Comic book heroes the Fantastic Four are embarking on a new adventure that will take them into the Spanish-language world.

The latest issue featuring the crime-fighting team — Fantastic Four: Isla de la Muerte!  —  is available in Spanish.  The bilingual issue, released this week, marks a first for Marvel Entertainment and a first for a major U.S. comic book publisher.

In the story, the quartet travel to Puerto Rico to investigate and meet an evil being known as El Chupacabras, a mythical bloodsucking creature whose name means "goat sucker" in Spanish. The legend is said to have originated in Puerto Rico and Mexico.

"There's more than one type of Chupacabra," Fantastic Four writer Tom Beland told CBR News, a site for comic book lovers. "There are small flying ones and the large tank-style versions … But they're also sympathetic as the story goes on."

Beland says the story is really about family relationships but also promises a lot of humour and action.

"There's actually a lot of humanity in this story."

He also adds the comic is kind of tribute to Puerto Rico and its inhabitants.
 
"For every Puerto Rican who's seen so-called Puerto Rican characters wearing sombreros and panchos and only saying the phrase, 'ay dios mio,' this is what I proudly call your redemption."

The Fantastic Four superhero series was first published in 1961and originally created by Spider-Man writer Stan Lee.

The team consists of Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), a scientific genius and the leader of the group who can stretch his body; the Invisible Woman (Sue Storm), who is Reed's wife; the Human Torch (Johnny Storm); and the monstrous-looking Thing (Ben Grimm).

The issue marks Marvel's second foray into the Spanish-language market. Back in 2004, the company created its first comic featuring a Latina superhero, Anya Corazon. Her literary life ended after a few episodes.