John Byrne revitalised the Fantastic Four in the ’80s using a format he became known for in the years that followed. He begins by taking the team back to basics (paying homage to the Lee/Kirby era) and re-establishing their role in the Marvel Universe, while restoring some of their bigger enemies such as Doctor Doom and Galactus to greatness. In these iconic issues, the Thing briefly returns to his original lumpy form and finally finds a way to retain his humanity, Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Girl finally play up to their role as parents and the Human Torch starts to grow up when he loses his girlfriend to Galactus, but starts something new with the last person you’d expect! She-Hulk joins the team. And Doctor Doom features in some of his greatest stories of all time, with a rise and fall to rival both his past and future exploits. This is definitive Doom!
This reading order covers Byrne’s run from Fantastic Four #232-273 along with their additional appearances from this era – all in chronological order! The next chapter will conclude the rest of his run (up to and including #293) and explore the issues that followed.
I’ve also included the Thing’s solo adventures here, despite leaving the team at the end of the original SECRET WARS (1984-1985).
Must Reads: Story arcs marked with a ✔ are must-read stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
Chronology: Every appearance of the Fantastic Four from this period is included in chronological order, laying out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
Anthology Issues: When an issue contains multiple stories, the relevant story is denoted with square brackets. For example, [2/5] refers to the second story of the five stories in that issue, so you don’t need to read the other four.
Non-Members: The Thing’s solo adventures are also included, but are largely considered to be non-essential reading.
Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the core reading order without story descriptions, page-by-page breakdowns – just the stories:
- Fantastic Four #226-227
- Incredible Hulk Annual #11 [1/2]
- Marvel Two-in-One Annual #5
- Marvel Vault: The Incredible Hulk and the Human Torch #1
- Fantastic Four #228
- Marvel Two-in-One #75
- Amazing Spider-Man #215
- Marvel Two-in-One #76
- Fantastic Four #229
- Dazzler #3-5
- Marvel Two-in-One #77
- Avengers #209
- Marvel Two-in-One #78
- Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6
- Fantastic Four #232-233
- Marvel Two-in-One #79-80
- Fantastic Four #234-235
- Uncanny X-Men Annual #5
- Dazzler #9
- Fantastic Four Annual #16
- Rom #23
- Cage! (2016) #4
- Avengers #216
- Defenders #105
- Moon Knight (1980) #16 [1/2]
- Marvel Two-in-One #81-85
- Marvel Two-in-One #86
- Fantastic Four #236 [1/2]
- Fantastic Four #237
- Fantastic Four #238 [1/2]
- Marvel Graphic Novel #1 – The Death of Captain Marvel
- Fantastic Four #238 [2/2]
- Fantastic Four #239-243
- Spider-Girl (2011) #1 [2/2]
- Iron Man #159
- Fantastic Four #244-245
- Sensational She-Hulk #30
- Marvel Two-in-One #87
- Marvel Two-in-One #88
- Silver Surfer (1982) #1
- Marvel Fanfare #2 [2/2]
- Micronauts #40
- Fantastic Four #246-247
- Avengers #221
- Dazzler #18
- Marvel Two-in-One #89-90
- Dazzler #21
- Fantastic Four #248
- Marvel Team-Up #121
- Contest of Champions (1982) #1
- Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1 [2/2]
- Contest of Champions (1982) #2-3
- Incredible Hulk #277-279
- Marvel Two-in-One #91-93
- Marvel Two-in-One #94-95
- Fantastic Four #249-250
- Uncanny X-Men #167
- Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7
- Marvel Two-in-One #96
- Marvel Team-Up Annual #5
- Marvel Two-in-One #97-99
- Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16
- Avengers #227
- Marvel Two-in-One #100
- Marvel Fanfare #15 [1/2]
- The Thing (1983) #1
- Avengers Annual #12
- Fantastic Four #251-256
- Avengers #233
- The Thing (1983) #2
- Fantastic Four #257
- Fantastic Four Annual #17
- The Thing (1983) #3-5
- Marvel Tales #198 [2/2]
- The Thing (1983) #6
- Fantastic Four #258-259
- Tales of the Marvels: Blockbuster #1
- Fantastic Four #260
- Alpha Flight (1983) #3-4
- Fantastic Four #261-262
- Marvel Team-Up #132-133
- The Thing (1983) #7 [1/2]
- Marvel Fanfare #43 [2/2]
- Marvel Fanfare #24 [2/2]
- Moon Knight (1980) #35 [1/2]
- The Thing (1983) #7 [2/2]
- Incredible Hulk #293
- The Thing (1983) #8-9
- Amazing Spider-Man Annual #24 [3/4]
- Fantastic Four #263-264
- Dazzler #32
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #89
- The Thing (1983) #10
- Secret Wars (1984) #1-7
- Fantastic Four #265 [1/2]
- Secret Wars (1984) #8-12
- Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1, 3-4
- Fantastic Four #265 [2/2]
- The Thing (1983) #11
- Avengers #243
- Fantastic Four #266-268
- Code of Honor #3
- 1985 #6
