On November 1961, a page of comic book history was written when the Fantastic Four comic debuted. The first issue was an unexpected success, and the public simply fell in love with the First Family. It played a massive role in making Marvel the company we know, launching and influencing the superhero comics in a new direction.
Traditionally, the Fantastic Four are Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), scientific genius and leader; Susan “Sue” Storm (Invisible Woman), Reed’s partner and co-leader; Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), Sue’s little brother; and Ben Grimm (The Thing), pilot and best friend. They all gained superpowers following exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space.
The Fantastic Four are maybe the most famous superheroes in the Marvel Universe, as they chose to become celebrities instead of hiding their real identities from the public.
If the name of the team implies they are only four members, the roster of the famous ‘family’ has changed several times, and sometimes, other characters have been members. Crystal, Medusa (from the Inhumans), She-Hulk, Ant-Man (Scott Lang), Storm and Black Panther, and even Spider-Man have been at some point or other members of the team.
They fought and stop more than once the Supreme Leader Doctor Doom but also had several encounters with Galactus, Ronan the Accuser, Namor, Silver Surfer, the Mole Man, the Frightful Four, and more. They worked with the Avengers, the X-Men, and other Marvel superheroes to save the world.
This most emblematic team has lived a lot, and it’s time to explore those adventures with a Fantastic Four reading order!
Fantastic Four Comics Reading Order
Notes on collections: Marvel Masterworks is a collection of hardcover reprints of classic stories in chronological order. A premium edition with restored artwork. Since 2021, Marvel started the Mighty Marvel Masterworks, a new (smaller in size) trade paperback line. The Epic Collection line is a numbered collection of sequential issues of one title (large, full-color trade paperback), sometimes including crossovers from related titles, starting from the beginning of a character – not released sequentially.
Fantastic Four Reading Order: The FF-Menu
- Fantastic Four, from 1961 to 1996
- Heroes Reborn (aka Fantastic Four Vol. 2)
- Fantastic Four: Heroes Return, from 1998 to 2002
- Fantastic Four by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo, from 2002 to 2005
- Marvel Knights 4, from 2001 to 2006
- Fantastic Four by J. Michael Straczynski, Dwayne McDuffie, and Mark Millar, from 2004 to 2009
- Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four, from 2009 to 2012
- Marvel Now Fantastic Four by Matt Fraction, from 2012 to 2014
- Fantastic Four Vol. 5 by James Robinson, 2014-2015
- All-New All-Different Fantastic Four, from 2015 to 2018
- Fantastic Four are back in Marvel Fresh Start, from 2018 to present
Fantastic Four Omnibus Collection
Collecting the Fantastic Four series is a massive endeavor as there are so many books, but Marvel’s Omnibus Collection offers a shortcut with multiple big volumes. The collection is ongoing and not complete for now. You’ll find more details about the series with the detailed reading orders below.
- Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 1
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #1-30, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #1. - Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #31-60, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #2-4. - Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 3
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #61-93, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #5-7, material from Not Brand Echh (1967) #5-7. - Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 4
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #94-125, Fantastic Four: The Lost Adventure (2008) #1, material from Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #8-9. - Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 5
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #126-163, Giant-Size Super-Stars #1, Giant-Size Fantastic Four (1974) #2-4, and Avengers (1963) #127.
- Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus, Vol. 1
Collects Marvel Team-Up (1972) 61-62; Marvel Two-in-One (1974) 50; Fantastic Four (1961) 209-218, 220-221, 232-260; Fantastic Four Annual (1963) 17; Avengers (1963) 233; Thing (1983) #2 - Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus, Vol. 2
Collects Fantastic Four #261–295; Fantastic Four Annual #18–19; Alpha Flight #4; The Thing #7, 10 and 19; The Avengers Annual #14; material from Secret Wars II #2; Epic Illustrated #26–34; What If…? #36; What The–?! #2 and 10; Fantastic Four Roast #1; and Fantastic Four Special Edition - The Thing Omnibus
Collects Thing (1983) #1-36; Fantastic Four (1961) #274, 277, 296; Secret Wars II (1985) #7; West Coast Avengers (1985) #10; Questprobe (1984) #3; Marvel Tales (1964) #198; Marvel Graphic Novel: Hulk & Thing – The Big Change (1987); material from Marvel Fanfare (1982) #15, Marvel Super-Heroes (1990) #5. - Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Omnibus
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #60-70, #500-524 and #500 Director’s Cut. - Fantastic Four by Millar & Hitch Omnibus
Collects Fantastic Four #554–569, Annual #32, Fantastic Force #1-4, Marvel 1985 #1. - Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Vol. 1
Collects Dark Reign: Fantastic Four (2009) #1-5, Fantastic Four (1998) #570-588, FF (2011) #1-5, material from Dark Reign: The Cabal One-Shot (2009). - Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects FF (2011) #6-23; Fantastic Four (2012) #600-611, 605.1. - Fantastic Four By Matt Fraction Omnibus
Collects Fantastic Four (2012) 1-16 & 5AU, FF (2012) 1-16; and material from Marvel Now! Point One
Fantastic Four, from 1961 to 1996
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the first volume of Fantastic Four went from 1961 to 1996, as the series was canceled with issue #416 (Sept. 1996). During that time, the FF learned to use their powers and dealt with their loss and regain, split up more than once, were joined by other members, had a lot of team-ups, tackled invasions from outer space, and much more! During that time, spin-offs and miniseries were also created.
