*Marvel: Issue #13 of the Fantastic Four brought us to the mysterious Blue Area of the Moon, and introduced the enigmatic Watcher, cosmic custodian of devices of unimaginable power. Despite his vast power and omniscient knowledge, the Watcher was solemnly sworn never to intervene in the affairs of Earth… unless, you know, he really wanted to, which fortunately for Marvel Earth he did numerous times before his untimely death in 2014! (It’s okay, he got better. We think. Modern comics are a bit hazy for us, but we’re sure we’ve seen him around…) Moreover, it featured a Russian scientist re-creating the flight which gave the FF their powers to gain super-abilities of his own – and by staffing his ship with trained primates, making sure his ‘teammates’ were subservient to him! The Red Ghost and his Super-Apes (Mikhlo, Igor and Piotr – we knew you were dying to know!) also became a recurring feature in the Marvel Universe, even after the Cold War thawed. This double-shot debut from the Bute Collection, heroic and villainous, is a mid-grade pence printed copy. The cover has some reading and handling wear, with a small number of creases, only one or two of which break colour at all, and not in a big way. A couple of small drop stains near the bottom of the logo, but these look like stars or planets in the sky. Staples are tight and firm throughout. Decent colour with creamy, supple pages.
PICTURED: FANTASTIC FOUR #13 VG+ p £350