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- Disney Buying Marvel Caused a Shift
- Marvel Sabotaged The Fantastic Four
- The Guardians of the Galaxy Replaced The Fantastic Four
- 2015 Was the Year The Fantastic Four Died
- The Fantastic Four Are Back and Better Than Ever
As a long-time comic book enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Marvel Universe, I must say that the absence of The Fantastic Four was indeed a gaping hole in the narrative tapestry. Their departure felt like a heartrending farewell to the optimistic explorers who embodied the spirit of the 1960s and served as a beacon of hope for countless readers.
In November 1961, the introduction of “The Fantastic Four” marked a significant turning point in the world of comic books. The brains behind this groundbreaking series were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, who introduced the memorable characters of Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ben Grimm (The Thing). This Marvel Comics title served as a trailblazer, setting the stage for future Marvel stories that portrayed heroes who lived in cities familiar to readers, and even had their fair share of disagreements and squabbles.
Though The Fantastic Four continued to uphold their status as a crucial Marvel team in the eyes of critics, they didn’t retain the same level of adoration they enjoyed in the 1960s. Instead, they were overshadowed by other characters they had helped establish, such as Spider-Man, The Hulk, and the X-Men. Unfortunately, during the 2010s, when Disney purchased Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios but The Fantastic Four remained with another film studio, their importance to Marvel Comics was gradually diminished and eventually led to their cancellation.
Currently, their entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe holds the potential for them to become the franchise’s heroes, much like their comic book versions once were.
Disney Buying Marvel Caused a Shift
In the 1980s and 1990s, Marvel gave away the rights for some of their top series to produce films. Among the first franchises sold were the Fantastic Four, and their initial movie attempt, produced by Roger Corman in 1994, titled “The Fantastic Four,” was never released in cinemas. If not for clandestine copies circulating at comic conventions, it might have vanished altogether. As the superhero craze took off in the 2000s with successes like Blade, X-Men, and Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four emerged as one of Marvel’s most sought-after properties to bring to the big screen.
In the year 2005, the movie “Fantastic Four” hit the screens, followed by “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” in 2007. Both movies garnered decent audience interest but fell short when it came to critical acclaim, with many comic book enthusiasts expressing disappointment due to the films not fully exploring the complex sci-fi elements as they appear in the comics. In 2015, another reboot was attempted, this time under the title “Fantastic 4” (often referred to as “Fant4stic” by many). This film was plagued with production troubles, which we’ve delved into extensively. Unfortunately, it became a box office flop and is now infamous for being one of the worst superhero movies ever produced.
During the timeframe between the launch of “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” in 2007 and “Fantastic Four” in 2015, Disney acquired Marvel. This purchase encompassed Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Comics, and Marvel Studios. As a result, Disney enhanced the prominence of characters they held the film rights to, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers. Consequently, during the 2010s, significant Marvel events predominantly featured these Avengers characters. On the other hand, “Fantastic Four” and “X-Men,” whose films were owned by 20th Century Fox, received less attention.
Marvel Sabotaged The Fantastic Four
Disney/Marvel chose not to assist in promoting characters they didn’t have the movie rights to, and also discouraged the creation of new characters for those titles that could be developed into film characters by 20th Century Fox. This effort to limit these unowned characters is evident in several aspects. For instance, there were no toys produced for 20th Century Fox Marvel films, and characters like Fantastic Four and X-Men were absent from video games and even marketing materials such as posters for the company. The Fantastic Four, specifically, encountered significant challenges in the Marvel editorial department.
Jonathan Hickman’s remarkable and widely praised tenure on the Fantastic Four comic series kicked off on August 26, 2009, mere days before Disney announced its acquisition of Marvel. This phase of the story, which saw Johnny Storm’s demise and the introduction of the Future Foundation, continued for roughly three years until Hickman assumed control over The Avengers and New Avengers in 2012, aligning with the release of the movie “The Avengers”.
During that period, Mr. Fantastic was a significant element in numerous crucial storylines; however, Marvel appeared to harbor a strong dislike for The Fantastic Four, especially during the development of their reboot. In 2014, in issue #12 of Punisher Vol. 10, characters that looked like Miles Teller, Jamie Bell, and Kate Mara – who were supposed to play The Fantastic Four cast members – were depicted being blown up inside a building (Mike, a character representing Michael B. Jordan, was said to be running late). That very year, Marvel officially announced something many had long thought impossible: they would cease publication of the comic that initiated the Marvel Universe.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Replaced The Fantastic Four
Marvel aimed to reduce the focus on characters like the X-Men and Fantastic Four, instead amplifying others. They chose to highlight lesser-known properties and intended to replace the X-Men with the Inhumans. Additionally, Marvel hoped that Guardians of the Galaxy could fill the gap in the Marvel Universe left by the Fantastic Four.
