"Fantastic Four
is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group first appeared in "Fantastic Four #1" in November 1961. The Fantastic Four is considered the first superhero team created by writer and editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. They gained superpowers after being exposed to cosmic rays during a scientific mission in outer space.
The team consists of:
1. Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards): A scientist and the leader of the group, who can stretch his body in unusual ways.
2. Invisible Woman (Susan "Sue" Storm): Reed's eventual wife, who can make herself invisible.
3. Human Torch (Johnny Storm): Sue's younger brother, who can ignite his body into flames and fly.
4. The Thing (Ben Grimm): A former American football star and Reed's friend, who possesses a rock-like, superhuman physique.
(Superhero)
is a designation given to a fictional character possessing extraordinary powers, often depicted in cartoons, comic books, and movies, such as Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man. Various companies produce and release superheroes, including DC, Marvel, Valiant, Dynamite, Image, Dark Horse, and Boom. These comic book companies and television channels, like Cartoon Network, which produced Ben 10 and The Powerpuff Girls, are prominent in creating comic book content. Superheroes are considered symbols of peace, hope, and happiness.
Jack Kirby
(28th August 1917 – 6th February 1994), born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer, and editor widely regarded by historians and fans as one of the greatest and most influential creators in the comic book industry.
Kirby grew up in impoverished conditions in New York City and entered the world of comics and cartooning in the 1930s. He authored numerous comic works under various pen names, including Jack Curtiss, ultimately settling on the name Jack Kirby. In 1940, he and writer-editor Joe Simon created the highly successful superhero character Captain America for Timely Comics, which later became Marvel Comics. Throughout the 1940s, Kirby collaborated with Simon and created numerous characters for both Timely Comics and the company that later became DC Comics
Stan Lee
(born Stanley Martin Lieber, December 28, 1922 - November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, actor, television host, and dubber. He served as the president and former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. Lee became a publisher and director in the comic book company, leading it from a small division in a publishing company to become a major multimedia corporation. He made his first film appearance in 1989.
He collaborated with several famous writers, including Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and his younger brother Larry Lieber, in creating many of the well-known superhero characters, such as Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, and others. Lee pioneered a more complex approach to superhero storytelling in the 1960s and 1970s, challenging the standards of comic book regulations, indirectly contributing to its modernization.
His works received numerous awards, including the Eisner Award for American comic book writing. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2008.
Lee remained an icon for the company even after his retirement, participating in several films in small roles, mostly associated with the characters he helped create, such as the first and third parts of X-Men and the second part of Spider-Man. He continued to work on independent projects until his death, reportedly suffering from heart issues and respiratory difficulties.