The Frightful Four are a group of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They serve as the antithesis to the Fantastic Four.
Publication history The Frightful Four first appeared in Fantastic Four #36 (March 1965), and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
The team subsequently appears in Fantastic Four #94 (January 1970), #129 (December 1972), #148 (July 1974), #177 (December 1976), Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #42 (May 1980), The Amazing Spider-Man #214-215 (March–April 1981), Fantastic Four #326-328 (May–July 1989), Fantastic Four Unlimited #5 (March 1994), The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #418 (June 1994), Deadpool vol. 3 #35 (December 1999), Fantastic Four vol. 3 #29 (May 2000), and Fantastic Four #514 (August 2004), and #547-549, and Superior Carnage #1-5 (2014).
The Frightful Four received an entry in The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #3.
Fictional team biography The Frightful Four first appears in Fantastic Four #36, consisting of Wizard, Sandman, Paste-Pot Pete (later called Trapster), and an amnesiac Medusa. The villains are originally fairly successful, almost defeating the Fantastic Four during Susan Storm and Reed Richards's engagement party in their first appearance. They capture all the members except the Human Torch, who frees the others.Fantastic Four #36 (March 1965)
Wizard uses a hypnosis device on the Thing to enslave him at Medusa's request. When the Fantastic Four attempt to rescue the Thing, they are overcome by the Frightful Four and captured. Human Torch and Invisible Woman manage to free themselves from their respective traps and counterattack the Frightful Four, allowing Mister Fantastic to free himself. However, the Human Torch is recaptured and brainwashed. The Frightful Four incapacitate the Human Torch, but learn that he had been pretending to be mind-controlled. Meanwhile, Mister Fantastic tries to use a device to reverse the brainwashing on Thing. However, Thing tries to destroy the machine to escape, causing an explosion that exposes him to a near-lethal dose of radiation. Although it worked and Thing is freed of the brainwashing, he is placed in a bed to examine the radiation's potential effects on him. The Frightful Four return to the Baxter Building and attack Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman, showing them that they have taken Human Torch hostage. However, Thing revives just long enough to crush Wizard's body armor, giving Human Torch the chance to free himself from the gigantic anti-gravity disc he is tied to. The Fantastic Four defeat the Frightful Four and capture Wizard, Trapster, and Sandman while Medusa escapes.Fantastic Four #41 - #43 (August - October 1965)
After Medusa regains her memories, she leaves the Frightful Four, with Thundra taking her place.Fantastic Four #129 (December 1972) The Frightful Four capture the Fantastic Four and hold an audition to find a permanent member, with Texas Twister and Captain Ultra unsuccessfully auditioning. When Tigra arrives and frees the Fantastic Four, Wizard announces that whoever can defeat them can join the Frightful Four. Out of the villains that left, only Brute remains.Fantastic Four #177 (December 1976) Brute joins the Frightful Four and assists them in fighting the Fantastic Four.Fantastic Four #178 (January 1977)
Wizard later assembled Hydro-Man, Titania, and Klaw as the Frightful Four when attacking the Four Freedoms Plaza following Sandman's reform. During the battle, Thing regresses to his human form. The Frightful Four manage to take down the other members of the Fantastic Four as Klaw was defeated. When Dragon Man is brought in as Klaw's replacement, Thing rescues his teammates and stops the Frightful Four.Fantastic Four #326 - #328 (May - July 1989)
