Fantastic Four Comic Book Prices
Value of Fantastic Four Comics
Whether Fantastic Four comic book prices shoot through the roof or fall to record lows, the title will always have the distinction of being the first Marvel comic to feature a superhero team. Noted for its “heroes with hang-ups,” the title was an immediate hit and paved the way for more collaborations between writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. In their capable hands, many of the most enduring (and top-selling) Marvel titles were born.
Since its creation, The Fantastic Four has been published continuously by Marvel and served as a platform for introducing some of the company’s most memorable villains (Dr. Doom, for example). The team has also enjoyed success in other areas, being the subject of multiple feature films and animated series, as well as video games and a 1975 radio show (featuring Bill Murray as the voice of the Human Torch).
This article will provide a brief overview of the core members of the Fantastic Four, as well as temporary additions to the roster. Then we’ll take a look at some of the more notable Fantastic Four comic book prices, especially those that may draw the attention of collectors.
The Fantastic Four Roster
While the Fantastic Four roster has changed on occasion, the four core members have always remained the same. These individuals all gained their powers while flying aboard an experimental rocket ship that was bombarded by cosmic rays. They include:
Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) – A brilliant scientist with the ability to stretch his body to great lengths. He is married to Sue Richards.
Invisible Woman (Sue Richards) – After being exposed to cosmic rays, Sue gained the ability to turn invisible, as well as later being able to manipulate force fields for a variety of uses. She is the wife of Reed Richards and the older sister of Johnny Storm.
The Thing (Ben Grimm) – The best friend and college roommate of Reed Richards, Ben Grimm was transformed into an orange-skinned creature with a rocky hide and massive levels of strength. Despite his gruff manner, he is often the comic relief of the team.
The Human Torch (Johnny Storm) – The younger brother of Sue Richards, Johnny has the ability to fly, burst into flame, and emit fiery blasts. A cocky hero who’s popular with the ladies, he’s the team’s resident hotshot.
Whenever a member of the core group has been presumed dead, another hero is always brought in to raise the number back to four. These additions have included: Spider-Man, She-Hulk, Black Panther, Storm, Ms. Marvel II, Power Man, and Medusa.
Fantastic Four Collection Prices
Considering the impact that the series had on the future of the industry, it’s no surprise that Fantastic Four collection prices continue to increase in value each year. If you’re ready to take your hobby to the next level, be sure to set your sights on some of the following titles.
Jack Kirby & Stan Lee
The two creative geniuses behind the Fantastic Four were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In addition to creating some of Marvel’s most well-known heroes, the duo are also credited with pioneering the “Marvel method.” In this creative process, the writer provides the artist with a basic synopsis of the story. The artist then draws the story, and the writer finishes up the process by adding dialogue and sound effects.
Stan Lee would write for the Fantastic Four continuously from the beginning of the series to issue #114. Jack Kirby, meanwhile, would last until #102. As you might have guessed, these titles make up the oldest and most valuable issues for those seeking to collect Fantastic Four comics.
In fact, a 9.4 graded copy of Fantastic Four #1 brought in one of the biggest hauls ever for a comic book being auctioned off. It was first sold in 2010 for $210,000, while the same book would change hands again in 2011 to the tune of $300,000. A 9.4 edition is currently valued at $80,000 by ComicsPriceGuide.com, proving that collectors are often willing to pay more than the price set by the experts.
Even a copy of Fantastic Four #1 in poor condition can put some coin into the pockets of collectors. A 5.0 copy is currently valued at $9,600, and a 3.0 edition sold in 2008 for a price of $3,000.
By issue #124, the estimated value of the comics falls into the $30 range. The first 20 issues created by Lee and Kirby are still bringing in the big bucks, however, with each of these titles being listed at a minimum of $1,000 for a 9.4 graded copy. If the names of Lee and Kirby appear inside the book, expect it to be worth something substantial.
