Call Her Crystal! Part 1

I've always loved Crystal and her bright orange hair that had that cool I-think-it's-a-black-headband/decoration. But did you know that her trademark headband wasn't part of her original look? You didn't? Well then,True Believers, time to take a closer look at    Crystal in the Silver Age!

Unless noted otherwise, all art is by Jack Kirby (pencils) and Joe Sinnott (inks). 

Fantastic Four #45 - Crystal's debut  
Initially Crystal sported a mane of long, tangerine-colored, unfettered locks. No headband!

(1965) Fantastic Four #45

(1965) Fantastic Four #45 

You can also see her eyes are somewhat exaggerated, with a definite upwards tilt and extra eyelashes. Her eyes are  shaped like fish, complete with little fins and a tail. Also, her brows veer upwards in dramatic Namor-like fashion.

(1965) Fantastic Four #45

Along with her sister Medusa, Crystal was one of the few Marvel characters back then who had really long hair. Okay, besides Thor. 

(1965) Fantastic Four #45

Fantastic Four #46
She retains the fish-shaped, ovally eyes and ascending brows on the cover...

As above: Crystal close-up from cover of Fantastic Four #46 (1966)

...and also within the story. Her antenna-like eyelashes are again emphasized.

Crystal, Lockjaw, and the Inhumans on the run in Fantastic Four #46 (1966)

Fantastic Four #47
Here Crystal's eyes are now closer in appearance to Sue's or other Kirby women--that is, her eyes are not so dramatically tilted and they're sans the extra eyelashes.  Her brows are now more horizontal.

(1966) Fantastic Four #47

Fantastic Four #48, #50, #52
Crystal shows up in a few panels in each of these issues. 

(L.) Fantastic Four #48, (C.) Fantastic Four #50, (R.) Fantastic Four #52 

Fantastic Four  #54
On the cover she almost looks like a slightly longer haired Alicia (from FF #41, Kirby inked by Vince Colletta).

L. - Crystal by Kirby-Sinnott Fantastic Four #54 (1966)
R. - Alicia by Kirby-Colletta Fantastic Four #41 (1965) 

In #54's story, Crystal's bangs are now sideswept.

(1966) Fantastic Four #54

It's the same sort of Kirby Krest found on Sue, Alicia, Jane Foster, Betty Ross, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey, and other women by Kirby in the SIlver Age. And yes, occasionally on Thor too (don't worry, we'll take a closer look at the Kirby Krest later on 😁).

Fantastic Four #56
As is obvious in all of these appearances, Crystal didn't have a colorful costume like the rest of the Inhumans royal family. Instead she wore a plain white dress. But surprise! In #56 she appears in a panel or two wearing a fuchsia-colored dress. Guess that's the day the white dress was at the Attilan dry cleaners. (Karnak's costume's coloring is off-model in that issue too.)

(1966) Fantastic Four #56 

Fantastic Four #57, #59, #60
She's back in that white dress. Coiffure-wise, her Kirby Krest seems to be a fixture. 

(1966) Fantastic Four #57

The Inhumans break free! 

(1967) Fantastic Four #59

(1967) Fantastic Four #60

NEXT:  The Headband Cometh! 
or   Crystal: I Am Curious Yellow