I can't begin to put into words the impact that JB's run on the FANTASTIC FOUR had on my life at the time, but I certainly have had a renewed appreciation for what he managed to do with that title.

The best analogy I can come up with, for now, is that the original 100+ issues of Lee/Kirby FF was like one, big, malleable sculpture of clay.  Over the years, other artists bent, molded or changed the original Lee/Kirby sculpt, and in the process added some questionable or unnecessary layers, so by the time JB took over as writer & artist, the FF sort-of looked like the original sculpture, but it had morphed into something else over those 10+ odd years... maybe not unrecognizable, but certainly different.

JB was able to come along, shave-off and chip-away at these layers & changes, and get back as close as possible to the original Lee & Kirby design.  Then, he ever-so-slightly was able to carefully & gently add some respectful detail here... a little extra texture there... maybe some subtle colors where none existed before... and give us a new sculpt, that, while it definitely had a John Byrne look and feel on the outside, the undeniable Lee & Kirby power and form still shone through.

That's how I see it.

I now own three Omnibus editions - Walt Simonson's Thor, the Iron Man one just released, and JB's FF.

All beautiful to look at. From the best time to be collecting comics - when I was a kid.

(I really believe that the '60's and late '70's / early to mid '80's were the best periods of comics ever. I wonder if we will ever get back to those times)

Oh Bill, I really wanted that Teen Titans Omnibus but funds wouldn't allow.

For JB's FF run I have all the issues starting at the second Galactus issue (along with most of the ones before that), but as I was missing the first part, and a fellow JBFer found it cheap in a charity store, i had to take the plunge.

Omnibus editions and essentials are really helping to fill the gaps in my collection. And I really don't mind Essentials as they are pretty much of the quality that I was first exposed to through Marvel UK

The noted heights are interesting. The Thing most definitely should not be very tall, but I'd have thought he's a bit taller than 5'10", just because I'd be looking down on him! For some reason I have Reed pegged as just being an everyman 6'. These are minor quibbles -- the relative heights are the important thing, with the Thing not being the tallest member.

So...where is your quibble? If you agree the Thing should not be the tallest member, but you had Reed pegged at 6', then why wouldn't 5'10" be Ben's height? Unless you have Johnny pegged at taller than both of them (which I don't think he's ever been portrayed).