Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
CHAOS ENSUES MEDIA:
-Website: witsendpod.com
-YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCwvSur7b4J_U3gMIA44OGWQ
-Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/thechaosensues
Check out the full essay transcript on my website: witsendpod.com/podcast-episodes/chaos-ensues-history-of-1980s-fantastic-four-comics-by-john-byrne
After the awkward growing stage of the 1970s (after Stan Lee and Jack Kirby left), the 80s was a turning point for Fantastic Four comics.
Early on, writer Doug Moench and artist Bill Sienkiewicz have a run that focuses on the internal dynamics of the team. Sienkiewicz starts developing the style he would use for New Mutants, Elektra, Stray Toasters.
John Byrne takes over with Fantastic Four 232 and tells the story of the First Family for half a decade. Byrne humanizes many of the characters.
Giving Reed Richards an origin, making Sue Storm the most powerful member of the team and focusing on Johnny and Ben.
Doctor Doom becomes more regal and menacing while Galactus is humanized in a way that wasn’t seen since Thor 169 by Jack Kirby. One of the best parts of this decade is She Hulk taking over from The Thing after Secret Wars. (Also how does Shulkie’s creation relate to movies and TV?)
After Byrne departs for DC Comics, writer Steve Englehart, artist Keith Pollard and inker Joe Sinnott (with artist Rich Buckler) take over for the rest of the decade. Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman leave to raise their son Franklin, so The Thing takes over as the FF’s new leader. Chaos ensues.
TIME CODES:
-0:00—The New Decade (Intro)
-0:30— Doug MOENCH & Bill Sienkiewicz Era
-2:27— Mini Bill Sienkiewicz Video Essay
-3:21—John Byrne Era
-5:05—Nova, Galactus, Trial of Reed Richards
-7:36—Viewer Question 1
-7:46—Doctor Doom
-9:41—She Hulk
-11:24—Secret Wars Comic History
-13:58—Viewer Question 2
-14:07—Reed and Sue
-17:20—Thingmania
-19:36—Post Byrne Era
-23:06—For New Readers
-29:27—Best 80s FF Comics? (Question 3)
-29:37—What Next?
-30:21—Important Info
My full Fantastic Four video essay/documentary playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhErcF0TWV22b609kWjbMOyr&si=SEBzAzwa96Qfwkks
#fantasticfour
SOURCES:
Bill Sienkiewicz art videos: youtu.be/x8rkKxMYslM?si=Caf7FqC3Yy3b9hdy
Bill Sienkiewicz Fantastic Four: youtu.be/y2IMf_4t7lA?si=DfhAVIf-E7ZWzU9d
John Byrne Interview Studio: youtu.be/UM0weL1062M?si=vQKhefN6icSpCIJA
John Byrne Interview Artist Alley Drawing: youtu.be/uY61UZMSvi8?si=vbSpaNdxEBgxLoM8
John Byrne Galactus Interview: youtu.be/MEyCJ3Qvid0?si=jk5XvBKEWkNPnF28
Bill Bixby She Hulk Interview: youtu.be/RbcwMxpdAgc?si=65yGLoIDNTSRNB62
Fantastic Four cartoon clip: World's Greatest Heroes
Certain interview clips: 2007 Fantastic Four documentary
MUSIC ATTRIBUTION: Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Use of copyrighted material should fall under fair use for educational purposes or commentary.
CHAOS ENSUES MEDIA:
-Website: witsendpod.com
-YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCwvSur7b4J_U3gMIA44OGWQ
-Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/thechaosensues
Check out the full essay transcript on my website: witsendpod.com/podcast-episodes/chaos-ensues-history-of-1980s-fantastic-four-comics-by-john-byrne
After the awkward growing stage of the 1970s (after Stan Lee and Jack Kirby left), the 80s was a turning point for Fantastic Four comics.
Early on, writer Doug Moench and artist Bill Sienkiewicz have a run that focuses on the internal dynamics of the team. Sienkiewicz starts developing the style he would use for New Mutants, Elektra, Stray Toasters.
John Byrne takes over with Fantastic Four 232 and tells the story of the First Family for half a decade. Byrne humanizes many of the characters.
Giving Reed Richards an origin, making Sue Storm the most powerful member of the team and focusing on Johnny and Ben.
Doctor Doom becomes more regal and menacing while Galactus is humanized in a way that wasn’t seen since Thor 169 by Jack Kirby. One of the best parts of this decade is She Hulk taking over from The Thing after Secret Wars. (Also how does Shulkie’s creation relate to movies and TV?)
After Byrne departs for DC Comics, writer Steve Englehart, artist Keith Pollard and inker Joe Sinnott (with artist Rich Buckler) take over for the rest of the decade. Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman leave to raise their son Franklin, so The Thing takes over as the FF’s new leader. Chaos ensues.
TIME CODES:
-0:00—The New Decade (Intro)
-0:30— Doug MOENCH & Bill Sienkiewicz Era
-2:27— Mini Bill Sienkiewicz Video Essay
-3:21—John Byrne Era
-5:05—Nova, Galactus, Trial of Reed Richards
-7:36—Viewer Question 1
-7:46—Doctor Doom
-9:41—She Hulk
-11:24—Secret Wars Comic History
-13:58—Viewer Question 2
-14:07—Reed and Sue
-17:20—Thingmania
-19:36—Post Byrne Era
-23:06—For New Readers
-29:27—Best 80s FF Comics? (Question 3)
-29:37—What Next?
-30:21—Important Info
My full Fantastic Four video essay/documentary playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhErcF0TWV22b609kWjbMOyr&si=SEBzAzwa96Qfwkks
#fantasticfour
SOURCES:
Bill Sienkiewicz art videos: youtu.be/x8rkKxMYslM?si=Caf7FqC3Yy3b9hdy
Bill Sienkiewicz Fantastic Four: youtu.be/y2IMf_4t7lA?si=DfhAVIf-E7ZWzU9d
John Byrne Interview Studio: youtu.be/UM0weL1062M?si=vQKhefN6icSpCIJA
John Byrne Interview Artist Alley Drawing: youtu.be/uY61UZMSvi8?si=vbSpaNdxEBgxLoM8
John Byrne Galactus Interview: youtu.be/MEyCJ3Qvid0?si=jk5XvBKEWkNPnF28
Bill Bixby She Hulk Interview: youtu.be/RbcwMxpdAgc?si=65yGLoIDNTSRNB62
Fantastic Four cartoon clip: World's Greatest Heroes
Certain interview clips: 2007 Fantastic Four documentary
MUSIC ATTRIBUTION: Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Use of copyrighted material should fall under fair use for educational purposes or commentary.
