by Lowell Kempf

I am old enough to remember when the Fantastic Four was more important than the Avengers. (Although I am not old enough to remember when the Fantastic Four was more important than the X-Men lol)

So, when I finally sat down to watch Fantastic Four: First Steps, I did have some emotional investment in the team, even though I haven’t read a Fantastic Four comic book in years.

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

Spoilers

First of all, let me say that I have seen neither the 1994 or the 2015 films. And, while I have seen the 2005 and 2007 films, the only thing I liked about them was Michael Chiklis.

Second, personally, I think a movie needs to be able to stand by itself and that it shouldn’t require familiarity with the material. I have enjoyed plenty of exceptions to that rule, but I still think it’s a good rule.

All of that said, I felt that First Steps was the most fun I had had in an MCU movie in a long time. I’m not saying it’s the best or the most emotionally moving or the most important. Just the most fun. I also felt that it stood on its own and you didn’t have to have seen any of the other 30 odd movies to understand it.

(Okay, Deadpool & Logan was more fun but the Deadpool films are their own weird beasts)

In particular, I liked how they made each of the four a rounded character, particularly taking into account that they are supposed to be the best of the best. The Fantastic Four was cape punk decades before the term existed, subverting so many superhero tropes.

Johnny wasn’t an idiot, for a change. Reed was given humanity. As opposed to leaning into the cranky side of the Thing, this Ben showed the caring side of the character. (It’s worth remembering that the Thing in the comic books is beloved in the wider superhero community) And Sue is shown to truly be the strongest member of the team on every level.

And focusing on making the Fantastic Four as realized characters emphasizes the family part of the first family. A family has to come together to save their kid. Oh, and the world.

And this vision of Galactus makes him the stuff of nightmares. A purple giant who eats planets sounds pretty silly, but this one is clearly an eldritch abomination. When he rampages through Manhattan, the city literally crumbles around him. This Galactus is one octopus head away from being Cthulhu.

It’s a very back to basics approach. A family who loves each other has to save the world. Maybe that’s why it works.

A new episode has been added to the database: HELL GAMES - Il Regno e la Spada

A new episode has been added to the database: S2E154 - Manic Mimik

A new episode has been added to the database: Episode 114 - A Week, and No More

A new episode has been added to the database: MM-61

A new episode has been added to the database: Ep. 016: Age of Astra - A Local Delicacy | #DND

A new episode has been added to the database: Olympian Treasure—Episode 1

A new episode has been added to the database: Greg's Gen Con 2026 Preview - GM2 72

A new episode has been added to the database: DF2 #3.12. A Lotta Maths Going On with Dave Harmon

A new episode has been added to the database: [DND3 Pg 297] The Peak Of Suffering [Week 50]

A new episode has been added to the database: 009-Cthulhu Dark - Goodcliffe - Into the Mines Part 1

A new episode has been added to the database: Pantheon Mythos - Episode 25 - Hired Out