The anchor and weather prognosticator were discussing a story they had aired about the casting of Reed Richards in an upcoming Fantastic Four movie. As I sat and watched these two young Marvel comics fans, I wondered if they realized how old these magazines are.

Marvel Comics #1 was first published in October of 1939 by Timely Publications. This book included The Human Torch and Namor the Sub-Mariner. Captain America first appeared in March of 1941. The man we know as Stan Lee was with Marvel from the beginning and took over leadership of Timely in 1941.

The name was changed to Marvel Comics Group in 1961. In November, the Fantastic Four first appeared. Reed Richards as Mr. Fantastic, Sue and Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm make up the team. Spiderman appeared for the first time in 1962.

My favorite mag was the Amazing Spider-Man. It debuted in 1963. I had been reading the stories about Peter Parker and grabbed the new comic the minute I saw it. He was a teenage science nerd. In the third grade, I was also a science geek. I did not want to be bitten by a radioactive spider. I just wanted strength, clinging ability, and Spidey sense.

The Hulk was a character that I did not particularly care for. I think it was the idea that Dr. David Banner became angry and morphed into the green monster. This may be the reason that, when I grew up, I no longer liked the color green. Maybe it was all the green Marvel villains that turned me off as well.

When Matthew Murdock was introduced as The Daredevil, he became a favorite as well. The comic book world was changed by Stan Lee after he took the lead of Marvel Magazines. He’s also the creator of Iron Man. Heroes became a mainstay of the industry, and the popularity of the cartoon-type books bottomed out except for young children.

I was never an X-Men, Silver Surfer, or Nick Fury Fan. Captain America was more like Superman than I had thought a Marvel Hero Would Be. Thor, the Sub-Mariner, and Doctor Strange were other characters that I was not fond of.

Let’s get back to The Fantastic Four. I always thought that Ben Grimm should have had the nickname Rocky instead of The Thing. I enjoyed the fights with Johnny as The Torch and Ben. If they had lived in my home, it would have been Sue and Johnny who would have had fights.

I felt like Reed Richards and Sue Storm took entirely too long to become engaged. I found it enthralling to have a married team as part of a group of superheroes. Without them, I am not sure that Pixar ever would have made The Incredibles the way they did. The family concept seemed to me to stem from The Fantastic Four.

Are you a fan of comics or graphic novels? What is your favorite magazine, character, or publisher? Do you have any stories you would like to share? Comment below, and if you do not want your comments shared with everyone, tell me, and I will read and respond, but not share with other readers. This is my site, and I can do that.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger