FANTASTIC FOUR #36 (1965): 1st Medusa, Frightful Four

We start with jokes of course.

Sandman, Paste Pot Pete, and The Wizard decide to form a band, but they need a girl if they’re going to parallel the makeup of the Fantastic Four, so they go a remote island and find the mythical Madame Medusa.

They hire her.

They attack the FF and seem to win in the beginning. 

Then lose and get hurled into space.

Then win.

That’s basically it.

Fun story, though.  Also, it’s interesting how Sandman appears to have given up on fighting Spider-Man, and now he’s going to be an FF villain.  His shape-changing powers match better against the FF, given how Reed Richards was treated more like Plastic Man in these early issues (by taking on various shapes and sizes, instead of simply being stretchy and rubbery).

It’s also nice that Medusa and Sue play very prominent roles.

Also: Big cameo scene at Reed and Sue’s engagement party!

I like how Rick Jones is pining for Bruce.

Firsts: First appearance of Medusa (who is not tied to The Inhumans yet because The Inhumans don’t exist), first appearance of the Frightful Four

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