Notes: For now, the first part of the reading order is built around The Fantastic Four Masterworks collection as it is the most complete concerning the main FF series. You’ll find later in the guide listings for the Fantastic Four Epic Collection–those ones also collect stories published in other series and are more affordable.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 1
Collects The Fantastic Four #1–10. Also in the Mighty Marvel Masterworks collection - The 2006 miniseries Fantastic Four: First Family takes place during the first issue.
- The 2006 miniseries Fantastic Four: Books of Doom occurs prior to FF#5.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 2
Collects The Fantastic Four #11–20, Annual #1. Also in the Mighty Marvel Masterworks collection
The Fantastic Four were so popular that the next logical step was to launch a spin-off. So The young Human Torch became the star of his own series in the pages of Strange Tales. As Marvel informs us, after a hot streak of solo stories, the Torch was joined by the Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing, and the two teammates tackled some of the wildest ne’er-do-wells of the Silver Age: the Wizard, the Sandman, the Rabble Rouser, Plantman and the one and only Paste-Pot Pete! Also features Marvel’s first fire and ice battle between the Torch and the X-Men’s Iceman and guest stars Spider-Man, Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman and a Famous Foursome named John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Those stories take place between FF#14 and FF #44.
- Human Torch And The Thing: Strange Tales The Complete Collection
Collects Strange Tales #101-134, Strange Tales Annual #2.
Those stories were also collected in Marvel Masterworks: The Human Torch Volume 1 and Volume 2.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 3
Collects The Fantastic Four #21–30. Also in the Mighty Marvel Masterworks collection - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 4
Collects The Fantastic Four #31–40, Annual #2. Also in the Mighty Marvel Masterworks collection - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 5
Collects The Fantastic Four #41–50, Annual #3. “The Coming of Galactus!” is part of our selection of Best Marvel Comic Books to Read. - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 6
Collects The Fantastic Four #51–60, Annual #4. First appearance of the Negative Zone! - Fantastic Four: Full Circle by Alex Ross is a sequel to This Man… This Monster! (FF #51)
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 7
Collects The Fantastic Four #61–71, Annual #5. - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 8
Collects The Fantastic Four #72–81, Annual #6.
Crystal from the Inhumans joins the team in issue #81, during Sue’s leave of absence.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 9
Collects The Fantastic Four #82–93, Annual #7. - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 10
Collects The Fantastic Four #94–104. - Fantastic Four: The World’s Greatest Comics Magazine
Collects Fantastic Four: The World’s Greatest Comics Magazine #1-12. Published in 2001-2002, this miniseries is a tribute to the Silver Age’s FF, told as if Stan Lee and Jack Kirby didn’t leave the title.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s run on the FF came to an end around here, after more than 100 issues. Kirby left Marvel in the mid-70s and Lee stopped writing comic books in 1972 to be a publisher. His last issue on FF was #125. Roy Thomas, Gerry Conway, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman became regular writers, working with artists John Romita Sr., John Buscema, Rich Buckler, and George Pérez.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 11
Collects The Fantastic Four #105–116.
Crystal leaves the team in FF #105.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 12
Collects The Fantastic Four #117–128. - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 13
Collects The Fantastic Four #129–141.
Invisible Girl leaves the group in #130, Medusa takes her place in the line-up in #132.
After The Human Torch, it’s time for The Thing to have his own series, Marvel Two-in-One. This is a Team-Up book where Ben Grimm is teaming up with a different character in each issue, such as Moon Knight, Adam Warlock, Scarlet Witch, The Guardians of The Galaxy, The Inhumans, She-Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man. It lasted 100 issues and the title is right now released in the Masterworks line:
- Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-In-One Volume 1
Collects Marvel Feature #11-12, Marvel Two-In-One #1-10. Also collected in: - Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-In-One Volume 2
Collects Marvel Two-In-One #11-20, Annual #1, Marvel Team-Up #47, Fantastic Four Annual #11 - Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-In-One Volume 3
Collects Marvel Two-In-One #21-36. Also collected in: - Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-In-One Volume 4
Collects Marvel Two-In-One #37-46, Annual #2-3, Avengers Annual #7 - Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-In-One Volume 5
Collects Marvel Two-In-One #47-60, Annual #4 - Marvel Masterworks: Marvel Two-In-One Volume 6
Collects Marvel Two-In-One #61-74
Marvel also started collected the series in Epic Collection:
- Marvel Two-In-One Epic Collection Volume 1: Cry Monster
Collects Marvel Feature (1971) #11-12, Marvel Two-in-One (1974) #1-19; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #47 - Marvel Two-in-One Epic Collection: Two Against Hydra
Collects Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #20, #22-36 and Annual #1; and Fantastic Four Annual #11)
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 14
Collects The Fantastic Four #142–150, Giant-Size Super-Stars #1, Giant-Size Fantastic Four #2, The Avengers #127. - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 15
Collects The Fantastic Four #151–163.
