Fantastic Four: "The Red Ghost And His Indescribable Super-Apes!"

Fantastic Four #13 (1963)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko

So, What Happens? At the FF's lab, Reed has discovered a booster fuel powerful enough to win the space race and send a manned rocket to the Moon. Since the fuel came from a meteor similar to the one that fell in Siberia some time before, Reed fears the Soviets are close to achieving the same results and wants to build the rocket as soon as possible to reach the Moon and explore its mysterious Blue Area, but Ben convinces him to take the entire team along. Unbeknown to the Fantastic Four, a Soviet scientist named Ivan Kragoff is about to undertake the same journey together with his three trained primates: a strong gorilla, a baboon capable of using firearms and a orangutan who can use and repair machines. The two spaceships depart at the same time, but Kragoff has purposely neglected to equip his with radiation shields so that he and the monkeys can be bombarded with cosmic rays and get powers like those of the Fantastic Four. In space, the FF see the Soviet ship and the Torch flies off to investigate, discovering that the cosmic rays have indeed been effective, giving superstrength to the gorilla, the ability to morph into almost anything to the baboon and magnetic rays to the orangutan. The latter sees the Torch and uses his powers to hurl him back to Reed's ship, where he reports to the rest of the team. However there is little time to ponder as both ships are about to land on the Moon, where they immediately discover that the Blue Area is an ancient abandoned city, built by some long-gone civilization and with a breathable atmosphere. Whilst Reed, Sue and Johnny go off to investigate, the Thing is left behind and attacked by the apes and Kragoff, who has discovered the power to turn intangible at will and now calls himself the Red Ghost. However the battle is interrupted by the powerful and mysterious Watcher, a gigantic alien living in the Blue Area and belonging to a race of observers pledged to watch but never interfere. Refusing to let America and the Soviet Union bring their war to the Moon, the Watcher orders the conflict to be limited to the FF and the Red Ghost. As soon as Ben has started explaining the situation to the rest of his team, the Watcher transports them all in the abandoned city and a battle begins, with the Red Ghost proving victorious thanks to the powers of his apes and kidnapping Sue. However, the Invisible Girl manages to turn the tables, feeding the ravenous monkeys and breaking Kragoff's hold on them just in time to save the rest of her team from a trap. The Red Ghost flees into the Watcher's house, but is angrily expelled by the powerful alien, who crowns the Fantastic Four the victors and before departing promises human beings will never be alone in the vastness of the universe. While Kragoff tries to escape his apes, the FF return on Earth.

Fantastic Four: "The Skrulls From Outer Space!"

The Fantastic Four #2 (1962)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Sol Brodsky*

Background: The Fantastic Four have only recently been formed.

So, What Happens? The Fantastic Four appear to go on a crime spree, but it's actually the shape-shifting green alien Skrulls, who wish to discredit the quartet whom they consider their only obstacle to conquering the planet. The real Four meet to discuss the situation, but the army find and imprison them in special holding cells. Nevertheless, they quickly escape and come up with a plan, using the Torch as bait to reveal the real culprits. The plan is successful and the Fantastic Four battle the Skrulls, quickly gaining the upper hand and pressuring them into explaining their plan. In order to avoid the invasion, the Four pretend to be Skrulls and reach the alien mothership, where they convince the Skrull commander to leave as the planet would be too dangerous for them. As the Four re-enter the atmosphere, the Thing briefly turns back to Ben Grimm, giving Reed hope of finding a permanent cure for him. After having showed the prisoner Skrulls to the police - hence clearing their name - the Four talk them into turning into cows. Reed then hypnotizes them to make sure they stay as cows, even though one has apparently escaped. 

Fantastic Four: "The Black Panther!"

Fantastic Four #52 (1966)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott

Background: Johnny is going to college, where his roommate is Wyatt Wingfoot.

So, What Happens? The Fantastic Four are gifted a flying ship by an African chieftain called the Black Panther, and invited to his kingdom of Wakanda for a special hunt. Intrigued by the advanced technology of their gift, Reed accepts the invitation and the team goes to Africa together with Johnny's college roommate Wyatt Wingfoot. They soon reach Wakanda, an incredible country where the lush African jungle hides science and technology so advanced even Reed is impressed. Unfortunately, the invitation turns out to be a trap as the Black Panther appears in a full-black stalking costume and declares the Fantastic Four will be the hunted. After weakening the Thing with an electric shock, the Panther easily traps the Human Torch and causes the rest of the trio to separate, so that he can fight them individually. Susan is the first to fall when the Panther proves able to detect her by hearing and smell, and a weakened Thing is eventually defeated in a hand-to-hand fight. Reed himself doesn't fare much better at the beginning, but unbeknown to the Panther Wyatt has managed to disable his communication system and free the rest of the Fantastic Four. Together again, the team corner the Panther, who surrenders and takes off his mask to tell them his tale.