Marvel Years 03.02 - February 1963

Fantastic Four #11

Title: A Visit with the Fantastic Four

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villains: The Skrulls (flashback), Doctor Doom (flashback)

Regulars: Yancy Street Gang, Willie Lumpkin

This comic contains two stories, both 11 pages long. The first story is a non-story. It shows a day in the life of the Fantastic Four. Once more we see that the Fantastic Four live in the same world as the readers, not in a universe numbered 616. They walk through New York to buy the latest issue of the Fantastic Four comic, even though the Thing claims that they already know how the stories end. This follows up the concept first introduced in the previous issue that Reed Richards reports the group's adventures to Stan Lee so that he can write about them.

This story might not contain any fights, but it's famous for two things.

This is the issue in which the Yancy Street Gang is first mentioned. They're never actually seen in the comics -- at least not in the Stan Lee years -- but they're frequently mentioned as a gang that plays practical jokes on the Thing. He always acts like he's furious with them, but we can't help thinking that he likes them really.

This is also the issue in which we first see the Baxter Building's postman, Willie Lumpkin. He was hardly ever shown in Stan Lee's Fantastic Four comics, but he was nevertheless popular with Marvel fans. In later years other writers featured him more often. He appeared in the 2005 Fantastic Four film played by Stan Lee himself. He was turned down as a member of the Fantastic Four, which is a shame. None of the other members can wiggle their ears.

This story also gives us some background information about Reed Richards and Ben Grimm. They met and became best friends when they became room mates at university. They both fought in World War Two, Ben Grimm as a fighter pilot, Reed Richards as an undercover agent helping the resistance fighters against the Japanese.

There's yet another attempt to turn the Thing back into Ben Grimm, which only lasts a few minutes.

---

Title: The Impossible Man

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villains: The Impossible Man

This was the only appearance of the Impossible Man in Stan Lee's years as a writer. Roy Thomas brought him back in 1976, and he's appeared sporadically ever since. In later comics it was established that whatever shape he becomes he's always green. Obviously Stan and Jack hadn't agreed on his colour in 1963.

---

Tales to Astonish #40

Title: The Day that Ant-Man Failed

Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: The Hijacker

The villain is a normal crook without any super powers.

The issue also contains an anthology story.

---

Journey into Mystery #89

Title: The Thunder God and the Thug

Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

Regulars: Jane Foster, Odin

Villain: Thug Thatcher

The villain is a mobster without any super powers.

This issue also contains two short anthology stories.

---

Strange Tales #105

Title: The Return of the Wizard

Writer: Stan Lee, Larry Lieber
Artist: Jack Kirby

Villain: The Wizard

Regulars: Susan Storm, Reed Richards, Ben Grimm

This is the first Human Torch solo story in which the rest of the Fantastic Four appear as guests. Only his sister Susan assists him in his battle against the Wizard.

This issue also contains three short anthology stories.