Top 10 Facts About The Fantastic Four 2005

#10: Sue Storm Was Originally the Invisible Girl

As one of Marvels most popular and iconic female heroes, Susan Storms legacy as the Invisible Woman needs no introduction. However, thats actually not the moniker she debuted in. During the Fantastic Fours initial run in the comics, Sue acted under the name The Invisible Girl. And when we say initial run, we actually mean twenty full years. Thats a third of The Fantastic Fours history! It wasnt until Sue had a nasty run-in with a mind-controlling villain that she finally shed her old name, and matured into the hero we know her as today: The Invisible Woman.

#9: The Fantastic Four Movie You Never Saw

Even if youre a diehard cinephile, theres one superhero film you probably havent seen. Mainly because it was never released. After purchasing the film rights to The Fantastic Four in the 80s, low-budget filmmakers Roger Corman and Bernd Eichinger finally put the movie into production in 1992. And then they waited. And waited. And waited some more. The release date never came, with many theorizing the two only made the movie to retain their rights to the characters. It would certainly explain the. dubious quality. Pirated copies have circulated the web for years, but thats as close to an official release as this bizarre B-movie has ever seen.

#8: Alter Egos, Begone!

At a time when most superhero comics followed a very familiar handbook, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee decided to buck all conventions with this foursome. Rather than spandex-clad vigilantes, the Fantastic Four were bonafide celebrities. They didnt wear masks, bickered like real people, and were arguably just as famous for their brains as their powers. These small but noteworthy details paved the way for a whole new kind of superhero storytelling. One where the super-suits werent as important as the people wearing them. Based on the teams long-lasting appeal, its safe to say abandoning alter-egos was a fantastic choice.

#7: The Future Foundation Storyline

Nothing shakes up the status quo like new suits and a new roster! Dissatisfied with the state of the world, Mister Fantastic takes it upon himself to rebrand the team into a high-tech, charitable organization. Its name? The Future Foundation. Sue, Reed, and Ben all get major upgrades, and Johnny Well, Johnnys dead. As part of his dying wish, the friendly neighborhood web-head takes his place to round out the team. So does Doctor Doom, but thats a whole other can of worms. The Future Foundation rebuilt everything people thought they knew about The Fantastic Four, and remains one of the most notable sagas in the teams modern history.

#6: Sue & Reed Have Superpowered Offspring

Sue and Reed. Reed and Sue. Their romance is written in comic history for a reason, and so, it only makes sense they have a pair of superpowered twerps. What isnt as expected is that Franklin and Valeria are uber-strong. Like, strong enough to make Galactus himself sweat. While Valerias only superpower is her fathers brains, Franklin has the ability to unravel all of reality. As a matter of fact, hes often ranked as one of Marvels most powerful beings - and thats counting Gods and cosmic beings! Forget the supervillains, raising a kid like that is the biggest challenge Sue and Reed will ever face.

#5: A Revolving Roster

Across all of the Fantastic Fours mainstream appearances, the line-up has remained incredibly consistent. Youve got the Invisible Woman, Mister Fantastic, The Human Torch, and The Thing. The comics, however, are a very different story. As strange as it is to hear, theres been more than four members of the team on multiple occasions. The most notable recruits include Spider-Man, Hulk, Ant-Man, Storm, Black Panther, and so many more! Occasionally, they even butt out mainstays like Sue and Reed. While the core four are still the most iconic, dont be surprised when you open a Fantastic Four comic and see a very different team inside.

#4: They Introduced Some of Marvels Biggest Characters

The Fantastic Four arent just legendary on their own. They're legendary because of how much they brought to Marvel canon. So many of the brands biggest characters and storylines branched out of the First Familys comics. The teams cosmic origins opened the door to Galactus, the Inhumans, the Skrulls, and later, Black Panther, who would go on to become comics first major black superhero. Thats without even mentioning the teams frequent run-ins with The Avengers! If the Fantastic Four hadnt been so popular, we wouldnt have just lost Sue, Reed, Ben, and Johnny. We wouldve missed out on a whole new era of Marvel comics altogether.

#3: The Human Torch Predates the Fantastic Four

Johnny Storm may be Sues younger brother, but the Human Torch has been around a whole lot longer. While Mister Fantastic, The Invisible Woman, and The Thing were all created specifically for the Fantastic Four, John Hammond spent decades scorching comic pages as The Human Torch. Alongside Captain America and Namor, the pyrotechnic android was considered one of Marvels biggest draws. Ironically, though, his popularity burned bright and fast, which later allowed for a new hero to carry the torch. Pun intended. Even though Johnny Storm wasnt the first to Flame On!, theres no denying he brings the heat.

#2: The Fantastic Four Were Created by Copying DCs Homework

They dont call these guys Marvels First Family for nothing. Until this foursome came along, most heroes were lone wolves with an occasional team-up. But, after seeing high sales for DCs Justice Society of America, Marvel decided to try their own hand at a superpowered group. Thus, the Fantastic Four were born! As it turned out, quadrupling the lead characters also quadrupled the success. The Fantastic Four was a smash-hit, and despite the challenges of balancing so many characters, it emboldened Marvel into greenlighting even more ambitious crossovers. You may have heard of them - The Avengers. Who ever said cheaters never prosper?

#1: They Saved Stan Lees Career at Marvel

As you may have picked up on, The Fantastic Four reinvented a lot of what defined Marvel comics at the time.The very same things that Stan Lee was growing tired of. Hed been in the world of comics for two decades at the time, and was about to retire from the medium when The Fantastic Four burst onto shelves. It was fresh, it was relatable, and it was so much fun to write, it kept Lee aboard the comic-train well into the 90s. Whenever you think about all Stan Lee brought to the Marvel universe, just remember, you have the Fantastic Four to thank for a lot of it.

Did we miss any fantastic facts? Let us know in the comments below!