Fantastic Four 41
“The Brutal Betrayal of Ben Grimm”
Published: May 1965
Story: Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Vince Coletta
Letters: Sam Rosen or Art Simek
Cover: Kirby and Frank Giacoia

Synopsis

Continuing a new approach from Stan and Jack, Fantastic Four 41 picks up where FF 40 left off, and is the third consecutive issue to start this way. After Mr. Fantastic reverted Ben from his human form back into the Thing in order to defeat Dr. Doom, Ben, in the last panel of the previous issue, quits the team out of anger and frustration. FF 41 picks up with him leaving, even as the Human Torch beg him to reconsider. Exhausted after his battle with Doom, Ben collapses in the back of a pickup (“I dunno where this pickup is headed for .. but as long as its headed away from the Baxter Building it’s OK with me!”), and tumbles out on to a road in rural New Jersey. His sleeping form is then collected by the Frightful Four who—coincidentally!—are holed up in a house nearby. After much squabbling, the Frightful Four under the leadership of the Wizard manages to brainwash Ben.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team becomes worried and starts searching for Ben. After hearing he was spotted on a New Jersey road, the team investigates, and eventually comes to the house of the Frightful Four. The teams battle, and with the help of the Thing, the Frightful Four subdues the Fantastic Four. The issue ends with another cliff hanger, with the Frightful Four convincing the Thing to kill his former teammates.

What’s going on here?

This is an interesting issue, in part because it’s the opposite of the former standalone, one-and-done storytelling that pretty much dominated the first three years of the Fantastic Four. This is very much a serial narrative unfolding over multiple issues, centered on the Thing’s loyalties and identity. This isn’t the first time he’s wrestled between resenting Reed and the others for his monstrous form, and the sense of purpose and family he derives from the team—it was part of the first issue—but it’s the most developed exploration of the theme to date. And as we will see, it will return again and again.

The story is also notable for its treatment of Medusa. Stan and Jack are clearly intrigued with her as a character, and have fun with her as she banters and battles with her teammates. This issue spends almost as much time with the Frightful Four as it does with the Fantastic Four, and Medusa is at the center of it all. I don’t know if at this point they had planned for her to become a hero and queen of the Inhumans, but it seems obvious she was meant for greater things.

Incidentally, it’s never explained why she is wearing a mask. She doesn’t have a secret identity, so far as we know, and even if she did, I think the hair would be a giveaway. After bullying Sandman, they decided to hang out and play cards:

About those letters …

Who lettered FF 41? It’s either Artie Simek or Sam Rosen—between the two of them they lettered almost all of these early issues—but it’s not clear which one. While it’s not all that big a deal, the reason for the ambiguity is a bit mysterious.

The credits on the splash page of the version of FF 41 on Marvel Unlimited app are in the Krazy Kredits mode, and while it says Rosen is the letterer, Simek is mentioned:

But in the Marvel Essentials reprint from 2001, the credits are completely different (image taken by my phone camera), with no letterer listed:

What gives?

The Grand Comics Database and the Marvel Fandom wiki credits Rosen, but Mike’s Amazing World (usually my default for credits) doesn’t list either.

Unfortunately I don’t have the original issue, so I can’t check those credits. If anyone out there has it, I would love to know how it is credited. Also, I’m curious how the credits were treated in other reprints, like Marvel Masterworks, and the FF Omnibus (neither of which I have).

They’re fighting again

It’s been a few issues, but this time Ben is serious.

The sexist sixties

Even Medusa isn’t immune to Stan’s stereotyping of women.

Reed Richards is a jerk!

Plenty of sexism in these panels too, but Reed is really being awful.

Trapped

Once again, the FF are captured and each confined with a device to neutralize their powers. This is maybe the fourth or fifth time we’ve seen this device.

Don’t smoke, kids

How do we know ben is brainwashed? He’s smoking a cigar!

Ben obviously smokes lots of cigars in future issues. I don’t know if this is his first taste of them, but it would be a fun project to go back through the first 40 issues to check. Meanwhile, here’s a great image of Ben with a stogie by the great Barry Windsor-Smith.

Real estate woes

The FF may not get their damage deposit back.

Hot roddin’

With the Fantasticar out of action, it makes sense for the FF uses alternative means of transportation. Why this was their only option isn’t explained.

Dig that Kirby Krackle

Sort of a subdued issue from the King (maybe due to the Colletta inks?) but this is a cool panel:

Next issue: The showdown with the Frightful Four!