Roy Thomas

Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 4 collects the close of the most influential creative run in Marvel history and the transition that followed. It gathers Fantastic Four #94-125 — Jack Kirby's final issues on the title (his last is #102) — and then continues past his departure as Stan Lee is joined by John Romita Sr. and John Buscema, with the peerless inks of Joe Sinnott. It documents the end of an era and the passing of the FF art baton, in an oversized hardcover built for these classics.

The third Fantastic Four omnibus covers the final period of the Lee/Kirby collaboration — the run toward Kirby's departure to DC, featuring the introduction of the Him/Warlock concept, Crystal's full integration into the team after Sue Storm's pregnancy, and the complete Kree/Skrull setup that Thomas would develop in Avengers. These late Kirby issues show a creator pushing against the creative constraints of the Marvel system before leaving for DC and the New Gods concept that would be his ultimate artistic statement.