- Incredible Hulk #300
- The Thing (1983) #12-13
- Avengers Annual #13
- The Thing #14
- Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2018) #1
- Fantastic Four Annual #18
- Fantastic Four (1997) #7
- Avengers #246
- Fantastic Four: 40th Wedding Anniversary Special #1
- Fantastic Four #269
- Avengers #247
- Fantastic Four #270
- Iron Man Legacy #6, 9-11
- The Thing #15
- Spider-Man/Human Torch #4
- Amazing Spider-Man #258
- Avengers #249
- Thor #350-352
- Code of Honor #4
- Thor #353
- Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #97
- Marvel Team-Up Annual #7 [2/2]
- Fantastic Four #271-273
- The Thing #16-18
- Marvel Team-Up #147-148
- Questprobe #3
- Amazing Spider-Man #259-260
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| Fantastic Four #226-227 (1981) The Fantastic Four assist the Shogun Warriors in their final mission, defeating the Samurai Destroyer robot; geologist Dr Gideon Carruthers calls upon the FF when he discovers alien Brain Parasites in Pennsylvania. | ||
| Incredible Hulk Annual #11 [1/2] (1982) Fantastic Four cameo; The FF are unable to help New York when they’re among the victims who fall prey to the Leader’s ‘Green Plague’. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One Annual #5 (1980) The Stranger calls on the Thing (Ben Grimm) and the Hulk for help when Pluto’s latest scheme threatens to send the universe into eternal darkness. | ||
| Marvel Vault: The Incredible Hulk and the Human Torch #1 (2011) The Wizard gains almost immeasurable magnetic powers and only the Hulk and the Human Torch (Johnny Storm) can stop him. | ||
| Fantastic Four #228 (1981) A fragment of Franklin Richards’ mutant powers transforms Franco Bernadi – Johnny Storm’s college rival – into the Ego-Spawn. | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #75 (1981) The Thing’s poker game with the Avengers is interrupted when Annihilus and Blastaar obtain the destructive power of the Super-Adaptoid and use it to cause untold chaos in the Negative Zone. | |
| Amazing Spider-Man #215 (1981) Spider-Man and Namor the Sub-Mariner call on Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) when the Frightful Four switch Spidey’s Spider-Sense over to the Namor. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One #76 (1981) The Thing takes a trip to the circus, only to discover it’s run by the Circus of Crime; fellow spectators Iceman and Giant-Man assist the Thing to end the Ringmaster’s latest scheme. 1st appearance: Fire-Eater/Tomás Ramirez | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #77 (pp.1-4) (1981) Nick Fury calls on the Thing’s skills as a pilot. | |
| Fantastic Four #229 (1981) The FF’s search for a missing NASA satellite inadvertently draws the attention of the dangerous time-lost alien Ebon Seeker who they battle alongside the Avengers; the FF encounter the being Stygorr, inhabitant of the Distortion Zone that exists between Earth and the Negative Zone. 1st appearance: Firefrost/Shareen, Xanth/Ebon Seeker | ||
| Dazzler #3-5 (1981) The Fantastic Four come to the aid of their new friend, the mutant Dazzler, when she’s kidnapped by Doctor Doom; the Human Torch and Dazzler share an attraction. 1st appearance: Blue Shield/Joey Cartelli, Paul Jansen | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #77 (pp.5-22) (1981) The Thing agrees to pilot Nick Fury’s experimental jet which crashes into a swamp and gives the Thing time to reflect on his time as a soldier during World War II; the Man-Thing aids the Thing against hunters who think they’re both alien invaders. | |
| Avengers #209 (1981) Mister Fantastic cameo; Mister Fantastic allows the Avengers use Doctor Doom’s Time Platform to find a way to resurrect the Beast’s girlfriend. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One #78 (pp.1-21) (1981) Xemnu the Titan manipulates Wonder Man into fighting the Thing when he visits the set of the TV show ‘Monster Man’ which is loosely based on Ben Grimm. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One Annual #6 (1981) The Thing, Wyatt Wingfoot and the American Eagle head to the Savage Land where they confront Klaw; Ka-Zar joins the fight asthe American Eagle seeks justice over Klaw’s destruction of the land belonging to his people. 1st appearance: American Eagle/Jason Strongbow | BEHOLD… GALACTUS! |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #232-233 (pp.1-21) (1981) Diablo returns, summoning the Elementals of Doom against the FF and Doctor Strange; the Human Torch clashes with Maggia boss Hammerhead. 1st appearance: Elementals of Doom (Air, Earth, Fire & Water) | |
