THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Is a Stylish Tribute to Jack Kirby (Review)

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First Steps delivered on that expectation.

The build-up to “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” was quite taxing for those involved in entertainment journalism. Some wondered if Marvel Studios had lost their touch, as maintaining such a massive franchise seemed challenging amidst the excess. With “Thunderbolts” underperforming (according to giant Hollywood standards), there were doubts about audience interest. Director Matt Shakman faced a significant challenge with this film, tasked with starting a new phase and offering a refreshing take on a 60-year-old character. He succeeded by doing something daring that the MCU hasn’t done in a while: creating a concentrated narrative filled with humor, emotion, and an abundance of style reminiscent of comics.

The issue some people have with the Fantastic Four lies in their perceived outdatedness and strong connection to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s initial periods. Attempting to modernize or darken the FF has proven ineffective, as shown before. Instead, Shakman and the team opted for a different approach, embracing the mid-century futurism and space-age marvels. The film is set within a world reminiscent of Jack Kirby’s, with Earth 828 serving as the backdrop (Kirby’s birthday being on August 28). This setting carries strong 1960s influences.

The Fantastic Four: Initial Leaps

The story unfolds four years into the thrilling escapades of the Fantastic Four. Post a space expedition that exposed them to cosmic radiation, each member gains an individual, distinct superpower. Dr. Reed Richards, known as the world’s smartest man (portrayed by Pedro Pascal), develops the ability to elongate his limbs like rubber. Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) acquires invisibility and the capacity to create powerful shields. Her sibling Johnny (Joseph Quinn) learns to ignite himself, fly, and Mister Fantastic’s pilot, Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), undergoes a transformation into a colossal orange rock figure with immense power. Scenes of their battles against numerous adversaries, including the Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser), are depicted in a succession of events.

As Reed and Sue discover she’s expecting, an enigmatic messenger named Shalla-Bal, played by Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer, emerges in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Shalla-Bal foretells the approach of Galactus, a colossal entity who, upon arrival, will consume the entire planet. Faced with this grim reality, our heroes decide to venture into space to learn more about their adversary. Upon encountering Galactus himself (Ralph Ineson), the enigmatic being proposes they can save their world if they forfeit their unborn child. With time running short, the family must swiftly devise an alternative plan.

One noteworthy aspect of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” that might surprise you is its ability to tell a relatively compact story with minimal characters, while still delivering an impressive style and action. The film primarily revolves around the Fantastic Four, exploring their mental, moral, and emotional battles. Apart from the three villains mentioned earlier, Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols of the Future Foundation, Mark Gatiss as talk show host Ted Gilbert, and Natasha Lyonne as Ben Grimm’s love interest Rachel Rozman are the significant supporting characters. This is quite a limited cast for a Marvel movie.

This facilitates the development of well-rounded personalities. Reed struggles to outwit this existential peril, while Sue promises resolutely to protect her son and planet. Johnny and Ben frequently engage in sharp exchanges. It’s more than their superpowers and stylish costumes; it’s characters that evoke genuine emotions within us. (or It’s characters we truly connect with.)

To clarify, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is far from flawless. Ben Grimm’s narrative arc is disappointingly brief, and Lyonne’s screen time leaves much to be desired for the story to effectively unfold. Surprisingly, Johnny Storm takes on a significant amount of the heavy-handed exposition, as he seems to have taken it upon himself to unravel the mystery behind the Silver Surfer. However, we rarely witness him engaging in this task, yet he somehow manages to write an entire A&E “Biography” episode’s worth of content. The movie commencing with an established Fantastic Four is acceptable, but I can’t help but yearn for more scenes depicting their early battles, which might have better suited the film’s tone. Furthermore, some of the dialogue only avoids being cringe-worthy due to the exceptional acting talent involved.

Despite finding it satisfying to see Galactus portrayed as the classic comic book character, he seems too overpowering to genuinely present as a menacing adversary, apart from Doctor Doom who is expected to appear soon. Galactus is renowned among the Fantastic Four’s rogues gallery, and “The Galactus Trilogy” is an iconic series from the Lee/Kirby era. The film’s most engaging action revolves around the Silver Surfer, but otherwise, both he and Galactus appear underutilized in terms of storytelling.

After considering my thoughts, I must say I truly appreciated “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. The way it’s presented is quite engaging, though at times it seemed reminiscent of Tomorrowland. This might be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first self-contained film, despite its connections to future movies. Unlike Superman’s origin story over at DC, this movie didn’t require setting up a new cinematic universe. Instead, it simply introduced these characters, which it accomplished quite effectively. It may not have lofty ambitions, but it certainly delivers on its promise, making it the best Fantastic Four film so far and placing it firmly among the top tier of MCU movies.

⭐ (4 of 5)

Kyle Anderson serves as the Senior Editor at TopMob, where he also produces a weekly podcast delving into pop culture known as Laser Focus. His insightful movie and television reviews are available for reading here. Keep up with him on Letterboxd.

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2025-07-22 21:03