The Fantastic Four and Not Fitting In

The nuclear age saw the beginning of the silver age of comics under the Comics Code Authority. With the ongoing Cold War, nuclear forces pervaded popular culture in the USA, including within comics. These nuclear forces, usually in the form of radiation, are seen in comito be both dangerous and in some ways freeing. In New Mutants, Ramzi Fawaz argues that the Fantastic Four's affliction of cosmic ray exposure also represents "their failure to live up to the sexual and gender norms of cold war culture" in the ways they struggle with their bodies (67).

The group bombarded by radiation in Fantastic Four (1961) #1

This queer reading can be seen through the whole group with how they hide (or don't) their abilities where possible. The group itself also exhibits a found family dynamic which is common among queer people; especially historically these groups were often required as being found to be queer could often leave people disowned and homeless. These bonds based on shared identity were often required to maintain a support network and survive. All of the members besides Ben Grimm are mostly able to hide their abilities when they desire, but do not necessarily choose to. This means, though, that to the average person they will for the most part be normal-passing (again with the exception) outside of specific circumstances. Ben, who calls himself "The Thing" after Sue's surprise at his transformation, seems to suffer from self loathing and as a result distances himself from humanity acting like he doesn't deserve it. His self-image issues are often mirrored in those that are visibly queer not by choice (particularly common among pre or early transition individuals).

The four display their abilities on the cover of Fantastic Four (1961) #1
 

Much of this also applies to disability in an almost directly analogous way. Disability can often be visible or invisible both through behavior and physical appearance, and those where it's invisible for both will usually be overlooked in public unless they happen to display symptoms that may not be as obvious. For both groups society will tolerate those that keep their heads down, but as soon as they become visible the reaction is often annoyance, horror, or disgust. Fortunately though, society seems to be improving over time in this regard; hopefully one day the Fantastic Four would be able to exist in public without the risk of being treated as monsters.

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