Medusa leaves the group in #159 and returns to the Inhumans. Also in #159, Invisible Girl is back on the team as a full member.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 16
Collects Fantastic Four #164–175, Fantastic Four Annual #11, Marvel Two-In-One #20, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #1.
Luke Cage is hired by Mr Fantastic to be a member in FF #168. He stayed only three issues.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 17
Collects Fantastic Four #176–191. - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 18
Collects Fantastic Four #192–203, Fantastic Four Annual #12–13.
The Fantastic Four Epic Collection
As announced earlier, the Fantastic Four Epic Collection is not complete yet and it’s harder to organize a reading order around it. However, they are for most the preferred way to read the stories as the books go beyond the FF main series. Here are the ones available up to that point:
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine
Collects Fantastic Four #1–18. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Master Plan of Doctor Doom
Collects Fantastic Four #19–32, Annual #1–2. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Coming of Galactus
Collects Fantastic Four #33–51, Annual #3. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Mystery of the Black Panther
Collects Fantastic Four #52–67, Annual #4–5 and material from Not Brand Echh #1, 5. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Name is Doom
Collects Fantastic Four #68-87, Annual #6 and material from Not Brand Echh #6-7.
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection: At War with Atlantis
Collects Fantastic Four #88-104, Annual #7; Fantastic Four: The Lost Adventure #1. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Battle of the Behemoths
Collects Fantastic Four #105-125. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Annihilus Revealed
Collects Fantastic Four #126-146; Giant-Size Super-Stars #1. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Crusader Syndrome
Collects Fantastic Four #147-167; Giant-Size Fantastic Four #2-4; Avengers #127. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Counter-Earth Must Die
Collects Fantastic Four #168–191, Annual #11; Marvel Two-in-One #20, Annual #1.
The next Fantastic Four Epic Collection books available come after John Byrne’s run on the series.
John Byrne joined the FF as an artist with issue #209, before writing his first story with #220-221. At the time, it was supposed to be a promotional comic for Coca-Cola but was rejected as too violent. John Byrne’s run as writer, penciler, and inker began with issue #232. He revitalized the title, before leaving in the middle of a storyline, with issue #292 being his last.
Note: These Fantastic Four by John Byrne stories are also collected in the omnibus collection.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 19
Collects Fantastic Four #204–218, Fantastic Four Annual #14. Also collected in: - Fantastic Four: In Search of Galactus
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 20
Collects Fantastic Four #219–231, Fantastic Four Annual #15. - The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 21
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #232-240, Annual (1963) #16; Fantastic Four Roast (1982) #1. Also collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries – John Byrne, Vol. 1.
From issue #239, a longtime ally of the team, Frankie Raye (later Nova) aids the team as another Human Torch before leaving at FF #244.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 22
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #241-250; What If? (1977) #36; Silver Surfer (1982) #1; Marvel Fanfare (1982) #2. Also collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries – John Byrne, Vol. 2.
After #248, The Fantastic Four are forced to be part of the Marvel Super Hero Contest Of Champions, the first Marvel event miniseries.
It’s Ben Grimm – the ever-lovin’, blue-eyed Thing – on his own for the first time, in his solo series, simply titled The Thing! As John Byrne wrote the first 22 issues, the title runs alongside the FF. Afterward, Mike Carlin took over as the main writer for the rest of the series. The whole series will be soon available in Omnibus form!
- The Thing Omnibus
Collects Thing (1983) #1-36; Fantastic Four (1961) #274, 277, 296; Secret Wars II (1985) #7; West Coast Avengers (1985) #10; Questprobe (1984) #3; Marvel Tales (1964) #198; Marvel Graphic Novel: Hulk & Thing – The Big Change (1987); material from Marvel Fanfare (1982) #15, Marvel Super-Heroes (1990) #5.
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 23
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #251-257, Annual (1964) #17; Avengers (1963) #233; Thing (1983) #2; material from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (1983). Also collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries – John Byrne, Vol. 3. - Check out Thing Classic Vol. 1 (Collects Thing (1983) #1-10)
- The Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 24
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) 258-268, Alpha Flight (1983) 4, Thing (1983) 10; material from Thing (1983) 7, Marvel Fanfare (1982) 15, Fantastic Four Special Edition (1984) 1. Also collected in Fantastic Four Visionaries – John Byrne, Vol. 4.
Secret Wars! Takes place between #264 & #265. Marvel Universe’s greatest heroes and villains are set against one another by the mysterious and all-powerful Beyonder. It’s a 12-issue miniseries collected in Secret Wars Omnibus.
Following this event, She-Hulk officially joins the Fantastic Four as Ben’s replacement.
- Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 25
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #269-277, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #18, Thing (1983) #19, 23, material from Epic Illustrated (1980) #26-34. - Thing Classic Vol. 2
Collects Thing (1983) #11-22 and Fantastic Four (1961) #274. - Fantastic Four Masterworks Vol. 26
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #278-285 and Annual #19, Avengers Annual #14, Marvel Graphic Novel #18: The Sensational She-Hulk and material from Secret Wars II #2.
