“FANTASTIC FOUR” – WHAT MAKES MARVEL’S FIRST FAMILY SO SPECIAL?

“The most important thing in life will always be family” – D. Toretto (Vin Diesel)

With the summer Hollywood blockbuster season upon us, fans are eagerly waiting for a “fantastic” return.

It has been since 2015 that we have seen the first family of Marvel on the big screen. The franchise was one of the last outsiders to not be under the Marvel Studios banner. Previous film incarnations were under the 20th Century Fox umbrella.

After the 2015 film did poorly at the box office, questions started. Many have wondered when Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben would officially join the MCU. In 2019 at San Diego Comic Con, “Fantastic Four: First Steps” was announced.

It has been a long road since the SDCC stage but July 25th, 2025 is when the FF debuts under Marvel Studios. Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm) step up to the plate with their portrayals.

For comic fans, there’s much to be excited about. As for pop culture, the Fantastic Four might be a tricky team to connect with. That said, let me break down 4 reasons why Marvel’s first family is so important to the MCU.

1. THEY OPENED THE DOORS FOR SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS

“Fantastic Four” by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby debuted in 1961. It was billed “The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine” for good reason. Each issue challenged the normal comic blueprint. Where else would you have The Mole Man strike in one issue, then deal with shape shifting Skrulls in the next? The creativity shown made this more about challenging the normal stat quo. It gave readers a sense of limitless imagination. From Lee and Kirby’s run came many characters who have impacted the current MCU rosters.

Some forget that a certain king of Talokan was re-introduced to the world in the pages of Fantastic Four #4 (1962). Readers witnessed Namor regain his memories and declare war on the surface world. It also created one of the more unique love triangles in comics with Reed & Namor vying for Sue’s affection. That is not the only royalty that the FF brought to the masses.

DON’T MISS THE LATEST SERIES!

In the pages of FF #52 (1966), The King of Wakanda made his first appearance. King T’Challa debuted and took on all four members! It was an impressive feat to say the least. This led to a team-up to defeat Klaw. Since then, the Black Panther‘s adventures have won over audiences at the comic shops and movie theaters. Royalty and the FF didn’t stop there.

The royal family of Attilan also debuted in the pages of issue #45. Those are the Inhumans. Their mainstream success is very polarizing but it can’t be denied. They fall under the branches of a very big family tree.

The MCU players didn’t stop here, but a few lead into my next point:

2. IF THE WORLD IS ENDING, THE FIRST TEAM ALWAYS BROUGHT IN IS THE FANTASTIC FOUR!

It’s not the X-Men. Forget about the Defenders. Even the Avengers have Reed Richards on speed dial. No matter what timeline or period in comics, if its’ “world ending”, the FF is there! Take a look at every major Marvel Comic event.

From 1984’s “Secret Wars” to the most recent “Blood Hunt”, it has always had the involvement of the First Family. It might have to do with one of their earliest stories. If you want to talk about “world ending” events, few get greater than the arrival of GALACTUS!

In 1966’s Issues #48-50, readers witnessed a catastrophic event. The sky was on fire. Panic in the streets. The Fantastic Four went to see the cause. Who they found was a silver herald on a surfboard announcing his master’s arrival. Pop Culture would come to find out that was Norrin Radd aka The Silver Surfer. Right behind was the eater of Worlds.

This series caused the First Family to reach beyond their means to stop Galactus. Little details as an unshaven and broken Reed Richards signaled the lengths to try stopping him. In the end, the Four found a way, but not without cost. Considering who’s been featured in the movie, it’s a safe bet that this story will be reflected in the script.

3. BEN GRIMM IS THE CONSCIENCE OF THE MARVEL COMICS UNIVERSE!

Now, you might be reading that statement and throwing in some other names into the mix. Spidey makes a good argument. Some say Steve Rogers or Sam Wilson. I doubt any will say Wade Wilson. Thinking about what the Marvel Universe is, the answer is more clear than you may think.

At its’ initial offset, the true MCU is a reflection of New York City. It’s a no-brainer why so many heroes are stationed there. The city is a great combination of diversity and defiance. There are many aspects that make up its’ DNA. The same can be said for the Comics Universe. With a vast collection of characters and elements behind it, the comics universe is complex.

It has seen its fair share of heroes and villains switching sides. Some have done those moves with ulterior motives (Looking at YOU Marvel illuminati). Pop Culture sometimes define these moves as being an “Anti Hero”. In the case of the kid from Yancy Street, one action defines his being the moral compass of Marvel.

MORE FIRST STEPS!

Throughout his time in comics, Grimm has been the Ever Loving, Blue Eyed Thing with a true heart of gold. When 2006’s “Civil War” pitted heroes against each other, Grimm did something that reflected the true temperature in the room.

Grimm opted not to take a side with either Captain America or Iron Man. He chose not to fight his friends and family. The Thing chose the most morally responsible decision in the battle of super egos. Grimm left the US and relocated to France until cooler heads prevailed.

Knowing what transpired in its’ conclusion, the move gave more weight to the conflict at hand. His loyalty and dedication for what’s good is unmatched. Seeing past the bickering showed what many knew was the right call. Even if Reed gets credit for being the “World’s Smartest Man”, Grimm’s actions give him a solid run for the money. If you ever want to know what side you should be rooting for in a Marvel event, just look to where The Things stands. It will be where the true heroes should be aligned.

4. FAMILY VERSUS EVERYONE

The true strength of the Fantastic Four is the bond of family. It is a timeless narrative that is as relevant today as it was in 1961. These four individuals take on the greatest threats in the world as a cohesive unit. When these four have held off attacks from the Avengers, Hulk and X-Men, that cements their place in the ultimate team rankings.

There still is a good nature bond between all. Johnny and Ben may play pranks on the other, but ever see anyone outside of the unit mess with them? It’s a day and night switch that sets them apart from other teams.

Even as death has coming knocking on the team’s door, that hasn’t stop them from defying the odds. 2004’s “Hereafter” is a prime example of how far the family will go for each other.

Even the next generation of the Richards family has shown they don’t fall from their parents. Franklin Richards *might* be the most powerful being in the comics universe. Any child who can make a pocket dimension out of thin air to save his family is going to be a force when they get older.

Let’s not forget about Valeria Richards and an intellect that far exceeds her fathers. When Doctor Doom acknowledges your skills at this age, that’s a huge compliment. At the same time, they have learned under the world’s greatest super-hero team. With timeless lessons learned, the future is very bright indeed.

YOU ARE NOW READY TO TAKE THE FIRST STEPS!

These rare just some examples on why the Fantastic Four is so important to all pop culture. The team transcends the comics with classic themes that resonates with any era. A whole new generation is going to find out when they go to the theaters starting July 25th. Until next time….Thanks for reading!  CLICK HERE FOR MORE CONTENT FROM KEN