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Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5

Jul 1962
on-sale: Apr 10, 1962
Stan Lee | Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5 cover

Story Name:

Prisoners of Doctor Doom!

Synopsis

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5 synopsis by J.A.R.V.I.S. 2008
Rating: 5 stars
Image from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5

The Fantastic Four are ambushed when Doctor Doom, a masked genius with a dark past, traps the Baxter Building in an electrified net. He demands the team retrieve a mystical treasure from the past using his newly invented time machine.

Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm travel to the 18th century, where they’re mistaken for pirates. In a twist of fate, Ben is hailed as the legendary Blackbeard and considers staying behind, finally accepted for who he is.

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But duty calls. The team recovers the treasure, only to trick Doom by returning an empty chest. Back in the present, Doom escapes, vowing revenge. The Fantastic Four remain united—but now face a villain whose intellect rivals Reed’s and whose ambition knows no bounds.

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Characters
Good (or All)
FF

Enemies
DRDOOM

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


Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5 cover

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

Preview Pages

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Jack Kirby
Joe Sinnott
Stan Goldberg
Jack Kirby (Cover Penciler)
Joe Sinnott (Cover Inker)
Stan Goldberg (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Art Simek.
Editor: Stan Lee.



Review / Commentaries

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5 Review by (August 12, 2025)

Fantastic Four #5 is a masterclass in Silver Age storytelling. Doctor Doom’s debut blends science fiction, sorcery, and swashbuckling adventure, setting the tone for Marvel’s complex villains.

Lee and Kirby’s time-travel plot is wildly imaginative, and Ben Grimm’s emotional arc—finding acceptance among pirates—adds unexpected depth. The issue also introduces Doom’s iconic time platform, a device that would echo throughout Marvel history.

Though the pacing is brisk and the logic delightfully pulpy, the story’s ambition and character work make it a standout. It’s not just a battle—it’s a myth in the making.

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My rating: 5.0 out of 5. A genre-defining issue that introduces a legendary villain, explores identity, and expands the Marvel Universe with bold imagination. A perfect blend of heart, spectacle, and legacy.

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