Marvel's own superheroes from the 40s and 50s such as Namor the Sub-Mariner and Captain America had fallen out of favour, but the success of DC's caped crusaders couldn't be ignored any more. It was focused on sci-fi and monster anthologies and teen-friendly comics but was being left in the dust by its competitor DC, which had been enjoying great success with superhero titles including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash and their superteam, the Justice League.
Prior to the arrival of Fantastic Four #1 in November 1961, Marvel Comics was trying to rebuild after the collapse of its predecessor Timely Comics. So why are the Fantastic Four so important, and what went so wrong? Flame on! The comic book superheroes were launched 60 years ago, sparking a change not only in the way Marvel created comics, but in the way all superheroes were made and portrayed.īut for all their significance, Marvel's "first family" do not hold the same level of respect and esteem as their fellow comic book counterparts - you're more likely to see a kid dressed up as Hawkeye this Halloween than wearing a blue and white super suit with a "4" emblazoned on the front.