Publishers / Marvel / Fantastic Four (1961) / #97
97April 1970
$0.15

Fantastic Four #97

Marvel · April 1970 · on sale 1970-01-13

First appearance: Monster from the Lost LagoonFirst appearance: Monster's Mate1 variant
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
#97
Publication date
April 1970
Key date
1970-04-00
On-sale date
1970-01-13
Indicia publisher
Magazine Management Co. Inc.
Price
$0.15
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 Monster from the Lost Lagoon - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Monster's Mate - 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 Monster from the Lost Lagoon!cover1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: John Verpoorten; letters: Sam RosenBen Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Monster from the Lost Lagoon First, Mister Fantastic, Franklin Richards, Reed Richards, Susan Storm Richards, Johnny Storm, The Thing
2The Monster from the Lost Lagoon!comic story20script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Frank Giacoia; letters: Sam RosenBen Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Monster from the Lost Lagoon First, Monster's Mate First, Mister Fantastic, Franklin Richards, Reed Richards, Susan Storm Richards, Johnny Storm, The Thing
5-in-house column0.4script: ? (promo copy); colors: ? (panel backgrounds only); letters: typeset
6Marvelmaniapromo (ad from the publisher)0.6pencils: Jack KirbyCaptain America; Hulk; Iron Man; Human Torch; Spider-Man; Daredevil; Thor; Dr. Doom; Silver Surfer
14-in-house column1script: Stan Lee
16-letters page1.75script: Roy Thomas; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Joe SinnottFantastic Four [Mr. Fantastic [Reed Richards]; Invisible Girl; Human Torch [Johnny Storm]; the Thing [Ben Grimm]]; Franklin Richards; Crystal
17Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulationstatement of ownership0.25script: John F. Hayes

Plus 11 pages of advertisements and other matter across 14 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 1'- [0-1-0 GBP]

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Marvel's Greatest Comics #781978On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four #10
ISBN 0-7851-2061-0
2006On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks: The Fantastic Four #10
ISBN 978-0-7851-2061-2
2014On eBay ›

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

Before you buy

  • Check the price box: Marvel ran 30-cent and 35-cent test-market price variants in 1976-77.
  • Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
  • Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

Sources

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