History Comicbook / FantasticFour

There have been several TV adaptations of the family, all [[Main/AnimatedAdaptation animated]]; ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1967'', a 1967 Creator/{{Hanna-Barbera}} series with many episode plots taken straight from the comics, ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1978'', the 1978 series with H.E.R.B.I.E the Robot in place of the Human Torch, ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'', a 1990s series that aired along with ''Iron Man'' as part of the "Marvel Action Hour/MarvelActin Universe", and ''[[WesternAnimation/FantasticFourWorldsGreatestHeroes Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]'', a 2006 Main/{{animesque}} [[Main/InternationalCoproduction French co-production]]. Ben also appeared in his own show in the late 1970s as part of ''Main/FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing''; on that show he was reimagined as a mild-mannered teenager, who had the power to turn back and forth from the comic-book alter ego with the help of a magic ring. ("Thing Ring, do your thing!") ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' features the four as allies to the eponymous team.

* HotMom: Sue, so much.

** The latter is a bit of a universal artifact, considering that back when Marvel held the license, it was probably made to be ''the'' [[Franchise/{{Godzilla}} Monster Island]].

There have been several TV adaptations of the family, all [[Main/AnimatedAdaptation animated]]; ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1967'', a 1967 Creator/{{Hanna-Barbera}} series with many episode plots taken straight from the comics, ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1978'', the 1978 series with H.E.R.B.I.E the Robot in place of the Human Torch, ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'', a 1990s series that aired along with ''Iron Man'' as part of the "Marvel Action Pack", and ''[[WesternAnimation/FantasticFourWorldsGreatestHeroes Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]'', a 2006 Main/{{animesque}} [[Main/InternationalCoproduction French co-production]]. Ben also appeared in his own show in the late 1970s as part of ''Main/FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing''; on that show he was reimagined as a mild-mannered teenager, who had the power to turn back and forth from the comic-book alter ego with the help of a magic ring. ("Thing Ring, do your thing!") ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' features the four as allies to the eponymous team.

** In fact, Creator/StanLee has commented that he used this to help keep the names straight. Eventually, Sue's name would cease to be alliterative.

* SacrificialPlanet: The planet-eating {{Galactus}} came to Earth a few times to devour it after spending centuries feeding on other planets without much trouble.

** If you [[FridgeBrilliance think about it]], he's also something of an [[AscendedFanboy Ascended Fanboy]], in the sense that he's a fanboy of science, and he managed to [[ScienceHero make a superhero career out of it]].

* Pro Wrestling Is Real / Pro Wrestling Episode: The Thing, as well as several other [[SuperStrength super strong]] characters are a part of a superhuman wrestling federation called ''Unlimited Championship Wrestling''.

* ProWrestlingIsReal / ProWrestlingEpisode: The Thing, as well as several other [[SuperStrength super strong]] characters are a part of a superhuman wrestling federation called ''Unlimited Championship Wrestling''.

* EvilCounterpart:

In 1994, ''Film/TheFantasticFour'', a low-budget movie never intended to be released, was made by Creator/RogerCorman. Eleven years later, ''Film/FantasticFour'', a big-budget movie, was released; it was followed in 2007 with a sequel, ''Fantastic Four: Rise of the SilverSurfer''.

In 1999, Lee and Kirby's original run was ranked #31 in ''The Comics Journal'''s list of the Top 100 Comic Books of the 20th Century, honored alongside the works of Creator/CarlBarks, [[ComicStrip/LilAbner Al Capp]], [[ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}} Charles M. Schulz]], [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes Bill Watterson]], and many others. While not the only mainstream superhero series to make the list, it was the highest ranked of any them.

The series spun off another book ''FF'', meaning ''Future Foundation''. Originally a temporary replacement for the regular ''Fantastic Four'' book, the Foundation is a scientific organization working for the betterment of mankind. The book features Reed and Sue's children, Franklin and Valeria; and notably includes {{Spider-Man}} and SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom as members. With the MarvelNOW relaunch the new heads of the Future Foundation are [[ComicBook/{{Ant-Man}} Scott Lang]], ComicBook/SheHulk, [[TheInhumans Medusa]] and Johnny Storm's current girlfriend, Darla Deering, while the main family is on a intergalactic vacation.

