Alicia Masters

Alicia Masters debuted in The Fantastic Four #8 (November 1962), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.{{Cite web |last=Dietsch |first=TJ |date=December 28, 2018 |title=How Alicia Masters Met Ben Grimm |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/how-alicia-masters-met-ben-grimm |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Marvel.com}} She appeared in the 1987 Silver Surfer series,{{Cite web |last=Beard |first=Jim |date=August 8, 2019 |title=Didja Know... Some Spellbinding Silver Surfer Specifics |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/didja-know-some-spellbinding-silver-surfer-specifics?linkId=71759710 |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Marvel.com}} the 2018 Fantastic Four: Wedding Special #1 one-shot,{{Cite web |last=Bunge |first=Nicolas |date=September 18, 2018 |title='Fantastic Four: Wedding Special' |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/41384/fantastic-four-wedding-special |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=ICv2 |language=en}} and the 2023 Fantastic Four series.{{Cite web |last=Marston |first=George |date=April 4, 2024 |title=Alicia Masters is a noir private eye helping femme fatale Sue Storm in Fantastic Four #19 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/fantastic-four-19-preview/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Newsarama |language=en}}

Alicia Masters is introduced in Fantastic Four #8, along with her stepfather, the supervillain known as the Puppet Master.{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=89}} Alicia was not initially given a surname; she was given the last name "Masters" by a reader, as announced in Fantastic Four #42 (Sept. 1965); the reader was given a No-Prize for her service to Marvel.Cronin, Brian. [https://www.cbr.com/knowledge-waits-the-history-of-marvels-no-prize/ "Knowledge Waits: The History of Marvel's No-Prize: CSBG looks at the history of Marvel's celebrated No-Prize!"], CBR (Feb. 11, 2016). Alicia initially aids the Puppet Master out of obedience in his first scheme against the Fantastic Four, though she immediately senses the "gentle" and "sensitive" spirit of the Thing when she first feels his palpably monstrous face. Alicia turns on her stepfather when she realizes that he is mad and power-hungry, and accidentally causes him to fall to his apparent death out of a window. A subsequently published story explains that the Puppet Master had been responsible for her permanent blindness, which was caused by an explosion of radioactive clay during his fight with a rival.Marvel Team-Up #6 (January 1973)

Image:FF 49 panel.jpg for the survival of humanity in Fantastic Four #49 (April 1966). Art by Jack Kirby.]]

Alicia Masters was a recurring character in early issues of Fantastic Four as the love interest of the Thing, serving as a plot device to cause him to resist changing back to a normal human form, for fear that Alicia would not love him.Fantastic Four #25 (April 1964){{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64 |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490458 |page=82}} The physically vulnerable Masters was also frequently used as a damsel in distress.

The character plays an integral role in the story arc "The Coming of Galactus", in Fantastic Four #48–50 (March–May 1966). The Silver Surfer comes to Earth as a herald to the powerful, world-destroying being Galactus, and crashes into Alicia's apartment after fighting the Fantastic Four. Her pleading with him about the value of life convinces him to reject his master and defend Earth.{{cite web |first=Brian |last=Cronin |url=http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/02/19/a-year-of-cool-comics-day-50/ |title=A Year of Cool Comics – Day 50 |publisher=Comic Book Resources CSBG Archive |date=February 19, 2010 |access-date=September 29, 2010 |archive-date=May 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504111741/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/02/19/a-year-of-cool-comics-day-50/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=87}}

After the Thing chooses to remain on an alien planet where he could change back to human form, Alicia falls in love with the dashing Human Torch, another member of the Fantastic Four. The Thing returns to unhappily attend their wedding. In Fantastic Four #300, Johnny Storm and Alicia marry, but the ceremony is nearly foiled by the Mad Thinker, the Wizard, and Alicia's stepfather, the Puppet Master. These three villains planned to attack the wedding, but at the last moment Puppet Master stopped them, with the (unwilling) help of Dragon Man.Fantastic Four #300 (March 1987)

After several months, the Fantastic Four discovers that Alicia was kidnapped and replaced by Lyja, a Skrull espionage agent sent to infiltrate the Fantastic Four and set them up for her handler, Paibok, to destroy them. The Fantastic Four defeats Paibok and retrieves Alicia. She was taken before Ben broke up with her, and her feelings for Ben never changed. This makes things difficult for both him and Johnny. The two of them had months to resolve things between them. Now Johnny has to come to grips with the fact that the real Alicia never loved him and that Lyja is the woman he loves. Ben has to deal with having gotten over Alicia, only to have her back and in love with him.

