Publishers / Marvel / Fantastic Four (1961) / #53
53August 1966
$0.12

Fantastic Four #53

Marvel · August 1966 · on sale May 10, 1966

First appearance: Ulysses KlaueFirst appearance: KlawFirst appearance: T'Chaka1 variant
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How to read this file
  • Every claim on this page traces to a public bibliographic record; the sources are listed at the bottom of the file.
  • A first-appearance badge means this is the earliest non-flashback appearance on record in this database.
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Identification plate

Series
Fantastic Four (Marvel, 1961 series)
Issue
#53
Publication date
August 1966
Key date
August 1966
On-sale date
May 10, 1966
Indicia publisher
Canam Publishers Sales Corp.
Price
$0.12
Pages
36
Rating
Approved by the Comics Code Authority

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of Ulysses Klaue - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Klaw - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of T'Chaka - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Contents

SeqStoryTypePagesCreditsCharacters
0The Way It Began!cover1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Joe Sinnott; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBlack Panther, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards, Susan Storm Richards, Johnny Storm, T'Challa, The Thing
2The Way It Began..!comic story20script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Joe Sinnott; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekBlack Panther, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Ulysses Klaue First, Klaw First, Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards, Susan Storm Richards, Johnny Storm, T'Chaka First, T'Challa, The Thing, Wyatt Wingfoot
3More Marvel Masterpieces...promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: John Romita, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko; inks: John Romita, Vince Colletta, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Sol Brodsky, Dick Ayers; letters: Sam Rosen, Artie SimekSpider-Man [Peter Parker]; Green Goblin; Thor [Donald Blake]; Hercules; Pluto; Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]; Invisible Girl [Sue Storm]; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing [Ben Grimm]]; Iron Man [Tony Stark]; Doctor Strange [Stephen Strange]; Hulk [Bruce Banner]
13-in-house column1letters: typeset
14-promo (ad from the publisher)1Fantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic; Invisible Girl; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; Thing [Ben Grimm]]; Spider-Man; Hulk
15-letters page2script: Stan LeeThing [Ben Grimm]

Plus 10 pages of advertisements and other matter across 13 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 10d [0-0-10 GBP]

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Marvel's Greatest Comics #401973On eBay ›
Black Panther #362001On eBay ›
Essential Fantastic Four #3
ISBN 0-7851-0782-7		2000On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four #6
ISBN 0-7851-1266-9		2004On eBay ›
Fantastic Four Omnibus #2
ISBN 0-7851-2403-9		2007On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

  • Check spine ticks and cover gloss in the photos; silver-age Marvels chip at the edges easily.
  • Look for tanning at the page edges and transfer stains on the inside covers.
  • Confirm the cover price against the plate; higher prices can mean a later or foreign printing.

Series context

‹ #5253 of 416#54 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q27092482 (Ulysses Klaue), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com