Help Desk: FAQ

• Where did the idea for the FF come from?
  The concept was worked out by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. They were responding to their publisher's reaction to Justice League of America's success by introducing a new team of superheroes with powers based on Earth's "primary" elements: earth, wind, water and fire. Contradicting reports over the years have clouded the details such that it is nearly impossible to determine who contributed how much to each character.

• How did the Fantastic Four earn the title of "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine"?
  It didn't. Stan Lee added the famous tag line with issue four (volume one) simply as a sales/marketing gimmick. With a handful of omissions and alterations, the tag line has remained in place since then.

• How old are Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben?
  Reed and Ben are in their forties, Johnny in his mid-twenties and Susan somewhere in-between. Anything more definitive is unnecessary.

• When was Franklin Richards born? How old is he?
  Franklin Benjamin Richards was born in Fantastic Four Annual #6 circa November 1968. During Carlos Pacheco and Rafael Marin's tenure on the book, Franklin was established at seven and it seems unlikely that he'll age much more without an artificial plot device.

• But I thought I've seen him as a teenager/young adult?
  On a few occassions, a Franklin from the future found himself in Marvel's regular continuity. Franklin from the "Days of Futures Past" story arc and Psi-Lord of Fantastic Force are the primary examples. Obviously, the older Franklin in question has returned to his own era to be once again replaced by a child version of himself. Franklin has also occasionally used his powers to physically age himself. In those instances, he did not have the wisdom or experience to wield his powers properly and he reverted himself to his former age.

• Is Lockjaw a dog or an Inhuman?
  He's a dog. I've written The Lockjaw Controversy to help explain things in more detail.

• Did Johnny marry Alicia or a Skrull or what?
  Alicia Reiss Masters was abducted by the Skrulls in an attempt to infiltrate and destroy the Fantastic Four. Alicia was replaced by the Skrull Lyja shortly before the first of the Beyonder's Secret Wars. When Ben Grimm did not return, Lyja changed tactics and pursued Johnny Storm, only to really fall in love with him. They married in Fantastic Four #300 shortly after Ben's return. Lyja was eventually exposed and Alicia was rescued. Since she was technically impersonating Alicia, Lyja's marriage to Johnny would normally become legally annulled, but it appears that the general public was never told of the impersonation and Johnny and the real Alicia simply got a divorce. After Johnny was believed killed by Onslaught, Lyja assumed a human form and has blended into America. She has not been heard from since.

• Are the "New" Fantastic Four considered members of the team?
  No. Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Hulk and Spider-Man were called in by a Skrull posing as Sue Richards. They were never placed on the Fantastic Four's payroll, nor were they asked to join by an active member.

• The Fantastic Four have a payroll?
  Yes. The Fantastic Four was incorporated "several months" before Fantastic Four #160 (possibly between issue #s 157 and 158). Reed Richards has traditionally been the chairman and was intially the principal stockholder. Since each founding member currently has an equal share, it can be assumed that Reed probably opted to divide them that way shortly after he bought back his portion from Interlocking Technologies. One of their charter's few specifically mentioned articles states that the group must maintain four super-powered members at all times. And, although no specific dollar amount has been given, each share-holder of the Fantastic Four, Inc. earns enough to rent a large, sky-lit apartment in Manhattan. Presumably, those who are only under the Fantastic Four's employ (i.e. Ant-Man, She-Hulk, etc.) earn a smaller amount.

• What's up with Nathaniel Richards?
  Nathaniel invented the first Marvel Universe time machine several years before Dr. Doom. He sent himself into an alternate future and was presumed dead by his son Reed. Reed discovered his error some years after he became Mr. Fantastic when the two were reunited in Nathaniel's alternate timeline. Although Nathaniel decided not to return at first, he later showed up to help teach Franklin how to use his powers by taking him to Elsewhen for several years of training. His methods and motives are generally very enigmatic, but he has proven to be an ally of the FF more often than not. Besides Reed, he has one son through his alternate timeline marriage and it has been suggested that Kristoff Vernard is his son from a brief romance with a Latverian gypsy. He views Huntara as his adpoted daughter.

• What's the deal with "Heroes Reborn"?
  Professor Xavier pyschically removed the evil from Magneto's mind. That evil harnessed Xavier's own power and abberrant thoughts and manifested itself as Onslaught, who sought to dominate the world by utilizing the powers of Nate Gray and Franklin Richards. The FF and the Avengers were able to defeat the villain by absorbing his essence into themselves. Normally this would have destroyed the heroes, but Franklin was able to transport all of the heroes into a world he created for them. There, they relived many of the early adventures before discovering their true home. The heroes returned with the help of Franklin the Celestial named Ashema. They seem to retain their memories from their time in the Franklinverse, but generally choose to ignore them.

• Didn't the FF have a movie or a cartoon or somthing?
  The FF have been used in several medium since their comic book debut. Hanna-Barbera produced a watered-down cartoon in 1967; The Marvel Comics Radio Series had a short run in 1975; NBC aired The New Fantastic Four with Herbie the Robot in 1978 and Fred and Barney Meet the Thing in 1979; and 1994 saw the production of an unreleased live action film by Roger Corman and the Marvel Action Hour, which continued through 1995. A new live action film is being considered, but it is still due to be released in summer 2005.