I think it’s fair to call 2025 the summer of the Fantastic Four. With the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming in just a few weeks, we’re finally getting Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and The Thing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Anticipation is high for their arrival, and while I think the film will face the challenge of superhero fatigue, I’m personally excited to see what director Matt Shankman delivers.
Also exciting is that The Folio Society, purveyors of absolutely gorgeous hardcover editions of essential comic book collections, have released their latest title, Marvel: Fantastic Four.
Here are the details:
The Folio Society is proud to announce the release of Marvel: Fantastic Four, a bold new edition honouring the comic that started it all. Selected and introduced by award-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem, this volume celebrates the explosive brilliance of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original 1960s run.
Opening with Fantastic Four #1, the 1961 issue that launched Marvel’s Silver Age, this collection brings together ten seminal stories from the first decade of the series. From the arrival of Galactus and the Silver Surfer to the debut of Black Panther and Doctor Doom, the volume charts a thrilling arc of cosmic adventures and family drama that defined Marvel’s first superhero team.
Each page has been scanned from the original comics in the Marvel archives, preserving the period’s distinctive colour palette and typography. The result is a reading experience that honours the past while inviting new readers into the fold. Cover artwork and slipcase design come from celebrated comic artist Marcos Martín.
Stories selected include:
‘The Fantastic Four!’ – Fantastic Four #1 (November 1961)
‘Those Who Would Destroy Us!’ – Fantastic Four #46 (January 1966)
‘If This Be Doomsday!’ – Fantastic Four #49 (April 1966)
‘The Startling Saga of the Silver Surfer!’ – Fantastic Four #50 (May 1966)
‘This Man . . . This Monster!’ – Fantastic Four #51 (June 1966)
‘The Black Panther!’ – Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966)
‘Enter . . . Dr. Doom!’ – Fantastic Four #57 (December 1966)
‘The Peril and the Power!’ – Fantastic Four #60 (March 1967)
‘. . . And One Shall Save Him!’ – Fantastic Four #62 (May 1967)
‘Let There Be . . . Life!’ – Fantastic Four Annual #6 (November 1968)
Unsurprisingly, considering The Folio Society’s high standards, Marvel: Fantastic Four is another gorgeous book of classic comic history. Speaking of which, we’re fortunate to have been able to ask critically acclaimed author Jonathan Lethem (Motherless Brooklyn, Fortress of Solitude) a few questions over email about the stories he selected for inclusion in this book.
Andy Burns: How did you wind up involved with the Folio Society on Marvel: Fantastic Four?
Jonathan Lethem: They asked me!
Andy Burns: Considering the vast amount of stories and issues that have been produced involving the Fantastic Four, was it at all intimidating or difficult to hone in on the stories you wanted to showcase for the collection?
Jonathan Lethem: Not really, because the only index was “my favourites”. So I wouldn’t call it intimidating or difficult. It was a remarkable pleasure rereading the first hundred FF stories, with many surprising highs and lows, and reencounters with old favourites. I mostly tried not to overthink the project. My own responses, of pleasure and amazement, were my guide. Since this was the Folio Edition, I shouldn’t avoid using examples that were generally acclaimed – they’ll never again be seen in exactly this context.
Andy Burns: In the comic world, it feels like the Fantastic Four’s rogues’ gallery is sometimes ignored when compared to those of Spider-Man or Batman. Which villains who have battled the FF in particular are you fond of, and why?
Jonathan Lethem: If that’s true, it’s madness. I can’t think of better heavies than Doctor Doom, Galactus, Annihilus, The Mole Man and so forth. And the supporting cast beyond the out-and-out villains is the greatest ever created: The Panther and Surfer, the Inhumans and the Watcher…
Andy Burns: A book like Marvel: Fantastic Four is a gorgeous collection, and your introduction does an excellent job of capturing the experience of actually reading a comic book, something I grew up doing myself throughout the 1980s and 1990s, until I shifted to graphic novels and now digital titles. Do you have a particular preference for how you read comics, past or present, today?
Jonathan Lethem: I’m an old stickler, a comics luddite, and proud of it. Tattered, yellowed paper, please.
Andy Burns: Finally, do you still read Fantastic Four today? Are there any other creators apart from Kirby and Lee that hit the mark for you with the title?
Jonathan Lethem: I had a great time with John Byrne’s run, which is by now ancient history, too. James Sturm’s Unstable Molecules is a landmark. I haven’t kept up with recent renditions, but no comics fan can ever read them all.
Thanks to Jonathan Lethem for his time and to the folks at The Folio Society for making this happen. You can order your copy of Marvel: Fantastic Four here, and also peruse the fantastic selection of comic book collections, including titles from both Marvel and DC. Your bookshelf will thank you.