes)
Colors
Stan Goldberg
Letters
Artie Simek

First Line of Dialogue or Text
Before we witness the breath-taking conclusion of our amazing tale, let us gather together all the loose ends!
Feature Logo
The Fantastic Four
Genre
superhero
Characters
The Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]; The Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; The Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]; The Thing [Ben Grimm]]; Mole Man [Moleman] (origin); Monsters of Monster Isle [Rock Monster Guardian [Ugu] (introduction); Giganto] (all unnamed)
Synopsis
Having captured the Fantastic Four, Moleman recounts how he discovered his underground kingdom.
Reprints
Keywords
aircraft; blindness; Monster Isle; monsters

Indexer Notes

Sequence added by Per Sandell (2005-12-05).

Timely-Atlas expert Michael Vassallo has examined hundreds of known Klein art and inking samples, as has Nick Caputo, and both agree that Klein is the inker, with alterations likely by Sol Brodsky. Previous indexer credited Chris Rule.

Stamps...Shop by Mail (Table of Contents: 10)

advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Colors
?
Letters
typeset

Synopsis
Collection of small ads.

Indexer Notes

Between pages 20 and 21

Juke Box Bank (Table of Contents: 11)

advertisement / 0.5 page (report information)

Script
? (ad copy)
Pencils
? (photo)
Inks
? (photo)
Colors
? (photo)
Letters
typeset

Synopsis
Half-page, horizontally-oriented ad for a miniature plastic juke box bank with flashing lights ($1.98) from American Merchandising Company of Montgomery, Alabama.

Indexer Notes

Between pages 20 and 21

[Test Your Talent!] (Table of Contents: 12)

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset

Synopsis
Win a $495 scholarship in commercial art from Art Instructors Schools

If You Know Just 20 People... You Can Make at Least $50 (Table of Contents: 13)

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
? (photograph)
Inks
? (photograph)
Letters
typeset
Editing
?

Synopsis
Ad for selling Christmas cards from Wallace Brown, Inc.

Learn Radio-Television Electronics by Practicing at Home in Your Spare Time (Table of Contents: 14)

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
? (photos); ?
Inks
? (photos); ?
Letters
?

Characters
J.E. Smith (photo)

Indexer Notes

On inside back cover in black and white.

He's Looking for People Who Like to Draw (Table of Contents: 15)

advertisement / 1 page (report information)

Script
?
Pencils
?
Inks
?
Letters
typeset

Indexer Notes

back cover

Editing
Related Scans
Series Information
Table of Contents
  1. 0. ["I -- I can't turn invisible fast enough!! How can we stop this creature, Torch?"]
    Fantastic Four
  2. 1. How to Gain up to 50 Lbs. of Mighty Muscles!
    Jowett Institute of Physical Training
  3. 2. The Fantastic Four!
    Fantastic Four
  4. 3. Good Job, More Money and Greater Security
    Commercial Trades Institute
  5. 4. Will You Work Saturday Mornings for $5.00 to $20.00 Extra?
    Mason Shoe Mfg. Co.
  6. 5. The Fantastic Four Meet the Mole Man!
    Fantastic Four
  7. 6. [no title indexed]
  8. 7. Boys 12 or Older Sell Grit
    Grit Newspaper
  9. 8. Reward $2,000.00 for this coin
  10. 9. The Moleman's Secret!
    Fantastic Four
  11. 10. Stamps...Shop by Mail
  12. 11. Juke Box Bank
  13. 12. [Test Your Talent!]
  14. 13. If You Know Just 20 People... You Can Make at Least $50
  15. 14. Learn Radio-Television Electronics by Practicing at Home in Your Spare Time
  16. 15. He's Looking for People Who Like to Draw
This issue was modified by, among others
  • David B
  • Bob Bailey
  • Ray Bottorff Jr
  • David Bruce
  • Nick Caputo
  • Pirrou Claude
  • Ruben Cortes
  • Pierre Freyssonnet
  • Kauldi Gilibert
  • Del Gruber
  • Merlin Haas
  • Ralf Haring
  • Tom Hartley
  • Katy Hayhurst
  • Matthew Head
  • Jerry Hillegas (R.I.P.)
  • Matthias Hofmann
  • Kirk House
  • R. S. Martin
  • Mike Nielsen
  • Antonio Pontes Junior
  • Mark Q
  • Derek Reinhard
  • Tony R. Rose
  • Allen Ross
  • Per Sandell
  • Jim Van Dore