Essential Fantastic Four #1

In "The Fantastic Four Fight Back!", the team stages a daring infiltration of the Skrull mothership, disguising themselves as enemy spies. Using clever misdirection and a mix of old comic clippings from Strange Tales and Journey Into Mystery, Mr. Fantastic tries to convince the Skrulls that Earth’s defenses are stronger than they seem.

In "Chapter 5 Return to the Deep!" from Essential Fantastic Four #1, the Thing storms into Giganto’s domain with a bomb, setting off a dramatic showdown. As the Human Torch sends both Giganto and the Sub-Mariner retreating into the sea, the Atlantean warrior vows, “I’ll be back!” — leaving the fate of the deep unsettled.

In "Part 2 Back to the Past!" from Essential Fantastic Four #1, Doctor Doom traps the Fantastic Four in his American castle stronghold and sends the Torch, the Thing, and Mr. Fantastic back in time to steal Blackbeard’s legendary treasure—leaving Reed, Ben, and Johnny to face the dangers of the past while the rest of the team remains in Doom’s clutches.

In "The Hands of the Puppet Maker Part 2," the Puppet Master manipulates the Thing into serving him, trapping the Invisible Girl while sending her and Alicia Masters on a dangerous mission to infiltrate the Baxter Building. With tension rising and loyalties in question, the team’s home becomes the battleground for a psychological and physical siege.

In "The Lady and the Monster! Part 3," the Thing, still under the Puppet Master's control, is unexpectedly transformed back into his true self—Ben Grimm—after a dose of one of Mister Fantastic's experimental potions. The moment is brief but powerful, as the monstrous form flickers, revealing the man beneath.

In "Face-to-face with the Puppet Master! Part 4," the Puppet Master orchestrates a daring jailbreak not for freedom, but to demonstrate his power. When Invisible Girl sends out a distress call, the full force of the Fantastic Four converges—forcing the Puppet Master to retreat, but not before proving he’s still one step ahead.

In "The Return of Doctor Doom!" from Essential Fantastic Four #1, the tyrant returns from an unexpected journey through space, only to confront the legends who created him—Jack Kirby and Stan Lee—seeking to manipulate them into setting a trap for the Fantastic Four. With his usual blend of cunning and menace, Doom uses the creators' own history against them, turning the past into a weapon for the present.

In "Part 2 Back from the Dead!" from Essential Fantastic Four #1, Doctor Doom recounts his return to Earth with the aid of the mysterious Ovoids, then uses their technology to swap bodies with Mr. Fantastic—leaving the future of the Fantastic Four uncertain.

In "Part 2 Mission: Stop the Hulk!" from Essential Fantastic Four #1, the Fantastic Four convene at their New Mexico base for a critical briefing, where they meet Bruce Banner and his assistant Karl Kort to strategize against the rampaging Hulk. With tension high and the stakes clear, the team must find a way to contain the Hulk before he causes irreversible damage.

In this pulpy, high-stakes showdown from Essential Fantastic Four #1, Reed Richards races to secure the Blue Area of the Moon just as the Red Ghost, ever the scheming provocateur, unleashes his bizarre trio of super-apes—trained to pilot a stolen spacecraft and seize lunar territory for the communist empire. The fate of the moon hangs in the balance as the Fantastic Four face off against a villain whose ambitions are as wild as his methods.

In "Part 2 Menace on the Moon!" from Essential Fantastic Four #1, the Fantastic Four find themselves in orbit when their ship intercepts a distress signal from Ivan Kragoff—only to discover the sinister scientist has somehow linked up with a group of apes wielding unexpected powers. As they prepare to land on the moon, the team braces for a confrontation that could change everything.

In this pivotal three-page installment from Essential Fantastic Four #1, the Watcher descends upon the battlefield between the Fantastic Four and the Red Ghost, revealing the origins of his cosmic vow and the reason he must remain neutral in their conflict. His presence adds weight to the moment, as he speaks not as a warrior, but as a witness to the grand design of the universe.

The Fantastic Four Battle the Mad Thinker and His Awesome Android sees the Mad Thinker manipulating New York’s criminal underworld, pitting gang leaders against one another in a bid to claim the city’s throne. With the team distracted by tempting offers tailored to each member’s desires, he seizes the chance to transform the Baxter Building into a fortress and construct his fearsome Awesome Android.

In "Prisoners of the Pharoah! [sic]," the Fantastic Four journey back to Ancient Egypt in a desperate bid to find a cure for Alicia's blindness, only to be captured by Rama-Tut, a mysterious time-traveling ruler claiming dominion over the past.