Editing The Fantastic Four #2.

The weekly schedule and anthology format of the early Marvel UK titles meant that a certain level of editing had to take place when reprinting the original American source material.

Stories would be spread across two or three weeks, depending on the page count, and this at times required the creation of new splash pages to act as titles for the latter parts of the story.

It is these new splash pages that make the Marvel UK books so unique. 

Multiple stories within a single weekly title meant that page count was an important factor in the editing process.

Panels would be removed and the page format adjusted, whilst in extreme cases whole pages would hit the editing room floor.

Due to the UK page size, slight cropping from the top or bottom of panels was a regular feature.

 

Editing of the text and images was also a regular undertaking.

Dialogue would be changed from a heavy American bias to a more British phrasing, suited to a younger readership.

Pencil work would be adjusted to fit changes to the panel format or embellished with topical British characteristics.

Spotting these editing changes can be great fun, so let's, with a focus on Splash, cast our eyes over the pages of The Fantastic Four #2. 

I've started you off, but how many editorial changes can you see?

 

The Fantastic Four's first encounter with the Skrulls is reprinted in issues 3 and 4 of "The Mighty World Of Marvel".

 

 

"The Fantastic Four Meet The Skrulls From Outer Space!". 

 

Part 2 "Prisoner of the Skrulls".

 

"The Fantastic Four Fight Back!".

  

"The Fantastic Four... Captured!".

How many did you spot?

See you at the Week End.