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: "Prisoners of the Puppet Master"
Pages: 23

Feature(s):
Fantastic Four

Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Dick Ayers

Reprinted From:
Fantastic Four #8 (1962)

Feature Character(s)

• Fantastic Four (last appearance in Fantastic Four #7; next appearance in Fantastic Four #9)
• Mister Fantastic (last appearance in Fantastic Four #7; next appearance in Fantastic Four #9)
• Invisible Girl (last appearance in Fantastic Four #7; next appearance in Strange Tales #102)
• Human Torch (last appearance in Strange Tales #101; next appearance in Strange Tales #102)
• Thing (last appearance in Strange Tales #101; next appearance in Fantastic Four #9)

Supporting Character(s)

• Alicia Masters (last name not given in this story; first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #9)

Villain(s)

• Puppet Master (first appearance; next appearance in Fantastic Four #14)
• Rocco and a group of convicts (no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Williams (a prison warden; no further appearances)
• A man attempting to jump off a bridge (no further appearances)
• Joe and Charlie (prison guards; no further appearances)

Comments:
Part 2:"The Hands of the Puppet Master"
Part 3:"The Lady and the Monster"
Part 4:"Face-to-Face with the Puppet Master"
Part 5:"Death of a Puppet"

The Thing is temporarily transformed back into Ben Grimm in this story.

This issue contains a Fantastic Four Feature Page which details the Human Torch and his powers.

Synopsis:
The Human Torch rescues a man, stopping him from jumping off a bridge. The man was controlled by the Puppet Master, a criminal capable of mind control. Seeking revenge, the Puppet Master takes control of the Thing. He captures the Thing and Invisible Girl. He then disguises his blind step-daughter Alicia as Sue Storm and sends her with the Thing to attack the other members of the team.

Reed stops the Thing by temporarily transforming him back to Ben Grimm. Strangely Alicia prefers Ben's appearance in the Thing form. The real Invisible Girl then escapes from the Puppet Master and rejoins the team. They stop a prison riot caused by the Puppet Master. Meanwhile, Alicia confronts her step-father. During the confrontation, the Puppet Master falls out a window and is presumed dead.