Released November 1963
Fantastic Four #20
Key Issue
Synopsis
THE MYSTERIOUS MOLECULE MAN! After examining an asteroid with proof of organic life in space, the Fantastic Four investigate a strange fireball that has appeared in the streets. Sucked into it, they find it's a device belonging to the Watcher. Inside, the Watcher tells the Fantastic Four of a man who was exposed to a nuclear accident which transformed him into the Molecule Man. Warning of the potential danger of the Molecule Man's molecule altering abilities, the Watcher sends out the FF to stop him. In their initial conflict, the FF seem unable to defeat him and each attempt to stop the Molecule Man is met with failure. Fed up with the FF's interference, the Molecule Man erects a glass dome around Manhattan and demands that the people of the city help him capture the FF. Reed eventually realizes that the Molecule Man's powers don't seem to have any effect on organic material and so they lay a trap in which they pose as statues in Alicia's apartment, while Alicia alerts the Molecule Man of their location. When the Molecule Man's powers fail to affect the FF, they are able to knock his wand -- the focal point of his power -- out of his hands and keep it away from him long enough for the Watcher to arrive and take the Molecule Man away. The Watcher takes the Molecule Man to an alternate dimension where time travels faster so that he would age soon and die.
Variants
Synopsis
THE MYSTERIOUS MOLECULE MAN! After examining an asteroid with proof of organic life in space, the Fantastic Four investigate a strange fireball that has appeared in the streets. Sucked into it, they find it's a device belonging to the Watcher. Inside, the Watcher tells the Fantastic Four of a man who was exposed to a nuclear accident which transformed him into the Molecule Man. Warning of the potential danger of the Molecule Man's molecule altering abilities, the Watcher sends out the FF to stop him. In their initial conflict, the FF seem unable to defeat him and each attempt to stop the Molecule Man is met with failure. Fed up with the FF's interference, the Molecule Man erects a glass dome around Manhattan and demands that the people of the city help him capture the FF. Reed eventually realizes that the Molecule Man's powers don't seem to have any effect on organic material and so they lay a trap in which they pose as statues in Alicia's apartment, while Alicia alerts the Molecule Man of their location. When the Molecule Man's powers fail to affect the FF, they are able to knock his wand -- the focal point of his power -- out of his hands and keep it away from him long enough for the Watcher to arrive and take the Molecule Man away. The Watcher takes the Molecule Man to an alternate dimension where time travels faster so that he would age soon and die.
Key Facts
- 1st appearance and origin of Molecule Man
- 2nd appearance of the Watcher
- George R.R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones, was 15 years old when he achieved his first taste of being published in the fan mail section of this issue
- Martin’s words are eloquent beyond his years but his excessive compliments have the familiar, timeless tone of comic fanboy sarcasm
Details
- Series
- Fantastic Four
- Cover Date
- November 1963
- Pages
- N/A
- UPC
- N/A
- Cover Price
- N/A
- Final Order Cutoff
- N/A
Creators
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ArtistJack Kirby
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WriterStan Lee
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WriterGeorge R. R. Martin