| Marvel Two-in-One #79-80 (1981) The Thing helps Golden Age hero the Blue Diamond when Star-Dancer tries to claim him as her mate; the Thing has a run-in with the Ghost Rider. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #233 (p.22) (1981) Fantastic Four #234-235 (1981) The Fantastic Four head into space when the insane Ego the Living Planet causes earthquakes across planet Earth in his desperate search for Galactus. | |
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men Annual #5 (1981) The Badoon chase a Shi’ar scout to Earth and attack Arkon‘s world; the Fantastic Four and X-Men to join forces to save them both. | |
| Marvel Two-in-One #78 (p.22) (1981) The Thing learns a TV show has been made based on his clash with Xemnu the Titan. | ||
| Dazzler #9 (1981) Human Torch cameo; the Torch struggles to get hold of Dazzler to arrange a date, not realising she’s being experimented on by Project: PEGASUS. | BEHOLD… GALACTUS! | |
| Fantastic Four Annual #16 (1981) The Dragon Lord of the extradimensional Rammatpolen comes to Earth to turn Dragon Man into his steed; after an initial conflict, the Fantastic Four help Dragon Lord restore order to his world. | ||
| Rom #23 (1981) Fantastic Four cameo; the FF give Rom a spaceship so that he can return to his home planet Galador. | WRAITH, COLOR OR CREED | |
| Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel (pp.33-36) (1982) Mister Fantastic cameo; Mister Fantastic makes up part of a team desperately searching for a cure for Captain Marvel‘s cancer. | ||
| Cage! #4 (2017) Fantastic Four cameo; the Fantastic Four attend a surprise party for Luke Cage. | MARVEL NOW! | |
| Avengers #216 (1982) Fantastic Four cameo; the Avengers and the Silver Surfer are taken captive by the Molecule Man; the Fantastic Four desperately search for a way to rescue them. | ||
| Defenders #105 (1982) Mister Fantastic and the Defenders resume their search for the Resurrection Stone to restore the Beast’s girlfriend to life. | ||
| Moon Knight #16 [1/2] (1982) Thing cameo; the son of a police detective asks for the Thing’s help in tracking down Moon Knight. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One #81-85 (1981-1982) Namor the Sub-Mariner, Giant-Man and Captain America battle MODOK when he breaks into Project: PEGASUS and mutates the Thing; Alpha Flight and the Thing team up when the sorcerer Ranark is freed from magical imprisonment; the Thing clashes with the Atom Smasher while Spider-Woman cures Giant-Man of cancer at the cost of one of her super-powers. 1st appearance: Atom Smasher/Michael English, Ranark the Ravager | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #86 (1982) The Thing convinces the Sandman to go straight; Franklin Richards and the Fantastic Four meet the Impossible Man‘s children. 1st appearance: Impossible Kids |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #236 [1/2] (1981) Fantastic Four #237 (1981) Fantastic Four #238 [1/2] (1982) The Fantastic Four wake up as the residents of Liddleville, initially unaware they’ve fallen victim to one of Doctor Doom and the Puppet Master’s strangest plots, yet; the FF meet the alien Spinnerette when she finds herself trapped on Earth; Frankie Raye discovers her super-human flame powers and learns her true origin. 1st appearance: Julie Angel/Juliette D’Angelo, Liddleville | |
| Marvel Graphic Novel #1: The Death of Captain Marvel (pp.37-62) (1982) The Fantastic Four are among the heroes paying their respects to Captain Marvel before he dies. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #238 [2/2] (1982) Fantastic Four #239-241 (1982) Mister Fantastic creates the robot HUBERT to act as Franklin’s babysitter, as well as Roberta, the FF’s robotic receptionist; an experiment to restore the Thing to human form regresses him to his original, lumpy form; Frankie Raye gets closer to the Human Torch and assists the FF against the imp-like Friends; Maximus the Mad allies with the Enclave in an assault on Attilan – the Inhumans‘ hidden city in the Himalayas; Attilan is relocated to the Blue Area of the Moon to save the Inhumans from the pollution on Earth; the FF assist the Black Panther when the strange Emperor Gaius Tiberius moves against Wakanda. 1st appearance: HUBERT/Hyper-Ultronic Brain Employing Randomized Tracings, Roberta, Luna Maximoff (unnamed), the Friends | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #242-243 (1982) Fantastic Four #244 (pp.1-17) (1982) Terrax the Tamer uses the Fantastic Four as pawns against Galactus; the Avengers, FF and Doctor Strange try to save Galactus’ life; Frankie Raye offers to become Galactus’ new Herald; Galactus transforms Frankie into Nova and returns to the stars. New identity: Frankie Raye as Nova | BEHOLD… GALACTUS! |
| Spider-Girl #1 [2/2] (2011) Young Anya Corazon meets the Fantastic Four. | ||
| Iron Man #159 (1982) Fantastic Four cameo; the fate of Diablo after his recent clash with the FF is revealed. | ||