The press is told that Alicia and Johnny divorced.Fantastic Four #362 (March 1992) With her relationships with Ben and Johnny now complicated by Johnny's marriage to 'Lyja' and Ben's prior attempts to resolve his old feelings for her after Lyja's marriage, Alicia subsequently becomes romantically involved with the Silver Surfer and eventually leaves Earth with him, traveling through outer space at his side in an armored suit.Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #121-140 (October 1996 - June 1998)Galactus the Devourer #1-6 (September 1999–March 2000)

Alicia is frequently trusted as a babysitter for Franklin Richards, the son of Invisible Woman and Mr. Fantastic. During the year-long period in which the FF were missing ("Heroes Reborn"), Alicia is seen as his primary caretaker.Thunderbolts #2 (June 1997)

After the Fantastic Four disband following the collapse of the multiverse, Peter Parker purchases the Baxter Building to keep it safe until the team are ready to come back together.The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 4) #3 (January 2016) Ben initially spends time with the Guardians of the Galaxy, but eventually, after a failed attempt to find the Richards family, he proposes to Alicia just before the Richards return to Earth.Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #1 (October 2018)Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #3 (January 2019)Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #5 (March 2019)

In the aftermath of the 2020 crossover "Empyre", Ben and Alicia adopt two orphans, the Kree boy Jo-Venn and the Skrull girl N'Kala.Empyre Fallout: Fantastic Four #1 (September 2020)

Alicia Masters possesses no superpowers. She is naturally empathetic and compassionate, with expertise in sculpting. Her cane is also designed to be used as a double baton for self-defense.

Kai Young of Screen Rant stated the empathy Alicia Masters demonstrates makes the character a "gentle presence" among the Fantastic Four and complimented her relationship with Ben Grimm.{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Kai |date=March 27, 2024 |title=10 Fantastic Four Supporting Characters We Want To See In MCU's Reboot |url=https://screenrant.com/fantastic-four-supporting-characters-we-want-in-mcu-reboot/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}} David Harth of Comic Book Resources praised how Alicia Masters overlooks Ben Grimm's appearance and values his true nature, calling their relationship a "huge moment for every fan".{{Cite web |last=Harth |first=David |date=August 9, 2022 |title=Marvel's 10 Best Married Couples |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-comics-best-married-couples/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Comic Book Resources |language=en}}

In the alternate future of the 1999 miniseries Earth X, Alicia has married Ben Grimm. They have two children, Buzz and Chuck, who have Ben's orange-rock skin. Like most of humanity, Alicia has been granted powers due to the release of a mutative agent.Universe X #1–14 (2000–2001)

In the 2005 storyline "House of M", Alicia is part of the human resistance, struggling against the ruling class of mutants. She has spent some time as a sculptor, J. Jonah Jameson had commissioned one of himself for his home.Spider-Man: House of M #3 (October 2005)

In the 2007 miniseries Fantastic Four: The End, which depicts a possible future of the Fantastic Four, Alicia is married to Ben Grimm and they have three children and live on Mars, where she uses her sculpture talents for terraforming.Fantastic Four: The End #1–4 (2007)

The Ultimate Marvel version of the character is introduced into the modern revamp of the Fantastic Four, Ultimate Fantastic Four, in issue #29, where she is a sculpture student at an arts college. She finds a depressed Ben in the park; her simple gesture of friendship instantly places her in mortal danger from Doctor Doom.Ultimate Fantastic Four #29 (June 2006)

Image:FF cartoon-Alicia Masters and Silver Surfer.jpg

• Alicia Masters appears in The Incredible Hulk (1982) episode "Bruce Banner Unmasked", voiced by B. J. Ward.{{cite web |title=Alicia Masters Voices (Fantastic Four) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Fantastic-Four/Alicia-Masters/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Behind The Voice Actors |type=A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. |postscript=}}
• Alicia Masters appears in Fantastic Four (1994), voiced by Pauline Lomas.
• Alicia Masters appears in Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, voiced by Sunita Prasad. This version is African-American.
• Alicia Masters appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Blind Rage Knows No Color!", voiced by Tara Strong.

• Alicia Masters appears in The Fantastic Four (1994), portrayed by Kat Green.{{Cite web |last=McGuire |first=Liam |date=March 8, 2024 |title=What Happened To The Cast Of Marvel's 1994 Fantastic Four Movie? |url=https://www.looper.com/1531619/what-happened-marvel-1994-fantastic-four-movie-cast/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |website=Looper |language=en-US}}
• Alicia Masters appears in Fantastic Four (2005), portrayed by Kerry Washington.{{Cite magazine |date=October 4, 2005 |title=It's time that Kerry Washington became a star |url=https://ew.com/article/2005/10/04/its-time-kerry-washington-became-star/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}} This version is African-American.
• Alicia Masters appears in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, portrayed again by Kerry Washington. According to Michael Chiklis, who portrayed the Thing, his relationship with Masters would have received a greater focus in a cancelled third installment.{{cite web |title=TV with MeeVee: MeeVee Exclusive! Interview with the Shield's Michael Chiklis |url=http://blog.meevee.com/my_weblog/2007/04/meevee_exclusiv_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228202451/http://blog.meevee.com/my_weblog/2007/04/meevee_exclusiv_2.html |archive-date=December 28, 2007 |access-date=November 22, 2007}}

Alicia Masters, based on Kerry Washington's portrayal, appears in the Fantastic Four (2005) tie-in game, voiced by Cree Summer.

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.marvel.com/characters/alicia-masters/ Alicia Masters] at Marvel.com

{{Fantastic Four}}

{{Silver Surfer}}

{{Jack Kirby}}

{{Stan Lee}}

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Category:Black characters in films

Category:Characters created by Jack Kirby

Category:Characters created by Stan Lee

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1962

Category:Fantastic Four characters

Category:Female characters in comics

Category:Fictional artists

Category:Fictional blind characters

Category:Fictional cryonically preserved characters in comics

Category:Fictional empaths

Category:Fictional sculptors