Amazing Heroes Issue #1 Cover Page
Dublin Core
Title
Amazing Heroes Issue #1 Cover Page
Subject
Periodical
Comic strips
Comic strips
Description
The 1st issue of the Amazing Heroes comic was released in June 1981. On the cover features the members of the Fantastic Four: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Thing, and Human Torch. This Amazing Heroes cover mimics the cover of the first issue of The Fantastic Four, which was produced in 1961. Both covers feature Giganto emerging out of the concrete to grab onto Invisible Girl as she struggles to break free from his grip. Human Torch flies around Giganto in an attempt to have him release Invisible Girl. Meanwhile, on the cracked ground, Mr. Fantastic is lying down, tangled up in a rope; close by, the Thing stands with arms open, ready to face whatever challenge Giganto tries to throw at him. In addition to the characters being in the same places in both covers, the text box is also written in the same style. In this Amazing Heroes cover, the text box says, “Featuring STAR WARS! STAR HAWKS! JOHN BYRNE! Dial “H” for Hero! Together For the First Time In One Mighty Magazine!” This parallel between the two covers is a way to pay homage to the original Fantastic Four cover, as the characters make their first appearance in the Amazing Heroes series.
The Fantastic Four was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Instead of making the characters cliché superheroes who have roughly the same backgrounds and characteristics, and who tend to have secret identities, Lee decided to give the four major characters ordinary storylines and make them regular people; he wanted them to be people that everyone knew and recognized. In addition, he wanted to make sure they were connected in some way: they’re all close friends - two are related, and two are lovers. By giving them all such relatable and flawed personalities, they became more relatable, and readers loved reading about them after the first issue was published in November 1961. This creation was the start of the Silver Age of Comic Books. But, there was tension between Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as they both argue they were the primary contributors to not only the Fantastic Four, but other comics as well. While Stan Lee created the storyline, Jack Kirby created the art/drawings, so it is fair to say that they should both receive credit for their creations. The Amazing Heroes comic series made an appearance from 1981 to 1992, publishing a total of 204 issues. This first edition, up to through the 13th edition, started off as a magazine-sized comic, and was then changed to comic book size. This first issue features the same Fantastic Four style from its first issue, which may be what draws readers in the first place. Editor Michael Catron worked on the Comics Journal staff before it transitioned into Fantagraphics Books. He was the editor of this issue of Amazing Heroes and was also a writer for them in 1984. In addition, he worked as an assistant to Mike Gold at DC Comics from 1977 to 1979.
The Fantastic Four was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Instead of making the characters cliché superheroes who have roughly the same backgrounds and characteristics, and who tend to have secret identities, Lee decided to give the four major characters ordinary storylines and make them regular people; he wanted them to be people that everyone knew and recognized. In addition, he wanted to make sure they were connected in some way: they’re all close friends - two are related, and two are lovers. By giving them all such relatable and flawed personalities, they became more relatable, and readers loved reading about them after the first issue was published in November 1961. This creation was the start of the Silver Age of Comic Books. But, there was tension between Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as they both argue they were the primary contributors to not only the Fantastic Four, but other comics as well. While Stan Lee created the storyline, Jack Kirby created the art/drawings, so it is fair to say that they should both receive credit for their creations. The Amazing Heroes comic series made an appearance from 1981 to 1992, publishing a total of 204 issues. This first edition, up to through the 13th edition, started off as a magazine-sized comic, and was then changed to comic book size. This first issue features the same Fantastic Four style from its first issue, which may be what draws readers in the first place. Editor Michael Catron worked on the Comics Journal staff before it transitioned into Fantagraphics Books. He was the editor of this issue of Amazing Heroes and was also a writer for them in 1984. In addition, he worked as an assistant to Mike Gold at DC Comics from 1977 to 1979.
Creator
Executive Editor: J. Michael Catron
Art Director: Peppy White
Staff Writers: J. Michael Catron, Richard Morrissey
Staff Artists: John Byme, Gary Kwapisz, Kevin Nowian, Mitch O’Connell, Dan Reed, Paul M. Smith
Research: Gene Reed
Art Director: Peppy White
Staff Writers: J. Michael Catron, Richard Morrissey
Staff Artists: John Byme, Gary Kwapisz, Kevin Nowian, Mitch O’Connell, Dan Reed, Paul M. Smith
Research: Gene Reed
Source
MSU Special Collection Comic Art, PN6725.A47
Publisher
Zam, Inc.
Date
1981-06
Contributor
Miranda Kalinowski
Rights
Rights Restrictions Apply
Format
10 and 1/4 inches by 6 and 5/8 inches
Language
English
Type
Periodical
Coverage
1981 - 1992
Files
Collection
Citation
Executive Editor: J. Michael Catron
Art Director: Peppy White
Staff Writers: J. Michael Catron, Richard Morrissey
Staff Artists: John Byme, Gary Kwapisz, Kevin Nowian, Mitch O’Connell, Dan Reed, Paul M. Smith
Research: Gene Reed, “Amazing Heroes Issue #1 Cover Page,” Critical Fanscape, accessed October 17, 2026, https://chambl91.msu.domains/CriticalFanscape/items/show/50.