Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four origin story
In the early 1960s, Marvel veterans Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Fantastic Four to overcome a sales slump. Kirby believed superheroes were due for a revival after 15 years of romance, horror, and war comics. Lee simply wanted to write stories he would enjoy reading. The team debuted in Fantastic Four No. 1, featuring Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm, who gained powers after a cosmic-ray-hit rocket crash. The series transformed their careers, lives, and the comic industry.
Key facts
- Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Fantastic Four in the early 1960s.
- The creation aimed to break Marvel's sales slump.
- Kirby thought superheroes were due for a revival.
- Lee wanted to write stories he would enjoy.
- The team debuted in Fantastic Four No. 1.
- Characters included Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm.
- They gained powers after a cosmic-ray-hit rocket crash.
- The series changed their careers, lives, and the comic industry.
Entities
Artists
- Stan Lee
- Jack Kirby
Institutions
- Marvel