Small Details You Missed In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Contains spoilers for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”

In a brief departure from the established Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” transports viewers to an alternate universe. This universe is a unique blend of retro ’60s style and futuristic elements, much like the vision of the future portrayed in “The Jetsons.” The film’s setting fits it perfectly, creating a harmonious combination of nostalgia and forward-thinking design.

In another dimension, Marvel characters like Tony Stark and the Thunderbolts are not present. Here, there’s no discussion about Tony Stark’s selfless act to save Earth from Thanos or the transformation of the Thunderbolts into the New Avengers. Instead, in this reality, the Fantastic Four are the ones providing all the superhero action required.

In “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” there’s no shortage of intricate details to catch your attention. While it doesn’t directly connect to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s filled with references that comic fans will appreciate. You might even spot clues about what’s in store for “Avengers: Doomsday” if you look closely.

Latveria has a seat at the table

In simpler terms, Sue Storm isn’t just a superhero; she serves as a diplomat to global nations in the film. Early on, she addresses representatives from different countries, and the camera focuses on an unoccupied seat labeled “Latveria,” hinting at the imminent appearance of Doctor Doom, a recurring ruler of Latveria in Marvel Comics.

In simpler terms, it seems that Marvel is planning to make Doom, a villain more fearsome than Thanos, the primary antagonist for their Multiverse Saga finale. A hint of this upcoming adversary (though his face was concealed) can be seen in the film’s mid-credits scene, where he invades the Baxter Building to check out Franklin Richards, who possesses superpowers.

In the upcoming movies “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” Robert Downey Jr., who’s reprising his role, will portray Doom. The intriguing question is where Doom hails from – whether he’s a native of Earth-828 (the setting of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”) or if he’s an outsider causing trouble for the Fantastic Four. Time will tell us more about this mystery. For now, this vacant seat serves as a delightful hint for comic book enthusiasts.

Maisie’s Deli

In the TV series “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” small details such as Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) grabbing cookies from a deli named Maisie’s give the portrayal of New York City a sense of authenticity, hinting at a connection to director Matt Shakman’s real life. This is because Maisie, who also appears physically in the series as the girl Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) saves from falling debris, might be named after his daughter and even has a deli bearing her name.

In an interview with Variety, Shakman shared that his daughter thoroughly enjoyed working on the movie. He said, “She was eager to be a part of it. As someone who had been a child actor and has since recovered, I had mixed feelings about it. But she does gymnastics, so they put her on wires and let her fly around. She loved every moment.” Since The Fantastic Four are Marvel’s founding family, and the movie emphasizes the significance of family supporting each other, it was fitting for Shakman to make filming “First Steps” a family project as well.

Villain roll call

In “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson, and his herald Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) primarily serve as the main adversaries. However, the movie takes delight in delving into the team’s rogues gallery, enriching the world. The Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser) notably features prominently, especially during the climax where he assists in evacuating New York City to his underground realm of Subterranea, shielding its inhabitants from Galactus.

It was initially planned for John Malkovich to portray Red Ghost, but his character merely gets mentioned by name during a fight scene featuring Reed Richards (played by Pedro Pascal). Despite appearing in the trailer, Red Ghost is conspicuously absent from the film. Director Matt Shakman shared with Variety that it was a challenging decision not to include him in the final cut of the movie as he is one of his personal heroes and significant inspirations.

Other lesser-known villains, such as Mad Thinker, Puppet Master, Wizard, Diablo, and potentially Red Ghost (with the hope that John Malkovich will get to play him someday), may not have significant roles in the remaining phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). While it’s possible that Red Ghost could appear at some point, it seems unlikely that these characters will be prominently featured in the upcoming MCU phases.

A nod to Ben Grimm’s past

While strolling through New York with a bag full of cookies, The Thing comes across a street sign labeled “Yancy St.” This particular location might not be significant in the movie, but avid comic book fans would immediately associate it with the troublesome area where Ben Grimm often experienced hardship.

In the early comic books, The Yancy Street Gang often bothered The Thing, first appearing prominently in “Fantastic Four” #15. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby, they were not technically a gang but rather working-class individuals who perceived Ben Grimm as having abandoned their neighborhood after his transformation.

In the movie, Yancy Street seems friendlier and kinder. The children there are excited about watching The Thing lift a car for fun, and Ben develops an informal bond with school teacher Rachel Rozman, played by Natasha Lyonne. The set of Yancy Street was constructed at Pinewood Studios, modeled after the neighborhood where Jack Kirby spent his childhood, complete with a synagogue and kosher grocery stores.

Space dragon

When the Fantastic Four journey into outer space for talks with Galactus, they’re clueless about what lies ahead. Reed Richard suggests if Galactus is merely a huge being, then they could resort to fists and try to hit him. Another suggestion floating around is that Galactus might be a cosmic dragon. Although the first assumption turns out to be correct, the second idea subtly references an old Marvel comic tale.

