Written by: Stan Lee
Drawn by: Jack Kirby
Inking: Dick Ayers
Lettering: Art Simek
Whilst we're some way away from multi-issue continuing narratives and subplots that would take months to resolve, steps are being taken to provide a sense of continuity from issue to issue. This first panel from Fantastic Four #18 does so, reminding readers of the battle with Doctor Doom, providing those who might have missed it with a subtle hint to seek out the previous issue.
Meanwhile, Ben's referencing the publishing of the Fantastic Four's adventures in the Marvel Universe. But how quickly can a comics company create and print comics in the Marvel Universe? The news report seems to suggest that the battle with Doom has only been over for a matter of hours, and Ben's already complaining that people are not buying the comics. Jack had a well-deserved reputation for being a workhorse, but even he would have balked at the thought of plotting and pencilling a 22-page book in a matter of hours.
Check out our coverage of Fantastic Four #18 on our seventeenth episode: No Funny Title Springs To Mind
[audio http://traffic.libsyn.com/ffcast/Episode_17.mp3]