| Fantastic Four #244 (pp.18-22) (1982) Mister Fantastic buys the Baxter Building. | BEHOLD… GALACTUS! | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #245 (1982) The Invisible Girl (Sue Richards) is the last member of the FF standing when Avatar attacks; Avatar’s connection to Franklin Richards is revealed; Avatar returns the Thing to his rocky form; Reed realises the Thing’s inability to return to human form is psychological, but doesn’t tell him. 1st appearance: Avatar, Sharon Sellick | |
| Sensational She-Hulk #30 (1991) Mister Fantastic cameo; Reed Richards is temporarily pulled forward in time by Isbisa. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One #87 (1982) Ant-Man and the Thing battle the Lizard Men of Tok in the Microverse. | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #88 (1982) The Thing first meets the She-Hulk when Negator threatens to blow up a nuclear reactor. | |
| Silver Surfer #1 (1982) The Fantastic Four help the Silver Surfer break through Galactus barrier and leave Earth, though he ultimately sacrifices his freedom in order to restore his homeworld Zenn-La. | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Fanfare #2 [2/2] (1982) Mister Fantastic single-handedly faces Annihilus when he escapes from the Negative Zone. | |
| Micronauts #40 (1982) The Thing, Franklin Richards and the Micronauts deal with an Antron invasion; the Thing sends the Micronauts in Doctor Doom’s direction. | TOO MANY DOOMS |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #246-247 (1982) Doctor Doom escapes Liddleville and receives unexpected help from the Fantastic Four in reclaiming Latveria from Zorba Fortunov; Doom takes in the orphaned Kristoff Vernard as his ward. 1st appearance: Kristoff Vernard | TOO MANY DOOMS |
| ✔ | Avengers #221 (1982) The Wasp offers the Invisible Girl and other female heroes membership in the Avengers; the candidates defend Avengers Mansion from the Mecho-Marauder; the Invisible Girl ultimately turns down the offer. | |
| Dazzler #18 (1982) Mister Fantastic gives Dazzler a Walkman that boosts her powers, just in time for her fight with the Absorbing Man. | ||
| Marvel Two-in-One #89-90 (1982) Nick Fury sends the Thing and the Human Torch to investigate Ultima and her Cult of the Word; Spider-Man and the Thing get caught up in an ongoing feud between the sorcerers Sardeth and Solomus. | ||
| Dazzler #21 (1982) Fantastic Four cameo; the FF are among the heroes who attend a Dazzler concert. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #248 (1982) The Fantastic Four head to Attilan to celebrate the naming of Crystal and Quicksilver‘s daughter; the Inhumans and the FF are besieged by waking nightmares. New identity: Quicksilver and Crystal’s baby as Luna | |
| Marvel Team-Up #121 (1982) The son of the villain Leap-Frog takes on his father’s costumed identity and attempts to become a hero; Leap-Frog, Spider-Man and the Human Torch reluctantly team up against Speed Demon; Leap-Frog renames himself Frog-Man. 1st appearance: Leap-Frog/Frog-Man/Eugene Patilio | ||
| Contest of Champions #1 (1982) Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1 [2/2] (2015) Contest of Champions #2-3 (1982) The Fantastic Four are among the costumed heroes who are forced to take part in the Contest of Champions; the Thing’s team win the fight in the City of the Dead; the Invisible Girl discovers the ‘unknown’ competitor is Death. 1st appearance: Blitzkrieg/Franz Mittelstaedt, Collective Man (ChangTao-Yu, Han Tao-Yu, Ho Tao-Yu, Lin Tao-Yu, Sun Tao-Yu), Defensor/Gabriel Sepulveda, Peregrine/Alain Racine, Shamrock/Molly Fitzgerald, Talisman | ||
| Incredible Hulk #277-279 (1982-1983) The Fantastic Four are among the heroes who celebrate when the Hulk is pardoned following his triumph against the U-Foes. | ||
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #91-93 (1982) The Thing faces the Sphinx who aims to restore the Ka Stone; the Thing, Machine Man and Jocasta battle Ultron. | |
| Marvel Two-in-One #94-95 (1982-1983) The Thing, Power Man and Iron Fist are manipulated into fighting each other by a computer game company; the Thing helps the Living Mummy wrap up his centuries-long war with Nephrus. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #249-250 (1982-1983) The Skrulls trick Guardian of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard into trying to kill the Fantastic Four. | THE BROOD SAGA |
| ✔ | Uncanny X-Men #167 (1983) Fantastic Four cameo; Lilandra, Empress of the Shi’ar, warns the Fantastic Four that they will pay for their crime of saving Galactus’ life. | THE BROOD SAGA |
