If the Fantastic Four are Marvel's "First Family" Sue Storm is Marvel's original MILF.

I think that Sue is criminally underrated, if I'm being honest. The Fantastic Four have secured themselves as icons, legends in the realm of superheroes, but I still think they're underappreciated.

When I was younger, my dad let me read the Fantastic Four. It was a small collection of their first few adventures, documenting their debut. It was a pocket-sized book, clearly meant to be carried around and read under the covers with a flashlight, or under your desk during class.

The stories in that book were awe-inspiring. I found the constant narration from both characters and and text boxes to be a bit dated and clunky, but no less charming. There's a way the dialogue was written that hearkens to the radio serials of the time, where what's happening in each panel is explained in great detail. Like I said, it's dated, but very charming.

Then there was the art.

If the writing of the stories were fantastic, the art made them fucking incredible. Jack Kirby is the King for a reason. You can feel the size and weight of each uniquely memorable monster. The heat and power from each energy blast.

When Galactus descends from the sky, you feel pure magic. Art and story combine forces to form something truly cosmic. That story, and stories like it, are what made me fall in love with superheroes. Followers of mine probably know me more for my DC fanart, but I've also got a soft spot for Marvel.

I feel like the Fantastic Four doesn't always get the recognition they deserve. Without them, we wouldn't have the Marvel universe, or maybe even superheroes as we know them. My good friend BullbasaurusRex reminded me of those old stories, and has really helped me find new appreciation for the classics.

Which brings us to Sue Storm.

I think Susan Storm-Richards is one of the best female superheroes ever written, and it makes me sad that she isn't more appreciated.

There's a moment in that old Fantastic Four book I was always fascinated by. It's the Fantastic Four responding to letters sent in by fans. It's already a little mind-boggling to see the characters respond to in-universe letters that break the fourth wall by referring to events only the characters would know about. That moment completely shatters the fourth wall in a way that I find interesting. But the key moment for me was seeing a detractor write in saying that he thought Sue, the Invisible Woman, didn't do anything and was the least valuable member of the team. Sue, the character, is pretty heartbroken by this, and confesses that she doubts herself, and even thinks the detractor might be right.

Then the other three comfort her. Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic, her husband, comforts her and cites specific examples in the previous stories where she did help. He makes a comparison between Sue and Abraham Lincoln's mother, and assures her that she's vital to the team. Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, her brother, and Ben Grimm, the Thing, her friend, even consider finding the person who wrote the letter and giving them a piece of their minds.

That moment completely breaks down when you put it under scrutiny in a writing sense. It's like a ventriloquist who isn't even trying to hide the fact that their lips are moving. The writers of the comic are clearly using the characters in-story to respond to this letter in particular.

But I still love it.

The authors' response feels totally guileless. They aren't smacking someone down for being wrong, they're taking the time to enlighten someone who might not have fully understood something. I don't think the person who wrote that letter was an anti-feminist, and I don't think that the Fantastic Four went out of its way to defend Sue and make her feel special because she's a woman. Reed's defense of her comes off as very genuine and earnest, I don't get the feeling that he's saying these things just to make her feel better. Sue Storm is a scientist, a mother, and a superhero. He genuinely values her as a person, and as a member of the team.

One of the things I love the most about the Fantastic Four, and their original stories, is the aspect of them being a family. Each member feels like a fully developed person, their interpersonal dynamics are deep and nuanced. Johnny and Ben bicker constantly, but the two would lay their life down for the other in a second. Sue is kind of tough on Johnny, who usually blows her off, but the two have nothing but love for each other. The family aspect is integral to them, and it's something I think should be valued more. We've got plenty of great found family superhero groups, but the Fantastic Four being a tightly-knit family has a similar but different value.

I've been watching Mad Men recently, this kind of stuff has been on my mind a lot. And quite fittingly, Sue's face here is based on the artwork of Phil Noto, who strikes a balance between modern techniques and the retro styles of Classic Marvel.

So why did I make her so fucking thicc?

Mostly cause of an ungodly thirst for comic book characters and MILFs. But also because I think Sue is the type of lady to very bashful about that kind of thing. She's a scientist, a mom, and a married woman. I don't think she'd see herself that way.

After I'd read it, I was shocked that my dad had torn out the pin-up of Sue in the back of that Fantastic Four book and given it to me.

It's hung over my desk ever since, and I've been looking at it and thinking about it a lot more recently.

What do you guys think? Do you like the art? How do you feel about Sue, and/or the Fantastic Four in general?

Be sure to let me know down below!