*Marvel: This early Lee & Kirby classic saw the introduction of one of the Fantastic Four’s nemeses, the malevolent Mad Thinker! A strategic genius, criminal mastermind and brilliant scientist in multiple fields, the Thinker’s intellect is believed to be the equal of Reed Richards himself. Despite being a thorn in the collective sides of the FF and multiple other Marvel heroes, the Thinker’s background and origin remained entirely unexplored for more than half a century. Also premiering here, the Thinker’s Awesome Android, initially just a near-mindless artificial henchperson, who over the years blossomed into an endearing supporting character as a co-worker of the She-Hulk in her later series. No, really. This is apparently a beautiful copy, minor wear at cover corners, but a lovely bright yellow cover background colour completely unmarred (NB pence stamped), firm staples, some trace of Marvel chipping at upper right cover edge not harming the main cover image at all. The problem with it is the interior; on three pages, there is a vertical tear of about 12 cm (about half a page) up from the centre of the lower edge, although nothing is missing. Overall we have graded it as VG- to take account of that, whereas superficially it’s around FN.
PICTURED: FANTASTIC FOUR #15 VG- p £100