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7 (1982) Marvel Two-in-One #96 (1983) The Thing is among the strongest super-humans selected to battle the Champion in Madison Square Garden; the Mad Thinker sends an army of villains to kill the Thing while he recovers in hospital. 1st appearance: Champion of the Universe/Tryco Slatterus | CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up Annual #5 (1982) Quasar is possessed by the Serpent Crown; the Thing, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and the Scarlet Witch head to Project PEGASUS to free Quasar and stop the demon Set from entering the Earthly plane. | |
| Marvel Two-in-One #97-99 (1983) The Thing and Iron Man face rampaging ‘dinosaurs’ on a film set; the Thing defends Earth from alien invaders; the Thing and Rom join forces to battle Dire Wraiths. | ||
| Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16 (1982) Avengers #227 (1983) The Thing meets the new Captain Marvel; Reed & Sue Richards express their concerns to the Wasp over continuing her role as Avengers Chairman while her husband Hank Pym is about to stand trial. 1st appearance: Captain Marvel/Monica Rambeau | CALL HER… CAPTAIN MARVEL! | |
| ✔ | Marvel Two-in-One #100 (1983) The Thing is reunited with Ben Grimm of Earth-7940; the two Grimms face that world’s Red Skull. | |
| ✔ | Marvel Fanfare #15 [1/2] (1984) The Human Torch plays his most elaborate April Fool’s Day gag on the Thing, yet. | |
| ✔ | The Thing #1 (1983) Ben Grimm recalls life with his family before he became the Thing. | |
| ✔ | Avengers Annual #12 (1983) The Avengers and Fantastic Four defend the Inhumans’ right to live on the moon; when Black Bolt appears to go mad, the two teams seek the truth. | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #251-255 (1983) Fantastic Four #256 (pp.1-20) (1983) Fantastic Four #256 (pp.21-22) / Avengers #233 (1983) Thing #2 (pp.1-21) (1983) The Fantastic Four journey into the Negative Zone, unaware that Annihilus has escaped and entered the Baxter Building, taking Franklin Richards and Alicia Masters prisoner; the Fantastic Four encounter Ootah, the Kestorans and the deadly Taranith Gestal; the Fantastic Four and Avengers battle Annihilus from either side of the Negative Zone portal; the FF’s uniforms take on a new colour scheme; Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Girl decide to give Franklin a normal life. | ANNIHILATION GAMBIT |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #257 (pp.1-15) (1983) Thing #2 (p.22) / Fantastic Four #257 (p.16) (1983) Fantastic Four #257 (pp.16-20) (1983) Galactus consumes Tarnax IV, the Skrull throneworld; the Human Torch gets his own apartment; Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman announce their plans to move to the suburbs; Sue Richards is revealed to be pregnant again. | ANNIHILATION GAMBIT THE TRIAL OF REED RICHARDS |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four Annual #17 (1983) The Fantastic Four learn the fate of the Skrulls that were transformed into cows when they’re called to King’s Crossing in Vermont; the Skrull cows’ milk is revealed to have given the citizens shape-changing powers. | |
| ✔ | The Thing #3-5 (1983) Quicksilver tries to find a way to give his human daughter, Luna Maximoff, superhuman powers against Crystal’s wishes; Crystal turns to the Thing for help, but his interference lands him in trouble with the Inhumans; Lockjaw is revealed to be an Inhuman rather than just a dog; the Puppet Master escapes Liddleville and uses Wonder Man, She-Hulk and Spider-Man as pawns against the Thing. | |
| Marvel Tales #198 [2/2] (1987) The Puppet Master takes control of the Thing and sends him rampaging through Manhattan and straight into Spider-Man. | ||
| ✔ | The Thing #6 (1983) The Thing fights to break free from the Puppet Master’s control, but at a huge cost to the city. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #257 (pp.21-22) (1983) Fantastic Four #258 (1983) Fantastic Four #259 (pp.1-11) (1983) Doctor Doom prepares Kristoff Vernard to become his successor; Doom grants cosmic powers to Tyros the Terrible – the former Terrax the Tamer – and sends him to kill the Fantastic Four, attracting the attention of the Silver Surfer. | THE TRIAL OF REED RICHARDS |
| Tales of the Marvels: Blockbuster #1 (pp.1-11) (1995) The impact of the Silver Surfer’s battle with Tyros is felt by the citizens of Manhattan. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #259 (pp.11-22) (1983) Fantastic Four #260 (1983) Alpha Flight #3-4 (1983) Fantastic Four #261-262 (1983-1984) Doom’s plan backfires when the Silver Surfer deals with Tyros; Doom’s body is caught in the crossfire; Namor the Sub-Mariner calls on the Invisible Girl to help him rescue Marrina from the Master of the World; the Fantastic Four are reunited when Mister Fantastic stands trial before the Galactic Council for saving Galactus’ life. 1st appearance: Norman McArthur, Galactic Council New identity: Vindicator/James Hudson as Guardian | THE TRIAL OF REED RICHARDS |
