Marvel Comics has introduced a retroactive twist to one of the most famous images in comic book history. In Fantastic Four #15, the team discovers they were actually present during the events of their 1963 debut, watching the action from a nearby rooftop.
The rooftop observers in Fantastic Four #15
The latest issue of Fantastic Four, written by Ryan North with art by Edgar Delgado, Humberto Ramos, and Joe Caramagna, fundamentally alters the reader's perspective on the team's origin. As the report states, the team is sent through time by the mystical villain Nicholas Scratch, leading them to witness their own history. In a clever meta-textual nod, the characters realize they were standing on a nearby rooftop during the battle against Giganto in the original Fantastic Four #1 issue.
The brilliance of this reveal lies in how it utilizes the original 1963 layout.. The report notes that the rooftop where the team stood was conveniently obscured by the large text boxes on Jack Kirby's iconic cover, effectively "saving" that space for the characters for over six decades.
Nicholas Scratch and the mechanics of the time-travel reveal
The narrative engine driving this revelation is a confrontation with Nicholas Scratch, who sends the team careening through different eras. During this voyage, the Fantastic Four witness several monumental milestones, including the arrival of Galactus and the tragic death of the Human Torch in the Negative Zone.
According to the report, the issue also introduces Clarina Canady, an eighteenth-century servant girl who eventually becomes a scientist. Her role is pivotal, as she is the one who manages to send the team back to the present to face the "Feral Four" and defeeat Scratch .
A 65-year legacy from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
This storyline serves as a major milestone for Marvel , marking the 65th anniversary of the "First Family." The original 1963 run by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby is credited with kicking off the official continuity of the modern Marvel Universe, even though characters like Captain America and Namor existed previously.
By weaving the modern team into the very fabric of their debut, Marvel is celebrating the enduring impact of the Kirby and Lee era. The move transforms a static piece of pop culture history into a dynamic, ongoing part of the current Marvel continuity.
Hidden figures in the "65 Years of Comic Covers" collection
While the reveal in Fantastic Four #15 is a major moment, it leaves several intriguing possibilities and questions unanswered. The report mentions the publication of Fantastic Four: 65 Years of the World's Greatest Comic Covers #1, a collection of artwork from the team's entire career.
This raises a few specific questions for fans: Could other iconic covers in this collection also be hiding the "invisible" modern-day Fantastic Four? Does the "invisibility" mechanic used in this issue apply to every instance of the team traveling through time, or was this a unique occurrence? Finally, while the source suggests the team was watching, it remains unverified if other modern Marvel heroes were also present in the background of these classic moments.
Comments 0