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Tuesday 20 October 2020

FIN FANG FOOM READING ORDER: Enter the Dragon (1961-2015)

Fin Fang Foom is one of the best known monsters from the era when Atlas Comics were about to become Marvel Comics and before the introduction of the Fantastic Four. Fin Fang Foom hasn't made a huge number of appearances in the sixty years he's been around, but he's definitely made his mark on the Marvel Universe. In fact, John Byrne amended his origin to tie him into the birth of the Mandarin during his run on Iron Man. There are rumours that the connection between them will play a part in the upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings film, linking into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Byrne's retcon revealed that Fin Fang Foom isn't actually a dragon at all and is, in fact, a member of the alien Makluan race who has plans to invade Earth. Foom was intended to stay in reserve if things went wrong and was put in a deep sleep under China. Over the years, Fin Fang Foom has interacted with Iron Man, Deadpool, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Black Panther and has clashed with the Hulk on more than one occasion.

MCG Notes:
  • Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Fin Fang Foom stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
  • Issue listings in grey: Part of Fin Fang Foom's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
  • Chronology: Every appearance of the Fin Fang Foom from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
  • Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Indestructible Hulk #14 (2013)
Fin Fang Foom is revealed to have briefly awoken in the 15th Century, clashing with the Hulk as he travels through time on a mission to stop the Chonarchists during AGE OF ULTRON.

Strange Tales #89[1/4] (1961)
First appearance of Fin Fang Foom and Chan Liuchow; teenager Chan Liuchow wakes the sleeping dragon Fin Fang Foom to protect his home from Chinese Communists, then sends him back to sleep.

Deadpool #20 (2014)
On a time travel mission, Deadpool wakes up Fin Fang Foom who joins forces with Mangog against him.

Unlimited Access #2 (1998)
Fin Fang Foom cameo; Access' reality-merging powers lead to beings from the Marvel Universe and DC Universe encountering each other; the Challengers of the Unknown meet Fin Fang Foom.
Hulk vs Fin Fang Foom #1[1/2] (2008)
Having somehow made it to Antartica, Fin Fang Foom escapes the ice and clashes with the Hulk whose punch sends him to the moon. 

Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl #1[1/2] (2005)
Fin Fang Foom is revealed to have been obtained by the Collector and battles the Hulk, Thing, Beast and Giant-Man alongside his fellow monsters during MARVEL MONSTERS.

Astonishing Tales #23-24 (1974)
Having been returned to his slumber beneath China, Fin Fang Foom is awoken again by Dr Aloysius Vault who uses him as a pawn against It the Living Colossus.
MCG Note: This story features reprinted pages from Fin Fang Foom's first appearance.

1985 #3 (2008)
Fin Fang Foom cameo; Fin Fang Foom is among those hoping to escape to Earth-1219.
Legion of Night #1-2 (1991)
First appearance of the Legion of Night and Omen (Charles Blackwater); Fin Fang Foom is woken by the Beyond Reason Spiritual Fellowship when they enable the demon Aan Taanu to possess his body; Fin Fang Foom returns to his slumber when the Legion of Night exorcise Aan Taanu.

Iron Man #261-264 (1990-1991)
Fin Fang Foom is slowly woken by the Mandarin.
Iron Man #267-268, 270-275 (1991)
First appearance of the Dragon Lords of Kakarantharnia; Fin Fang Foom is revealed to be an alien Makluan from the Kakarantharnia/Maklu IV rather than an Earth-based dragon; the Makluans aimed to conquer Earth and Fin Fang Foom was placed in stasis beneath the Earth in case their plan went wrong; the Mandarin uses Fin Fang Foom to threaten the Chinese government, accidentally activating the other Makluans; both Fin Fang Foom and the Mandarin initially battle Iron Man, but the Mandarin eventually sides with him against the Makluans; Fin Fang Foom's body is destroyed in an explosion.

Iron Man #15-17 (1999)
Fin Fang Foom's spirit possesses the body of shoplifter Billy Yuan and summons thousands of lizards to merge with Billy's body and recreate his true form; the resurrected Fin Fang Foom is opposed by Iron Man.

Iron Man #18 (1999)
Fin Fang Foom cameo; Iron Man takes Fin Fang Foom into Sunset Bain's custody.

JLA/Avengers #1 (2003)
Fin Fang Foom cameo; Fin Fang Foom is among the monsters defeated by the Justice League when they find themselves on Earth-616's Monster Island.
Marvel Monsters: Fin Fang 4 #1 (2005)
First appearance of Fin Fang Four; Fin Fang Foom is revealed to be among a quartet of monsters who've been shrunken to human size and rehabilitated by Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four); Fin Fang Four oppose the alien Tom Boo Ba during MARVEL MONSTERS.

Marvel Holiday Special #1[2/4] (2006)
Doctor Strange's manservant Wong teams up with Fin Fang Foom against Hydra terrorists.
Giant-Size Avengers #1[6/6] (2008)
Fin Fang Foom takes a job as head chef in a Chinese restaurant in the Baxter Building.

Fin Fang 4 Return #1[2/6] (2009)
The Fin Fang Four struggle to settle into their 'normal' lives.

Age of Heroes #3[4/4] (2010)
Fin Fang Foom cameo; after returning to his true, gigantic size, Fin Fang Foom is defeated by Squirrel Girl during THE HEROIC AGE.

