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Brittany GauthierRhetorical analysisMarch 22, 2011The Fantastic FourMarvel Comics published the Fantastic Four in November of 1961. This comic created by Marvel’s Stan Lee and Jack Kirby featured the first superhero group. This particular comic helped launch Marvel into competition with other big name comic publishers. The two leaders of DC and Marvel were enjoying a game of golf when the leader of DC said that they were launching a superhero team named The Justice Society of America, which included members like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The head of Marvel told the creators, Lee and Kirby to create a superhero team as well (Fantastic Four). The creators didn’t think that the new comic would be a success but it has published over 500 issues since its beginnings in the early 1960s (Fantastic Four: Wikipedia).The Fantastic Four were not born with their super powers. They were actually four individuals on a flight in space when they were exposed to cosmic rays giving them each different and unique abilities (Fein). Mr. Fantastic, formerly known as Reed Richards, was given the ability of being elastic and very intelligent. He does however deal with some personal evils. He feels responsible for exposing his friends to the cosmic rays because he led the group on the experimental outer space flight. Susan Storm, who was Reed’s girlfriend at the time and who he later married, developed the ability to become invisible, giving her the name Invisible Woman. She is also able to create a force field that helps to protect herself and others when fighting villains. Susan Storm’s brother, Johnny Storm, who was also on the flight, acquired the ability to project flames from his body that would not burn him as well as the ability to fly. He is called the Human Torch. Benjamin Jacob Grimm was the only superhero whose actual body features changed. Thing, was given super strength but his skin had turned orange, thick, and hard. The Fantastic Four seemed to argue often, but were able to come together during a crisis, making it easy readers to related to the dysfunctional family. Mr. Fantastic continuously talked too much; Thing was always grumpy, and the Human Torch and Invisible Woman bickered constantly (Fantastic Four: Wikipedia).The Fantastic Four started to receive fan mail that was published in the comics after the third issue. The creators couldn’t have imagined the comic being such a success. From this point, the superheroes started wearing costumes, which a fan suggested. In the third issue, Lee decided to add “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine,” to the cover in response to the early success of the comic. After the July 1963 issue, the title was changed from “The Fantastic Four” to “Fantastic Four.” There have been a few spinoffs of the Fantastic Four series as well and solo comics on the Human Torch and Thing. The comic has also been reprinted in France, Germany Italy, and the United Kingdom, being able to become global also made for its success. The last issue was published in January of 2001 with the death of the Human Torch. In March of 2011, the comic will be issued with the title: “FF,” which stands for the Future Foundation. In this recent issue, Spider Man replaces the Human Torch. The artwork for the Fantastic Four was drawn in color by Jack Kirby; however, the colors are not bright like most comics we see today. “The Marvel Method,” as the technique is called, is written differently than most other comics. The dialogue was added to the comic after the artists had drawn pictures that followed a similar storyline. The artists were able to use their own creativity without being restricted (The Fantastic Four). The comic is mostly written with simple dialogue; easy for the reader, which is more appealing to a young audience. The covers of the comics show all of the members as well as the villain they will be fighting against. The more recent issues are more detailed, but you can still tell who each character is and their emotion throughout the entire series. I think the artist decided to draw the comic in color because it catches the reader’s attention and gives a more realistic image. The other superhero group of the time that was created by DC comics was also in color. The artists may have realized that there would be more competition if both of the comics were drawn in color. If the Fantastic Four had been drawn in black and white, younger readers may have showed less interest in a comic. The run of the Fantastic Four has attracted many readers. It dealt with less political issues of the time, and more of the typical good vs. evil action packed series, but it also used unique supernatural experiences to set it apart from other comics of its time. With its colors and simple dialogue, a younger audience, ranging from ages around 7-12, would be able to enjoy the story line of the superhero family and relate the characters to individuals in their own family, inspiring them to possibly work as a collaborative group in certain situations that could possibly produce a more successful outcome then by doing it single handedly. It could also appeal to the teenage generation because it used a scientific approach and supernatural capabilities that could appeal to the older generation. For instance, in the final issue published by Marvel #587, the Human Torch is killed while trying to stop monsters from another dimension called the Negative Zone (Wikipedia). I feel that if individuals who grew up reading the comic really enjoyed it, they would continue to read the story. The movies may have also inspired a teenage and early adult crowd who became interested in the Fantastic Four’s other stories. I think that the older generation would probably appreciate the comic more because they did not have video games or movies to keep their attention, like the current generation does now. The Fantastic Four was a relatable science fiction comic, with deep roots of family values, which made it very interesting to readers which had a hand in its success for over 40 years. One reader, Bradford Wright, from Comic Book Nation, writes, “Comic books helped me to define myself and my world in a way that made both far less frightening. I honestly cannot imagine how I would have navigated my way through childhood without them.” Word Count: 1,126Works CitesSchwach?fer, Roman. “The Fantastic Four.” . Date accessed: March 21, 2011Fein, Eric. The Creation of the Fantastic Four. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.2007. Google Docs. Albert, Aaron. “Fantastic Four.” . Date accessed: March 21,2001“Fantastic Four.” . Date accessed: March 21,2011Wright, Bradford. “Comic Book Nation.” . Date accessed:March 30,2011. ................
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