Fantastic Four (Volume 1 1961)
In 1961, the groundbreaking Marvel comic book series Fantastic Four laid the foundation for a universe of heroes and villains, birthed by the dynamic duo of Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. In response to DC's Justice League, Lee and Kirby crafted a team of superheroes unlike any seen before, imbuing them with flawed characters and relatable struggles. The roster boasted Mr Fantastic (Reed Richards), the brilliant scientist; the Invisible Girl (Susan "Sue" Storm), who eventually became Reed's wife; the fiery Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Sue's younger brother; and the rock-solid Thing (Ben Grimm). Volume 1 of this legendary series blazed a trail through 416 thrilling issues until September 1996, leaving an indelible mark on the comic book landscape.
