The Fantastic Four are Marvel’s first superhero team, created in 1961 by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. The team consists of Dr. Reed Richards, siblings Susan and Johnny Storm, and their close friend Ben Grimm. 

Their introduction brought a new kind of comic storytelling, blending science fiction with family dynamics and everyday struggles. This innovative concept led to their success and helped shape modern Marvel, laying the foundation for its shared universe.

Astronauts Who Became Superheroes: The Fantastic Four Story

Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, and siblings Susan and Johnny Storm became superheroes after a space mission exposed them to cosmic rays. This accident gave each of them unique powers: Reed could stretch his body as Mister Fantastic, Susan became the Invisible Woman, Johnny became the Human Torch, and Ben transformed into the rock-like Thing. Instead of hiding, they chose to use their powers in the public eye, as a team and as a family.

These premises set the Fantastic Four apart from other superheroes. The characters live together, argue, support each other, and grow over time. Reed and Sue even get married and have children, Johnny matures, and Ben continues to struggle with his rock-like body.

Another important distinction is that the Fantastic Four are explorers and pioneers, venturing into all kinds of space odysseys, a spirit of discovery that has always been at the core of their identity.

The introduction of Fantastic Four comics

When Fantastic Four debuted in 1961, it revolutionized the superhero genre. Unlike previous comics, it introduced flawed characters who argued, made mistakes, and had real personal problems. Reed was a distracted genius, Ben resented his appearance, Johnny was reckless and immature, and Sue struggled with her role and identity. Readers connected with them because they felt human.

The series also brought a cinematic sense of continuity: stories carried over from issue to issue, villains returned, and the Marvel Universe began to take shape, starting with cameos and crossovers that felt organic. This new approach quickly made Fantastic Four a bestseller and Marvel’s flagship title throughout the 1960s.
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s work on the first 100 issues is still seen as one of the best in comic book history. During this time, they introduced famous characters like Doctor Doom, Galactus, Silver Surfer, the Inhumans, and Black Panther, the first Black superhero in mainstream American comics.

The franchise’s controversial movies’ reception

Despite numerous appearances in animated series and video games, including recent ones like Marvel Rivals, the Fantastic Four have struggled to replicate their success outside the comics. Hollywood has attempted several live-action adaptations of the Fantastic Four, but none have won over critics or audiences.

Among the most notable attempts were the 2005 film Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. While they introduced the team to a new generation, off-tone character portrayals and underwhelming visuals led to mixed and negative reviews.

The 2015 reboot, Fantastic Four, despite its darker tone and a brand-new cast, turned out to be both a critical and commercial disaster, now often cited as one of the worst superhero films ever made, with an astonishing 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

So far, no adaptation has fully captured the Fantastic Four’s unique blend of science fiction and family story, resulting in evergreen space adventures that made them icons in the first place. Unlike the Avengers or the X-Men, the team has yet to find its definitive version outside the pages of comics.

The superheroes come back with The Fantastic 4: First Steps

After years of disappointing adaptations, Marvel Studios has decided to reboot the Fantastic Four franchise with a new chapter titled First Steps, set for release on July 25, 2025. The film will follow the original comics while introducing a renewed visual style inspired by 1960s sci-fi.

With a stellar cast, including Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us) as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby (The Crown) as Susan Storm, Joseph Quinn (The Gladiator II) as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear) as Ben Grimm, the movie has already captured fans’ attention. It will also feature characters such as H.E.R.B.I.E., the robot from the 1970s animated series, reminiscent of Tony Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S. in Iron Man films.

Marvel seems to be spot-on with the family dynamics and nostalgic aesthetics, as seen in the trailers. And with the recently teased cast for Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday, fans are left wondering if Galactus will be the only main villain of the movie. Whoever it is, the film starts with strong potential and could finally become the Fantastic Four adaptation audiences have been waiting for, relaunching the characters into the mainstream.