Comic Title: Essential Fantastic Four Vol. 1 TPB
Publisher: Marvel
Cover Date: 1999
On Sale Date: November 4, 1998 Direct Market Date November 4, 1998
Source: Diamond Shipping List, Shipping This Week: November 4

Direct Market Date November 4, 1998
Source: ComicList, New Comic Book Releases List for Wednesday, November 4, 1998

Direct Market Date November 4, 1998
Source: Usenet, Late Comics Report for the week of November 6, 1998

Direct Market Date October 28, 1998
Source: Wizard Magazine, #87

Direct Market Date October 28, 1998
Source: Previews, Vol. 8 #8 (#116)

Shipping Date October 28, 1998
Source: Comics Buyers Guide, #1302

Cover Price: $14.95
Page Count: 528
Editor: Polly Watson

See Also: The Guide to Graphic Novels and Collected Editions

Title: "The Fantastic Four"
Pages: 25

Feature(s):
Fantastic Four

Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: George Klein

Reprinted From:
Fantastic Four #1 (1961)

Feature Character(s)

• Fantastic Four (first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #2)
• Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards; first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #2)
• Invisible Girl (Susan Storm; first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #2)
• Thing (Ben Grimm; first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #2)
• Human Torch (Johnny Storm; first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #2)

Villain(s)

• Moleman (first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #22)
• A large monster (next appearance in Fantastic Four #264)
• The Monsters of Monster Isle (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• The mayor of Central City (no further appearances)
• The police chief of Central City (no further appearances)
• Susan Storm's society friend (no further appearances)
• Johnny Storm's friend (no further appearances)
• A haberdasher and a taxicab driver (no further appearances)
• Various police officers (Pete named; no further appearances)
• Several French soldiers (Pierre named; no further appearances)

Comments:
(Part 2): "The Fantastic Four Meet the Mole Man"
(Part 3): "The Moleman's Secret"

The origin of the Fantastic Four is revealed in this story.

The Fantastic Four operate in Central City in this story and in Fantastic Four #2.

Synopsis:
Dr. Reed Richards uses a flare gun which spells out a message in the sky. The message is a summons to his friends: Susan Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm. Susan turns invisible and catches a cab to the meeting. Ben Grimm, who has a giant rocky body, storms out of a clothing store, while Johnny Storm becomes turns into flame and flies to the meeting. The military sends a missile after Johnny, but he is saved by Reed who uses his stretching powers to divert the missile.

The quartet of unusual humans recounts recent events which transformed them into their current state. In an attempt to beat the Soviets into space, Reed led the others into a rocket ship. During their space flight, they were bombarded by cosmic rays. Without proper shielding, the crew was altered after their rocket crashed back to Earth. They decided to use their new freakish powers to better the world. Susan takes the name Invisible Girl, Ben's altered form makes him the Thing, Johnny's flame powers make him the Human Torch, and Reed, their leader, takes the name Mister Fantastic.

At the meeting, Reed explains that atomic plants around the world have disappeared, as huge holes have swallowed them from underground. Reed's research leads the team to Monster Isle where they encounter and fight several monsters under the control of a recluse known as the Mole Man. The Fantastic Four stops the villain, and Johnny uses his powers to seal the monsters underground. The Mole Man is left behind when the team leaves the island. As they depart, the island itself appears to be destroyed in the aftermath of the battle.