Jack Kirby collage from an issue of The Fantastic Four.
Not just any issue of Fantastic Four! This (if I’m not mistaken) is from the classic issue “This Man… This Monster!” my favorite FF story of all time.
The story, in which an unnamed impostor steals the Thing’s powers and identity in order to kill Reed Richards, is notable for its emphasis on the characters’ humanity over their superpowers. Directly following the Galactus saga, this is an intentionally small-scaled story in which none of the main characters even use their powers outside of the Human Torch briefly lighting his thumb up like a lighter as a joke.
In the end, the impostor, in awe of Reed’s heroic decency, sacrifices his own life to save the very man he had wanted to kill. A gorgeous story all around, from Kirby’s lush splash pages (e.g. above) to Lee’s trademark overwritten hokey pathos. Worth checking out!
(via crockeronline)
