Articles

Blog | Articles | Interviews | Transcripts

A great deal can be said about the Fantastic Four outside the confines of the comic book itself. This area focuses on original articles, analyses and essays written expressly for FFPlaza.com, as well as interviews with various creators.

Articles: Editor's Opinions

What Sean Kleefeld has to say on whatever topic he feels like talking about.

Articles: Original Articles

Kirby Cover Tributes - A look behind the cover of FF#1, the man who created it, and those who honor him.
How Do They Pay For All That Stuff? - A look at how the Fantatsic Four have been able to stay in business from a financial perspective.
The Blackbeard of the Marvel Universe - Could Ben Grimm really be the one and only Blackbeard?
The Many Flames of Johnny Storm - A brief explanation legitimizing different artists' interpretations of the Human Torch.
Anatomy of a Skrull - A comprehensive look at the Skrullian race.
The Lockjaw Controversy - So is Lockjaw a dog or not?
The History of Latveria - Analysis of Latveria's government since the late 1930s.
Conspiracy! - The creation of the FF was an accident... or was it?
Fantastic Danglers - A list of the FF's varied plot threads that have yet to be tied up.
In the (Negative) Zone - Everything you need to know about the Negative Zone.
The Origin of The Fantastic Four - How Martin Goodman, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby developed what became one of the most important comic books of the 1960s.
In the Media - How the FF have used and been used by the media.
The More Things Change... - A look at the physical transformations Ben's undergone since first becoming the Thing.
John Byrne's Unused Fantastic Four - An article from a 1986 Comics Feature in which John Byrne discusses his FF ideas for #296 and beyond.
The Definitive HERBIE Article - Need we say more?

Articles: Interviews

These are interviews I've had with various comic creators. They have provided valuable insights into the comic creation process and explain some of the reasoning behind various decisions that affected Marvel's first family. As you can see, the latest interviews are listed at the top with a brief summary of contents following.

Danny Fingeroth (1/3/2002) - The Complete Fantastic Four, Dazzler, Marvel Fanfare, and "Fathers and Sons."
Mike Wieringo (11/25/2001) - Prepping for the FF, Mark Waid, and "Heroes Reborn."
Tom Brevoort (10/17/2001) - Fantastic Force and early days on Fantastic Four.
Jeph Loeb (9/26/00) - Beginning as scripter on FF and Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine.
Bobbie Chase (5/18/00) - The flood of Y2K FF projects and Carlos Pacheco.
Bobbie Chase (2/25/00) - Starting at Marvel and the Fantastic Four (vol. 3).
Larry Hama (2/5/00) - Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm and Logan.
Peter B. Lewis (12/16/99) - The Marvel Comics Radio Series.
Roger Stern (11/28/99) - Avengers Forever, Spanish reprints, and Lost Generations.
Salvador Larroca (3/19/99) - Starting on the FF and working with Chris Claremont.
Jason Liebig (3/25/98) - Toy packaging and the first year of FF (vol. 3).
Karl Kesel (1/29/98) - The 1998 FF Annual and FF 2099.
Roger Stern (10/13/97) - Johnny's wedding, John Buscema, and Marvel Universe.
Walt Simonson (9/22/97) - Starlammers, the FF and the Avengers (vol. 2).
Paul Ryan (5/19/97) - His entire run and his depature on the FF.
Jim Lee (5/8/97) - The end of Heroes Reborn and the possibility of a movie project.

Articles: Transcripts

Available here are transcripts from online chats and copies of older interviews from various magazines. Basically, anything that doesn't fall into the original articles or interviews (conducted by FFPlaza.com) sections.

Dan Jurgens (3/31/99) - DC's AOL-based chat with Superman/Fantastic Four writer and artist.
Jason Liebig (7/22/98) - Marvel's AOL-based chat with former Fantastic Four Assistant Editor.
Mark Powers Chat (2/24/98) - Marvel's AOL-based chat with former Fantastic Four Associate Editor.
The New Marvelution (2/3/98) - The Mining Company's chat discussing the relaunch of Marvel's flagship titles.
Steve Englehart (circa 1990) - An open letter to Amazing Heroes about his run on the FF.
John Byrne (1984) - A Mark-Lerer-conducted interview for Marvel Age covering his work up to around FF #265.
Bob Ingersoll (10/28/83) - One of his "The Law is a Ass" columns about the FF's incorporation.
Len Wein & Marv Wolfman (12/81) - Discussing their respective runs, the FF's origin and John Byrne.