
In a simpler and more conversational way, one could say: The Fantastic Four were among Marvel’s most iconic characters even before the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). They served as the basis for what fans now recognize as the Marvel Universe in comic books. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in November 1961, The Fantastic Four marked the beginning of the era of Marvel superheroes and significantly transformed the concept of comic book superheroes. Characters like Doctor Doom, Galactus, the Silver Surfer, Black Panther, the Skrulls, the Kree, the Watchers, and many others first appeared in the pages of Fantastic Four comics. Given the trend of modern superhero movies, it seemed that the Fantastic Four would thrive, but unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case for Marvel’s original family. However, Disney is now preparing to integrate them into the broader MCU storyline.