The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  • 1960s Period Setting
  • No Origin Story
  • Embracing the Comic Book Aspects
  • Colorful Costumes
  • No Doctor Doom (Yet)

The initial teaser for “The Fantastic Four: First Footsteps” signifies a significant milestone within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as it introduces Marvel’s original family into this universe. Characters such as Captain America and Namor existed before the Fantastic Four comics, but their creation in 1961 paved the way for the Marvel Universe and set the stage for iconic characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and numerous others to emerge. Ever since the MCU started in 2008 with “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk”, fans have eagerly anticipated their arrival.

To put it simply, the Fantastic Four aren’t strangers to the big screen; this is actually their fourth time around. Their first appearance was a low-budget B-movie in 1994 that never really took off. The following two movies in the 2000s were moderately successful but received harsh criticism. The 2015 film, unfortunately, wasn’t well-received either. With other superhero teams like The Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers enjoying great success on screen, the Fantastic Four haven’t had the same luck. Given their past struggles, it’s understandable if viewers are skeptical about another Fantastic Four movie. After all, they might be wondering, what makes this new one any different?

Marvel Studios is confidently backing the upcoming film, making strategic creative decisions to distinguish it from past adaptations on screen.

1960s Period Setting

Initially, what grabs your attention about “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is that it is a depiction of an alternate universe in the 1960s. In other words, the story unfolds in a retro-futuristic setting influenced by the science fiction of that era, bearing a strong resemblance to Walt Disney’s Tomorrowland. This differs significantly from the earlier film adaptations, each of which was set in the contemporary world when they were produced.

By setting the movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” in the 1960s, it connects the film to the original comic book origins of the characters, as they were first introduced during that time. This was likely their most popular era at Marvel, with the iconic 102-issue run by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby being justly referred to as “The Greatest Comic Magazine.” Notably, Peyton Reed, who later became the Ant-Man director, initially proposed a Fantastic Four movie in the early 2000s. However, 20th Century Fox opted for a film set in modern times by director Tim Story instead. Had they chosen Reed’s idea in 2005, the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of the Fantastic Four might have taken a different shape.

No Origin Story

In contrast to earlier adaptations, the upcoming movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” has vowed not to delve into an origin story, even though viewers will catch glimpses of their origin via news clips. Unlike the initial three film attempts, which adhered to the typical superhero approach by dedicating the entire first movie to the team’s origin, often elongating it beyond its original five-page span in the comics.

In the 2005 Fantastic Four movie, the entire film focuses on the heroes becoming accustomed to their newfound abilities, while the traditional portrayal of The Fantastic Four as famous superheroes is expanded upon in the sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. In the 2015 reboot, titled Fant4stic, it takes nearly half an hour into the film’s runtime for them to acquire their powers, and they don’t move into their Baxter Building headquarters until the end of the movie. The 1994 Roger Corman film comes closest to the comic book version, but it still dedicates a significant portion of its early scenes to explaining the team’s origins before they obtain their powers.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” This film dives straight into the action, with our beloved team already established as superheroes within their unique universe. The audience is assumed to be well-versed in their origin story, allowing Marvel Studios to bypass this familiar ground. The movie offers a captivating experience reminiscent of flipping open a Fantastic Four comic book mid-adventure.

Intriguingly, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is joined by another superhero film titled “Superman,” set to premiere two weeks prior. Both movies opt to skip the traditional origin story, aiming to steer clear of well-trodden paths and instead weave fresh narratives that validate their latest interpretations of these iconic characters.

Embracing the Comic Book Aspects

Although the Fantastic Four comic books are renowned for their outlandish sci-fi elements, the movie adaptations have generally opted to tone down these vibrant character traits. For instance, the 2005 Fantastic Four film kept the narrative mostly confined within the Baxter Building, portraying Doctor Doom as a CEO instead of a ruler of a European nation. This approach mirrors that of Spider-Man, released three years prior. In Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, there was a contentious choice to depict Galactus as a giant space cloud rather than a towering titan, possibly due to concerns about appearing too silly. The 2015 film, Fant4stic, attempted to recreate the gritty realism of Batman Begins by focusing on The Fantastic Four’s body horror aspects and filming much of it in an underground bunker lab.