I can’t help but get excited when I think back to 1962 and the captivating tale unfolding in “Tales of Suspense” #29, a masterpiece penned by the legendary trio of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Larry Lieber. Unlike our beloved Fantastic Four, this story follows a different team of space adventurers who find themselves in a precarious situation after crash-landing on an alien world teeming with life, specifically a massive dragon.

At first glance, the dragon appeared to be a formidable foe, but as events unfolded, it turned out to be our unlikely hero. With quick thinking and immense power, the dragon skillfully diverted an incoming asteroid away from our hapless explorers’ world, demonstrating that not all dragons are simply fearsome beasts. This tale serves as a testament to the creative prowess of its creators and the captivating stories they could weave with their imagination!

In the universe portrayed in “First Steps,” it seems plausible for a space dragon to appear without it feeling out of place. However, despite this, no space dragon is present in the movie itself. This is merely a subtle homage to the extensive body of work by Lee and Kirby, a reference that may have gone unnoticed by even devoted fans of their comics upon initial viewing.

88 is the magic number

In an attempt to flee Shalla-Bal (also known as the Silver Surfer), the Fantastic Four employ a neutron star as a means of escape. By propelling Shalla-Bal towards the massive gravitational force of the neutron star, they inadvertently put themselves in danger of being sucked in as well. With their fuel reserves dwindling, they devise a plan to navigate around it by reaching approximately 0.88 times the speed of light – a velocity that seems like a nod to “Back to the Future,” a widely acclaimed science-fiction film.

In the movie “Back to the Future,” characters Doc Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd) and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) must get their DeLorean car up to 88 miles per hour for time travel. The Fantastic Four, however, don’t technically travel through time, but a time dilation effect caused by a neutron star results in an unintended form of time travel that sees them returning to Earth at a later date than expected. Coincidentally or not, the number 0.88 (representing 88% the speed of light) often brings “Back to the Future” to mind when discussing science fiction and temporal anomalies.

Shalla-Bal’s origin mirrors that of Norrin Radd

It’s often thought that the name Silver Surfer is synonymous with Norrin Radd, as he was indeed the first. However, Marvel Comics has introduced female versions of the Silver Surfer in the past. One such character is Shalla-Bal, who appeared in the “Earth X” storyline by Jim Krueger, Alex Ross, and John Paul Leon. In the comic “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” we discover that Shalla-Bal’s background closely resembles Norrin’s.

In the comic books, Shalla-Bal is the romantic partner of Norrin Radd. To ensure the protection of their home planet Zenn-La, he agrees to serve as Galactus’ herald. Throughout different Silver Surfer tales, she occasionally appears. However, in the storyline “Earth X”, when it is revealed that Galactus is actually Franklin Richards, he transforms Shalla-Bal’s physical form into silver, making her the Silver Surfer.

In the movie, all the complex details from the comics about Shalla-Bal are simplified, as it’s shown that she plays a significant role in Norrin’s backstory. The story goes that Galactus threatened Zenn-La with destruction, and Shalla-Bal struck a deal to safeguard her daughter. However, there’s no mention of Norrin-Radd in the film, but it’s possible he could be the child’s father.

Teasing Johnny as a Herald of Galactus

In “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” it’s evident that Johnny Storm is willing to go to great lengths to safeguard his new nephew, Franklin. Before Galactus reaches Earth, he engages in a conversation with Shalla-Bal and proposes to give himself up as a sacrifice, hoping Galactus will release Franklin and depart peacefully from the planet. Essentially, it seems Johnny is attempting to replicate the bargain made by Shalla-Bal and become Galactus’ emissary in return for Earth’s protection.

Originally, this concept originated from the comic books, where Johnny eventually served as a herald for Galactus. The transformation began in “Fantastic Four” issue 519, penned by Mark Waid, illustrated by Mike Wieringo, and scripted by Karl Kesel. In this storyline, Sue and Johnny exchanged powers, giving Johnny control over light and invisibility. Galactus, seeking to utilize Johnny’s new abilities, chose him as his latest herald, tasking him with the duty of locating hidden planets for him.

In the movie, Johnny agreed twice to accompany Galactus, readying himself to forcefully push Galactus through the portal, thereby banishing him from Earth. Fortunately, this scenario didn’t unfold, but the concept of a partnership between Johnny and Galactus has been previously entertained.

The teleportation plot is a taste of things to come

As a gamer, I can’t help but imagine myself as Reed Richards, brainstorming an epic plan to save Earth by establishing teleportation hubs worldwide and zipping us off to another star system, dodging Galactus’ destructive path. Unfortunately, just as the final sequence is about to start in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” Silver Surfer strikes, leaving most of my teleportation stations in ruins, except for one right here in New York City. For now, it looks like teleporting isn’t on the table, but let’s keep this technology in mind as we continue our adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

The movie ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ is scheduled for release on December 17, 2027. Given Marvel’s history of drawing from their comics, it’s likely we’ll see a lot of teleportation in the storyline. The 2015 ‘Secret Wars’ comic book series by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić featured an event where two universes collided, leading to the world’s heroes being transported to a life raft. Notably, Doctor Doom was also teleported, and it seems he may possess the same technology as Reed Richards.

