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. 

But matters quickly improve in the next issue, 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.

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.

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.