From Simpsons to Futurama: Rediscovering Matt Groening's Timeless Classic, Now in Season 11!

Summary

Futurama season 11 includes references to Matt Groening's older classic, Life in Hell comics, showcasing the series' connection to the past.

In episode 5, characters from the Life in Hell comics, particularly Bongo, make a brief appearance as dolls in the Momazon factory. This Easter egg, found in season 11 of Futurama, pays homage to the long-standing tradition of referencing Life in Hell. Created by Groening, this comic strip series played a significant role in shaping The Simpsons.

Futurama has always had connections to The Simpsons, but in season 11, it brings back ties to an even older Matt Groening classic. Though Groening is best known for his work on The Simpsons, it wasn't his first project. With The Simpsons being so popular, Groening's other shows like Futurama and Disenchantment often include Easter eggs related to Homer, Bart, and the rest of Springfield. Fortunately, Futurama season 11 proves that it hasn't overlooked another one of Groening's classics, drawing inspiration from an even older source.

After a decade, Futurama returns with Hulu bringing back Matt Groening's animated masterpiece for a new set of episodes. Futurama season 11 features the first fresh episodes since the show was cancelled after season 10 in 2013. Despite the time gap, the Planet Express crew remains as sharp as ever. Episode 5 of Futurama season 11, titled "Related to Items You've Viewed," presents a clever parody of Amazon, as Fry, Leela, and Bender journey to the Momazon warehouse to acquire supplies for their apartment. As expected, chaos ensues, and amidst the exciting story of the Momazon factory, a major Easter egg resides within its walls.

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Futurama Season 11 References Matt Groening's Life In Hell Comics

In addition to The Simpsons, Futurama makes references to another of Matt Groening's creations, his self-published comics called Life in Hell. These comics started in 1977 and draw inspiration from Groening's experiences in Los Angeles, featuring anthropomorphic rabbits with mundane and unhappy lives. This early project of Groening's, which foreshadowed the comedic style of The Simpsons and other ventures, often goes unnoticed and underappreciated.

Futurama Season 11's Life In Hell Easter Egg Continues Original Series' Universe Connections

In a stroke of luck, one of the characters from Groening's Life in Hell makes a brief appearance in a hilarious moment during episode 5 of Futurama season 11. As Bender undergoes training at the Momazon factory, observant viewers can spot various items passing on a conveyor belt in the foreground. Among these items are some cleverly crafted rabbits, designed in the distinctive style of the Life in Hell characters. These rabbits represent none other than Bongo, a central character from Life in Hell known for having just one ear. While they may initially appear as ordinary rabbits, dedicated fans of Matt Groening's works would certainly recognize their true identity as Life in Hell dolls.

The presence of Life in Hell Easter eggs in Futurama season 11 serves as a continuation of the series' connection to its original universe. Although rare, earlier seasons of Futurama also include references to Life in Hell. An example of this can be seen in the series pilot, where one of the New York buildings is named "AKBAR," after one of the main characters in Life in Hell. Additionally, in season 1, episode 2, "The Series Has Landed," a Blinky toy is visible in a vending machine, while in Futurama season 2, episode 8, "Xmas Story," Bongo makes an appearance in a pet store. Therefore, it is delightful to observe modern Futurama honoring this tradition of referencing Life in Hell.

What Happened To Life In Hell?

Life in Hell, which began in 1977 and unexpectedly carried on until 2012, experienced a notable rise in popularity when it was embraced by Wet magazine in 1978. Its success continued to grow throughout the 1980s with the release of compilation books. Interest in Life in Hell surged even more after Matt Groening achieved success with The Simpsons. However, due to the demands of the animated series, Life in Hell gradually lost its prominence. Despite this, Groening managed to consistently release new installments of Life in Hell, running parallel to The Simpsons. Unfortunately, in 2012, Groening made the tough decision to bring Life in Hell to an end.

Matt Groening had grand aspirations for Life in Hell, which he felt were never fully realized. Originally, he intended to pitch it as an animated series. However, upon discovering that he would relinquish the rights to the property, he swiftly came up with the concept for The Simpsons. During the development of The Simpsons, Groening initially considered Marge Simpson to be a character from Life in Hell, with the series finale revealing her hidden rabbit ears. It is evident that without Life in Hell, there would be no The Simpsons, making the inclusion of the Futurama Easter egg a wonderful tribute.

New episodes of Futurama release Mondays on Hulu.