| ✔ | Marvel Team-Up #132-133 (1983) Everyman and Doctor Faustus use the Absorboscann to steal Mister Fantastic ‘s intellect; Mister Fantastic and Spider-Man fight Faustus’ robotic versions of the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom. | |
| The Thing #7 [1/2] (1984) The Thing faces surreal bank robber Goody Two-Shoes. | ||
| Marvel Fanfare #43 [2/2] (1989) The Fantastic Four apprehend a gang of armed robbers. | ||
| Marvel Fanfare #24 [2/2] (1986) Thing cameo; Carol Danvers attends one of the Thing’s poker nights where she meets the new Captain Marvel and learns Mar-Vell is dead. | ||
| Moon Knight #35 [1/2] (1984) Fantastic Four cameo; the FF and X-Men assist Moon Knight against Bola. | ||
| The Thing #7 [2/2] (1984) The Thing learns Marvel Comics embellished his recent clash with Goody Two-Shoes to make the story more interesting. | ||
| ✔ | Incredible Hulk #293 (1984) Fantastic Four cameo; Mister Fantastic allows Dr Bruce Banner to use his equipment at the Baxter Building to investigate mysterious waves of energy from beyond the stars. | |
| The Thing #8-9 (1984) The Thing struggles being the only member of the Fantastic Four living in the Baxter Building; the Thing’s body is briefly possessed by a 4000 year-old Egyptian slave warrior. | ||
| Amazing Spider-Man Annual #24 [3/4] (1990) The Thing offers encouragement to the Sandman to stay on the straight and narrow. | THE CHOICE | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #263-264 (1984) The Thing and the Mole Man seek out the Human Torch when he’s kidnapped by self-proclaimed messiah Alden Maas; Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Girl continue to live under the guise of ‘Mr & Mrs Benjamin’ in Connecticut; Mister Fantastic continues to investigate the waves of energy recently discovered by Bruce Banner. | |
| Dazzler #32 (1984) Mister Fantastic cameo; Dazzler and the Inhumans hand the defeated Blackout and Moonstone over to Mister Fantastic to be incarcerated at Project: PEGASUS. | ||
| Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #89 (1984) Fantastic Four cameo; the desperate Black Cat asks the Fantastic Four to give her superpowers so that she can be Spider-Man’s equal | SECRET WARS |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| ✔ | Thing #10 (1984) Secret Wars #1-7 (1984) Fantastic Four #265 [1/2] (1984) Secret Wars #8-11 (1984-1985) Secret Wars #12 (pp.1-2) (1985) The Thing breaks up with Alicia Masters; Mister Fantastic, the Human Torch and the Thing investigate a strange structure in Central Park and soon find themselves transported to Battleworld to fight alongside the Avengers, X-Men and others against a variety of costumed villains, including Doctor Doom and Galactus. 1st appearance: Beyonder, Spider-Woman/Julia Carpenter, Titania/Mary MacPherran, Volcana/Marsha Rosenberg, Alien Costume/Symbiote/Klyntar, Battleworld | SECRET WARS |
| Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #1, 3 (2015) Fantastic Four cameo; Deadpool is the only survivor following Doom’s final attack. | ||
| ✔ | Secret Wars #12 (pp.3-24) (1985) The heroes stage their final assault on the Tower of Doom. | SECRET WARS |
| Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #4 (pp.8-9) (2015) Fantastic Four cameo; the FF fight Klaw’s monsters alongside Deadpool. | ||
| ✔ | Secret Wars #12 (pp.25-40) (1985) The heroes claim their victory. | SECRET WARS |
| Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars #4 (p.18) (2015) Fantastic Four cameo; Mister Fantastic gathers everyone in preparation to return home. | ||
| ✔ | Secret Wars #12 (pp.40-42) (1985) Fantastic Four #265 [2/2] (1985) The Thing decides to remain on Battleworld while the She-Hulk takes his place on the Fantastic Four when Mister Fantastic and the Torch return to Earth. 1st appearance: ‘Alicia Masters’/Lyja, the Omnivore (unnamed) | SECRET WARS |
| The Thing #11 (1984) Ben Grimm explores Battleworld, largely remaining in human form and encountering other alien species. 1st appearance: Llrrllllnnllyyrrl, Takers | ||
| Avengers #243 (1984) She-Hulk checks in with the Avengers and explains she’s also a member of the Fantastic Four, now. | SECRET WARS WRAITH WAR | |
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #266-268 (1984) Alicia Masters recalls the Invisible Girl and the Thing’s recent clash with Karisma; Reed Richards calls in Dr Bruce Banner, Dr Michael Morbius, Dr Walter Langkowski (Sasquatch) and even Doctor Octopus when Sue Richards experiences difficulties during the delivery of their baby; Doctor Doom’s mask – the only part of him that survived the battle with Terrax – springs to life and escapes the Baxter Building. 1st appearance: Alma Chalmers, Karisma/Mary Brown | |
| Code of Honor #3 (1997) Fantastic Four cameo; the citizens of New York celebrate the return of the heroes. | ||
