Fantastic Four Annual 6
“Let There Be … Life!”
Published Nov. 1968
Story: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Script: Lee
Pencils: Kirby
Inks: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Sam Rosen
Cover: Kirby and Sinnott

Synopsis

The story begins with Mr. Fantastic frantically looking for a way to save the Invisible Girl, who is about to give birth to their child, from the “cosmic radiation” that remains in her blood following the accident that gave the team its powers. Reed has determined that one element, found only in the Negative Zone, can save her, and as he prepares to enter the zone to retrieve it, the Thing and the Human Torch insist on joining him.

Once in the Negative Zone, Reed is attacked and captured by a Scavenger, a creature in the employ of Annihilus, an insect-like warlord. Eventually Ben and Johnny are also captured, and the three are sent to the arena, where they are subject to Annihilus’s torture devices. The team overcomes them, and Reed realizes Annihilus’s control rod, which he wears around his neck, contains the element he needs to save Sue.

Reed steals the control rod and the team escapes, only to be pursued by Annihilus and his minions. Eventually the trio reaches a zone where “space is transformed into antimatter” (last seen in issue 51) and where they are powerless. Trapped, they strike a deal with Annihilus, who returns their harnesses, which allow them to travel through the Negative Zone, in return for the control rod, (save for a small amount of the element within Reed keeps t save Sue).

The team returns to earth in time to deliver the element to the hospital, and after an anxious wait, find Sue has given birth to a healthy (unnamed) son.

What’s going on here?

This is a big issue, with a lot going on. Aside from some very notable first appearances, it’s just a great story, one of the best of Stan and Jack’s run. The stakes are high and there is genuine suspense, and even if Negative Zone science is a little peculiar, it all make sense. Jack’s art has never looked better, and the extra page count (it’s 48 pages of story) gives him room to stretch out, with six splash pages, including one double-page splash, just the second in his FF run to date.

This comics was voted the 38th best Fantastic Four story in a CBR poll, but I would argue it’s better than that, one of the best of the Lee / Kirby run.

While technically a King Size Special, this comic really functions as an annual, with its numbering consistent with other annuals. And it has all the elements of a great comic annual, with an exciting story anchored by a Big Event. Often it’s a wedding, but here it’s the birth of Franklin Richards.

Who’s the new guy?

The birth of Franklin Richards added a significant new dimension to the Fantastic Four. He helped solidify the family nature of the team, and was often playing with toys or getting underfoot in the Baxter Building. He also was often thrust into the hands of baby sitters—usually Alicia Masters or Agatha Harkness—and opened Reed and Sue up to accusations they were negligent parents (this became a story arc in J. Michael Straczynski’s run in the 2000s). After Dan Slott’s run sent Reed, Sue and their kids into space for six years, Franklin is now a surly teenager who inexplicably died his hair black (I suspect it’s to distinguish him from Johnny in group shots) and uses the horrible codename Powerhouse. Here he is mouthing off to his dad.

After it was revealed Franklin had mutant powers in FF 130, generations of Fantastic Four writers haven’t been able to resist tinkering with him in various ways, whether it’s him using his powers as a child, prematurely aging him, or introducing us to teenage or adult Franklins from the future or other dimensions (or both). Franklin has been depicted by so many writers and artists in so many different ways over the years it would be impossible to show them all, but here are some of the more noteworthy (or egregious) examples.

For a long time, this was Franklin’s basic look (I always loved the “4 1/2” sweatshirt). This is a John Byrne image, but not sure from where.

This is a pretty typical depiction of this era. Note Agatha Harkness.

Here he is prematurely aged:

Here’s an alternate future version of Franklin:

Another (short-lived) alternate future version, from the classic Days of Future Past

As a superhero in the future:

Enter the bad guy

The other major debut in FF Annual 6 is Annihilus, who becomes a top-tier Fantastic Four villain, maybe trailing only Doom as an FF bad guy. Almost every Negative Zone story features him in one way or another, and he was responsible for the apparent death of Johnny Storm in Johnathan Hickman’s run. Although I’m tempted to post his major appearances as well, I think I’ll just go with these great Kirby panels from this issue.

Reed Richards is a Jerk

I get that Reed is stressed, but jeez man, chill out.

It’s Clobberin’ Time

Of course it is.

The sexist sixties

Of course fathers aren’t allowed in the delivery room. That would be crazy!

Read all about it

Surely this is a HIPPA violation:

Weird science

That’s “Mr. All-Engulfing Sonic Sponge” to you.

Dig that Kirby Krackle


This issue is frankly a bit insane. Almost every other page has an example of over-the-top Kirby craziness, so I’m going to restrain myself to showing the very best examples. Hold on!

First up of course is this beauty:

More splash pages:

And some other amazing panels:

And some more:

And some more:

Really, I could go on. It’s a hell of an issue for Kirby fans.


Also on sale

August 1968 was a great month for comic covers. Here are a few more classics, from Carmine Infantino, Joe Kubert and Gene Colan:

Next issue: Crystal (finally) joins the team!