Fantastic Four in 1965
The year started off weak without a costumed villain — instead, we get an insufferable plutocrat who sees the error of his ways within the span of a single issue. Generally not a fan of throwaway one-shot issues.
But matters quickly improve the following month, with several guest appearances, including the X-Men and Spider-Man in civilian garb. Always great to see elements of a shared universe. The guest appearances don’t stop there, as 1965 for the FF team could be considered “the year culminating in the Sue Storm-Reed Richards wedding. The entirety of the year felt like a steady drumbeat — it was awesome.
And the actual event happened in an annual! Growing up in the 90s, annuals were the absolute worst because nothing happened in them. More than once during my childhood, I would look through those things thinking “this is a pointless exercise…”
Isn’t it great reading a comic series where things actually happen? American comics have seemed to calcify under the weight of ages. They only seem to cap off events with a death or two that they promise won’t be reversed.
And speaking of the annual issue and its million guest stars, its notably how many heroes made their first appearance within a brief three year period. And they’re all here. Marvel was a veritable success-factory in the mid-1960s, churning out intriguing characters one after another. Massive credit here to the team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. While Kirby has gotten his deserved cue in the last couple of decades, it is notable to remember how creative Lee could be with the right artists (specifically, Kirby and Ditko in these years).
But even if the build-up to the Wedding of the 60s doesn’t impress you, the year truly ended with an introduction to the Inhumans. It wasn’t just an introduction out of nowhere either — Medusa and Gorgon were in earlier issues. This entire year was a pleasant surprise and I have a sneaking suspicion (hint hint) that 1966 will be even better.
Issues: Fantastic Four v1 034-045, Annual 003
