The Fantastic Four are prepared for attacks with villains, but in 1963, they met someone who would pester them instead. The Impossible Man was introduced in Fantastic Four #11 (February 1963) as a shapeshifter from the planet Poppup. The Stan Lee and Jack Kirby creation is typically a comedic foil who annoys the people he encounters – especially the Fantastic Four.
He met the Fantastic Four at a restaurant where the team was called for help with a disturbance. Impossible Man introduced himself as a Poppupian from the Tenth Galaxy and explained that he has the ability to evolve and shapeshift because his planet is so dangerous.
Seeking adventure, he traveled to Earth by turning himself into a spaceship. Once here, Impossible Man realized that no one else had his powers, which bolsters his ego quite a bit. He started bugging the Fantastic Four and other people, until they decided to ignore him.
Annoyed that they wouldn’t interact with him, Impossible Man decided that Earth was too boring for him and he left the planet. After that, he was missing from comics until 1976 when he returned to drive everyone crazy and be, as the Thing calls him, “impossible.”
Keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram for more character profiles! And if you're interested in more from Sam Wilson a.k.a. Falcon a.k.a. Captain America, head to your local comic shop and check out the following...
ABRAMS COMICARTS
(W) Stan Lee, Mark Evanier, Chip Kidd (A) Jack Kirby
The first issue of Fantastic Four by legendary creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced fans to a now-iconic team of super-heroes-Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Girl, the Human Torch, and the Thing-ushering in the modern Marvel Age of comics. Kirby's artistic contributions in this comic book revolutionized visual storytelling and brought a new reality to the way comics stories could be told, the ripple effects of which continue to influence comic book art to this day. Sixty years after its publication in November 1961, this reimagining by award-winning graphic designer Chip Kidd uses an original copy of the comic book to present the classic story in a whole new way that is sure to engage both lifelong fans and the latest generation of Marvel enthusiasts. The book also includes text by Marvel editor Tom Brevoort and historian Mark Evanier.
In Shops: Nov 10, 2021
SRP: $40.00
PREVIEWS Page #208
MARVEL COMICS
(W) Stan Lee, Jack Kirby (A) Aco, More (CA) Steve McNiven
Sixty years ago, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby made history and brought about the beginning of the Marvel Age of comics with the release of FANTASTIC FOUR #1. Now a bevy of Marvel's finest creators pay tribute to that monumental moment by reinterpreting, page by page, the story from that inaugural release as well as FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #3, in which the entirety of the Marvel Universe attended the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm! Whether these are stories you've never read before or tales that you're intimately familiar with, this is the perfect way to experience them anew!
ONE-SHOT
In Shops: Nov 17, 2021
SRP: $6.99
PREVIEWS Page #50
MARVEL COMICS
(W) Stan Lee (A/CA) Jack Kirby
In 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby lit the fuse of the greatest revolution in comic book history - the Marvel Age of Comics - and it started right here, in the pages of FANTASTIC FOUR! With the space race on, Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Sue Storm and Johnny Storm shoot for the stars - but after their craft is bombarded by cosmic rays, they return to Earth with the startling powers of the Fantastic Four! These weren't just any super heroes, though - the Fantastic Four were a realistic, relatable, bickering and loveable family that couldn't pay their rent and didn't always love their powers. So crack open this Epic Collection and enjoy the beginning of the series that earned the name "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!" Collecting FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #1-18.
All Ages
In Shops: Aug 25, 2021
SRP: $39.99
MARVEL PREVIEWS Page #120
IDW PUBLISHING
(W) Stan Lee (A/CA) Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four. World-shattering events, cosmic calamities, and Kirby Krackle-does it get any better?
Jack Kirby is one of the most important creators in the history of comics, and the Fantastic Four is one of his greatest achievements. First published in 1961, the adventures of Mister Fantastic, the Human Torch, the Invisible Girl, and the ever-lovin' Thing introduced a bold new era in comics. Kirby's dynamic storytelling, coupled with Stan Lee's poignant writing style, were unlike anything comic book readers had seen before-it literally ushered in THE MARVEL AGE OF COMICS!
Including Fantastic Four Annual #6, the 48-page groundbreaking story that featured the birth of Franklin Richards! Also presenting issues #71, #82, #83, and #84, featuring the Inhumans, Doctor Doom, and others-plus a beautiful gallery section of some of Kirby's most incredible pages, all scanned from the original art!
Like all of IDW's award-winning Artist Edition style books, each page has been painstakingly scanned from the original art to ensure the finest possible reproduction, mimicking the experience of seeing Kirby's hand-drawn pages-it's the next best thing owning the art!
In Shops: Jun 30, 2021
SRP: $39.99
PREVIEWS Page #152
Click to View
