Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 51 minutes ago
Full essay transcript: witsendpod.com/podcast-episodes/chaos-ensues-history-of-the-2010s-fantastic-four-comics-solve-everything
CHAOS ENSUES MEDIA:
-Website: witsendpod.com
-YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCwvSur7b4J_U3gMIA44OGWQ
-Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/thechaosensues
Writer Jonathan Hickman (Nightly News) got his first mainstream comics writing gig in 2009, working on Secret Warriors with Brian Michael Bendis.
That same year, Marvel let Hickman write Marvel’s First Family. This run sees Reed Richards meeting the Council of Reeds, Sue Storm taking over as the ruler of Atlantis, Ben Grimm being able to turn normal again and reunite with Alicia Masters with Johnny Storm taking over the Negative Zone after defeating Annihilus.
Mr. Fantastic kicks off the Future Foundation to teach the next generation of great minds to help the world in his quest to Solve Everything.Hickman’s run is full of massive cosmic concepts and expands the cast while focusing on the family dynamics.
Pulling from each decade but renewing the characters for a new generation. Dr. Doom gets a lot of coverage in this run and helps to fight the Mad Celestials.
After Hickman, writer Matt Fraction takes over the FF with two titles. The main one with artist Mark Bagley and funky Future Foundation centric one with artist Mike Allred.
During the run with James Robinson, Leonard Kirk and Karl Kesel, Marvel ended the FF’s title due to the FOX FF movie rights.
Hickman’s Secret Wars in 2015 with artist Esad Ribic sees God Emperor Doom ruling over Battleworld to save the universes from incursions.
Chaos ensues as characters like Mr. Fantastic, Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Black Panther and Thanos try to stop Doom, who stole the powers of Molecule Man.
Quickly diving into the modern runs by Chip Zdarsky, Dan Slott and Ryan North.
TIME CODES:
-0:00—Jonathan Hickman
-2:12—Characters
-5:35—Johnny
-6:58—Future Foundation
-9:46—Solve Everything
-10:50—Matt-tastic Four
-14:14—The End? (Robinson)
-15:25—Secret Wars 2015
-18:03—Modern Era
-20:09—Important Information
Full playlist of my comic book documentary style video essays: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhHH6Z8Ez7dilWDUyzWlM8sM&si=vCZ_xLzpxq35u4FE
Playlist of my Fantastic Four comics history video essays: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhErcF0TWV22b609kWjbMOyr&si=A14CTSY5-V7s_y4D
SOURCES:
-Hickman text interviews were printed in the omnibus books
-2013 NYCC Comic Archive Hickman Interview: youtube.com/watch?v=sflkWwx2Uho
-2015 Marvel Hickman Footage: youtube.com/watch?v=eOAlFCC3_nU
-2019 SDCC Marvel Hickman Footage: youtu.be/lA8-r0Kh3aM?si=lQKk3ZsIL1BvMAlh
-2023 Marvel Hickman Footage: youtube.com/watch?v=VPp8Q5TIY30
Any possibly copyrighted material is protected under fair use. This content was created for commentary, entertainment or educational purposes.
Deep Space by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
#fantasticfour
Full essay transcript: witsendpod.com/podcast-episodes/chaos-ensues-history-of-the-2010s-fantastic-four-comics-solve-everything
CHAOS ENSUES MEDIA:
-Website: witsendpod.com
-YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCwvSur7b4J_U3gMIA44OGWQ
-Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/thechaosensues
Writer Jonathan Hickman (Nightly News) got his first mainstream comics writing gig in 2009, working on Secret Warriors with Brian Michael Bendis.
That same year, Marvel let Hickman write Marvel’s First Family. This run sees Reed Richards meeting the Council of Reeds, Sue Storm taking over as the ruler of Atlantis, Ben Grimm being able to turn normal again and reunite with Alicia Masters with Johnny Storm taking over the Negative Zone after defeating Annihilus.
Mr. Fantastic kicks off the Future Foundation to teach the next generation of great minds to help the world in his quest to Solve Everything.Hickman’s run is full of massive cosmic concepts and expands the cast while focusing on the family dynamics.
Pulling from each decade but renewing the characters for a new generation. Dr. Doom gets a lot of coverage in this run and helps to fight the Mad Celestials.
After Hickman, writer Matt Fraction takes over the FF with two titles. The main one with artist Mark Bagley and funky Future Foundation centric one with artist Mike Allred.
During the run with James Robinson, Leonard Kirk and Karl Kesel, Marvel ended the FF’s title due to the FOX FF movie rights.
Hickman’s Secret Wars in 2015 with artist Esad Ribic sees God Emperor Doom ruling over Battleworld to save the universes from incursions.
Chaos ensues as characters like Mr. Fantastic, Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Black Panther and Thanos try to stop Doom, who stole the powers of Molecule Man.
Quickly diving into the modern runs by Chip Zdarsky, Dan Slott and Ryan North.
TIME CODES:
-0:00—Jonathan Hickman
-2:12—Characters
-5:35—Johnny
-6:58—Future Foundation
-9:46—Solve Everything
-10:50—Matt-tastic Four
-14:14—The End? (Robinson)
-15:25—Secret Wars 2015
-18:03—Modern Era
-20:09—Important Information
Full playlist of my comic book documentary style video essays: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhHH6Z8Ez7dilWDUyzWlM8sM&si=vCZ_xLzpxq35u4FE
Playlist of my Fantastic Four comics history video essays: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhErcF0TWV22b609kWjbMOyr&si=A14CTSY5-V7s_y4D
SOURCES:
-Hickman text interviews were printed in the omnibus books
-2013 NYCC Comic Archive Hickman Interview: youtube.com/watch?v=sflkWwx2Uho
-2015 Marvel Hickman Footage: youtube.com/watch?v=eOAlFCC3_nU
-2019 SDCC Marvel Hickman Footage: youtu.be/lA8-r0Kh3aM?si=lQKk3ZsIL1BvMAlh
-2023 Marvel Hickman Footage: youtube.com/watch?v=VPp8Q5TIY30
Any possibly copyrighted material is protected under fair use. This content was created for commentary, entertainment or educational purposes.
Deep Space by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
#fantasticfour
