Fantastic Four #117

Fantastic Four #117 was published by Marvel Comics in December 1971. This issue arrived during a transitional era for the title, following the departure of Jack Kirby, who had defined the visual language of the series for over a hundred issues. The creative team at this time included writer Archie Goodwin and artist John Buscema, who were tasked with maintaining the momentum of Marvel's flagship family as they navigated increasingly introspective and socially conscious narratives.

The story features the team grappling with the arrival of the villainous Over-Mind, a cosmic entity that represents the high-concept science fiction tone prevalent in the Bronze Age of comics. John Buscema’s dynamic penciling style, characterized by a refined sense of anatomy and dramatic pacing, helped provide a grounded aesthetic to the fantastical elements Goodwin scripted. The issue is widely regarded by collectors as a representative example of the mid-run craftsmanship that kept the Fantastic Four relevant as the medium shifted toward more complex character-driven arcs.