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Fantastic Four comic books double as a charting of the medium’s history in and of itself. Marvel’s first family, comprised of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, have been defying the possibilities of comic book storytelling since their 1961 debut. The team’s one-two punch of sci-fi adventures through the cosmos and at-home family drama can’t quite be equaled, thanks much to the bold creatives who have helped define and redefine the characters.

Through each iteration—whether navigating alien worlds or the challenges of parenting Franklin and Valeria Richards—the team’s stories have always evolved with the industry and the world around it. From their founders, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, to the multiversal masterworks of Jonathan Hickman, the greatest minds in comics have called the pages of Fantastic Four their playground. With Fantastic Four’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to dive deep into the title’s best creative teams.

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10 Jack Kirby & Stan Lee Created the Team

Cosmic Hijinks and The Founding of Marvel’s First Family

The best place to start understanding the teams that made Fantastic Four iconic characters is to look at their creators, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The two are iconic figures in their own right, renowned together and separately for their significant impact on comic books. Their creation of the Four stands as a powerful testament to their brilliance. The poetic campiness of Lee’s dialogue and Kirby’s cosmic visual feasts have endured, proving them to be a timeless, endlessly influential pair.

Key Arcs

Impact on Fantastic Four Canon

The Coming of Galactus

Introduced Galactus and the Silver Surfer, expanding Marvel’s cosmic universe

This Man, This Monster!

Humanized the team, highlighting Ben Grimm’s internal struggles

The Inhumans Saga

Established a new race and mythology within Marvel’s framework

Of course, the duo is renowned for inventing the core Four, but Lee and Kirby didn’t just create the titular characters—they carved out several Marvel legends in Fantastic Four stories. Doctor Doom debuted as a master of magic, wits, and will. With Black Panther’s debut, Lee and Kirby helped shatter stereotypes, putting a black superhero and king on the Marvel map. Out in space, the two introduced audiences to Galactus and the Silver Surfer, forces that posed questions no superhero comic had dared to ask: What happens when power is beyond good and evil—indifferent and hungry? Together, Lee and Kirby laid the foundation for a universe brimming with wonder, conflict, and humanity—bringing heroes, villains, and ideas that would echo through decades.

9 John Byrne’s F4 Run Offers A Delightful X-Men Alternative

X-Men Innovation Begets Fantastic Four Evolution

By the early 1980s, Fantastic Four comics were due for an update. Superhero stories were beginning to enter a more serious space, reflected by the tumult of the X-Men and Spider-Man titles lapping FF’s familiar family swashbuckling fare in sales and popularity. No one was a better fit to help right the ship for Marvel’s First Family than John Byrne. The writer-artist was fresh on the heels of an innovative run on X-Men, which would poise him to allow Fantastic Four to reflect the industry and the world better. Byrne focused on the Four as a true family unit, taking each member more seriously than before—most notably elevating Sue Storm, notably swapping out the “Girl” in her “Invisible” title, dubbing her the Invisible Woman.

The Invisible Woman went from sidelined super “girl” to worthy adversary to some of Marvel’s mightiest, not to mention a more staunch and capable self-advocate when challenged by Doom or Reed’s all-consuming genius.

Sue was just one of many come-uppances Byrne would deliver Reed. In The Trial of Reed Richards, Reed reaped the consequences of his interplanetary policing, showcasing the burden of being the smartest man alive. In an era where superheroes grew darker and more violent, Byrne contemporized the team without robbing them of their fundamentals. Byrne’s work kept the group accessible yet profound, showing that the heart of Marvel’s universe wasn’t just about gritty reboots but stories that embraced heroism with depth and maturity.

8 Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo Laid A New Foundation for Much of Fantastic Four’s Future

Focusing on Family Like Never Before

Mark Waid’s run alongside artist Mike Wieringo on Fantastic Four during the early oughts brought about a new era for the team. Digging deeper into the personal lives of its members and their family dynamics, Waid and Wieringo injected a refreshing, updated balance of sci-fi and relatable drama. Waid and Wieringo reimagined the roles Franklin and Valeria Richards could play in FF stories. The children of Reed and Sue Richards had been part of the Marvel universe before. Still, this team skillfully brought them to the forefront, making the second generation of Marvel’s first family the key players they’re now known as.

Key Arcs

Impact on Fantastic Four Canon

Fantastic Four: Unthinkable

Introduced new family dynamics, showcasing Reed and Sue’s children and placing them in the center of the larger Doom/Reed rivalry.

The Intelligent Design

Explored Franklin’s evolving powers and subsequent responsibilities.

The Last Fantastic Four Story

Retrospective take on the team’s legacy and familial ties.

