The Complete Fantastic Four Comics History

DISCLAIMER: These videos were all previously released separately. This is a mashup of those essays with some extra material. No transcript for this one. CHAOS ENSUES MEDIA: -Website: https://witsendpod.com -YouTube channel: @thechaosensues -Support the channel on Patreon: Patreon: thechaosensues -Full playlist of my comic book documentary style video essays: Comic Book Video Essays 2024, 2025, 2026 TIME CODES: -0:00—The 1960s by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee -21:41—The 1970s -30:58–1978 Silver Surfer Graphic Novel -41:48—The 1980s by John Byrne -1:04:43—The 1990s by Walt Simonson, Tom DeFalco & Paul Ryan -1:25:45–1994 Roger Corman Fantastic Four Movie -1:32:04—The 2000s by Carlos Pacheco, Mark Waid & Mike Wieringo -1:46:48—Ultimate Fantastic Four & The Maker Origin -1:55:34—The 2010s by Jonathan Hickman (Secret Wars 2015) -2:15:13—More from Chaos Ensues This Chaos Ensues video essay series covers the complete history of the mainline Fantastic Four comics. A video essay omnibus. In 1961, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created a new era of Silver Age superhero stories with the first issue of Fantastic Four, kicking off the Marvel Age of Comics. Featuring the first appearances of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm, with the Mole Man. During their over 100 issue run, Kirby and Lee created characters and ideas that would be the foundation of modern superhero comics and pop culture. Like Doctor Doom, the Skrulls, the Microverse, Galactus and Silver Surfer (in the Galactus Trilogy), the Kree, Inhumans, Black Panther and more. Taking from the Atlas era monster comics and adding a relatable element to the stories in a way that superhero comics hadn't done before. Like with The Thing and Alicia Masters and all of the other cosmic themes. Kirby became frustrated and left Marvel for DC in 1970. In the 70s, artists John Romita and John Buscema took over FF's art after Kirby. Then a new generation of writers and artists took over the First Family's adventures. Like Roy Thomas, George Perez, Keith Pollard and John Byrne. The 80s saw John Byrne reinvent FF as writer-artist. Bringing on She Hulk after Secret Wars and humanizing Galactus. In the 90s, FF had a strong short run by writer artist Walter Simonson, where he created the TVA, showing how the FF faced off against a rogue Celestial, Galactus and saved the future. While the Tom DeFalco and Paul Ryan run was hectic, it had some fun moments like bringing Ant-Man onto the team and introducing Human Torch's Skrull wife Lyja. That decade, Image Founders Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld spearheaded Heroes Reborn, which re-established the FF for a newer audience. Also covering the unreleased 1994 Roger Corman Fantastic Four movie. This chapter was originally deleted from the original 90s essay because of copyright issues. I'm adding it here so it's at least available. The 2000s was a strong decade for FF, seeing writer artist Carlos Pacheco resuscitate the series with a back to basics approach. Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo and Karl Kesel took over with their heavy hitting run, showing why the FF are important. During their run, Dwayne McDuffie and Paul Pelletier establish Mr. Fantastic's plan to "Solve Everything", which Jonathan Hickman would use in his stories. Along with ideas created in the run by Bryan Hitch and Mark Millar. Covering Ultimate Fantastic Four, as it's a long origin for The Maker. Hickman's run balances cosmic story and family elements, expanding the size of the main cast with the Future Foundation. This run has some of the most iconic Dr. Doom stories and pulls from every decade of the Fantastic Four but modernizing the characters for a new audience. Hickman's massive run was followed by Matt Fraction, Mark Bagley and Mike Allred, who focus on the family elements of the FF and Future Foundation. Secret Wars 2015 sees the epic finale of Hickman's time with FF. God Emperor Doom takes over Battleworld to prevent the end of every universe. A burger is involved. While FF didn't have a book for a while, writers Chip Zdarsky, Dan Slott and Ryan North brought the FF in the current era of comics. (The North run isn't being covered extensively because it's the current one out right now. Just go read it.) Any possibly copyrighted material is protected under fair use. This content was created for commentary, entertainment or educational purposes. #fantasticfour MUSIC: Darkest Child by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Deep Space by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...