Fantastic Four #398

Fantastic Four number 398, published by Marvel Comics in March 1995, was part of a transitional period for the title during the mid-nineties. Written by Tom DeFalco with interior art by Paul Ryan, this issue emerged during the 'Atlantis Rising' crossover event. The storyline centered on the tension between the surface world and the underwater kingdom, a classic thematic trope in the Fantastic Four mythos that tested the team's diplomatic and combat capabilities.

The creative direction under DeFalco and Ryan sought to balance legacy character dynamics with the editorial trends of the era, which often emphasized high-stakes cosmic or geopolitical conflicts. Paul Ryan’s clean, traditional illustrative style provided a grounded aesthetic amidst the chaotic plotlines common to Marvel's crossover events at the time. While the issue served as a functional chapter in a larger narrative arc, it reflects the editorial efforts of the mid-nineties to maintain continuity while navigating the complex interconnections of the wider Marvel Universe.