Secret Wars II! #282, #285, #288 And #316-319 are part of the Secret Wars II crossover event. See the reading order to know more about it.
For now, the Masterworks Collection stops here. The Fantastic Four Visionaries collection continues before the Epic line takes over for the last part of this volume.
- Fantastic Four Visionaries – John Byrne, Vol. 7
Collects The Avengers (1963) #263 & Annual 14, Fantastic Four (1961) #285-286 & Annual 19, and X-Factor (1986) #1. - Fantastic Four Visionaries – John Byrne, Vol. 8
Collects Fantastic Four #287-295
From here to the end of the first volume of The Fantastic Four, everything has been collected in the Fantastic Four Epic Collection.
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection: All in the Family
Collects The Fantastic Four #291–307, Annual #20, The Fantastic Four vs. the X-Men #1-4
In issue #305, Crystal returns to the FF to take the place of Sue and Reed for a time, as they take a leave of absence. And in issue #306, Ms. Marvel (alias Sharon Ventura) joins the FF–she leaves the group in issue #354.
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The More Things Change…
Collects The Fantastic Four #308-320, Annual #21, The Incredible Hulk #350, Marvel Graphic Novel: Hulk/Thing: The Big Change - Fantastic Four Epic Collection The Dream is Dead
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) 321-333, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #22, Marvel Graphic Novel: Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom – Triumph and Torment (1989).
Fantastic Four (1961) #322-324 are also collected in X-Men: Inferno Omnibus as part of this X-Men event.
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Into the Time Stream
Collects The Fantastic Four #334-346, Fantastic Four Annual #23; material from New Mutants Annual #6, X-Factor Annual #5, X-Men Annual #14 - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The New Fantastic Four
Collects The Fantastic Four #347-361, Fantastic Four Annual #24; material from Marvel Holiday Special #1. - New Fantastic Four: Hell in a Handbasket
Collects New Fantastic Four #1-5. A 2022 story by Peter David that taking place after the first adventures of the New FF (Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Wolverine, The Hulk) in FF #347-349. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: This Flame, This Fury
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #362-376, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #25-26, Adventures of the Thing (1992) #3. - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Nobody Gets Out Alive
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #377-392, Fantastic Four Annual (1963) #27, Namor the Sub-Mariner (1990) #47-48, Fantastic Four Ashcan Edition (1994) #1.
Ant-Man (Scott Lang) is part of the team during FF #384-408 (then acts as a supporting player until issue #416) and Lyja (Alicia Masters) joins the team for a short stint, from #403 to #408.
The new series Fantastic Force started around here and lasted 18 issues.
Only #7-9 have been collected at this date in the trade below:
- Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Atlantis Rising
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #393-402, Fantastic Force (1994) #7-9, Fantastic Four: Atlantis Rising (1995) #1-2, and Fantastic Four: Atlantis Rising Collector’s Preview (1995) #1. Also collected in… Fantastic Four/Inhumans: Atlantis Rising (Namor the Sub-Mariner #60–62, FF: Atlantis Rising #1–2, Fantastic Force (1994) #8–9, FF #401–402, FF Unlimited #11) - Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Strange Days
Collects The Fantastic Four #403–416, Fantastic Four: The Legend, Onslaught: Marvel Universe; material from Tales of the Marvel Universe
Onslaught! Fantastic Four #414-416 are part of this Marvel event, leading us to a new Marvel era…
- X-Men / Avengers: Onslaught Omnibus
Collects Wolverine #104-105; Cable #32-36; Uncanny X-Men #333-337; X-Force #55, #57-58; X-Man #15-19; X-Men (vol. 2) #53-57, Annual ’96; X-Men Unlimited #11; Onslaught: X-Men, Marvel Universe, Epilogue; Avengers #401-402; Fantastic Four #415; Incredible Hulk #444-445; X-Factor #125-126; Amazing Spider-Man #415; Green Goblin #12; Spider-Man #72; Iron Man #332; Punisher #11; Thor #502; X-Men: Road to Onslaught #1; material from Excalibur #100, Fantastic Four #416.
Heroes Reborn (aka Fantastic Four Vol. 2)
With the Onslaught Saga (see full reading order for more details), the Marvel Universe was… changed. Following the apparent deaths of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and Doctor Doom, Marvel asked the Image Comics founder to come back to relaunch their heroes. This led to the Heroes Reborn era.
Here is the official synopsis: Marvel’s greatest heroes, revamped and reborn! Featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, the FF, and more — on a whole new world, boldly reimagined by the hottest creators of the 1990s! Steve Rogers takes on the mantle of the Sentinel of Liberty, gains a brand-new sidekick, and faces down the Red Skull! Cap, Hawkeye, Vision, Swordsman, Hellcat, and more form the Avengers, but can they awaken Thor and defeat the devious Loki? The Fantastic Four face old threats for the first time, from the Mole Man to Doctor Doom! The newly forged Iron Man takes on Hydra and the incredible Hulk! But can these reborn heroes save the Earth from the hunger of Galactus?