Debuting Marvel Characters
A wide of Marvel characters made their debut in the pages of the Fantastic Four. If you enjoy collecting such appearances, here are some to add to your wish list (their current near mint values are included).
The Skrulls – Fantastic Four #2 – $10,000
Silver-Age Sub-Mariner – Fantastic Four #4 – $7,400
Dr. Doom – Fantastic Four #5 – $18,000 (though a copy sold for $47,977 in 2008)
Puppet Master and Alicia Masters – Fantastic Four #8 – $2,400
Mad Thinker – Fantastic Four #15 – $1,000
Frightful Four – Fantastic Four #36 – $400
The Inhumans – Fantastic Four #45 – $360
Black Panther – Fantastic Four #52 – $600 (a 9.4 copy sold for $2,150 in 2006)
Nathaniel Richards – Fantastic Four #273 – $4
There are other characters who made their first appearance in an issue of the Fantastic Four, but these are some of the more notable examples.
The Galactus Trilogy
Beginning with issue #48, Lee and Kirby started weaving the tale that’s since become known as the “Galactus trilogy.” In it, Earth is visited by Galactus, an immense being who must devour worlds in order to survive, and his reluctant herald, the Silver Surfer. This was the first appearance for both Galactus and the Silver Surfer, and issue #48 is valued at $1,400 in near mint condition. The other two issues in the trilogy (#49 and #50) are listed at $800 and $1,000, respectively.
The John Byrne Era
For six years during the 1980s, legendary comic book writer/artist John Byrne took control of the Fantastic Four. Many consider his run one of the best in the history of the series, and he introduced such changes as bringing in She-Hulk to replace The Thing, as well as having Sue Richards become more capable and take on the moniker of Invisible Woman instead of Invisible Girl.
Byrne’s run lasted from Fantastic Four #232 to #293 (although he had also provided art from issues #209 to #221). Issue 232 is listed at $8, while #293 only goes for $3. The rest of the issues during the John Byrne period range in value from $3 to $6.
The DeFalco Years
While some fans referred to him as “the Great Satan,” Tom DeFalco’s run on the title from issues 360 to 414 helped boost sales from 1992 to 1996. He “killed” Reed Richards and Doctor Doom for two years, canceled out the marriage between Johnny Storm and Alicia Masters, and even revealed that Mr. Fantastic was the half-brother of Kang the Conqueror. Almost all of these titles are valued at $3 in near mint condition, with the most expensive being a $5 variant white-covered newsstand edition of issue #371 (also known as #371a).
Ultimate Fantastic Four
Set in an alternate universe, the Ultimate Fantastic Four presented the characters as teenagers and aimed at capturing a younger audience. The series ran for five years and 60 issues. The two most valuable issues are as follows: The 50th issue with the white incentive variant cover is worth $50, while the 60th issues with the Ed McGuinness white variant cover is valued at $100.
All-New Fantastic Four
From issue #347 to #349, the regular roster of the Fantastic Four was replaced by Hulk, Wolverine, Spider-Man and Ghost Rider. While they sold like hotcakes and were worth considerable money when released, the first issue of this arc is now valued at $4. The other two are worth $3 apiece, indicating that the comic book boom of the 1990s is long over.
Future Foundation
In March of 2011, the series relaunched as FF, with the team changing their name to Future Foundation and adopting black-and-white costumes. This new series features Spider-Man as a member of the team, taking over for the supposedly dead Johnny Storm. While the first issue is only valued at $4, a number of variant covers have helped gain the interest of collectors. The most notable of these is FF #1F, a limited edition Marko Djurdjevic gatefold variant cover that’s valued at $100.
With more films and other diverse projects planned for the future, expect Fantastic Four comic book prices to continue to increase. Savvy collectors will already have these titles stored away in protective boxes, but there’s nothing stopping you from getting in on the action. You may also want to pick up some duplicate copies or buy collected editions in order to enjoy the stories.