Publishers / Marvel / Fantastic Four Annual (1963) / #3
3[October] 1965
$0.25

Fantastic Four Annual #3

Marvel · [October] 1965 · on sale 1965-07-01

First appearance: Samuel SmithersFirst appearance: Plantman1 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 Annual (Marvel, 1963 series)
Issue
#3
Publication date
[October] 1965
Key date
1965-10-00
On-sale date
1965-07-01
Indicia publisher
Canam Publishers Sales Corp.
Price
$0.25
Pages
76
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 Samuel Smithers - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Plantman - 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 Wedding of Sue and Reed!cover1script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Mike Esposito; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Sam RosenAmora, Awesome Android, Angel, Attuma, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, Beast, Black Knight, Thor Odinson, Captain America, Cobra, Crimson Dynamo, Cyclops, Daredevil
2Bedlam at the Baxter Building!comic story23script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Vince Colletta; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Artie SimekAmora, Awesome Android, Angel, Attuma, Clint Barton, Beast, Beetle, Black Knight, Thor Odinson, Captain America, Cobra, Cyclops, Daredevil, Dave Cannon
3-in-house column1Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, The Thing
4Captives of the Deadly Duo! Part 1comic story6script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers, Joe Sinnott; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Terry Szenics; editing: Stan LeeDoctor Doom, Victor Von Doom, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Namor, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, Sub-Mariner, The Thing
5When Super-Menaces Unite Part 2comic story6script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Terry Szenics; editing: Stan LeeDoctor Doom, Victor Von Doom, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Namor, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, Sub-Mariner, The Thing
6When Friends Fall Out! Part 3comic story3script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Terry Szenics; editing: Stan LeeBen Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Namor, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, Sub-Mariner, The Thing
7Trapped! Part 4comic story5script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Terry Szenics; editing: Stan LeeDoctor Doom, Victor Von Doom, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Namor, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, Sub-Mariner, The Thing
8The End... or the Beginning! Part 5comic story4script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Terry Szenics; editing: Stan LeeDoctor Doom, Victor Von Doom, Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Namor, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, Sub-Mariner, The Thing
94 Marvel Annual Masterpieces!promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers, Steve Ditko, Paul Reinman, Sol Brodsky; letters: Sam Rosen, Artie SimekAngel, Ant-Man, Bruce Banner, Beast, Thor Odinson, Izzy Cohen, Cyclops, Doctor Strange, Bobby Drake, Dum Dum Dugan, Nick Fury, Jean Grey, Hercules, Hulk
10A Visit with the Fantastic Fourcomic story11script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Art Simek; editing: Stan LeeBen Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Girl, Willie Lumpkin, Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, The Thing
11-promo (ad from the publisher)1pencils: various; inks: various; letters: various
12The Impossible Mancomic story11script: Stan Lee; pencils: Jack Kirby; inks: Dick Ayers; colors: Stan Goldberg; letters: Art Simek; editing: Stan LeeBen Grimm, Human Torch, Impossible Man, Invisible Girl, Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Susan Storm Richards, The Thing

Plus 3 pages of advertisements and other matter across 4 sequences, as published.

Printings and variants

EditionHow to tell
Britishprice 0-1-6 GBP

Where to read it

CollectionYear
Tales of Suspense #711965On eBay ›
Fantastic Four Annual #91971On eBay ›
Fantastic Four Annual #101973On eBay ›
Marvel Masterworks #25
ISBN 0-87135-990-1		1993On eBay ›
Marvel: Heroes & Legends #11996On eBay ›
Essential Fantastic Four #3
ISBN 0-7851-0782-7		2000On eBay ›
Fantastic Four: The Wedding Special #12006On 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

‹ #23 of 27#4 ›

Sources

  • Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
  • Wikidata, Q136341662 (Plantman), first-appearance property (CC0)

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