One of the best Fantastic Four stories is 'This Man, This Monster'. It delves deep into the concept of identity and how appearance doesn't define a person. It shows the Thing's struggle with his new form and the contrast with a character who desires to be like him. It's a classic that really explores the emotional depth of the characters.
It's tough to put a precise figure on it. The Fantastic Four franchise has a rich history of comic book releases. There are countless regular issues, spin-offs, and limited series. So, there could be thousands when you consider everything.
Certain variant covers or signed copies of Fantastic Four comics can be valuable. Issues that introduce important characters or have significant plot developments often command higher prices in the collector's market.
It's subjective. The Fantastic Four has its fans, but there are many other comic series that are also highly regarded. It depends on what aspects of a story you value most, like character development, plot complexity, or art style.
Fantastic Four wasn't the first. Marvel has a long history of comics, and several series came before it. Different characters and storylines were introduced earlier that contributed to the Marvel universe's foundation.