Fantastic Four: Lost Adventures by Stan Lee

The lost adventure that highlights this volume isn't really all that lost. It's merely the original script of issue #108 that wasn't able to be completed in it's original vision before Kirby defected to DC in the early 70s. The story did see print, it just has a few plot twists that differ and art by an artist other than The King. Fans do finally get a chance to read the original product and that which never came to be.There are a few changes between the two version but in all honesty, it's not really worth the $25 cover price.

Marvel adds a few other stories to the mix in hopes of making this volume worth buying. The Last Fantastic Four Story:\; a what if scenario in which the FF finally solve all their problems and are no longer needed on earth. The Stan Lee/John Romita Jr. story was very good. But again it wasn't enough to cough up $25 for.

There's also reprints of two anniversary issues. Issue #296 has the The Thing returning from his exile on the Beyonder's planet. Ole Blue Eye thinks that he's going to be welcomed back to the Baxter Building with open arms. But having his girl now in the arms of Johnny Storm and his spot taken up by She-Hulk, Thing decides to once again exile himself. This time to Monster Island with no other than the Mole Man!

The other reprint is from issue #543. In this Mike Allred inked tale, Stan the Man returns with a fun-filled romp with the First Family of Marvel. This one alone makes up for most of the hype/understatement of this collection. But it's a very short story of only 10 pages. 

This book was published in 2009. I can only imagine how expensive this book would be if published new now. $27.99 $29.99? $34.99? This is a shining example of why Marvel is in so much trouble right now in terms of sales. While I know that the company wants to make a great example by putting out works on premium paper with the highest quality ink on the market; the costs are just too high for most fans wallets. 

I got this book at a used book store. So I only paid a few bucks for it. I can't find how much I paid for it, but I cannot imagine I paid more than $12.50. This was a good read. It's full of 'director's cut' material, like original scripts and a slew of sketches. But if I was to have paid full price, I would demanding my money back as the promised material nowhere near matches the actual level of quality and quantity of this book.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars. 

(Note: The hardcover edition of this book also retailed for $25. I thought paperback was supposed to be cheaper than hard! I guess nobody told the House of Ideas.)