In contrast to the earlier films which seemed to minimize the “fantastic” aspect of The Fantastic Four, The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be wholeheartedly celebrating the extraordinary elements inherent in the source material. From the appearance of the robot H.E.R.B.I.E. to Galactus being envisioned in his classic comic book style, complete with the iconic big purple helmet, this is a Fantastic Four film that long-time fans have eagerly anticipated for years.

Colorful Costumes

In the early days, The Fantastic Four didn’t wear superhero costumes like they do now. Their iconic blue suits didn’t make their debut until issue #3 of the comic series in 1962. Since then, the team has been known for this costume, with occasional updates. The 1994 film took inspiration from the comics designed by John Byrne in Fantastic Four #256 (July 1984), which featured high collars and a white accent color instead of black, as well as a slightly darker shade of blue compared to what most fans are familiar with.

2005’s Fantastic Four costume concept aimed to encapsulate the perfect version of what fans envision when thinking about the Fantastic Four, featuring a blue jumpsuit with black details but modernized for the 21st century. This update included collared necklines that expanded the suit and a smaller logo positioned on the left chest instead of centrally placed. In contrast, the 2015 movie redesigned the costumes significantly, eliminating color and opting for all-black suits to give off a homemade vibe. Strangely, The Thing is depicted without pants in this version.

In my opinion, the costumes from “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” aim to strike a balance between iconic and distinctive. It seems like they’ve drawn inspiration from the 1994 and 2005 films, yet they’ve chosen to view these designs through the prism of the 1960s, the era in which The Fantastic Four were initially conceived. They’ve retained the white collar reminiscent of the 1980s, but have opted for the vibrant blue that graced the original costume. Rather than the traditional jumpsuit design, these costumes are modeled after 1960s fashion, giving them a textured appearance that makes them look more like a fusion of fashion and space technology, rather than typical superhero attire.

No Doctor Doom (Yet)

In the Marvel Universe, Doctor Doom is considered the Fantastic Four’s most formidable adversary and one of the most well-known villains. Unlike some other superheroes, Doctor Doom didn’t make his debut until issue #5 of The Fantastic Four, but he plays a significant role in their narrative, much like the cosmic rays that bestowed them with extraordinary abilities.

In the realm of superhero movies, it was initially assumed that the first film would revolve around the hero’s arch-nemesis, a trend that continued until the release of Iron Man. Interestingly, all films based on The Fantastic Four have included Doctor Doom, and these adaptations often interwove his origin story with that of the team, although this is not how it unfolds in the comics.

The portrayals of Doctor Doom in these film adaptations have been met with controversy due to significant alterations made to his character.

In “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” the narrative deviates from tradition, with Doctor Doom noticeably absent. Although there’s a strong possibility that he might appear in the movie’s post-credits scene, paving the way for Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of the villain in “Avengers: Doomsday,” Doctor Doom is not integral to the plot of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Instead, the main antagonists are Galactus and the Silver Surfer, characters that were previously reserved for the 2007 sequel, “Rise of the Silver Surfer.” In this film, they are introduced as the initial adversaries the MCU’s Fantastic Four will encounter, potentially delaying their showdown with Doctor Doom until a later time. This separation could lend more gravity and scope to their future confrontation, providing the Fantastic Four with an opportunity to establish their unique story arc independently of Doctor Doom.

It’s clear that these components strongly indicate that The Fantastic Four: First Steps stands apart from all previous adaptations and promises an experience distinct from anything audiences have seen thus far. In fact, it could potentially break new ground, not only setting itself apart as a unique Fantastic Four film but also any Marvel Cinematic Universe production.

As an excited fan, here’s my take:

“Check out the trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps right here and mark your calendars – I can’t wait to catch it in theaters on July 25, 2025!

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2025-02-06 07:02