In the middle of the movie “First Steps,” a scene unfolds where the enigmatic character Doom suddenly appears at the Baxter Building. Given that Doom has previously utilized magic and sophisticated technology in the comic books, it’s plausible he employed either means to arrive there. It’s also feasible that his teleportation skills transcend dimensions, which might initiate the happenings of “Avengers: Doomsday.

The Fantastic … Five?

Eventually, Galactus ought to have trembled at the thought of Silver Surfer more than any other being: The Fantastic Four manage to shove Galactus through a portal, sending him light-years away from Earth, with Shalla-Bal’s help. However, it is the Fantastic Four who receive all the accolades and return to “The Ted Gilbert Show” to present Franklin to a broader public. Gilbert proposes Franklin wear a blue baby onesie bearing a “5” emblem, hinting at the Fantastic Four becoming the Fantastic Five. Yet, Reed and Sue strongly object to this wardrobe change.

In different scenarios, the Fantastic Four has temporarily expanded to include five members. For instance, in “What If…” #105 by Tom DeFalco, Rob Frenz, and Matt Webb, Franklin Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Lyja Storm (Johnny’s Skrull wife), and Big Brain (Reed Richards’ robot replacement) were part of the team. Over time, various versions of a Fantastic Five have emerged, but for now, movies are sticking with a four-member lineup.

The first piece of Avengers: Doomsday’s score

The Fantastic Four: Initial Footsteps” – The last Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film set for release in 2025. Following this, prepare for “Spider-Man: New Horizon” in July of next year, and “Avengers: Doomsday” in December. The wait for the team’s return won’t be long as they’ll face their most renowned adversary – Doctor Doom. Intriguingly, Doctor Doom makes an appearance in the mid-credits scene, unveiling his true identity to young Franklin Richards. This is a significant revelation; it’s only natural that you might have been too startled by the cameo to fully appreciate the music.

In this scenario, there’s a distinctive track titled “Doom?” featured during the mid-credits sequence, which hints at future events. This melody was composed by Alan Silvestri, who has provided music for all previous “Avengers” movies, and his return to the franchise has been confirmed. To give fans a taste of what’s to come, they released “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” serving as a sneak peek into the soundtrack. Interestingly, this is reminiscent of the post-credits scene in “Thunderbolts” where a bit of the Fantastic Four’s theme plays as their ship enters their universe, providing subtle foreshadowing that might have gone unnoticed.

Ben takes a swing at Galactus

In the comic books, Galactus, an immensely powerful cosmic being, has been defeated on multiple occasions. In fact, it’s not uncommon for various characters to bring him down, including a significant instance in “Fantastic Four” #243 by John Byrne and Glynis Wein. It’s important to note that defeating Galactus requires a coordinated effort of many heroes, and often leaves him extremely hungry. However, the final blow that truly vanquishes him is delivered none other than Ben Grimm, who is hurled straight into Galactus’ face by Reed Richards.

The Fantastic Four: Initial Moves”

The comic seems to replicate a well-known scene where Johnny propels Ben towards Galactus, ultimately causing him to utter, “Time for some clobbering!” Ben collides directly with Galactus’ face, temporarily throwing the massive being off-balance. This doesn’t halt him permanently, but it represents a brave attempt that demonstrates even giants feel pain when struck in the face by a rock-like man of colossal size.

Subzero Intel

In the New York City backdrop, you’ll come across numerous hints of a fictional movie named “Subzero Intel.

In a different phrasing: Although Captain America isn’t depicted on the poster, if “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” were to highlight any Marvel character, it would be fitting to choose Steve Rogers. This is because Chris Evans, who has previously stepped into the superhero movie scene by portraying Johnny Storm in the 2000s “Fantastic Four” films, played him.

It’s interesting to mention that the director of “Subzero Intel” is called Aiden Power, which seems like a playful reference to “assistance in power.” Just as every superhero, from Captain America to the Fantastic Four, aims to aid those in distress, this billboard appears to be the production team’s creative way of hinting at potential storylines suitable for this universe.

Is that a Sentinel in the post-credits scene?

The scene before the main credits in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” hints at future events within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while a comedic scene follows after the credits. This latter scene introduces an in-movie cartoon of the Fantastic Four, featuring a catchy theme song that showcases their powers. Throughout the film, this cartoon is referenced, and during this scene, you might miss it but there’s a robot that looks like the Sentinel.

In various Marvel media, large mechanical beings known as Sentinels are portrayed as adversaries, specifically targeting mutants. Although it appears that Earth-828 lacks mutants, the MCU is planning X-Men films following “Secret Wars.” The upcoming film, “Avengers: Doomsday,” will feature several actors who previously played mutant characters in the X-Men series, such as Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, Kelsey Grammer, and Channing Tatum. Although this robot might not have been a Sentinel, with X-Men on everyone’s mind for the future of the MCU, it’s challenging not to associate it with them.

2025-07-25 04:02