#annual6

#JackedKirby - Collaging With The King!!! One of the coolest parts of the 1960s Marvel series that Jack and Stan worked on has to be the introduction of the annual... an extra doubles sized issue put out every year to maximize sales and tell additional stories (while also reprinting older ones to increase the page count!). Some of the best stories/characters were introduced in these annuals... and one of the best is Fantastic Four #Annual6 !!! Published in November of 1968, the story of this annual deals with the complications Sue Richards has during childbirth. Reed, Johnny and Ben must travel to the Negative Zone in order to retrieve something to aid in the birth... but they accidentally take that item from Annihilus, the warlord like ruler of the Negative Zone!!! While the book is loaded with important first appearances and the eventual birth of Franklin Richards, one of the coolest things included in the book are the fantastic collages that Jack worked into the book (Pic 1). Including both practical pencil art and photographic imagery, these collages are amazing considering the limited printing technology that existed in 1968. But check out the awesome pencil art WITHOUT the photographic background (pic 2). It really makes you appreciate the craftsmanship of the finished double page spread that was in the final book.... and it’s even more apparent when you see the close ups of each page in pics 3/4 of this post! Once again, Jack was way ahead of his time... the once and true King! #JackKirby #KingKirby #Kirby #FF #FantasticFour #Annihilus #NegativeZone #Annuals #MarvelAnnuals #60sComics #ComicsOfThe60s #Comic #Comics #ComicBooks #ComicBook #KirbyCollages #Collages #FranklinRichards #IGComics #ComicsOfIG https://www.instagram.com/p/CDL9TQrhVww/?igshid=1p7nptoajzszn

#JackKirby - Annihilus Arrives! 💥💥💥 The Fantastic Four Annuals became a bit of a tradition at Marvel in the mid 60s... they were oversized 72 Page special issues loaded with original stories, reprint of classic tales and bonus content... by the time #Annual6 of the FF showed up in November of 1968 we had already been given so much in terms of bombshell stories. But Jack and Stan had something up their sleeves with the birth of the Reed’s baby boy and a new villain.... Annihilus of the Negative Zone!!! 💥💥💥 Sue was having complications with her pregnancy and Reed deduces that the only thing that can help her is Element X, which can only be found in the Negative Zone. Upon entering the Zone Johnny, Ben and Reed are trapped by Annihilus, a crazy insect like warlord bent on destroying and conquering anyone he encounters! 💥💥💥 Annihilus has a cosmic rod of power that contains Element X. Reed decides to steal it to save Sue... but that doesn’t make Annihilus very happy. He pursues the trio all over the Negative Zone before trapping them and demanding his rod back in exchange for safe passage back to Earth. Reed gives up the Rod... but not before siphoning off some of the Element X! They return, give it to Sue and she has a beautiful baby boy! 💥💥💥 The story is a great one, giving us Franklin Richards and making the FF the true “First Family” Of Marvel. But the real reason of its importance is the expansion of the Negative Zone mythos and the introduction of a character like Annihilus. After this story the Negative Zone could be a bastion of endless possibilities, holding limitless horrors for future creators to mine. Annihilus, with his insect/robot looking features and his terrifying bat wings, shows us that literally ANYTHING could be living in the Negative Zone, patiently waiting to attack us here on Earth! His design (and his coloring choice also) is another artistic triumph for Jack, who was in his most productive period of his career at this time (he was banging out close to 75-100 pages a month between various titles and covers). Annihilus is further proof that Jack had plenty of innovative character designs left in the tank... #JackKirby #KingKirby

#JackedKirby - Let There Be... Life! The FF Annuals were always a great source of material during the golden era of Jack and Stan creating that book. Those oversized 64 page monster books were loaded with not only great stories but tons of supplemental material. Those pin-ups, character profiles and maps did wonders to fill out an issue... But when #Annual6 came out in November of 1968 it was one of the most epic stories ever told... and the reason has to be the humanity behind it. Sue Richards is about to give birth and she finds out that she may have a virus from the radiation that she was exposed to in the Negative Zone back in #Issue1 of the series. Only Reed can help... and he has a plan. He is going to return to the Negative Zone and try to get some Element X which may help out with the virus for Sue and the baby. Reed, Johnny and Ben head to the Negative Zone and end up meeting the warlord Annihilus while trying to get the Element X. They spend precious moments dodging his attacks and other dangers in the Negative Zone while trying to get back to Sue... The guys succeed and are back in the nick of time to give Sue and the baby the antidote. This would not be the last time they met Annihilus, but luckily they are back and there to see the birth of baby Franklin!!! These are the final two pages of the issue. What a great family moment... look how happy these guys are!!! #JackKirby #KingKirby #Kirby #FF #FantasticFour #Annual #70sComics #ComicsOfThe70s #BenGrimm #ReedRichards #SueRichards #JohnnyStorm #FranklinRichards #Comics #Comic #ComicBook #ComicBooks #Marvel #Annihilus #NegativeZone #FamilyFirst #Crystal #ElementX