Previous Page   Next Page
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
#14
#15
#16
#17
#18
#19
#20
#21
#22
#23
#24
Selector

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #3

Mar 1962
on-sale: Dec 12, 1961
Stan Lee | Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #3 cover

Story Name:

The Menace of the Miracle Man

Synopsis

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #3 synopsis by J.A.R.V.I.S. 2008
Rating: 4 stars
Image from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #3

The Fantastic Four attend a stage show where the mysterious Miracle Man publicly humiliates them with seemingly supernatural powers. But when he animates a giant monster statue and declares war on humanity, the team springs into action.

Reed Richards investigates the Miracle Man’s abilities, while Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm clash over personal frustrations. Sue Storm designs the team’s iconic costumes and later infiltrates the villain’s hideout alone.

Fantastic Four Team Logo 17.5" Blue Adult Backpack
For the special marvelite in you

The Miracle Man steals an atomic tank and hypnotizes Sue, but the Human Torch blinds him with a flash of flame, breaking his spell.
Reed reveals the truth: the Miracle Man is no sorcerer, but a master hypnotist.

The team defeats him—but not without emotional fallout. In a dramatic twist, Johnny quits the group, leaving the future of the Fantastic Four uncertain.

Marvel Gallery: Comic M.O.D.O.K. PVC Statue
For the special marvelite in you


Characters
Good (or All)
FF

Enemies
Miracle Man (Joshua Ayers).

> Fantastic Four (1961 series) comic book info and issue index


Fantastic Four (1961 series) #3 cover

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

This comic is in the following collection:
ad
COLLECTING: FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #1-18

Preview Pages

Click them to bring up the Comic Viewer.

premium content

Main/1st Story Full Credits

Jack Kirby
Sol Brodsky
Stan Goldberg
Jack Kirby (Cover Penciler)
Sol Brodsky (Cover Inker)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Art Simek.
Editor: Stan Lee.



Review / Commentaries

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #3 Review by (February 12, 2025)

Fantastic Four #3 blends superhero spectacle with interpersonal drama, marking a turning point in Marvel storytelling. The introduction of costumes and the Fantasticar solidifies the team’s identity, while the Miracle Man’s illusion-based villainy reflects postwar anxieties about manipulation and control.

The issue’s emotional core lies in Ben Grimm’s self-loathing and Johnny’s rebellious exit, adding depth to the action. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby balance absurdity with pathos, making this more than a monster-of-the-week tale—it’s a story about identity, trust, and the fragility of unity.

- - -

My rating: 4.0. A strong issue that deepens character dynamics and introduces iconic elements. The villain’s reveal feels slightly anticlimactic, but the emotional tension and team evolution elevate the story.

Doctor Doom Faces off Against a Powerful Alliance of Marvel’s Most Vicious Villains
From Our Blog:
Before *Avengers: Doomsday* and *Avengers: Secret Wars*, where the Avengers fight Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, Marvel’s One World Under Doom will unite Earth’s Mightiest Heroes with some villains.
Marvel Settles the Debate: Which Cosmic Titan Reigns Supreme in a Battle of Epic Proportions?
From Our Blog:
A Battle Between Galactus and Khonshu Shows Who is Undeniably the Mightiest of These TwoThe Marvel Universe boasts hundreds of immensely powerful characters, including cosmic entities and deities who rank highest in the power hierarchy.

Thor

The Marvel Heroes Library is a fan Marvel Comics site
Version 14.9.12 (Aug 19, 2025 - VS22)

Copyright © 1997-2025 Julio Molina-Muscara (creator, webmaster)
Site content is a collective effort by the MHL team and Marvel aficionados

Characters are copyright © Marvel or their respective owners. All portions of this Marvel fansite that are subject to copyright are licensed under a creative commons attribution 3.0 unported license All rights reserved