There have been several TV adaptations of the family, all [[Main/AnimatedAdaptation animated]]; ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1967'', a 1967 Creator/{{Hanna-Barbera}} series with many episode plots taken straight from the comics, ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1978'', the 1978 series with H.E.R.B.I.E the Robot in place of the Human Torch, ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'', a 1990s series that aired along with ''Iron Man'' as part of the "Marvel Action Pack", and ''[[WesternAnimation/FantasticFourWorldsGreatestHeroes Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]'', a 2006 Main/{{animesque}} [[Main/InternationalCoproduction French co-production]]. Ben also appeared in his own show in the late 1970s as part of ''Main/FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing''; on that show he was reimagined as a mild-mannered teenager, who had the power to turn back and forth from the comic-book alter ego with the help of a magic ring. ("Thing Ring, do your thing!") ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' features the four as recurring supporting characters.

There have been several TV adaptations of the family, all [[Main/AnimatedAdaptation animated]]; ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1967'', a 1967 Creator/{{Hanna-Barbera}} series with many episode plots taken straight from the comics, ''WesternAnimation/TheFantasticFour1978'', the 1978 series with H.E.R.B.I.E the Robot in place of the Human Torch, ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'', a 1990s series that aired along with ''Iron Man'' as part of the "Marvel Action Pack", and ''[[WesternAnimation/FantasticFourWorldsGreatestHeroes Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]'', a 2006 Main/{{animesque}} [[Main/InternationalCoproduction French co-production]]. Ben also appeared in his own show in the late 1970s as part of ''Main/FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing''; on that show he was reimagined as a mild-mannered teenager, who had the power to turn back and forth from the comic-book alter ego with the help of a magic ring. ("Thing Ring, do your thing!")

The characters first appeared in ''"Fantastic Four''" vol. 1 #1 (November, 1961), created by Creator/StanLee and Creator/JackKirby. The four were connected even before the same Main/NegativeSpaceWedgie gave them all their powers -- Reed and Sue were sweethearts and eventually got married, Johnny is Sue's younger brother, Ben is Reed's best friend since college (previously Reed's buddy from WorldWarII, until ComicBookTime forced a RetCon) -- and are as much a [[TrueCompanions family]] (if occasionally a dysfunctional one) [[SuperFamilyTeam as a team.]]

Their book kick started the success of Main/MarvelComics, and led to Comicbook/{{Spider-Man}}, the Comicbook/{{X-Men}}, and all the others. It also [[TropeMakers created many tropes]]; the FF were the first [[SuperHero superheroes]] without a SecretIdentity, the first super-team where the members fought each other as much as the villains, and the first place that KirbyDots appeared, among others.

The series spun off another book ''FF'', meaning ''Future Foundation''. Originally a temporary replacement for the regular ''Fantastic Four'' book, the Foundation is a scientific organization working for the betterment of mankind. The book features Reed and Sue's children, Franklin and Valeria; and notably includes {{Spider-Man}} and DoctorDoom as members. With the recent MarvelNOW relaunch the new heads of the Future Foundation are [[ComicBook/{{Ant-Man}} Scott Lang]], ComicBook/SheHulk, [[TheInhumans Medusa]] and Johnny Storm's current girlfriend, Darla Deering, while the main family is on a intergalactic vacation.

In the mid-'70s, there was even a radio adaptation, which faithfully represented many key early Lee/Kirby plots, and which is notable for being one of the first acting roles for a just-starting-out BillMurray (who played TheHumanTorch).

In 1994, ''Film/TheFantasticFour'', a low-budget movie never intended to be released, was made by RogerCorman. Eleven years later, ''Film/FantasticFour'', a big-budget movie, was released; it was followed in 2007 with a sequel, ''Fantastic Four: Rise of the SilverSurfer''.

* ActionGirl: Invisible Woman, and there have been ''two'' female stand-ins for [[TheBigGuy Ben Grimm]]: SheHulk, and Sharon Ventura, who was transformed into a DistaffCounterpart of The Thing. Crystal of the Inhumans also once filled in for Sue. So did Medusa, Crystal's sister.

** In fact, StanLee has commented that he used this to help keep the names straight. Eventually, Sue's name would cease to be alliterative.
* AllYourPowersCombined: The Super Skrull has all the powers of the Fantastic Four. When VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3 came out, the Super Skrull was on the roster as their gameplay equivalent.
* AlternateCompanyEquivalent: JackKirby originally reworked his old DCComics ChallengersOfTheUnknown to create the Four.
* AlternateUniverse: Many, ''many'' of them. The FF have the highest number of canon AU stories. And whenever they needed to be avoided from a crossover; their absence is usually handwaved with: "The FF are away in an alternate dimension..." At one point, it's even revealed that Reed Richards often holds trans dimensional conferences with numerous alternate versions of himself at the same time.
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Benjamin Jacob Grimm, until it became canon a few years back; and he recently undertook a second Bar Mitzvah to commemorate the occasion of his 13th Anniversary of turning into The Thing. His very look is loosely inspired by the Jewish folktale of the Golem.
* AnyoneCanDie: The focus of the recent ''Three'' storyline. [[spoiler:It was Johnny -- but of course he got better]].