In 2008, the contemporary version of the Guardians of the Galaxy first appeared on the scene. One of Marvel Studios’ earliest properties, it was formally declared as part of their film lineup during San Diego Comic-Con in 2012. With The Fantastic Four taking a break from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it made perfect sense for the Guardians to step in and fill that gap. Both teams were cosmic hero groups who argued but deeply cared for each other like a family. The Guardians aimed to delve into the expansive cosmos of the MCU, much as the comic book version of The Fantastic Four had done traditionally.
In preparation for their big-screen premiere, the comic book series featuring The Guardians of the Galaxy saw an increase in prominence, whereas The Fantastic Four’s role was diminished. Work on the reboot of the Fantastic Four started soon after Marvel Studios announced that Guardians of the Galaxy was under development. The success of Guardians of the Galaxy at the box office propelled the team into one of Marvel’s most successful franchises. Meanwhile, The Fantastic Four struggled, and a year after Guardians of the Galaxy hit theaters, the Fantastic Four comic series began to lose popularity.
2015 Was the Year The Fantastic Four Died
In 2015, the Fantastic Four series experienced a significant shift, not all of it favorable. Initially, Marvel Comics announced that they would discontinue the title, marking the first time since its debut in 1961 that there wouldn’t be a Fantastic Four comic published by Marvel. The final issue, #645, was released on April 29, 2015, a week before Secret Wars #1. This comic concluded storylines from Hickman’s work on Fantastic Four, Avengers, and New Avengers.
Originally billed as a significant Marvel Universe crossover, the narrative primarily revolved around a confrontation between Mr. Fantastic and Doctor Doom, potentially marking the final journey of The Fantastic Four. The comic starts with the disintegration of the original Marvel Universe, which was first introduced through Fantastic Four publications. The story concludes with the primary Marvel Universe being reborn, now combined with the Ultimate Comics universe.
In January 2016, at the end of the comic, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, their kids Franklin and Valeria departed the primary Marvel Universe to repair the multiple universes that were systematically destroyed. Simultaneously, The Thing joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Human Torch integrated into the Inhumans – two franchises Marvel aimed to promote as part of their brand integration. Although it was anticipated that The Fantastic Four would resurface, this departure undeniably felt like a significant shift in the comics world, marking a closure for the original team responsible for launching Marvel.
2015’s Fantastic Four Movie Was the Final Nail in the Coffin
It appeared that the contemporary audience or those responsible for creating content had little idea of how to adapt or preserve the spirit of the cheerful explorers from the 1960s, given the poor reception of the 2015 “Fantastic Four” film and Marvel’s decision to halt publication of their comic due to competitive reasons. The movie, with its dark and grotesque visual style, seemed to demonstrate a lack of affinity for the original heroes by the director, while Marvel’s action may have suggested that these characters were no longer relevant in today’s world.
It’s clear that after Disney started negotiations for 20th Century Fox, Marvel swiftly moved to reinstate The Fantastic Four in their comic universe. Their comeback, masterfully penned by Dan Slott and illustrated by Simone Bianchi, Sara Pichelli, Skottie Young, graced the shelves of comic book stores in August 2018. Since then, Marvel has been actively promoting The Fantastic Four more than ever before. This push culminated in an official confirmation for the MCU film in December 2020. Now, The Fantastic Four are making their much-anticipated entrance at a time when the MCU particularly needs them.
The Fantastic Four Are Back and Better Than Ever
“Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of the most eagerly awaited movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This excitement stems from the heroes’ comeback to the MCU and the expectation that fans will finally witness a well-executed film adaptation of their cherished team. Additionally, they are joining at an intriguing moment. Although rumors of the MCU’s demise have been significantly overstated, there has been a perceived instability.”
Currently, there isn’t a new Avengers team assembled. The Guardians of the Galaxy saga came to an end in 2023 with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” The unexpected passing of Chadwick Boseman disrupted plans for Black Panther to take the lead role in the MCU. Characters like Captain Marvel, Ant-Man, and Doctor Strange are potential cornerstones, but they haven’t quite sparked the same level of enthusiasm as anticipated. No clear plans have been announced yet for She-Hulk, Shang-Chi, or Werewolf by Night.
As someone who has been following the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since its inception, I’m incredibly excited about the upcoming introduction of The Fantastic Four to the franchise. Their film is set in an alternate reality, a retro-futuristic 1960s, which adds a fresh and unique twist to the usual MCU formula. What really piques my interest, though, is the fact that Doctor Doom has been announced as the next Avengers villain, hinting at a significant role for The Fantastic Four over the next three years of the MCU.
The essence of the Fantastic Four lies in the spirit of ’60s optimism, a belief in a brighter tomorrow. In 2015, this notion seemed outdated or perhaps overly idealistic. However, in the ensuing years, especially after Marvel stopped publishing Fantastic Four and the 2015 movie, there’s been a growing demand for something uplifting. The dream of a promising future, one filled with limitless possibilities, resonates deeply with the public today, and the Fantastic Four embody that hope. By revisiting their past, Marvel could potentially shape their future.
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2024-08-11 01:02