| 1985 #6 (2008) Mister Fantastic and Human Torch cameo – the Thing appears in error; the heroes of Earth-616 rise up to oppose the super-villains escaping to Earth-1219. | ||
| ✔ | Incredible Hulk #300 (1984) The Human Torch is among the heroes trying to contain the Hulk’s mindless rampage through New York; Doctor Strange sends the Hulk to the other-dimensional Crossroads. 1st appearance: Crossroads | |
| The Thing #12-13 (1984) Ben Grimm meets his perfect woman Tarianna and fights Hanrak to win her favour; the Thing and Tarianna join forces to battle the Wizard (an oversized version of Doctor Doom). 1st appearance: Tarianna | ||
| ✔ | Avengers Annual #13 (1984) She-Hulk and Mister Fantastic assist the Avengers against Arnim Zola‘s Hulk Duplicates. | |
| The Thing #14 (1984) The Thing and Tarianna get caught in a feud between two alien races. | ||
| Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (2018) Mister Fantastic cameo; Spider-Man’s Symbiote breaks away and pretends to be him, intervening in Hammerhead’s latest Maggia scheme. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four Annual #18 (1984) The Fantastic Four attend Black Bolt and Medusa’s wedding and discover a long-running battle between a Kree and a Skrull soldier on the moon. | |
| Fantastic Four #7 (1997) Invisible Woman cameo; he Invisible Girl takes Franklin Richards for a walk in the park, unaware that her future self is watching. |
| Must Reads | Title, Synopsis & First Appearances | Event/Crossover |
| Avengers #246 (1984) She-Hulk attends Sersi‘s party which comes under attack from the rogue band of Eternals known as the Delphan Brothers. 1st appearance: Frank Rambeau, Maria Rambeau | ||
| Fantastic Four: 40th Wedding Anniversary Special #1 (2006) Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman celebrate their wedding anniversary with their past and future selves. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #269 (pp.1-12) (1984) The Fantastic Four witness a beam of energy firing into the Hudson River. | |
| Avengers #247 (1984) She-Hulk contacts the Vision and Scarlet Witch to tell them Starfox has been kidnapped. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #269 (pp.13-22) (1984) Fantastic Four #270 (1984) She-Hulk meets Wyatt Wingfoot for the first time; the Fantastic Four are confronted by the gigantic Terminus. 1st appearance: Terminus, Zundamites | |
| ✔ | Iron Man Legacy #6, 9-11 (2010-2011) Mister Fantastic Four and the rest of the Illuminati take on the secret cabal of super-villains called the Pride. | |
| The Thing #15 (1984) The Thing and Tarianna encounter Gruhl of Shalfbut in Battleworld’s equivalent of Yancy Street. | ||
| ✔ | Spider-Man/Human Torch #4 (2005) The Human Torch flirts with the Black Cat, upsetting Spider-Man. | |
| ✔ | Amazing Spider-Man #258 (1984) Spider-Man’s alien costume is first revealed to be a Symbiote; Mister Fantastic and the Human Torch help Spider-Man learn the truth about his costume; the costume is contained in the Baxter Building; the Human Torch creates an embarrassing replacement costume for Spider-Man. 1st appearance: Spider-Man/Peter Parker as the Bombastic Bag-Man | THE ALIEN COSTUME SAGA THE SURTUR SAGA |
| Avengers #249 (1984) Thor #350-352 (1985) The Fantastic Four are among the heroes defending New York from Surtur‘s demonic invaders. | THE SURTUR SAGA | |
| Code of Honor #4 (1997) Human Torch cameo; the Torch battle demons on the streets. | ||
| Thor #353 (1985) She-Hulk cameo; She-Hulk helps defeat the last of Surtur’s demons. | THE SURTUR SAGA | |
| Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #97 (1984) Mister Fantastic and Human Torch cameo; the Symbiote tries to trick the FF into releasing it. | TIL DEATH DO US PART | |
| Marvel Team-Up Annual #7 [2/2] (1984) Human Torch cameo; a couple watch liver coverage of the Human Torch and Black Panther’s clash with the Crimson Dynamo. | ||
| ✔ | Fantastic Four #271-273 (1984) Flashbacks reveal young Reed Richards defending Earth from the alien Gormuu; the Fantastic Four travel to Other Earth (Earth-6311) to rescue Mister Fantastic’s father, Nathaniel Richards, from his ex-wife, the Warlord. 1st appearance: Nathaniel Richards | |
| The Thing #16-18 (1984) A mysterious cowled man pits the Thing against the Things, tricks him into attacking Tarriana and attempts to claim the child Juneyar. 1st appearance: Grimm the Sorcerer | ||
| Marvel Team-Up #147-148 (1984) Thor, Spider-Man, the Human Torch and Thor team up against cult leader the Black Abbott. | ||
| Questprobe #3 (1985) The Chief Examiner materialises in the Baxter Building and puts the Human Torch and She-Hulk through their paces to test the Torch’s powers; the Chief Examiner then heads to Battleworld to test the Thing. | ||
