Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) comic books 1981

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 232 CGC 9.8

Paper: Off white to white

Label #3868154014

"Back to the Basics!" Script and Art by John Byrne. Cover by John Byrne and Terry Austin. A new era begins for the Fantastic Four as John Byrne starts his 5-year stint as writer and artist for the series. However, the new era kicks off with an old villain...Diablo! The Master of Alchemy cooks up four creatures of earth, wind, water, and fire to battle the FF! Cameo appearances by Doctor Strange and Frankie Raye. (Notes: John Byrne inks this issue under the pseudonym (or anagram) Bjorn Heyn. Diablo appears next in Iron Man 159.) 32 pages Cover price $0.50.

Fantastic Four (1961 1st Series) 236 CBCS 9.8

Paper: White

Direct Edition

Label #19-27C178C-055

View items consigned by SlabSmart: all items, auctions only

"Terror in a Tiny Town" Giant-sized 20th Anniversary issue. Script and Art by John Byrne. Cover by John Byrne and Terry Austin. It's a quiet autumn day in Liddleville, where Reed Richards, Susan Richards, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm are going about their daily routines as a university professor, housewife, auto mechanic, and tavern owner, respectively. They seem to be leading idyllic lives, but what has happened to their super powers? There happens to be another person in Liddleville that the foursome knows very well...Phillip Masters (aka the Puppet Master)! Does the Puppet Master have the scientific genius to strip the FF of their powers and memories? Or could the deposed monarch of Latveria be lurking in the background? It's another classic Fantastic Four vs. Doctor Doom battle! Back up story: "The Challenge of Dr. Doom!" Script by Stan Lee. Breakdowns by Jack Kirby. Inks by Dick Ayers, George Bell (aka George Roussos), Sal Brodsky, John Byrne, Vince Colletta, Frank Giacoia, Pablo Marcos, Al Milgrom, Chic Stone, and Joe Sinnott. The story is a simplified version of the FF's first encounter with Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four (1st series) 5. The Fantastic Four are featured as they were in their Saturday morning cartoon show with Herbie the robot replacing the Human Torch. (Notes: This issue includes a one-page essay that details the history of the FF, the development of this issue's back up story, and a listing of all the characters on the cover. The cover portrays the Avengers, Defenders, X-Men, Daredevil, Impossible Man, Silver Surfer, Spider-Man, Sub-Mariner, Franklin, Agatha Harkenss, Willie Lumpkin, Stan Lee, and others.) 64 pages Cover price $1.00.