The Four Elements – Cornerstones of this reality and the next – By The Comic Guy
The Four Elements; Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. As early thinkers began to form their views of the world, these four components of nature became the cornerstones on which much of modern science and philosophy have been built. Most of what constitutes our everyday physical experience springs directly or indirectly from the four elements. Life giving, life ending, nurturing, and primal, these forces have created us and have brought us to our current state of being. They are the beginning and ending of all that we know, the foundation of our existence, and of our knowledge of it. And, coincidentally or not, the foundations of the Marvel Comics Universe, and catalyst for the modern era of super heroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in late 1961, the Fantastic Four, its members each a physical manifestation of the Classical Four Elements, thrust the young Marvel Comics Group into the Silver Age of Comics, and established Lee and Kirby amongst the pantheon of legendary comics creators.
Inspired by the success of DC Comic’s Justice League of America, Lee set out to create his own team of super powered beings, but with a decidedly unique twist for the time. Heretofore, super heroes had always stood head and shoulders above the common man. Not only had they powers that set them apart from humanity, but their character too made them, although heroic and ideal, somehow unattainable. Yes, we all aspire to the nobility of Superman, the unwavering courage of Batman, the unfaltering resolve of Wonder Woman, but few of us can claim such purity of thought or intention. What Lee set out to do was create a hero, with great abilities, yes, but also with faults, foibles, and weaknesses that the everyman could connect with. And it was this connection to the characters that made the Fantastic Four an instant success, and paved the way for nearly every super hero comic since.
And as the four elements are the foundations of our understanding of the physical world, so too is the Fantastic Four the foundation of the entire Marvel Universe. Not only did characters such as Doctor Doom, Galactus, the Black Panther, the Silver Surfer, and the Inhumans all come to life within the early pages of the narrative, but also was born the ‘Marvel Method’ of storytelling, perhaps the best example of true collaboration between writer and artist, now legendary, and still employed to this day by comics creators.
The stars of the book were, of course, the Fantastic Four. More a family then merely a collection of super powered beings, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Sue Storm (The Invisible Girl…later Woman), Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing) began their lives together as a group of space faring adventurers. On an experimental rocket ship voyage, the four are bombarded by deadly ‘Cosmic Rays’, forever transforming their bodies and giving them ‘fantsatic’ powers. Reed now has the ability to stretch and transform his body into any shape (Water). Sue has gained the gift of invisibility and the ability to create invisible force fields (Air). Johnny can now set himself ablaze and fly (Fire). And Ben is transformed into a hideous and brutish monster of living rock (Earth). At its best the Fantastic Four was a thrilling Sci-Fi ride, and at its worst it was still a damn good super hero book. To completely review the entirety of their 40+ year history would take more time and space then I have here, and unless you already have those early Lee/Kirby masterpieces you would be out of luck. If not, fortunately, for the Marvel Essential series. All the early books are re-printed (in black and white, but we don’t care about that now, do we?) in easy to handle volumes, and at a price that will not require a second mortgage on the ‘ol homestead. And all available at Comicopolis, 829 Front St., Santa Cruz, CA….shameless plug over, now back to the review…
Lee and Kirby would remain on the book until 1970, an impressive run in any era, before Kirby left Marvel Comics for good. Kirby was followed by such industry giants as Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, Marv Wolfman, John Romita Sr., John Buscema, and George Perez. Each left a unique impression upon the foursome, and helped create a long and rich comic history. But as talented, and important, as these men were, it was John Byrne who would usher in the second Golden Age for the series. Starting as an artist at issue #209, and as regular series writer with issue #232, Byrne would modernize the group. The Invisible Girl would become the Invisible Woman, realizing her true potential, and grow into arguably the Four’s most powerful member. Reed and Sue, now married, would face the trials of a miscarriage, and The Thing would briefly leave the book, replaced on the team by She-Hulk. Many other heroes would serve as part of the Fantastic Four, but eventually, and always, the family would return to its roots. After Byrne’s departure the books would see several creators take on the daunting task of writing original fare for a title that already seen decades of adventures and had, quite literally, done it all. The 90’s would see a relative creative drought for not only the FF, but indeed many hero books throughout the industry. I, sadly, dropped the book, left only with the fond memories of stories that had thrilled me in my childhood. It was not until 2004, with the introduction of the Fantastic Four into Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, that I found revitalized interest in the legendary group.
Marvel’s Ultimate line was born out of a need to reconnect with the younger comic reader. Set in an ‘Alternate Dimension’, the Ultimate line reintroduced classic characters, re-telling their origins in the modern era, with a modern twist, and with modern sensibilities. In this new version, a teenaged prodigy Richards is part of a government backed think tank run by Professor Storm, father to Sue and Johnny. While Reed’s best friend Ben Grimm visits, the four, including fellow prodigy Victor Van Damme (Ultimate Doctor Doom), are accidentally transported to the N-Zone, returning with their bodies changed, and now with strange new powers. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, and with art by Adam Kubert, the first six-issue arc completes their new origin story, and tells of their first confrontation with the Mole Man (consistent with the original series first villain battle). Warren Ellis would take over writing duties for the next 12 issues, introducing the Ultimate Doctor Doom, and taking the group back to the N-Zone where they would meet its alien overlord, Nihil. Subsequent issues would see the introduction of classic FF characters such as the Sub Mariner, Thanos, El Diablo, and the Silver Surfer. The book has been handled by many of today’s great comic talents, each telling compelling and original stories while staying true to Lee and Kirby’s adventurous vision.
And not to be outdone, the Fantastic Four of the Core Marvel U, now in its #550-something-th issue, has been ‘reborn’, creatively speaking, with industry powerhouse Mark Millar taking the writing reigns firmly in hand. Partnered with artistic talents of Bryan Hitch, Millar has begun an exciting new chapter in the long history of the Four, introducing a new character from the team’s past, and embarking them on a dimension spanning mission, faithfully capturing the Science Fiction spirit that made the book great.
For those wishing to jump into the vast world of adventure that is the Fantastic Four, I would recommend starting with the Ultimate version. Volume 1 re-tells the group’s origin, and is a perfect jumping on point for those unfamiliar with Four’s history. The Marvel Essential volumes of the Fantastic Four are also a nice and easy way to read the early exploits of the original team. And really, if you are at all interested in super hero fiction, you must read the Fantastic Four. As Earth, Air, Water, and Fire are essential to the world we live in, so too are the Fantastic Four to the world comic books.
Overall, FF gets an 8.5. ‘Nuff said!
J.D. Arnold has been reading comics for the past 35 years, selling them for the past 15 years, writing them for the past 5 years, and now owns his own comic selling shop, and is therefore more qualified to review them than you.
Comicopolis is the finest purveyor of comics and comic related materials on this or any other planet. We are located at 829 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA., are available by phone at 831-427-1929, and can be found on that internet at www.comicopolisonline.com. We love comics, we love reading comics, and we love talking about comics. And we love you. What more do you need?
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