- Heroes Reborn: The Original Epic Omnibus
Collects Heroes Reborn (1996) 1/2, Captain America (1996) #1-12, Avengers (1996) #1-12, Fantastic Four (1996) #1-12, Iron Man (1996) #1-12, material from Incredible Hulk (1968) #450. - Heroes Reborn: Fantastic Four (Only The Fantastic Four material)
Collects Heroes Reborn: Fantastic Four #1-12. - Heroes Reborn: The Return
Collects Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4; Heroes Reborn: Doomsday, Ashema, Masters Of Evil, Rebel, Remnants, Young Allies And Doom.
Fantastic Four: Heroes Return, from 1998 to 2002
Like other Marvel heroes, The Fantastic Four make their return to the Marvel Universe — with Scott Lobdell, Chris Claremont, Alan Davis and Salvador Larroca! And old enemies lie in wait, including the Mole Man, the Red Ghost, the Trapster, Ronan the Accuser, the Frightful Four, Terminus and Crucible!
- Fantastic Four: Heroes Return – The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects Fantastic Four vol. 3 #1–15, 1/2; Fantastic Four Annual ’98; Iron Man #14 - Fantastic Four: Heroes Return – The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects Fantastic Four vol. 3 #16-32; Fantastic Four Annuals 1999-2000.
- Galactus the Devourer
Collects Galactus the Devourer #1-6. After FF #23. - Domination Factor: Fantastic Four#1-4
Not collected. After Galactus the Devourer. - Fantastic Four: Heroes Return – The Complete Collection Vol. 3
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #33-45, Fantastic 4th Voyage of Sinbad (2001) #1, Inhumans (2000) #1-4 - Fantastic Four: Heroes Return – The Complete Collection Vol. 4
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #46-59, Fantastic Four Annual 2001, Thing & She-Hulk: The Long Night (2002) #1 - The Thing: Freakshow
Collects Thing: Freakshow #1-4, Thing & She-Hulk: The Long Night. Between FF #56 & 57.
Fantastic Four by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo, from 2002 to 2005
You can always count on Mark Waid to give you a great modern entry point for new readers! And his run with Mike Wieringo on Fantastic Four (part of our 25 Best Marvel Comics to read) is no exception to the rule! Learn more about the First Family and their enemies in a run full of fun and adventures.
Waid & Wieringo’s run is collected in omnibus.
- Fantastic Four, Vol. 1: Imaginauts
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #56, 60-66. - Fantastic Four, Vol. 2: Unthinkable
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #67-70, 500-502. And, we’re back to the legacy numbering with #500! - Johnny Storm is the star of a new series, collected in Human Torch by Karl Kesel & Skottie Young: The Complete Collection
- Startling Stories: The Thing – Night Falls on Yancy Street (2003) #1-4 is available on Kindle
- Fantastic Four, Vol. 3: Authoritative Action
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #503-508. - Fantastic Four, Vol. 4: Hereafter
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #509-513. - Fantastic Four, Vol. 5: Disassembled
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #514-519. - Fantastic Four, Vol. 6: Rising Storm
Collects Fantastic Four (1997) #60-66, Avengers (1963) #400. - Robert Kirkman takes an interest in FF foes in Fantastic Four: Foes.
- Fantastic Four: Antithesis is another Mark Waid story, illustrated by Neal Adams, and published in 2020. It takes place after his original run and the last issues occur after Avengers Disassembled, but there are continuity errors.
Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Ultimate Collection
Quite popular, Waid & Wieringo’s Fantastic Four run has been collected in an Ultimate Collection.
- Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Ultimate Collection, Book 1
Collects Fantastic Four (1997) #60-66, Avengers (1963) #400. - Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Ultimate Collection, Book 2
Collects Fantastic Four (1997) #67-70, #500-502. - Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Ultimate Collection, Book 3
Collects Fantastic Four (1997) #503-513. - Fantastic Four by Waid & Wieringo Ultimate Collection, Book 4
Collects Fantastic Four (1961) #514-524.
Marvel Knights 4, from 2001 to 2006
Launched in 1998, the Marvel Knights Imprint featured standalone material set within the Marvel Universe (Earth-616). Despite that fact, the first Fantastic Four story published under this label in 2001 is considered out of continuity. But we’re still putting it here, as it is Grant Morrison’s take on the First Family, putting them through hell during four issues.
- Marvel Knights Fantastic Four by Morrison & Lee: 1234
Collects Fantastic Four: 1234 #1-4 And Material From Marvel Knights Double-Shot #2. out of continuity miniseries.
Published between 2004 and 2006, Marvel Knights 4 was published concurrently with the primary Fantastic Four series, with writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Steve McNiven telling different stories with the First Family. The first twelve issues take place between FF #516 and #517.
- Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 1: Wolf at the Door
Collects Marvel Knights 4 #1–7 - Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 2: The Stuff of Nightmares
Collects Marvel Knights 4 #8–12
Those next issues occur between FF #526 and #527…
- Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 3: Divine Time
Collects Marvel Knights 4 #13–18 - Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 4: Impossible Things Happen Every Day
Collects Marvel Knights 4 #19-24
Things are a little bit more complicated for the last collection. Marvel Knights 4 #25-27 mostly occur before FF #527, Marvel Knights 4 #28 should be read before FF #533, and finally, the last two issues take place after FF #537.
- Marvel Knights Fantastic Four, Vol. 5: The Resurrection of Nicholas Scratch
Collects Marvel Knights 4 #25–30
Fantastic Four by J. Michael Straczynski, Dwayne McDuffie, and Mark Millar, from 2004 to 2009
From the mid/late 2000s came the often forgotten runs from J. Michael Straczynski, Dwayne McDuffie, and Mark Millar as we also enter a period full of crossovers with House of M, Civil War, and Secret Invasion.
- Fantastic Four by J. Michael Straczynski, Vol. 1
Fantastic Four #527–532 - Fantastic Four / Iron Man: Big in Japan
Collects Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big In Japan #1-4. By Zeb Wells and Seth Fisher. - X-Men / Fantastic Four
Collects X-Men/Fantastic Four #1-5. - House of M: Fantastic Four/Iron Man
Collects House of M: Fantastic Four #1-3, House of M: Iron Man #1-3. See our House of M reading order for more information. - Spider-Man and The Fantastic Four: Silver Rage
Collects Spider-Man/Fantastic Four #1-4. - Fantastic Four: The Life Fantastic
Fantastic Four #533–535; Fantastic Four Special #1; Fantastic Four: The Wedding Special; Fantastic Four: A Death in the Family - The Road to Civil War
Fantastic Four #536–537; New Avengers: Illuminati; The Amazing Spider-Man #529–531 - The Thing & The Human Torch by Dan Slott
Collects Spider-Man/Human Torch #1-5 and The Thing (2005) #1-8.
It’s The Civil War! The U.S. Government proposed the Superhuman Registration Act, intending to register all super-powered beings as living weapons of mass destruction and requiring all costumed heroes to unmask themselves before the government and subject themselves to federally mandated standards. Heroes had to choose between rallying behind either Iron Man’s pro-registration forces or Captain America’s opposition. The Civil War began, go to the reading order.
- Civil War
Collects Civil War #1-7, plus extras. - Fantastic Four: Civil War
Fantastic Four #538–543
- Fantastic Four: The New Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four #544–550
In #544, Reed and Sue take a leave of absence, and Storm and Black Panther join the group as their replacement for a story arc.
- Fantastic Four: The Beginning of the End
Fantastic Four #525–526, 551–553; Isla de la Muerte - Fantastic Four: True Story
Collects Fantastic Four: True Story #1-4
The following stories were written by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch and were also collected in one omnibus.
- Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest
Collects Fantastic Four #554–561 - Fantastic Four: The Master of Doom
Collects Fantastic Four #562–569
The Secret Invasion begins with a brutal battle between the New Avengers and the Hand—one that claims the life of Elektra and reveals that she was a Skrull! What does this mean for Tony Stark and his Mighty Avengers? How about the Illuminati? go to the Reading Order!
- Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four
Collects Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1-3, Fantastic Four #300 and 357.
Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four, from 2009 to 2012
As we entered the Dark Reign era, Jonathan Hickman took over Fantastic Four and produced one of the most celebrated runs of modern Marvel comics. For a reading order issue by issue (and in trade paperbacks), see our dedicated Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four reading order.
During that period, we saw the creation of the Future Foundation (Fantastic Four #579), a philanthropic organization created to better serve humanity’s future. It’s also the name of the team after a tragedy, with Spider-Man as a member of the group.
Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four run is also available in the omnibus collection.
- Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 1
Collects Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5, Fantastic Four (1998) #570-578, and material from Dark Reign: The Cabal One-Shot. - Doomwar
Collects Doomwar #1–6. A Black Panther event taking place after Dark Reign. - X-Factor – Volume 9: Invisible Woman has Vanished
Collects X-Factor #200-203 - Heralds
Collects Heralds #1-5 - Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 2
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #579-588 & FF (2011) #1-5. - Spider-Man / Fantastic Four
Collects Spider-Man/Fantastic Four (2010) #1-4; Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #42; And Fantastic Four (1961) #218.
Be afraid of Fear Itself! A 2011 crossover Marvel Comics event written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Stuart Immonen. It’s not from Bendis, but it affected all of the Marvel Universe, including the Fantastic Four of course. The entire planet has been seized by Fear and only chaos reigns. The Serpent, Asgard’s most ancient evil, has awakened and is feeding off the fear of Earth’s populace. Don’t be afraid, the Reading Order is here.
- Fear Itself: Spider-Man
Collects Fear Itself: Spider-Man #1-3, Fear Itself: The Worthy #1 and Fear Itself: FF #1 - Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 3
Collects FF (2011) #6-16, Fantastic Four (1998) #600-604. - Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 4
Collects Fantastic Four (1998) #605, 605.1, 606-611; FF (2011) #17-23.
