EXCLUSIVE: The Silver Age return of the Sub-Mariner and the rise of the Dark Phoenix!
April marks the fourth month (of course) of its yearlong Facsimile Edition runs for 2025: the first 12 issues of Lee and Kirby’s original Fantastic Four, and Claremont, Byrne and Austin’s Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future of Past, The X-Men #131 to #142.
Well, the House of Ideas has set the dates for the April installments — and the highlights are the Sub-Mariner’s return to comics in February 1962’s Fantastic Four #4, and Jean Grey’s initial transformation into Dark Phoenix, in February 1980’s The X-Men #134.
Dig the solicitation info, which will be formally released by Marvel later Thursday:
FANTASTIC FOUR #4 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by STAN LEE
Penciled by JACK KIRBY
Cover by JACK KIRBY
VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
FOIL VARIANT COVER ALSO AVAILABLE
The Fantastic Four meet the Sub-Mariner as Stan Lee and Jack Kirby forge links between the modern Marvel Universe and the Golden Age! The impetuous Johnny Storm has quit the Fantastic Four – and while they search for their teammate, the Human Torch finds an amnesiac Namor! But when the Sub-Mariner’s memories return and he finds his beloved home of Atlantis destroyed, he swears vengeance on the surface world – and he can call upon the giant monster Giganto to deliver it! Get ready for the Fantastic Four’s first battle with the mighty Sub-Mariner – and the instantly smitten Namor’s fateful introduction to Susan Storm! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting FANTASTIC FOUR (1961) #4. Marvel is reprinting the first 12 issues of Fantastic Four as they originally appeared!
32 PGS./All Ages …$4.99
On Sale 4/16
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X-MEN #134 FACSIMILE EDITION
Written by CHRIS CLAREMONT & JOHN BYRNE
Penciled by JOHN BYRNE
Cover by JOHN BYRNE
VARIANT COVER BY RICKIE YAGAWA
The X-Men get the upper hand on the Hellfire Club at last, but it may be too late to save Jean Grey from succumbing to the darkness inside! After months of mental manipulation at the hands of Mastermind, she has already become the Club’s Black Queen – but as she gains her vengeance upon Jason Wyngarde, Jean will undergo her deadliest transformation yet! When the Dark Phoenix rises, no force on Earth – or even the entire universe – may be able to stop her! It’s one of the all-time great Marvel comic books, boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all! Reprinting X-MEN (1963) #134. Marvel is reprinting the complete Death of Phoenix Saga issues as they originally appeared!
32 PGS./All Ages …$4.99
On Sale 4/23
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A few thoughts:
— UPDATED: There is a third Facsimile Edition coming in April — a new printing of the Star Wars #1 Facsimile. It’s due April 9 and lists for $4.99.
— Obligatory Price Comparison No. 1: An unslabbed, pretty rough original copy of FF #4 recently sold on eBay for $873.
— Obligatory Price Comparison No. 2: An unslabbed, VF original copy of X-Men #134 recently went for about $112.
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MORE
— MARVEL Sets Dates For March FANTASTIC FOUR and X-MEN Facsimile Editions. Click here.
— MARVEL Sets Dates For February FANTASTIC FOUR and X-MEN Facsimile Editions. Click here.
January 23, 2025
Ahhh! I remember reading the Hellfire Club/Phoenix Saga during my college days! Wonderful times all around! And the artwork was incredible!
January 23, 2025
The latest FF4 facsimiles were a let down, glossy paper, modern size. I was really hoping for a true facsimile like DC started with Tec27 in 2024.
January 25, 2025
Completely agree.
I would have settled for it being printed on comic book newsprint. As is, I’m not buying anymore issues because I already own the first two omnibus volumes
January 23, 2025
Marvel’s also doing another printing of Star Wars 1977 #1 in April. That’s the third book.
January 23, 2025
Thanks, Adam! That was not in the information Marvel provided. I found the listing and will correct the story.
January 23, 2025
I should note that Marvel seems to have stepped up their reprints of facsimiles–not a LOT, but it’s there (I think this month’s Captain America facsimile was done a few years ago). Make of that what you will. Of course, three of this year’s X-Men facsimiles (#137, 141, and 142) were already done and it’ll be nice to skip those months since I already have them.
January 25, 2025
Very disappointed in the Fantastic Four facsimile…glossy paper as opposed to comic newsprint. I already own the first two FF omnibus…I see no reason to continue to buy the facsimiles.