Of all the comic runs, which ones have the best key issues? Let's start with some classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Fantastic Four.
THE GREAT RUNS
A great run can be defined by many things. It could be a winning combination of writer and artist. Maybe an iconic character was redefined for a generation. It also could be the number of collectible key issues for a span.
For today's post, I am focusing specifically on collectibility. To make the list of great runs, I am putting emphasis on numbers of key comics - and levels of those keys - in that particular run of issues.
That being said, it is hard to argue against Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's days of the Fantastic Four. In the 1960s, “Marvel’s First Family” put the company on the proverbial map. Being the company’s main attraction, many new characters and ideas were introduced in those first 100 issues of F.F.
You could argue that almost any stretch of Silver Age Fantastic Four would make for an incredible run for any collection. To me, the seven-issue run from #45-#53 had the biggest impact on Marvel from then to now.
THE INHUMANS
If you follow my blog posts, you will have noticed that I am not a hardcore Inhumans fan. I grew up in the 1980s, and I barely knew who the Inhumans were until the 2000s. By that time, Marvel had begun to scale back the X-Men, and all things mutants supposedly over Fox owning the movie and television rights to the characters. In response, Marvel put over the Inhumans as a replacement for the X-Men, and I have yet to forgive the company for it.
Aside from personal feelings about the Inhumans, this amazing run of key issues began with the Royal Family in F.F. #45. That led to Black Bolt himself being introduced in #46, with the initial story arc wrapping up in #47.
THE COMING OF GALACTUS
The Inhumans led to an even greater story, the Holy Grail “The Coming of Galactus” and the first appearance of the Silver Surfer and the World Eater.
The cover of F.F. #48 with the Watcher pointing to the sky has become among the most iconic in Marvel history. Although it does not compete with #48 in terms of dollar amounts, F.F. #49 treats readers to the first full appearance of Galactus. Personally, I prefer this issue because it is the first cover appearance of Galactus and the Surfer. The trilogy wraps up with issue #50 and another famous Surfer cover.
BLACK PANTHER
After the Fantastic Four defended Earth against Galactus, the Thing was the center of attention in issue #51 before Lee and Kirby debuted another historic character. Keep in mind, this was during the Civil Rights movement, and introducing the first African-American superhero at that time was controversial. Not only was Black Panther a great character, but Lee and Kirby should be applauded for taking a firm stance by not only creating T’Challa but featuring him in the company’s premiere title at the time.
From issues #52-53, Black Panther took the spotlight and laid the groundwork for his rise. Here we are decades later, and he was the subject of the first superhero film to be nominated for the Academy Awards’ Best Picture.
PARTING THOUGHTS ON FANTASTIC FOUR
By no means is this the only great run in all of the comic keys. In the coming weeks, I will spotlight other runs with major keys that are still making waves today. Have a suggestion? Post it in the comments.
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