Fantastic (comic)
Encyclopedia
Fantastic was a weekly British comic published by Odhams Press
under the Power Comics
imprint. It first appeared on 18 February 1967, and with its 52nd issue on 10 February 1968 it merged with its sister title Terrific
. The 89th and final issue of Fantastic appeared on 7 September 1968, after which it was merged into Smash!.
Fantastic was different from the earlier Power Comics such as Smash! and Pow!
, which were essentially traditional Beano
-style British comic papers supplemented by a small amount of material reprinted from Marvel Comics
. In contrast, Fantastic (and later Terrific as well) were more American in appearance, resembling the black-and-white comic anthologies of the time such as Creepy
and Eerie
. However, they were aimed at a younger audience than such magazines (although an older audience than the Beano-style British fare).
(1964) and Smash! (1966) Odhams were keen to expand their line of weekly Power Comics in 1967. In January they launched Pow!
with 'Spider-Man' as the lead strip, and a month later saw the arrival of a comic that consisted almost entirely of Marvel reprints: Fantastic.
Fantastic No.1, which launched on Saturday February 11th, 1967, had a different format to its three predecessors. Slightly smaller in size and on better paper, it featured a whopping 40 pages and a higher cover price (9d, compared to Smash's 7d for 28 pages). This made it three times more expensive than the 3d cover price of D C Thomson's perennials Beano and Dandy. Could it sustain a profit in the increasingly crowded market of Sixties comics? Sadly, no; but it did gain a faithful following, and served as an introduction to many of Marvel's superhero characters.
and the X-Men
, as well as Iron Man
stories from Tales of Suspense
. The only original content featured a British superhero
called Johnny Future, who started out as a prehistoric "Missing Link
" (who was, in appearance, very much a Hulk-lookalike), before evolving (literally) into a superman of the future. The Johnny Future stories were drawn by Luis Bermejo
.
This line-up continued until issue 51, when Fantastic absorbed Terrific
: becoming Fantastic and Terrific, but continuing the sequential numbering from Fantastic. The Thor and X-Men features continued until the end of the comic's run (when Thor then continued in Smash!), but Iron Man and Johnny Future were replaced by reprints of The Avengers
and Doctor Strange
, both continuing from Terrific.
A distinctive feature of Fantastic was the full-colour pin-up that appeared on the back cover of most issues. Many of these were reprinted from American Marvel comics, but at least some (including a Johnny Future pin-up) were produced by a young Barry Windsor-Smith
.
All the Marvel strips inside Fantastic were printed in black-and-white, with colour used only for the front and back covers. The first issue commenced with Thor's origin story from Journey into Mystery
#86 ('The Stone Men from Saturn'), plus the first X-Men story (the arrival of Miss Jean Grey) from the original X-Men
#1, and the origin of Iron Man ('Iron Man is Born') from Tales of Suspense
.
That issue saw the first of several free gifts given away with each issue, as was traditional on the launch of a new comic. The cover numbering was continued from Fantastic.
The merger of the two titles bought Fantastic another nine months of life, but ultimately this was not enough to save it. Issue 89, published in September 1968, was the final issue. The Thor strip was thereafter transferred to Smash, and the others were discontinued.
Odhams Press
Odhams Press was a British publishing firm. Originally a newspaper group, founded in 1890, it took the name Odham's Press Ltd in 1920 when it merged with John Bull magazine. By 1937 it had founded the first colour weekly, Woman, for which it set up and operated a dedicated high-speed print works...
under the Power Comics
Power Comics
Power Comics was an imprint of the British comics publisher Odhams Press that was particularly notable for its use of material reprinted from American Marvel Comics. Appearing chiefly during the years 1967 and 1968, the Power Comics line consisted of five weekly titles: Wham!, Smash!, Pow!,...
imprint. It first appeared on 18 February 1967, and with its 52nd issue on 10 February 1968 it merged with its sister title Terrific
Terrific (comic)
Terrific was a weekly British comic published by Odhams Press under the Power Comics imprint. It ran for 43 issues from 15 April 1967 until 3 February 1968, when it was merged with its sister title Fantastic....
. The 89th and final issue of Fantastic appeared on 7 September 1968, after which it was merged into Smash!.
Fantastic was different from the earlier Power Comics such as Smash! and Pow!
Pow!
Pow! was a weekly British comic published by Odhams Press in 1967 and 1968 from their headquarters at 64 Long Acre, London. Part of their Power Comics imprint, it was printed on newsprint stock, in black-and-white except for its colour front and back covers, and initially comprised 28 pages.Pow!...