When the Fantastic Four's reputation was damaged by their attempted coup of Latveria to destroy Doctor Doom's arsenal, the Wizard assembles a new team consisting of himself, the Trapster, Hydro-Man (who now wears a costume made from the same material has Human Torch's costume), and his ex-wife Salamandra, seeking to take advantage of the team's current poor standing by defeating them on a live broadcast.Fantastic Four #513 (July 2004) With the aid of the Wizard and Salamandra's daughter Cole, the Frightful Four are defeated when Cole helps the Fantastic Four find her father's base.Fantastic Four #516 (September 2004)
Another version of the Frightful Four (consisting of Wizard, Hydro-Man, Titania, and Trapster) appears to challenge the Fantastic Four again, only to find themselves dealing with the additional presence of Black Panther and Storm, who had temporarily joined the Fantastic Four while Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman were on a second honeymoon to work on their marriage after their separation during the "Civil War".Fantastic Four #547 (August 2007)
Wizard begins developing dementia due to punishment inflicted by Black Bolt, so he decides to create a new Frightful Four with Klaw, Karl Malus, and Carnage. He attempts to control Cletus Kasady's mind, but is unable to. He instead transfers his blood into Malus, transforming him into Superior Carnage.Superior Carnage #3 (November 2013) Wizard intends to take over NYC City Hall and impress his son, but is stopped by Superior Spider-Man.Superior Carnage #5 (January 2014)
Under the orders of a mysterious benefactor, Wizard forms another incarnation of the Frightful Four consisting of Wrecker, Thunderball, and Bulldozer.Fantastic Four (vol. 5) #3 (June 2014) During a fight with the Fantastic Four, the Frightful Four demonstrated increased powers with which they almost defeat the heroes until the Future Foundation replacement team led by Ant-Man arrives to help them. As the Frightful Four are being taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, Wizard revealed that the attack had been financed by a bigger enemy, and that they did their part.Fantastic Four (vol. 5) #4 (July 2014)
Wizard is later freed by the same individual who financed his attack and is given more resources to reform the Frightful Four. Using Gazelle, Reptilla, and Vertigo of Salem's Seven, Wizard attacks Chicago to get the attention of Mister Fantastic. Mister Fantastic is almost defeated by the Frightful Four until Scarlet Witch appears to help him.Fantastic Four (vol. 5) #10 (November 2014) After witnessing the scale of the Quiet Man's plans for revenge coupled with the "betrayal" of his clone Bentley 23, Wizard leads the new Frightful Four of She-Thing, Thundra and Sandman against the Quiet Man's invasion, concluding that this was not a world he wanted for his "son".Fantastic Four #642-645 (March - June 2015)
After Deadpool failed to deliver Dracula's bride Shiklah in time, Dracula creates a new Frightful Four consisting of Brood mercenary Xzax, Marcus the Centaur, N'Kantu, the Living Mummy, and Frankenstein's Monster. Except for Frankenstein's Monster, the entire team is apparently killed by Deadpool.Deadpool: The Gauntlet #8 - #10 (April - May 2014)
Membership First appearing in Fantastic Four #36, and led by the Wizard, the team was put together to fight against the Fantastic Four.
Character Real Name Joined In Notes Known membersWizardBorn Bentley Wittman; legally changed to WizardFantastic Four #36The founder and leader of the team. Only member who has been a member of every incarnation of the team.SandmanWilliam Baker a.k.a. Flint MarkoHas also been a member of the Sinister Twelve, Sinister Six, Outlaws, an Avengers reservist, and the Wild Pack.Trapster(formerly Paste-Pot Pete)Peter PetruskiHas also been a member of the Lethal Legion and Sinister Six.MedusaMedusalith Amaquelin BoltagonInhumans, a Queen of Attilan, wife of Black Bolt; was suffering from amnesia during her membership.ThundraFantastic Four #129A warrior woman and time traveler from the 23rd century. Has also been a member of the Grapplers. Some time later, mole of the Fantastic Four.ConstrictorFrank PayneDeadpool vol. 3 #35The