Finally, Franklin was no longer just a child of heroes. Instead, he was immensely powerful and emotionally complex, sometimes wavering under the weight of his abilities. Valeria— resurrected from stillborn status—was at the center of the Doom/Richards rivalry, deepening further the dynamics between characters old and new. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s hard to wrap one’s head around the decades it took Marvel before it embraced the Four’s growing family tree, especially considering the countless memorable moments Franklin and Valeria are part of.

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Fraction’s FF Makes For an Underrated Run

Matt Fraction’s FF often stands in the shadows of more prominent runs. It’s easy to see why; the odd-ball run boasts a different team than the usual Richards/Storm/Grimm combo. Yet, its unique charm and out-of-the-box story initiatives deserve greater recognition. The series swapped out the usual Fantastic Four lineup for an amuse-bouche of strange and humorous heroes: Ant-Man, She-Hulk, Medusa, and Ms. Thing.

Fraction leaned into the bizarre setup, embracing the surreal possibilities of a team built on mismatched personalities, misfit powers, and leadership roles within the Future Foundation.

In many ways, Fraction’s work on FF mirrors his celebrated run on Hawkeye, where he expertly balanced humor, character exploration, and grounded storytelling within a superhero framework. Complemented by Mike Allred’s trippy, retro-pop art, FF became a book with a kaleidoscope of color and endless, off-beat energy. A revolving door of heroes has long been a staple of Fantastic Four comics; FF is a perfect deep-dive into that storytelling aspect of the line—a speed-run through zany, Richards Family adjacent stories.

6 Grant Morrison Dragged The Fantastic Four Back Down to Earth

The Prolific Scotsman Headed the FF in Marvel Knights

Grant Morrison delivered an unflinching examination of the dynamics within Marvel’s First Family, set against the more mature backdrop of the Marvel Knights line. Morrison strips away the typical superhero gloss that sugar-coats the famous Marvel Family. Instead, Morrison shed light on the complexities and vulnerabilities of Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny. In 1234, the writer confronted Reed Richards’ obsessive nature, portraying it as an unhealthy and relentless quest for knowledge — a double-edged sword that strains his relationships with those he loves. This approach created a palpable tension within the family unit and their adventures under Morrison’s purview, where he revealed the team’s bonds to be as fragile as they are strong.

Comic Title

Fantastic Four: 1 2 3 4

Release Date

July 2001 – November 2001

Issue Count

4 Issues

Morrison’s stories also spotlit the challenges of parenting and partnership, particularly through the lens of Sue Storm. By exploring her frustrations and desires, Morrison painted Sue with more complexity than many of his counterparts had before him. Sue grappled with the sacrifices inherent to the mother/hero double-life, frayed thin from juggling those responsibilities with a largely preoccupied partner in Reed. Morrison’s depiction stopped short of glamorizing the Fantastic Four, presenting them as a unit that navigates real-life ups and downs alongside their super ones.

Mythic Adventure and Bold Action From Thor’s Greatest Writer

Best known for his imaginative and groundbreaking run on T hor, Walt Simonson infused Marvel’s First Family with a similar sense of mythic scale, grandeur, and whimsy. His sci-fi expertise was a game-changer for Fantastic Four comics, bringing a sweeping and awe-inspiring sense of adventure back to its panels.

Though brief, Simonson’s run on
Fantastic Four
is profound in its impact, if not just for demonstrating the creator’s brilliance.

The comics he produced demonstrated his understanding of the characters and their mythology. Simonson puts forth a levity-forward, fantastical approach but always avoids feeling silly, and his run on Fantastic Four is no different. His arcs often focused on otherworldly, time-based hijinks. Still, through innovative panel layouts and breezy but dynamic dialogue, Simonson immersed readers like few had before or have since — all while laying down the pivotal groundwork for the team’s future tales, like his enhancements to Galactus and Doctor Doom.

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4 Dwayne McDuffie, J. Michael Straczynski, Paul Pelletier Finally Delivered Consequences For Richards’ Actions

Civil War and Domestic Downfalls

During the peak of the Civil War era of Marvel Comics and its fallout, Dwayne McDuffie made history as the first Black writer for Fantastic Four, inheriting the title from J Michael Straczynski. Most notably partnering with artist Paul Pelletier, McDuffie’s short run combined thrilling action with canon-shifting revelations. McDuffie gave the title a fresh, more diverse perspective by adding Black Panther and Storm into the team.

With Sue and Reed temporarily out of the picture to work on their collective and separate issues, Ororo and T’Challa stepped in to pick up the pieces, providing
Fantastic Four
‘s narrative with fresh eyes to examine its conflicts.

Of course, these were McDuffie’s stories, but they were put in place by machinations set forth by JMS. While spearheading much of Civil War’s extended stories, Straczynski finally had Reed Richards and Sue Storm reckon with their marital struggles. As tensions mounted throughout the newly forced-to-register superhero community, McDuffie laid bare the strain it, and other canonical events, had Reed and Sue’s relationship. Pelletier’s dynamic and grounded visuals helped bring this emotional conflict to life with sincerity, helping further establish McDuffie’s run as a turning point in the team’s history.

