| Alicia Grimm | |
|---|---|
 Alicia Masters, art byJack Kirby. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Fantastic Four #8 (November 1962) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Alicia Reiss Masters |
| Species | Human |
| Supporting character of | Future Foundation Fantastic Four |
| Notable aliases | Alicia Clay |
| Abilities |
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Alicia Reiss Masters is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerStan Lee and artistJack Kirby, shefirst appeared inThe Fantastic Four #8 (November 1962).[1] She is asupporting character to thesuperheroes theFantastic Four andSilver Surfer.
Alicia Masters is ablindsculptor.[2] She is able to create incredibly lifelike representations of real people by touch and memory alone; her sculptures of the Fantastic Four and other superheroes are frequently depicted.[3] A caring, sensitive character,[4] she has been a romantic interest, confidante, and eventual wife ofThe Thing, a member of the Fantastic Four who is frequently ashamed of his monstrous appearance. She has also helped explain human life and emotion to the alienSilver Surfer.
Actress Kat Green played her in the unreleasedThe Fantastic Four film from 1994, and thenKerry Washington portrayed her in the 2005 filmFantastic Four and the 2007 sequelFantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Alicia Masters debuted inThe Fantastic Four #8 (November 1962), created byStan Lee andJack Kirby.[5] She appeared in the 1987 Silver Surfer series,[6] the 2018Fantastic Four: Wedding Special #1 one-shot,[7] and the 2023Fantastic Four series.[8]
Alicia Masters is introduced inFantastic Four #8, along with her stepfather, thesupervillain known as thePuppet Master.[9] Alicia was not initially given a surname; she was given the last name "Masters" by a reader, as announced inFantastic Four #42 (Sept. 1965); the reader was given aNo-Prize for her service to Marvel.[10] 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.[11]
Alicia Masters was a recurring character in early issues ofFantastic 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.[12][13] The physically vulnerable Masters was also frequently used as adamsel in distress.
The character plays an integral role in the story arc "The Coming ofGalactus", inFantastic Four #48–50 (March–May 1966). TheSilver 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.[14][15]
After the Thing chooses to remain on an alien planet where he could change back to human form, Alicia falls in love with the dashingHuman Torch, another member of the Fantastic Four. The Thing returns to unhappily attend their wedding. InFantastic Four #300, Johnny Storm and Alicia marry, but the ceremony is nearly foiled by theMad Thinker, theWizard, and Alicia's stepfather, thePuppet 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.[16]
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.[17] 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.[18][19]
Alicia is frequently trusted as a babysitter forFranklin 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.[20]
After the Fantastic Four disband following thecollapse of the multiverse,Peter Parker purchases theBaxter Building to keep it safe until the team are ready to come back together.[21] Ben initially spends time with theGuardians 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.[22][23][24]
In the aftermath of the 2020 crossover "Empyre", Ben and Alicia adopt two orphans, theKree boy Jo-Venn and theSkrull girl N'Kala.[25]
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 ofScreen Rant stated the empathy Alicia Masters demonstrates makes the character a "gentle presence" among the Fantastic Four and complimented her relationship with Ben Grimm.[26] David Harth ofComic 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".[27]
In the alternate future of the 1999 miniseriesEarth 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.[28]
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.[29]
In the 2007 miniseriesFantastic 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 forterraforming.[30]
TheUltimate 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 fromDoctor Doom.[31]
Alicia Masters, based on Kerry Washington's portrayal, appears in theFantastic Four (2005) tie-in game, voiced byCree Summer.[32]
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