test team member. Has also been a member of the Sinister Syndicate, Six-Pack, Masters of Evil, S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Initiative.DeadpoolWade T. WilsonA human (mutate), mercenary and assassin. The test team member. Has also been a member of the Six Pack, Weapon X, Heroes for Hire, Great Lakes Initiative, Maggia, and Agency X. He is currently a member of ThunderboltsTaskmasterAnthony "Tony" MastersThe test team member. He will work for nearly anyone for the right price. Has also been a member of the Thunderbolts, Agency X. and the Fifty State Initiative.Brute Reed RichardsFantastic Four #177An alternate version of Mister Fantastic from Counter-Earth.ElectroMax DillonThe Spectacular Spider-Man #42Has also been a member of the Sinister Twelve, Sinister Six, Emissaries of Evil, and Exterminators.LlyraLlyra MorrisThe Amazing Spider-Man #214Mother of Llyron, a member of the water-breathing Homo mermanus who dwell in Lemuria, and Rhonda Morris, a surface woman who inherited her father's oceanarium in Hawaii.Hydro-ManMorris BenchFantastic Four #326Has also been a member of the Sinister Twelve, Masters of Evil, and Sinister Syndicate.TitaniaMary "Skeeter" MacPherran-CreelHas also been a member of the Masters of Evil.KlawUlysses KlawBlack Panther's enemy. Has also been a member of the Masters of Evil and Fearsome Foursome.Dragon ManFantastic Four #328A dragon-like android created by Gregson Gilbert. Has also been a member of the New Enforcers.Absorbing ManCarl "Crusher" CreelIncredible Hulk vol. 2 #418An unofficial team member. Husband of Titania. Has also been a member of the Masters of Evil.Living LaserArthur ParksAn unofficial team member. Has also been a member of the Mandarin's Minions, Batroc's Brigade, the Lethal Legion, and MODOK's 11.Mister HydeCalvin ZaboAn unofficial team member. Father of Daisy Johnson. Has also been a member of the Masters of Evil.She-ThingSharon VenturaFantastic Four Unlimited #5Also known as Ms. Marvel. Has also been a member of the Thunderiders and Fantastic Four. Former girlfriend of the Thing.Red GhostIvan KragoffA Soviet scientist who assembled a crew of three primates named Mikhlo the gorilla, Igor the baboon, and Peotr the orangutan to form the Super-Apes.DreadknightBram VelsingSpider-Man: Chaos in Calgary #4When the criminal Black Knight died fighting Iron Man, Dreadknight was likely meant as a new/legacy version of the villain.Man-BullWilliam TaurensHas also been a member of the Death Squad.BlastaarFantastic Four: World's Greatest Comics Magazine #10A member of an alien race of the planet Baluur in the Negative Zone. Enemy of Annihilus, another Fantastic Four villain. PunisherFantastic Four vol. 3 #29A cyborg created by Galactus. ColeFantastic Four #514A daughter of Wizard and Salamandra. Current whereabouts are unknown.SalamandraMother of Cole. Former wife of Wizard.LyraHulk vol. 2 #19Hailing from Earth-8009, Lyra is the genetically engineered daughter of Thundra and the Hulk of Earth-616. Has also been a member of A.R.M.O.R.BeetleAbner JenkinsThe Amazing Spider-Man #657Beetle was seen in a flashback as a member of the Frightful Four when they ambushed Spider-Man and Human Torch.Karl MalusSuperior Carnage #2Recruited to help Wizard gain control of the symbiote Carnage, Malus soon finds himself forcibly made into Carnage's new host.WreckerDirk GarthwaiteFantastic Four vol. 5 #3Also leader of the Wrecking Crew.ThunderballEliot FranklinAlso a member of the Wrecking Crew.BulldozerMarci CampDaughter of the original Bulldozer.GazelleFantastic Four vol. 5 #10Also a member of the Salem's Seven.ReptillaVertigoN'Kantu, the Living MummyN'KantuDeadpool: the Gauntlet Infinite Comic #8This is the first time the Wizard was not a member. The team was referred to as The New Frightful Four and were formed by Dracula.Marcus the CentaurMarcusXzaxFrankenstein's MonsterNone
Wannabes The wannabes were a group of superhumans who gathered in response to an advertisement to join the team.
Captain Ultra Osprey Texas Twister