Franken-Castle #21 (2010)
Fin Fang Foom cameo; for unrevealed reasons, Fin Fang Foom joins the monsters on Monster Isle again.
Incredible Hulks #630-631, 634-635 (2011)
Fin Fang Foom is among the combatants Tyrannus summons to attack the Hulk; Tyrannus and Fin Fang Foom rescue their allies Arm'Cheddon, Bi-Beast and Wendigo when Umar sends them to the Dark Dimension.
Astonishing X-Men #36-37, 39 (2011)
Mesmero mind-controls Fin Fang Foom on behalf of the Roxxon Corporation when they try to take over an island to mine it for oil; the X-Men step in to save Tokyo and the island from Fin Fang Foom.

Wolverine and the X-Men #17 (2012)
Fin Fang Foom cameo; Doop punches out Fin Fang Foom.

Fantastic Four #1 (2014)
The Fantastic Four step in to save New York from a rampaging Fin Fang Foom during ALL-NEW MARVEL NOW!

Avengers: Child Life #1 (2015)
The Avengers take down Fin Fang Foom to show what great friends they all are.
Notable appearances of Fin Fang Foom after 2015. These are all in grey as they're not stories I'm familiar with...

Totally Awesome Hulk #2-3 (2016)
First of appearance of Kei Kawade (unnamed); Fin Fang Foom and the Hulk (Amadeus Cho) are teleported to Hawaii by Kei Kawade.

Drax #3-5 (2016)
First appearance of R304; Drax battles Fin Fang Foom.

Drax #10-11 (2016)
Drax crosses paths with Fin Fang Foom again while solving a Makluan plot.

Monsters Unleashed #1-5 (2017)
First appearance of Leviathan Mother; Fin Fang Foom is among the monsters summoned by Kei Kawade in the war against the Leviathan Mother during MONSTERS UNLEASHED.

Tony Stark: Iron Man #1 (2018)
First appearance of Doctor Shapiro, Andy Bhang and Stark Unlimited; Fin Fang Foom falls under the control of the Controller and battles Iron Man during FRESH START.

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #48-50 (2019-2020)
First appearance of Melissa Morbeck as Iron Ring; Fin Fang Foom is among the many enemies Squirrel Girl faces in the build-up to her final confrontation with Melissa Morbeck.

Black Panther and the Agents of Wakana #7-8 (2020)
Fin Fang Foom is one of a number of Makluans who attack Avengers Mountain.


Notable alternate universe versions of Fin Fang Foom...
Mutant X Annual 2001 (2001)
Fin Fang Foom of Earth-1298 is a member of the Lethal Legion and is killed by the Beyonder during THE HUNTED.

Paradise X: Xen #1 (2002)
On Earth-9997, the spirit of the deceased Fin Fang Foom rampages through Japan until it's destroyed by the Asian superteam Xen during PARADISE X.

Exiles #67-68 (2005)
Fin Fang Foom is among the monsters who dominate the planet on Earth-3752 until he's eaten by Krakoa.

Nextwave #1-2 (2006)
Trapped on Earth-63163, Nextwave encounter that universe's Fin Fang Foom.

Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man #19 (2006)
Spider-Man and Fin Fang Foom of Earth-20051 battles it out.

Hulk: Broken Worlds #2[3/4] (2009)
Fin Fang Foom of Earth-311 (set in the year 1602) is referred to as Dilong and battles the Hulk (David Banner).

Inhumans: Atlantis Rising #4 (2015)
Secret Wars: Battleworld #4 (2015)
House of M #2 (2015)
One of a number of alternate versions of Fin Fang Foom on Emperor God Doom's Battleworld (Earth-15513) attacks the Resistance; another version of Fin Fang Foom (from Earth-58163) battles King Namor and Polaris in the Monarchy of M zone; the Fin Fang Foom originating from Earth-51910 in the Egyptia zone of Battleworld is killed by the Silver Surfer as food for Galactus during SECRET WARS.


Marvel Monsters
Includes Marvel Monsters; Fin Fang 4 #1, Marvel Monsters: Where Monsters Dwell #1 and Strange Tales #89.

Deadpool vol.4: Deadpool vs SHIELD
Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan vol.2
Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan Omnibus
Deadpool by Posehn & Duggan: The Complete Collection vol.1
Deadpool: Flashbacks
Include Deadpool #20.

Hulk vs the Marvel Universe
Includes Hulk vs Fin Fang Foom #1.

Iron Man Epic Collection vol.16: War Games
Includes Iron Man #261-264, 267-268, 270-275.

Iron Man by Kurt Busiek & Sean Chen Omnibus
Includes Iron Man #15-18.

Incredible Hulks: Heart of the Monster
Collects Incredible Hulks #630-635.

Astonishing X-Men vol.7: Monstrous
Collects Astonishing X-Men #36, 37, 39, 41 and Strange Tales #89.

Fantastic Four vol.1: The Fall of the Fantastic Four
Includes Fantastic Four #1.

King-Size Kirby Slipcase
Marvel Monsterbus vol.2
Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby vol.2
Includes Strange Tales #89.

Iron Man: Armor Wars II
Includes Iron Man #261-264.

Iron Man: The Dragon Seed Saga
Collects Iron Man #270-275.

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