The Top 15 Fantastic Four Covers Of All Time

Which artists best covered Marvel's heroic quartet?

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Comic book artists know that readers don’t listen to their teachers or their parents, so they realize that the warning “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is rarely heeded. They also know that a comic book cover is the most important marketing tool in the industry. At a single glance, a reader can tell exactly what will happen inside of the book and whether or not he/she wants to buy it. That’s why there's a meticulous approach to a cover's composition that goes well beyond just being a cool-looking picture.

Some artists tease their audience with the bare minimum in order to get the reader’s attention, some spell out the issue's plot with a more complicated image and dialogue samples, and others simply draw an iconic image of the main character without worrying about story details. All are acceptable practices, but only a select few comic illustrators know how to truly pull each one off.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Fantastic Four #1; in order to celebrate the momentous occasion, we’re counting down the Top 15 Fantastic Four Covers Of All Time.

Written by Jason Serafino (@serafinoj1)

15. FANTASTIC FOUR #92 (1969)

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14. FANTASTIC FOUR #61 (1967)

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13. FANTASTIC FOUR #5 (1962)

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12. FANTASTIC FOUR #12 (1963)

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11. FANTASTIC FOUR #51 (1966)

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10. FANTASTIC FOUR #268 (1984)

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9. FANTASTIC FOUR VOL. 3 #56 (2002)

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8. FANTASTIC FOUR #292 (1986)

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7. FANTASTIC FOUR #524 (2005)

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6. FANTASTIC FOUR #236 (1981)

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5. FANTASTIC FOUR #528 (2005)

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4. FANTASTIC FOUR #3 (1961)

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3. FANTASTIC FOUR #258 (1983)

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2. FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (1961)

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1. FANTASTIC FOUR #48 (1966)

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