Marvel Now Fantastic Four by Matt Fraction, from 2012 to 2014
When you’re the First Family, your vacation is more cosmic than the ordinary mortal! This is Matt Fraction’s run on the Fantastic Four who send the family on holiday through time and space, with artist Mark Badgley.
But no worries, the Earth is not left without protection, as they have formed a new team to guard the planet, comprising of Ant-Man (Scott Lang), She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), Medusa (from the Inhumans), and Ms. Thing! They are the FF, penciled by Mike Allred.
Matt Fraction’s Fantastic Four run is also available in the omnibus collection.
- Fantastic Four, Vol. 1: New Departure, New Arrivals
Collects Fantastic Four (2012) #1–3, FF (2012) #1–2 - Fantastic Four, Vol. 2: Road Trip
Collects Fantastic Four (2012) #4–8 - Fantastic Four, Vol. 3: Doomed
Collects Fantastic Four (2012) #9–16 - FF Vol. 1: Fantastic Faux
Collects FF (2012) #4-8 - FF Vol. 2: Family Freakout
Collects FF (2012) #9-16.
Fantastic Four Vol. 5 by James Robinson, 2014-2015
With writer James Robinson and artist Leonard, Marvel’s first family heads towards their darkest hour, and the Marvel Universe towards its end…
- Fantastic Four, Vol. 1: The Fall of the Fantastic Four
Collects Fantastic Four (2014) #1–5 - Fantastic Four, Vol. 2: Original Sin
Collects Fantastic Four (2014) #6–10 - Fantastic Four, Vol. 3: Back in Blue
Collects Fantastic Four Annual (2014) #1, Fantastic Four (2014) #11-14. - Fantastic Four, Vol. 4: The End is Fourever
Collects Fantastic Four #642-645
The 2015 Secret Wars! Written by Jonathan Hickman, this is a Fantastic Four event. The interdimensional Incursions have eliminated each and every alternate universe one by one. And now, the Marvel Universe and Ultimate Universe have collided…and been destroyed! All that exists in the vast empty cosmos is a single, titanic patchwork planet made of the fragmented remains of hundreds of devastated dimensions: Battleworld! Go here to find the full reading order of the event.
- Secret Wars
Collects Secret Wars #0,#1-9, Free Comic Book Day 2015.
All-New All-Different Fantastic Four, from 2015 to 2018
Since their launch in 1961, Fantastic Four always headlined their own title… until now. Following Secret Wars, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, and their children disappeared. In this Marvel relaunch, Human Torch appeared in Uncanny Inhumans, but also joined the Unity Squad in Uncanny Avengers. The Thing became part of the Guardians of the Galaxy for a short time, before becoming an Agent of Shield in a supporting capacity in Infamous Iron Man.
- Uncanny Inhumans Volume 1: Time Crush
Collects Uncanny Inhumans #0–4; FCBD 2015: Inhumans Story - Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard Vol. 1: Emperor Quill
Collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 4) #1–5. - Uncanny Avengers: Unity Vol. 1: Lost Future
Collects Uncanny Avengers (2015) #1-6 & material from Avengers #0. - Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard Vol. 2: Wanted
Collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 4) #6–10. - Avengers: Standoff
Collects Avengers Standoff: Welcome to Pleasant Hill #1, Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha #1, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2016) #3-4, Uncanny Avengers (2015) #7-8, All-New, All-Different Avengers #7-8, New Avengers (2015) #8-10, Captain America: Sam Wilson #7-8, Illuminati (2015) #6, Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2015) #6, Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega #1. - Uncanny Inhumans Volume 2: The Quiet Room
Collects Uncanny Inhumans #5–9 - Uncanny Avengers: Unity Vol. 2: The Man Who Fell to Earth
Collects Uncanny Avengers (2015) #7-12.
Event Alert! It’s time for Civil War II. When a new Inhuman emerges, with the ability to profile the future, the ramifications ripple into every corner of the Marvel Universe. To know more about it, a full reading order is here.
- Uncanny Avengers: Unity Vol. 3: Civil War II
Collects Uncanny Avengers 13-18 - Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard Vol. 3: Civil War II
Collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 4) #11–14. - Guardians of the Galaxy: New Guard Vol. 4: Grounded
Collects Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 4) #15–19. - Infamous Iron Man Vol. 1
Collects Infamous Iron Man #1-6 - Uncanny Avengers: Unity Vol. 4: Red Skull
Collects Uncanny Avengers (2015) #18-23. - Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1: Into The Twilight
Collects: Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #1-6, Material from Free Comic Book Day 2017 (Secret Empire) #1 - Infamous Iron Man Vol. 2: The Absolution of Doom
Collects Infamous Iron Man Vol. 2 #7-12
Secret Empire! Captain America is living a lie! The Cosmic Cube has remade him into a secret true believer in the cause of Hydra! Now, Steve Rogers makes Hydra’s ideals a reality—and changes the landscape of the world dramatically! For more, go to the Secret Empire Reading Order.
- Secret Empire: United We Stand
Collects Secret Empire: United #1, Secret Empire: Underground #1, Secret Empire: Uprising #1, Uncanny Avengers #24-25. - Uncanny Avengers: Unity Vol. 5: Stars and Garters
Collects Uncanny Avengers #26-30.
