Making their superhero debut back in 1961, the Fantastic Four have remained one of the most beloved and iconic heroes in comic books. With various storylines and crossovers with other Marvel heroes, the team has faced some impossible odds time and time again.

But throughout their early adventures, they have introduced many heroes and villains who would not also become mainstays in their issues but would go on to impact the comic book industry as well as make some cinematic appearances that would stand the test of time. But who are the 10 best characters that the Fantastic Four introduced?

Miracle Man

Miracle Man attacking The Thing of Fantastic Four.

Introduced in Fantastic Four #03, Miracle Man aka Joshua Ayers was a villain who tried to use his powers of hypnosis to commit a series of robberies. However, he was eventually taken down by the Fantastic Four and imprisoned. Since his introduction, the villain attempted to take over the Earth with Daimon Hellstrom's powers and was even a victim of an assassination attempt from Scourge.

But with a universe filled with powerful and godlike beings, it's no surprise to learn that Miracle Man would return. In Marvel Max Comics' The Hood series from 2002, Miracle Man was resurrected to aid The Hood in taking down The Punisher.

Franklin Richards

Franklin Richard Fantastic Four

In recent years, Franklin Richards has become one of the most powerful characters within the pages of Marvel comics. Being able to create whole universes, he far exceeded the powers that his parents, Mr. Fantasic and Sue Storm, possessed.

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Since 1968, Franklin has gone through many changes and forms by many writers and artists over the years. This included his teenage future-self Psi-Lord, journeying across other realities with Man-Thing, and helping to rebuild Earth 616 and Earth 1610 after a devastating incursion between the two universes.

Lockjaw

Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers

Fantastic Four issue #45 has become a key issue for several reasons. It introduced readers to the secret world of the Inhumans and the super-powered beings that were created thanks to Kree's involvement with genetic engineering. So if it weren't for the Fantastic Four and their rivalry with the Inhumans, who knows if the superhuman race would have resurfaced with another Marvel superhero team.

Remaining as one of the oddest of the Inhumans is Lockjaw, a massive canine who is also the pet of the Inhuman's Royal Family. Furthermore, he can teleport himself and others across dimensions, also making him one of the most helpful Inhumans when it comes to the battlefield.

Black Bolt

Black Bolt using his powers in the comics

Lockjaw wasn't the only Inhuman who was introduced in issue #45 of the super-powered family. Among several key characters who would become mainstays within the pages of the Marvel comics, Black Bolt has remained as their leader after all these years.

The head of the Royal Family, Black Bolt is also one of the most powerful members of the Inhumans. With the ability to wipe out his enemies with just a whisper of a word, he has joined many battles and wars since across other Marvel comics.

Skrulls

Skrulls posing as heroes, standing and filling space

One of the earliest Fantastic Four villains is the Skrulls, an alien race with the ability to shapeshift and appear like the planet's inhabitants. Back in the second issue, the Skrulls took on the appearance of the Fantastic Four and committed countless crimes as the real superhero team tried to uncover them and resolve the problem.

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Since then, the Skrulls have appeared in countless storylines and battled other superheroes throughout the years. From their attempt to replace some of the Earth's mightiest heroes and take over the Earth in Secret Invasion to Captain Marvel battling the Super-Skrull in the pages of the Avengers comics, they show no signs of stopping their conquest anytime soon.

The Watcher

More recently, many will be familiar with The Watcher from the MCU's Disney+ series What If...? But this cosmic being has been around for far longer and was another alien whom the Fantastic Four encountered.

Introduced in issue #13 back in 1963, The Watcher stopped a fight between the heroes and The Red Ghost and explained to them and the readers their role within the universe. And the characters who make up this race would go on to aid and observe the multiverse and the many heroes who inhabit them.

Silver Surfer

Silver Surfer flying through space.

Acting as the herald of the celestial being known as Galactus, the Silver Surfer serves his master by finding planets that can sustain his never-ending hunger while saving those that could do the universe some good. While comic book fans of Silver Surfer know this, he was once known as Norrin Radd from the Planet Zenn-La, he sacrificed himself to become Galactus' herald for the safety of his homeworld.

With his cosmic abilities, the Silver Surfer has become an ally for the universe as well as a sought-after tool for destruction. From aiding the Fantastic Four in Annihilation - Scourge to being controlled by the Carnage Symbiote in one of the What If...? storylines, the Silver Surfer has captured the imagination of many comic book writers over the years.

Galactus

Galactus Reaching

Shortly after the Silver Surfer discovers the Earth and summons his master in Fantastic Four issue #48, readers were introduced to the gigantic celestial being known as Galactus. Appearing as a giant humanoid, the being is responsible for the destruction of countless planets as he feeds off their energy.

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Galactus has now become one of the major antagonists across countless Marvel comic storylines and his popularity has grown into other forms of media. While fans were disappointed by his appearance in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the same can't be said for ending the Marvel-themed season 4 of Fortnite as he overlooked the island in Chapter 2.

Black Panther

Black Panther Classic Costume

Today, Black Panther is one of the most celebrated and beloved among the Marvel heroes with a code of honor that he follows and protects the advanced fictional homeland of Wakanda. With a hugely successful movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a sequel currently being produced, it seems that the character isn't stepping out of the spotlight anytime soon.

While comic book fans of Black Panther may know this fact, some may be surprised to know, however, that the character of T'Chala and his heroic alter-ego was introduced in Fantastic Four issue #52. Invited to the secret nation of Wakanda, the heroes are split apart and tested by the hero for a challenging task that lies ahead of them.

Doctor Doom

doctor doom

Another classic villain of the Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom is also one of their earliest as he battled them in their 5th issue back in 1962. The ruler of Latveria, the intellectual king has tricked the Fantastic Four on more than one occasion, often using his technology to outwit even the likes of Mr. Fantastic.

But his presence has grown across Marvel's multiverse as he became a godly ruler in the Secret Wars story arc, controlled and gained Wanda's powers in Children's Crusade, and even escaped Hell with Thor's hammer, Mjolnir. Needless to say, he is easily one of the most dangerous villains that were introduced in the Fantastic Four and Marvel comics respectively.

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