* BreakingTheFourthWall: A memorable moment in Issue #10, from a series not known for breaking the fourth wall on a regular basis. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, struggling to write a plot for that issue, reflect on the mistake of sending Doctor Doom into space. Then, almost as if on queue, Doom barges in to their office and threatens the pair to call Mr. Fantastic to "discuss a new plot". Then, at that moment, Johnny answers the phone, telling Reed that it is Lee and Kirby, wanting to discuss a new plot, to which Richards questions it, stating that they just discussed working on a plot the previous day.

* ComicBookTime: Perhaps more visibly in force here than in any other comic. Franklin was born in 1968, and has yet to reach puberty despite the fact that he really ought to be older than many, many MarvelComics characters that are older than him despite having been born decades later.

* DistinguishedGentlemansPipe: Reed Richards used to smoke a pipe from time to time, before it became [[PoliticallyCorrect PC]] not to smoke.

* ElementalBaggage: For Johny's power source in creating flame. Occasionally justified by him feeling tired or very hungry after using extremely hot flames.

* EnemyMine: Happens a lot with major antagonists for Reed such as with DoctorDoom and {{Galactus}}.
** The most recent being very notable when Reed's daughter Valeria brokered a deal with Doom. [[spoiler: Doom will work with the Future Foundation to bring down a group of amoral [[EvilTwin alternate Reed Richards]]. In exchange they would heal his super-intelligence crippling [[SoapOperaDisease brain damage]]. Doom upon being restored gathers a summit of the FF's most intelligent enemies to work on strategies to kill the Reeds. At the Foundation's headquarters.]]
* EvilDetectingBaby: In one issue, DoctorDoom walks the streets of New York in civilian clothes (with a less ornate mask replacing his usual one). He passes a baby boy, who begins screaming and crying uncontrollably. Doom apologises to the boy's mother for frightening the child; the mother replies that [[spoiler:the baby is blind.]]

* FauxActionGirl: The Invisible Girl, originally; though she slowly got better over time, it wasn't until the John Byrne run in the 1980s that she toughened up into a real ActionGirl.

* FriendlyEnemy: Johnny and SpiderMan have a friendly rivalry with each other; so do Ben and {{Wolverine}}. Encounters of the two duos are common in crossovers; usually HilarityEnsues.

* GuileHero: Invisible Woman should be portrayed as this. She shamed Ben Grimm into piloting the ship during the first issue. She was also told to distract many of the Silver Age male supervillians. After Psycho Man temporarily turned her into Malice she used her knowledge of Reed and Psycho Man's personalities to track him down and take revenge on him. When Dr. Doom stole the power cosmic from the Silver Surfer, she tricked him into flying into a mountain. During the Civil War, she spied on Reed. & as any real chessmaster/manipulative bastard/guile hero would tell you, the greatest achievements in theses tropes is to make certain that your opponents don't realize you are a social expert.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: [[TearJerker Johnny does this to save his niece and nephew. He succeeds, but dies in the process]]]]. (Don't worry, kids, this is a comic book).

** As for the rest of the team: The Thing is likewise a very intelligent ex-fighter pilot. On his worst days, he's needy, pessimistic, and pushy; on his best, he is braver than Captain America. Sue is the most powerful member of her team and on her best day the TeamMom, but she's got self-esteem issues and doubts Reed's devotion to her and to the family. Most interesting of all is Reed: he's brilliant, he's rich, he's famous, he's got a great family and the name of every other superhero on his rolodex, and he's [[EvenTheGuysWantHim even easy on the eyes]], but every so often he admits his deep guilt over causing the accident that made the Fantastic Four in the first place -— even guilt over what happened to Victor von Doom, even though he didn't have a damn thing to do with it.

** Valeria also tends to address DoctorDoom as "Uncle Doom", which he appears to actually like.

* HopeSpot: During the early days of the series' run, Ben would periodically revert back to his old human self for a few minutes before turning back into The Thing again. Not only did this give Ben hope that the power of the cosmic rays were weakening on him, but it gave the rest of the four hope it might do the same for their powers.

* LastNameBasis: The Thing seems to be on a permanent last-name basis with Bruce Banner (possibly having to do with his main rival being [[TheIncredibleHulk Bruce's alter-ego]], and when he gets sufficiently pissed at Reed he'll start referring to him exclusively as "Richards."
* LawyerFriendlyCameo: In the early days of the series, StanLee and JackKirby made an appearance, faces hidden from view, just to be bullied by Doctor Doom into altering that issue's plot in his favor.

* MediumBlending: Some of the JackKirby-drawn issues featured photographed models of objects in place of drawn art.

* MrExposition: In their early appearances the Inhumans come across as an entire race of these. This is partly because they have to speak for their mute leader Black Bolt, and partly because they would appear OnceAnEpisode as part of a story arc and have to recap everything for casual readers.

* TheNotableNumeral: The eponymous heroes and their enemies The Frightful Four, headed by the Wizard.

* NotSoDifferent: Although they're on opposite ends of the good vs. evil thing, Both Reed and Doom are insanely intelligent, somewhat condescending, and often only care about completing whatever task at hand will best benefit whatever, tossing aside everything else.

** Even better: {{Galactus}}, a freakin' embodiment of a cosmic force, has said that the Fantastic Four are the only beings in the Universe that he can call his friends. In fact, in a recent issue we see an older version of Franklin promise Galactus that he'd be with him at the end of the universe. They share a moment floating above the Earth.

** Also originally Sue was a shy,almost invisible to people woman and Reed had an elastic mind.

* PowerArmour: Somewhere early 70's The Thing lost his powers, so he wound up using a PowerArmour version of his previous body.

* RageAgainstTheAuthor: [[AuthorAvatar Author Avatars]] of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby attended the wedding of Reed and Sue... and were expelled by Nick Fury
* ReedRichardsIsUseless : [[TropeNamer Where do you think they got the name?]]

** With {{Marvel NOW}}, in "Fantastic Four" the Richards family are taking an intergalactic vacation for a year, whilst in "FF" [[ComicBook/{{Ant-Man}} Scott Lang]], ComicBook/SheHulk, [[TheInhumans Medusa]] and Johnny Storm's current girlfriend, Darla Deering, are recruited to serve as the heads of the Future Foundation & the Fantastic Four in the abscence of the Richards family.
* RomanticFalseLead: Namor, DependingOnTheWriter.

*** In a somewhat recent story arc, Reed tried to remove Ben's mutation and add it to his own elasticity, but Ben refused to let him. "You're you an' I'm me, an' that's the cosmic plan."

* {{Stripperiffic}}: Unusual for a comic series in that the team's main female member only rarely falls under this trope, preferring a modest blue bodysuit identical to the ones Reed and Johnny wear, but it does happen - like when she wore [[http://www.newmoanyeah.com/2003-plugs/062303_comic_babes_at_wizarduniverse.php this costume]] for a few years in the 1990s. The change was widely panned by fans and removed.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: SheHulk was a member of the team for a while when the Thing went solo. Having the same powers let her fill the role effectively.

* TookALevelInBadass: Susan, once TheChick with the next to useless power of become invisible, to nowadays where she is one of the most powerful superheroes in all of the MarvelUniverse, along with the forceful personality guaranteed to mess up even DoctorDoom's day. Oh, and [[MamaBear she's got kids]]. There's a reason why she's the page image for this trope.
* TrueCompanions: SpiderMan is one of the most trusted allies and friends of the Four. After the [[spoiler:Torch's supposed death]], Spidey temporarily became a member of the ''Future Foundation''.

* WeirdnessMagnet: The Four tend to meet or attract various aliens, inter dimensional beings... weather intentional, or by accident.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to Stan Lee's [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/synopsis1.jpg initial]] [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/synopsis2.jpg plot]], published in ''Fantastic Four #358'', Sue was originally permanently invisible, and she'd be more or less an InvisibleStreaker.

** To give an example, she's used those forcefields to ''knock out the [[{{Comicbook/IncredibleHulk}} Hulk]]''.

* {{Worthy Opponent}}s: Ben Grimm and TheHulk to each other. Banner himself has said that if ever Hulk really cut loose, Ben would probably be the only hero on Earth with even a chance of slowing "ol' Jade-Jaws" down.
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