This is the Fantastic Two! Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm are reunited in a quest to find their family in Marvel Two-in-One by Chip Zdarsky, with other side adventures!
- Marvel Two-In-One Vol. 1: Fate Of The Four
Collects: Marvel 2-In-One (2017) #1-6 - Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Vol. 5: Fantastic Three
Collects: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2015) #25-30 - Avengers: No Surrender
Collects Avengers (2016) #675-690. - Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 2: Most Wanted
Collects Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #297-300 - Marvel Two-In-One Vol. 2: Next Of Kin
Collects: Marvel 2-In-One (2017) #7-12, Marvel 2-In-One Annual (2018) #1
Fantastic Four are back in Marvel Fresh Start, from 2018 to present
The Fantastic Four reunited at last! Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny are brought back together, under the creative team of writer Dan Slott and artist Sarah Pichelli. This is a Fresh Start for the First Family of Marvel.
- Fantastic Four Vol. 1: Fourever
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #1–4 - Fantastic Four Vol. 2: Mr. And Mrs. Grimm
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #5, Fantastic Four: Wedding Special #1, Fantastic Four (1961) #8 - Fantastic Four Vol. 3: The Herald Of Doom
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #6-11 - Sue Storm has finally her own miniseries with Invisible Woman: Partners in Crime by Mark Waid.
- Fantastic Four (2018) #10 is part of the War of Realms event.
- Fantastic Four Vol. 4: Thing Vs. Immortal Hulk
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #12-13, Fantastic Four: Yancy Street #1, Fantastic Four: Negative Zone #1 - Fantastic Four Vol. 5: Point Of Origin
Collects Fantastic Four(2018) #14-20
Empyre! An Avengers/Fantastic Four event. Old allies make a distress call to the Avengers with news of a terrible enemy that could wipe out humanity itself. The Celestial Messiah has returned – but is Earth ready to hear his message? Meanwhile, in the most unlikely of places, the Fantastic Four witness the final conflict of the Kree/Skrull War…and a long-hidden Elder of the Universe stands revealed! With the Kree and the Skrulls united under a new emperor, their war fleet charts a course – for Earth! Here is the full reading order.
- Empyre
Collects Empyre: Avengers #0, Empyre: Fantastic Four #0, Empyre #1-6, Empyre Epilogue. - Fantastic Four Vol. 6: Empyre
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #21-24, Empyre: Fantastic Four #0, Empyre Fallout: Fantastic Four #1 - Fantastic Four Vol. 7: The Forever Gate
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #25-30. Issues #29-30 are part of King in Black event. - Fantastic Four Vol. 8: The Bride Of Doom
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #31-35 - Fantastic Four Vol. 9: Eternal Flame
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #36-39, Fantastic Four: Road Trip #1, Fantastic Four: Grimm Noir #1
A cosmic saga years in the making! Before the Kree, Skrull or Shi’ar Empires…before the emergence of Galactus…before the birth of Asgard…there was the First War. The greatest conflict to ever rage across the Multiverse. Today, it is reignited. This…is the Day of Reckoning! And all that stands between all of reality and revenge from the dawn of time are the heroes of Earth – and the mind of Mister Fantastic! This special Fantastic Four event marks the end of Dan Slott’s run on the title.
- Fantastic Four Vol. 10: The Reckoning War Part I
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #40-42, Fantastic Four: Reckoning War Alpha #1, Reckoning War: Trial Of The Watcher #1 - Fantastic Four Vol. 11: The Reckoning War Part II
Collects Fantastic Four (2018) #43-46
A.X.E.: Judgment Day! This is an Avengers/X-Men/Eternals event, but it’s also Judgment Times for the Fantastic Four in the next two issues. For more information about this story, see our Judgment Day Reading Order.
- A.X.E.: Judgment Day Companion
Collects A.X.E.: Eve Of Judgment, A.X.E.: Judgment Day Omega, A.X.E.: Death To The Mutants #1-3, A.X.E.: Starfox, A.X.E.: Iron Fist And Fantastic Four (2018) #47-48.
It’s the start of a new era for the Fantastic Four with writer Ryan North and artist Iban Coello. Of course, the FF are already in trouble! This new run starts with our favorite family caught in a time loop that’s been going on since before they were born…
- Fantastic Four by Ryan North Vol. 1: Whatever Happened to the Fantastic Four
Collects Fantastic Four (2022) #1-6. - Fantastic Four by Ryan North Vol. 2: Four Stories About Hope
Collects Fantastic Four (2022) #7-11. - Fantastic Four by Ryan North Vol. 3: The Impossible Is Probable
Collects Fantastic Four (2022) #12-17. - Clobberin’ Time
Collects Clobberin’ Time #1-5. - Fantastic Four by Ryan North Vol. 4: Fortune Favors the Fantastic
Collects Fantastic Four (2022) #18-22
More Fantastic Four coming soon…
Note: The limited series The Thing: The Next Big Thing by Walter Mosley has not been placed in this reading order, as I’m not sure where to put it. Don’t hesitate to make suggestions in the comments.