, which were essentially traditional Beano
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
-style British comic papers supplemented by a small amount of material reprinted from Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. In contrast, Fantastic (and later Terrific as well) were more American in appearance, resembling the black-and-white comic anthologies of the time such as Creepy
Creepy
Creepy was an American horror-comics magazine launched by Warren Publishing in 1964. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. The anthology magazine was initially published quarterly but...
and Eerie
Eerie
Eerie was an American magazine of horror comics introduced in 1966 by Warren Publishing. Like Mad, it was a black-and-white newsstand publication in a magazine format and thus did not require the approval or seal of the Comics Code Authority. Each issue's stories were introduced by the host...
. However, they were aimed at a younger audience than such magazines (although an older audience than the Beano-style British fare).
The Launch of Fantastic
Following the successes of Wham!Wham! (comic)
Wham! was a weekly British comic published by Odhams Press. It ran for 187 issues from 20 June 1964 to 13 January 1968, when it merged into its sister title Pow!...
(1964) and Smash! (1966) Odhams were keen to expand their line of weekly Power Comics in 1967. In January they launched Pow!
Pow!
Pow! was a weekly British comic published by Odhams Press in 1967 and 1968 from their headquarters at 64 Long Acre, London. Part of their Power Comics imprint, it was printed on newsprint stock, in black-and-white except for its colour front and back covers, and initially comprised 28 pages.Pow!...
with 'Spider-Man' as the lead strip, and a month later saw the arrival of a comic that consisted almost entirely of Marvel reprints: Fantastic.
Fantastic No.1, which launched on Saturday February 11th, 1967, had a different format to its three predecessors. Slightly smaller in size and on better paper, it featured a whopping 40 pages and a higher cover price (9d, compared to Smash's 7d for 28 pages). This made it three times more expensive than the 3d cover price of D C Thomson's perennials Beano and Dandy. Could it sustain a profit in the increasingly crowded market of Sixties comics? Sadly, no; but it did gain a faithful following, and served as an introduction to many of Marvel's superhero characters.
Marvel Superheroes
To match its more American appearance, the contents of Fantastic were also predominantly American, starting in the first issue with reprints of Marvel's The Mighty ThorThor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
and the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
, as well as Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
stories from Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
. The only original content featured a British superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
called Johnny Future, who started out as a prehistoric "Missing Link
Missing Link
Missing link is a nonscientific term for any transitional fossil, especially one connected with human evolution; see Transitional fossil - Missing links and List of transitonal fossils - Human evolution.Missing Link may refer to:...
" (who was, in appearance, very much a Hulk-lookalike), before evolving (literally) into a superman of the future. The Johnny Future stories were drawn by Luis Bermejo
Luis Bermejo
Luis Bermejo , is a Spanish illustrator and comics artist known for his work published in Spain, Italy, Great Britain, and the United States...
.
This line-up continued until issue 51, when Fantastic absorbed Terrific
Terrific (comic)
Terrific was a weekly British comic published by Odhams Press under the Power Comics imprint. It ran for 43 issues from 15 April 1967 until 3 February 1968, when it was merged with its sister title Fantastic....
: becoming Fantastic and Terrific, but continuing the sequential numbering from Fantastic. The Thor and X-Men features continued until the end of the comic's run (when Thor then continued in Smash!), but Iron Man and Johnny Future were replaced by reprints of The Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
and Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
, both continuing from Terrific.
A distinctive feature of Fantastic was the full-colour pin-up that appeared on the back cover of most issues. Many of these were reprinted from American Marvel comics, but at least some (including a Johnny Future pin-up) were produced by a young Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith
Barry Windsor-Smith, born Barry Smith is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States....
.
All the Marvel strips inside Fantastic were printed in black-and-white, with colour used only for the front and back covers. The first issue commenced with Thor's origin story from Journey into Mystery
Journey into Mystery
Journey into Mystery was an American comic book series published by Atlas Comics, and later its successor Marvel Comics. It featured horror, monster, and science fiction stories...
#86 ('The Stone Men from Saturn'), plus the first X-Men story (the arrival of Miss Jean Grey) from the original X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
#1, and the origin of Iron Man ('Iron Man is Born') from Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense
Tales of Suspense is the name of an American comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such artists as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck, then featured...
.
Merger with Terrific and Closure
Issue 52 of Fantastic saw the comic relaunched, in effect, as it absorbed companion paper Terrific to form Fantastic and Terrific, featuring Thor and the X-Men (from Fantastic), plus the Avengers and Doctor Strange (from Terrific).That issue saw the first of several free gifts given away with each issue, as was traditional on the launch of a new comic. The cover numbering was continued from Fantastic.
The merger of the two titles bought Fantastic another nine months of life, but ultimately this was not enough to save it. Issue 89, published in September 1968, was the final issue. The Thor strip was thereafter transferred to Smash, and the others were discontinued.