3 Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, Alex Maleev Rebooted and Refreshed

The Ultimate Creative Team

Marvel’s Ultimate Universe launched in the early 2000s, an unprecedented attempt to breathe new life into its classic characters. With decades of convoluted backstories, Marvel needed a fresh start, and the Ultimate line provided just that. Not unlike DC’s Absolute Universe recently, Marvel would use the Ultimate line to recalibrate classic heroes—like the Fantastic Four—and rework their origins to resonate with a younger, more diverse, and current audience.

Key Arcs

Impact on Canon

The Fantastic Four: The New Beginning

Revitalized the team with contemporary issues and a focus on family dynamics.

The Rise of the Elementals

Introduced new villains who better reflected real-world challenges and expanded Fantastic Four mythology.

Ultimate Extinction

Explored loss and responsibility, further humanizing the team.

Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, and Alex Maleev took Fantastic Four books and made them their own with Ultimate Fantastic Four. Bendis’ sharp, contemporary sensibilities gave the characters real, relatable voices, while Maleev’s gritty art style added a sense of urgency and realism. Aged down in the new take, the arc provided a fresh origin for the team’s powers and their dynamics, motivations, and foundational ideals. The approach didn’t just update the franchise; it transformed how the team’s stories were told after that, subsequently influencing a generation of comics — and even upcoming films like Avengers: Secret Wars, which possesses comic book source material directly connected to their Ultimate take on Reed, Sue, and company.

2 Dan Slott Brought The Team Back From Marvel Jail

Marvel Backburnered Fantastic Four Comics Before They Got Back Their Film Rights

Dan Slott’s Fantastic Four run spanning from 2018 to 2022 stands as a crucial span of storytelling for the team. A revival of Marvel’s First Family, Slott inherited the reins years after the team went dormant following Secret Wars.– an in-world excuse for Marvel to boost their MCU stalwarts through comics instead of ones they didn’t have the rights to. With his palpable reverence for the team and keenly deployed nostalgia, Slott handled the FF canon with aplomb, catching the FF up to a world that had grown accustomed to their absence.

Fittingly, the Fantastic Four’s return came with some overdue fan service.

The long-awaited marriage of Ben Grimm and Alicia Masters was a standout moment of Slott’s run, finally uniting a couple whose romance had been building for decades. His introduction of the Forever Gate, an artificial nexus of realities that opened up a universe of storytelling possibilities, also provided a breakout bit of new Fantastic Four lore. The invention highlighted Reed Richards’ genius while propelling the FF into wild, new dimensions filled with sci-fi chaos. As is often the case with Slott, the approach sparked debates among fans, but even so, his love for the characters is hard to deny.

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1 Jonathan Hickman & Steve Epting

Cosmic Epics and Establishing the Modern F4 Makeup

Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting’s collaboration on Fantastic Four from 2009 to 2012 is celebrated as one of the most significant and impactful modern interpretations of the team. Epting’s eye-catching art and Hickman’s innovative, boundary-pushing stories have left an indelible mark on the Marvel canon, both page and screen. With the two creators’ powers combined, a visually and conceptually savvy vision for the Fantastic Four was born—one that would inform future comics and films.

Key Arcs

Impact on Fantastic Four Canon

Three

Challenged the team with a major loss, redefining their dynamic.

The Council of Reeds

Explored Reed’s hubris and parenting and expanded the multiverse concept.

Secret Wars

Thrusts two different Reed variants and the rest of the Richards family into the heart of a multiversal war.

Hickman deepened the Marvel audience’s understanding of the Fantastic Four as a unit and its members and seamlessly provided a pivotal new canon. Hickman’s notable contributions, such as the Council of Reeds, a cabal of Reed Richards variants from across the multiverse, explored themes of legacy in both a broad sense and, most critically, the Richards family and their legacy. Similarly, the establishment of the Future Foundation explored generational themes. The in-world initiative focused on nurturing the next generation of heroes and master thinkers. Finally, thanks to Hickman, Marvel’s First Family was officially embracing gazing beyond the branches native to its family tree and the far-reaching consequences of actions by such a foundational force as the Fantastic Four.

Marvel

Marvel is a multimedia powerhouse encompassing comic books, movies, TV shows, and more, captivating audiences with its iconic characters, thrilling narratives, and diverse worlds. From the legendary Avengers to the street-level heroes like Daredevil, Marvel’s universe is vast and ever-expanding.

“}]] The lasting legacy of the Fantastic Four is largely due to talented creative minds like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Jonathan Hickman, and many more.  Read More  

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