Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
CHAOS ENSUES MEDIA:
-Website: witsendpod.com
-YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCwvSur7b4J_U3gMIA44OGWQ
-Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/thechaosensues
Full essay transcript’s on my website: witsendpod.com/podcast-episodes/chaos-ensues-history-of-1990s-fantastic-four-comics
Chaos Ensues with this exploration of the most hectic decade of Fantastic Four comics so far: the 90s. Filled to the brim with foil covers, crazy outfits, big weapons and crossovers galore.
The start of the 90s hits readers with one of the most powerful FF runs so far by writer-artist, Walter Simonson. Despite the short run, Simonson has the FF journey 30 years into the future on their Time Sled to take on the Council of KANGS, a rogue Celestial and Galactus himself. This is the run that created the New Fantastic Four (with Art Adams) and the Time Variance Authority and Mr. Mobius.
After Simonson, writer/editor Tom DeFalco, artist Paul Ryan and inker Dan Bulanadi create a roller coaster of a run that lasts for most of the 90s. Reed Richards and Doctor Doom vanish, Sue Storm leads the team, Franklin Richards plays a major role. The first volume of FF ends with issue 416 to be replaced by…
HEROES REBORN by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi and Scott Williams. Two of the Image Comics founders return to the House of Ideas to boost Marvel’s low sales. After a year, Heroes Return sees Chris Claremont and Salvador Larocca take the FF to the end of the 90s.
Comics this essay covers: FF 334—416, Heroes Reborn (Vol 2) 1-13, Heroes Return (Vol 3)1-26
Use of copyrighted material should fall under fair use for educational purposes or commentary.
TIME CODES:
-0:00—Intro
-0:26—The Simonson FF run
-4:17—Time Variance Authority (TVA)
-5:31—New Fantastic Four (with Art Adams)
-8:37—Viewer Question 1
-8:47—The DeFalco & Ryan Run
-11:18—Jack Kirby 1994
-13:21—More Angst
-16:41—Viewer Question 2
-16:51—Heroes Reborn (Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Scott Williams)
-19:36—Heroes Return (Chris Claremont)
-21:21—For New Readers
-22:45—Viewer Question 3
-22:55—End of the 90s
-23:54—Important Information
Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
My Fantastic Four Comic Documentary Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhErcF0TWV22b609kWjbMOyr&si=XtLKyAYZXjj4meJp
SOURCES:
-Simonson Footage (2007 Fantastic Four Documentary)
-DeFalco Footage (Robert Kirkman’s Secret Comic Book History)
-Walter Simonson Dinosaur Interview (Sequential Tart): sequentialtart.com/archive/july01/simonson.shtml
-Jack Kirby Drawing Footage: youtu.be/Z6hX21EYFyY?si=7sIj0u3FnMvOewv1
-Jack Kirby Rare Interview: youtu.be/iUA0TvwmCEY?si=sDo0lhnb9Id1I_dg
-Jack Kirby Signing: youtu.be/QbDtGwKJnFk?si=tll-r77DArkB-F4y
-Heroes Reborn Sales Numbers: comichron.com/blog/2011/06/01/heroes-reborn-vs-heroes-return-tale-of
-Jim Lee Footage (Comic Book Greats with Stan Lee)
-Herb Trimpe New York Times Article: archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/010900edlife-56-edu.html
-Chris Claremont Footage (Comic Book Greats with Stan Lee)
#fantasticfour
CHAOS ENSUES MEDIA:
-Website: witsendpod.com
-YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCwvSur7b4J_U3gMIA44OGWQ
-Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/thechaosensues
Full essay transcript’s on my website: witsendpod.com/podcast-episodes/chaos-ensues-history-of-1990s-fantastic-four-comics
Chaos Ensues with this exploration of the most hectic decade of Fantastic Four comics so far: the 90s. Filled to the brim with foil covers, crazy outfits, big weapons and crossovers galore.
The start of the 90s hits readers with one of the most powerful FF runs so far by writer-artist, Walter Simonson. Despite the short run, Simonson has the FF journey 30 years into the future on their Time Sled to take on the Council of KANGS, a rogue Celestial and Galactus himself. This is the run that created the New Fantastic Four (with Art Adams) and the Time Variance Authority and Mr. Mobius.
After Simonson, writer/editor Tom DeFalco, artist Paul Ryan and inker Dan Bulanadi create a roller coaster of a run that lasts for most of the 90s. Reed Richards and Doctor Doom vanish, Sue Storm leads the team, Franklin Richards plays a major role. The first volume of FF ends with issue 416 to be replaced by…
HEROES REBORN by Jim Lee, Brandon Choi and Scott Williams. Two of the Image Comics founders return to the House of Ideas to boost Marvel’s low sales. After a year, Heroes Return sees Chris Claremont and Salvador Larocca take the FF to the end of the 90s.
Comics this essay covers: FF 334—416, Heroes Reborn (Vol 2) 1-13, Heroes Return (Vol 3)1-26
Use of copyrighted material should fall under fair use for educational purposes or commentary.
TIME CODES:
-0:00—Intro
-0:26—The Simonson FF run
-4:17—Time Variance Authority (TVA)
-5:31—New Fantastic Four (with Art Adams)
-8:37—Viewer Question 1
-8:47—The DeFalco & Ryan Run
-11:18—Jack Kirby 1994
-13:21—More Angst
-16:41—Viewer Question 2
-16:51—Heroes Reborn (Jim Lee, Brandon Choi, Scott Williams)
-19:36—Heroes Return (Chris Claremont)
-21:21—For New Readers
-22:45—Viewer Question 3
-22:55—End of the 90s
-23:54—Important Information
Atlantis by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
My Fantastic Four Comic Documentary Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHzs4gLtdGhErcF0TWV22b609kWjbMOyr&si=XtLKyAYZXjj4meJp
SOURCES:
-Simonson Footage (2007 Fantastic Four Documentary)
-DeFalco Footage (Robert Kirkman’s Secret Comic Book History)
-Walter Simonson Dinosaur Interview (Sequential Tart): sequentialtart.com/archive/july01/simonson.shtml
-Jack Kirby Drawing Footage: youtu.be/Z6hX21EYFyY?si=7sIj0u3FnMvOewv1
-Jack Kirby Rare Interview: youtu.be/iUA0TvwmCEY?si=sDo0lhnb9Id1I_dg
-Jack Kirby Signing: youtu.be/QbDtGwKJnFk?si=tll-r77DArkB-F4y
-Heroes Reborn Sales Numbers: comichron.com/blog/2011/06/01/heroes-reborn-vs-heroes-return-tale-of
-Jim Lee Footage (Comic Book Greats with Stan Lee)
-Herb Trimpe New York Times Article: archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/010900edlife-56-edu.html
-Chris Claremont Footage (Comic Book Greats with Stan Lee)
#fantasticfour
