Issue Details

Issue	#1
Published	October 1998
Cover Price	14.95 USD; 21.95 CAD
Pages	528
Editing	Polly Watson
Notes	528-page trade paperback featuring black & white reprints from Fantastic Four [Marvel; 1961] #1-20 and Fantastic Four Annual [Marvel; 1963] #1. A 2nd edition exists with different cover and contents, and should be indexed as a separate book: Essential Fantastic Four #1 [2nd ed.].

Cover Details - "untitled"

Genre	super-hero
Pencils	Alan Davis
Inks	Alan Davis
Colors	Marie Javins
Notes	528-page trade paperback featuring black & white reprints from Fantastic Four [Marvel; 1961] #1-20 and Fantastic Four Annual [Marvel; 1963] #1. A 2nd edition exists with different cover and contents, and should be indexed as a separate book: Essential Fantastic Four #1 [2nd ed.].

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page) "untitled"

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Dick Ayers
Colors	[black & white]
Notes	The Essential FF paperbacks do not have credits for the reprinted covers. Cover inker credits are from the GCD's index of Fantastic Four (1961 series).
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #1

25 page Fantastic Four story "The Fantastic Four"

Characters	Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]; Thing [Ben Grimm]; Invisible Girl [Susan Storm]; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; 1st appearance and origin of all]; Mole Man [1st app. and origin]
Synopsis	Dr. Reed Richards takes his friends on a rocket trip that changes their lives forever.
Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot]; Stan Lee [plot; dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	George Klein; Christopher Rule ?
Letters	Art Simek
Notes	Although this book's table of contents includes story credits, it does not identify this story's inker. Inking credit from the GCD's index of Fantastic Four #1. Inking often attributed to Dick Ayers and occasionally Art Simek. The given credit reflects the current consensus. Job number from Tom Lammers and Ger Apeldoorn via the Atlas/Timely discussion group.
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #1

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page) "Skrulls from Outer Space!"

Characters	Skrulls
Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Dick Ayers
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #2

24 page Fantastic Four story "The Fantastic Four Meet the Skrulls from Outer Space!"

Characters	Skrulls [1st appearance]; Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic; Human Torch; Invisible Girl; Thing]
Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot]; Stan Lee [plot; dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	George Klein
Letters	John Duffy
Notes	Inking credit from the GCD's index of Fantastic Four #2.
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #2

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page) "untitled"

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Sol Brodsky
Colors	[black & white]
Notes	Has the caption,"The Greatest Comic Magazine in the World!!"
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #3

23 page Fantastic Four story "The Fantastic Four, in... The Menace of the Miracle Man"

Characters	Miracle Man [1st app.]
Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot]; Stan Lee [plot; dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Sol Brodsky
Letters	Art Simek
Notes	The Fantastic Four begin wearing costumes in this story. 1st appearances of the Fantasticar and the Fantastic Four's headquarters (Baxter Building; unnamed in this story; cut-away diagram appears on pg. 5).
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #3

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page) "The Coming of the Sub-Mariner!"

Characters	Sub-Mariner
Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Sol Brodsky
Colors	[black & white]
Notes	Beginning this issue, the words, "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!" appear at the top of every cover.
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #4

23 page Fantastic Four story "The Fantastic Four in the Coming of... Sub-Mariner!"

Characters	Sub-Mariner [1st Silver Age app.]
Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot; dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Sol Brodsky
Colors	[black & white]
Letters	Art Simek
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #4

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page) "Meet... Doctor Doom!"

Characters	Dr. Doom
Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Joe Sinnott
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #5

23 page Fantastic Four story The Fantastic Four, in... "Prisoners of Doctor Doom!"

Characters	Dr. Doom [1st app. and origin]; Hulk [cameo on pg. 2; Johnny Storm is shown reading The Incredible Hulk #1]
Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot]; Stan Lee [plot; dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Joe Sinnott
Colors	[black & white]
Letters	Art Simek
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #5

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page) "The Diabolical Duo Join Forces!"

Characters	Dr. Doom; Sub-Mariner
Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Dick Ayers
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #6

24 page Fantastic Four story The Fantastic Four in "Captives of the Deadly Duo!"

Characters	Dr. Doom; Sub-Mariner
Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot]; Stan Lee [plot; dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Dick Ayers
Notes	1st Dr. Doom/Sub-Mariner team-up. Baxter Building 1st named.
Reprinted	from Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series) #6

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Human Torch illustration "Fantastic Four Feature Page"

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Dick Ayers
Colors	[black & white]
Letters	Art Simek
Notes	The pin-up pages in this book are reprinted out of sequence.
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #8

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Human Torch illustration "A Fantastic Four Feature Page!"

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Dick Ayers
Colors	[black & white]
Letters	Art Simek
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #9

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Thing illustration "The Fantastic Four Pin-Up Page Featuring in this Issue: The Thing"

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	George Klein
Colors	[black & white]
Letters	John Duffy
Notes	Inker credit from the GCD's index of Fantastic Four #2.
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #2

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #

1 page Fantastic Four cover reprint (on interior page)

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four Annual #1

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four Annual #1

Fantastic Four story

Genre	super-hero
Script	Jack Kirby [plot], Stan Lee [plot, dialogue]
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Colors	[black & white]
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four Annual #1

1 page Human Torch illustration "The Fantastic Four Pin-Up Page"

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Sol Brodsky
Colors	[black & white]
Letters	Art Simek
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #3

1 page Mr. Fantastic illustration "Fantastic Four Feature Page"

Genre	super-hero
Script	Stan Lee
Pencils	Jack Kirby
Inks	Dick Ayers
Colors	[black & white]
Letters	Art Simek
Reprinted	fr. Fantastic Four #16

1 page Fantastic Four (backcovers) *do not use* / *please fix* "untitled"

Genre	super-hero
Pencils	Alan Davis
Inks	Alan Davis
Colors	Marie Javins