| Amazing Spider-Man #259-260 (1984-1985) Fantastic Four and Franklin Richards cameo; She-Hulk and Mister Fantastic discuss Spider-Man’s Symbiote costume; Franklin Richards senses animosity from the Symbiote. | TIL DEATH DO US PART |
| Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| What If? #15 (1990) EARTH-907 – Mister Fantastic is executed by the Galactic Council for saving Galactus‘ life; the rest of the Fantastic Four destroy the Shi’ar throneworld in retaliation, but sacrifice themselves to prevent Earth from being dragged into an interplanetary war. |
| What If? #109 (1998) EARTH-989 – Ben Grimm decides to stay in Liddleville to live out a ‘normal’ life, taking his leave of the Fantastic Four. |
| What If #36 [1/2] (1982) EARTH-8212 – Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm never gain superhuman powers, but still go on to become adventurers; Reed Richards’ Rocket Group encounter the Mole Man and Giganto in their first adventure. |
| Title, Issue Number & Synopsis |
| What If? #114 (1998) EARTH-9811 – Unable to return to Earth after the ‘Secret Wars’, the heroes remained trapped on Battleworld; years later, the kids of the heroes fight on, including Firefly, the son of the Wasp and Human Torch. |
| What If?: Secret Wars #1 [1/2] (2008) EARTH-90251 – Doctor Doom wins the Secret Wars and goes on to claim the Infinity Gauntlet. |
| What If? #30 [1/2] (1991) EARTH-91111 – Sue Richards gives birth to her second child, Suzy Richards; Suzy is pure evil and kills the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom. |
| What If? #30 [1/2] (1991) EARTH-91112 – Sue Richards’ second child Mary Richards grows up to be a mutant activist and is seen as a threat by Henry Peter Gyrich who tries to assassinate her. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four vol.20 | Fantastic Four #219-231 Fantastic Four Annual #15 |
| Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-in-One vol.7 | Marvel Two-in-One #75-82 Marvel Two-in-One Annual #5-7 |
| Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus vol.1 | Avengers #233 Fantastic Four #209-218, 220-221, 232-260 Fantastic Four Annual #17 Marvel Team-Up #61-62 Marvel Two-in-One #50 Thing #2 |
| Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus vol.2 | Alpha Flight #4 Avengers Annual 14 Epic Illustrated #26-34 [part] Fantastic Four #261-295 Fantastic Four Annual #18-19 Thing #7, 10, 19 What If #36 [part] What The–?! #2, 10 [part] |
| Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Back to the Basics (vol.13) | Fantastic Four #232-248 Fantastic Four Roast #1 What If? (1977) #36 [part] |
| Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne vol.1-5 | Avengers #233 Fantastic Four #232-265 Fantastic Four Annual #17-18 Thing #2, 10, 19 |
| Spider-Man/Human Torch | Spider-Man/Human Torch #1-5 |
| Thing Omnibus | Fantastic Four #274, 277, 296 Marvel Fanfare #15 [part] Marvel Graphic Novel #29 – The Incredible Hulk and the Thing: The Big Change Marvel Super-Heroes Spring Special #5 Marvel Tales #198 [part] Questprobe #3 Secret Wars II #7 Thing #1-36 West Coast Avengers #10 |
| Thing Classic vol.1 | Thing #1-10 |
| Secret Wars | Secret Wars #1-12 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Alpha Flight by John Byrne Omnibus | Alpha Flight #3-4 Marvel Two-in-One #83-84 |
| Amazing Spider-Man: Saga of the Alien Costume Amazing Spider-Man: The Complete Alien Costume Saga vol.1 Spider-Man: Birth of Venom Spider-Man: The Complete Black Costume Saga Omnibus Spider-Man: The Road to Venom Spider-Man vs Venom Omnibus Venom Epic Collection: Symbiosis (vol.1) | Amazing Spider-Man #258 |
| Avengers: Absolute Vision vol.1-2 | Avengers Annual #12-13 |
| Avengers: I am an Avenger vol.1 (2010) | Avengers #221 |
| Fantastic Four/Spider-Man Classic | Marvel Team-Up #132-133 |
| Incredible Hulk: Regression | Incredible Hulk #293, 300 |
| Incredible Hulk Epic Collection: Crossroads (vol.13) | Incredible Hulk #300 |
| Iron Man: Industrial Revolution | Iron Man Legacy #6, 9-11 |
| New Mutants Classic vol.1 New Mutants Epic Collection: Renewal (vol.1) New Mutants Omnibus vol.1 Uncanny X-Men Epic Collection: The Brood Saga (vol.9) Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol.3 X-Men: Starjammers by Dave Cockrum | Uncanny X-Men #167 |
| Savage She-Hulk Omnibus | Marvel Two-in-One #88 |
| Spider-Man: Saga of the Sandman | Marvel Two-in-One #86 |
| Rom: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus vol.2 | Marvel Two-in-One #99 |
| Secret Wars Battleworld Box Set | Fantastic Four #277, 282, 285, 288 Secret Wars II #2, 5-7, 9 Thing #10-22, 30 |
| Uncanny X-Men Epic Collection: I, Magneto (vol.8) Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol.2 | Uncanny X-Men Annual #5 |
Reading Order ©OmniverseComicsGuide 2023
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