The Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four are a group of superheroes who have experienced some of the wildest adventures ever depicted in comic books, but perhaps the root of their appeal is the extent to which they embody the idea of a family. Bound together by the strange powers that each acquired while manning an experimental rocket, they are also joined by legal and blood relationships. Reed Richards and Sue Storm were engaged when the series began in 1961 and married a few years later; Johnny Storm is Sue's younger brother. The odd man out is Ben Grimm, ostensibly just a friend of the family, but really the heart and soul of the team.

Reed Richards developed a flexible, elastic body and became Mister Fantastic, but remained a brilliant and aloof scientist, more at home with his work than people. Sue Storm, transformed into The Invisible Girl, maintained the air of a middle-class matron. These two rather restrained characters were the symbolic parents of the group, while the adolescent Johnny, an updated version of the golden age Human Torch, functioned as their spoiled son. Ben Grimm, who turned into the hideous but powerful Thing, appeared to be the family's gruff but lovable uncle, one who came from a distinctly less privileged background.

In the original synopsis that writer-editor Stan Lee gave artist Jack Kirby, Lee proposed making The Thing into the "heavy." Deformed, underprivileged and argumentative, Ben actually became the most lovable group member: honest, direct and free of pretension. He brought humor and pathos to the stories, while his emotional responses and frequent tantrums suggested that he might really be the baby of the household. The others sported spiffy uniforms, he wore a big blue diaper. The perfect balance of this original family unit, with its staid uninhibited infant, has made The Fantastic Four a uniquely appealing team.

Over the years, the balance of The Fantastic Four has shifted on several occasions. More than one member has walked out in a huff, and even been apparently replaced, but with the passage of time, the status quo has always reasserted itself. The ties of blood and loyalty are as strong for misfits as they are for mortals.

Disclaimer: This page is not officially connected in any way to the Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. All or any images used are scanned from Marvel Comics and are the property of Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. and are used without permission. All info from: Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics