250's for America's 250 · Day 11: Fantastic Four #250

Publishing: Sunday, June 21, 2026 · Marvel Comics · Cover date: January 1983

Story and cover by John Byrne

See full issue details on the Grand Comics Database →

A centerpiece of John Byrne's celebrated Fantastic Four run — a single-creator tour de force.

The issue

In "When Titans Clash!," Gladiator of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard pursues rogue Skrulls to Earth and ends up trading blows with the Fantastic Four. The seemingly unstoppable Gladiator is then confronted by what look like the Uncanny X-Men — Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler — only for them to be revealed as shapeshifting Skrull impostors stoking the fight. It's a guest-star-packed showcase from Byrne at the height of his FF powers.

Who's in it

• The Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch, the Thing) — drawn into a fight they didn't start, against a foe who may be out of their league.
• Gladiator (Kallark) — the near-unstoppable strongman of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard, hunting Skrulls on Earth.
• Skrulls disguised as the X-Men — shapeshifters impersonating Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler to manipulate the conflict.
• Spider-Man and Captain America — brief guest appearances rounding out the issue's roster of heroes.

Behind the book (creators)

• Writer / Penciller / Cover: John Byrne (who also inked much of his own work on this run)
• Letters & colors: the era's regulars (Jim Novak / Glynis Wein commonly — verify for this issue)

Meet the creator

John Byrne is one of the rare creators to reach superstar status as both writer and artist on the same title — his run on Fantastic Four (plotting, pencilling, and often inking every issue himself from 1981–1986) is widely considered one of the definitive takes on Marvel's First Family. Before that, Byrne had already co-defined the "Dark Phoenix Saga" as artist on Uncanny X-Men with writer Chris Claremont. He'd go on to reshape DC's Superman with 1986's Man of Steel miniseries, making him one of the few artists to leave a defining mark on both companies' flagship characters within the same decade.

What it's worth

A fan-favorite but not a high-dollar key. Raw VF/NM copies generally run $15–$40; CGC 9.8 copies typically trade $100–$250. The value comes from its status as a flagship issue of Byrne's acclaimed run.

Where to read it (collected edition)

Widely reprinted — find it in Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus Vol. 1, the Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne TPB series, and the corresponding Fantastic Four Epic Collection of the Byrne era.

Part of "250's for America's 250" — counting 24 milestone #250 comics down to the U.S. 250th on July 4, 2026.