Hoping to overcome Marvel 's sales slump in the early 1960s, comic book veterans Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created a team of superheroes. They were intended to revitalize the business and breathe new life into the superhero genre after 15 years of being overshadowed by romance, horror, and war comics. Lee wanted, as he put it, "to finally tell the kind of story I'd like to read." The Fantastic Four would forever change the careers and lives of both its creators, as well as the entire comic book industry.

This volume recreates some of the most iconic moments from the Marvel Universe. In the very first issue, Reed Richards, his best friend Ben Grimm, his girlfriend Sue Storm, and their little brother Johnny Storm are hit by cosmic rays, causing their rocket to crash-land. When they come to, they find that they have been transformed into Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, The Thing, and The Human Torch. These emotionally complex characters aren't always sure whether their superpowers are a blessing or a curse. Rather than a fictional setting, the Fantastic Four's stories are set in New York City, and the Marvel heroes regularly appear in each other's books. The art style is dynamic, and the narrative is entertaining and captivating. Lee and Kirby were to the comics world what John Lennon and Paul McCartney were to pop. It's unclear exactly what their individual skills were, but as a team they were unbeatable.

This XXL volume contains reproductions of flawless original editions of the first 20 issues, which were opened and photographed in close cooperation with Marvel and the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC).

In addition to the comics, this volume includes an in-depth essay by renowned Marvel writer Mark Waid , a foreword by former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, as well as original artwork, photographs, and other rarities. Welcome, True Believers, to the Marvel Age of Comics!