Alicia Masters (Marvel Comics | Fantastic Four)

Alicia Masters, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, first appeared in The Fantastic Four #8 (November 1962) as a skilled blind sculptor and supporting character associated with the Fantastic Four. Born Alicia Reiss, she lost her sight as a child due to an explosion involving radioactive clay in a laboratory incident orchestrated by her stepfather, Phillip Masters, the villain known as the Puppet Master. This tragedy also claimed the life of her biological father, Jacob Reiss, and left her mother severely injured, after which Phillip adopted her while concealing his role in the events. Despite her blindness, Alicia developed extraordinary tactile sensitivity, becoming a renowned neo-realist sculptor capable of creating lifelike representations through touch and memory alone.

Alicia is perhaps best known for her enduring romantic relationship with Ben Grimm, the Thing, whose rocky exterior and self-loathing she consistently sees beyond to appreciate his gentle and heroic nature. Their bond, marked by mutual support and empathy, has been a recurring emotional anchor in Fantastic Four stories, eventually leading to their marriage in later comics. She also formed a significant connection with the Silver Surfer, briefly becoming his romantic partner and demonstrating profound compassion that influenced his understanding of humanity.

A pivotal development in Alicia's history occurred when she was abducted by the Skrull Paibok and replaced by the Skrull impersonator Lyja during the aftermath of the Secret Wars, with Lyja assuming her identity for years and even marrying Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. The deception was eventually uncovered, and the real Alicia was rescued from stasis, allowing her to resume her life and relationships. Throughout her appearances, Alicia has served as a grounding, humanistic presence amid superhero conflicts, often using her moral insight and artistic perspective to aid her allies.

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