Marvel Milestone Edition: Fantastic Four # 1 1991 VF/NM

Marvel Milestone Edition: Fantastic Four # 1 published in November 1991, is a direct, cover-to-cover facsimile reprint of the original, highly influential Fantastic Four #1 from 1961. It features the classic story written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby that launched the Marvel Universe

The Fantastic Four # 1 published in November 1961 (cover-dated the same), is the groundbreaking comic that launched the "Marvel Age of Comics". Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, it introduced a new era of flawed, realistic superheroes who argued and dealt with personal issues. 

The story begins with a mysterious flare in the sky summoning the four heroes. As they gather at their headquarters, the issue details their origin story in a flashback: 

• The Origin: To beat the Communists in the space race, scientist Reed Richards and his friends, pilot Ben Grimm, Reed's fiancée Sue Storm, and Sue's younger brother Johnny Storm, secretly sneak aboard an experimental rocket. Although Ben voices concerns about cosmic rays, they launch anyway. In space, the ship is bombarded by cosmic radiation because of insufficient shielding, forcing them to return to Earth where they discover their bodies and minds have been transformed, granting them unique powers.
• The Powers:
• Reed Richards becomes the stretchable Mister Fantastic.
• Ben Grimm transforms into the super-strong, rocky The Thing.
• Sue Storm becomes the invisible Invisible Girl.
• Johnny Storm can burst into flames and fly as the Human Torch.
• The First Mission: After deciding to use their powers for the benefit of humanity, the team investigates a series of mysterious cave-ins that have been destroying atomic plants worldwide. Reed deduces the source is a mythical place called "Monster Isle".
• The Villain: On the island, the team is attacked by giant monsters before encountering the Mole Man (Harvey Elder), a shunned scientist who built an underground empire and now seeks revenge on the surface world. The Fantastic Four work together, use their teamwork to outsmart the villain, seal him and his monsters underground in a rockslide, and escape the island just as the Mole Man seemingly destroys it with an explosion. 

• Realism and Flaws: The Fantastic Four are depicted as a somewhat dysfunctional family unit, without secret identities, who frequently argue and express self-doubt. This was a radical departure from the perfect heroes of the time.
• Starting the Marvel Universe: This issue was the starting point for countless key characters and concepts, including Doctor Doom, Galactus, Black Panther, the Inhumans, and the Silver Surfer, all of whom debuted in later issues of the series.
• Creative Method: It also saw the development of the "Marvel Method" of collaboration between writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.