Fantastic Fiftieth Tribute?

2011 marks the 50th year of the Fantastic Four.

Marvel has already announced that they will be commemorating this event by killing a major character, because killing characters is original and fresh, and it's been almost a month since the last time.

Meanwhile, Stan Lee (if he really writes the Spider-Man daily), Larry Lieber (likewise) and Alex Saviuk have been having a little celebration of their own.

First we got this:

The Amazing Spider-Man, December 2, 2010

Which looks a lot like this guy in Fantastic Four #1, right down to the pose:

Interesting tangent: this comic predates the the first appearance of King Ghidorah by three years, and the release of his first movie in the U.S. by almost four.

This past Sunday we got this:

The Amazing Spider-Man, January 8, 2010

Of which panel five looks a little bit like the cover of Fantastic Four #1:

But not exactly, which is pretty cool too. I do love the details, like the Mole Man being tied up and Aunt May's pose being close to Sue Storm's (she wasn't married yet,) especially in a strip that isn't even consistent with itself.

This is one of the most emulated comics covers there is.

Here's an homage in the FF's own mag:

And here's one from, well, another:

There's at least a dozen other examples...

Have a happy Tuesday! Apparently I'll be getting snowed in again.