THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS - 4 Biggest Reveals From The Tie-In Comic (Including A HUGE Origin Change)

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS - 4 Biggest Reveals From The Tie-In Comic (Including A HUGE Origin Change)

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' official comic book tie-in went on sale today, and we've taken a deep dive into the issue to bring you all the biggest reveals and new details about Marvel's First Family.

Feature Opinion
By JoshWilding - Jul 09, 2025 12:07 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantastic Four

Today, Marvel Comics released The Fantastic Four: First Steps #1, an official MCU comic book that reveals the origin story for Marvel's First Family.

It turns out Marvel Comics also exists in this reality, and they've enlisted Matt Fraction and Mark Buckingham to tell their story on the fourth anniversary of the day they first saved New York City from Mole Man. There's a lot here that likely won't make it into the movie, and at least a few major reveals. 

From a very different outcome to the Fantastic Four's battle with Mole Man to a new take on how they gained their fantastic powers, we've got you covered with this guide to all the biggest reveals (however, you should definitely hunt down a copy as it's a must-read). 

You can learn more about The Fantastic Four: First Steps by clicking the "Next"/"View List" buttons below.
 

4. Who Are Marvel's First Family?

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There's been a lot of intrigue about how Marvel Studios would adapt these characters, and the comic better explains who they are. Reed, for example, created the world's first fully working spaceship, but the flight that gave this foursome their powers appears to have been sanctioned rather than aboard a stolen craft (perhaps lessening the guilt Reed feels for what happened to Ben, something the previous movies explored in depth).

Sue has a PhD in archaeology and was the mission specialist for that fateful flight. She's also credited with diplomatically resolving the conflict with Mole Man, a major change from the comics that we'll get to below. 

Ben piloted the ship, while Johnny was enlisted to serve as the flight engineer. They have a brotherly bond, with the Human Torch considering The Thing his best friend. Interestingly, it seems Johnny hoped to become a professional golfer before acquiring the ability to "Flame On."
 

3. Mole Man's New Status Quo

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Just like in the comics, Mole Man and his monster Giganto are the first threat faced by the Fantastic Four. As you'd expect, the team successfully defeated them, but Harvey Elder doesn't end up being sent to prison or vanquished to Subterannea.

Instead, Sue finds common ground with the villain who, in this reality, views himself as a freedom fighter seeking to establish rights for the people in his underground nation. Mole Man reveals that he has a history with Sue's grandfather, J. F. Storm, prompting Sue to help him establish sovereignty for Subterannea through her work with the U.N.

The comic confirms that Paul Walter Hauser will play Mole Man, and suggests he'll be an ally to Marvel's First Family in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, not an enemy. 
 

2. A Link To The Celestials

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Here's where things get really interesting. Now, if you're a comic book fan, you'll know that Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny gained their powers after being bombarded by Cosmic Rays. In the MCU, it was "Celestial radiation."

It has long been theorised that Galactus will be a Celestial. If these heroes were bathed in Celestial tradition, it might explain why the Devourer of Worlds takes such a vested interest in Franklin Richards, a child who will have been imbued with a heavy dose of Celestial energy, making him one of the most powerful beings in the universe. 

Eternals introduced the idea of Celestials, but we still don't know what became of those heroes or Arishem. Perhaps that's something a potential sequel to The Fantastic Four: First Steps will explore? 
 

1. Solve Everything

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Dwayne McDuffie and Jonathan Hickman both explored Mister Fantastic's desire to "solve everything" with his scientific know-how, and it seems that's something the live-action version of this character will have in common with his comic book counterpart.

This tie-in reveals that Reed, who is frequently described as a polymath, has used his genius to improve agriculture, transportation, science, education and medicine, creating an idyllic world free of many of the problems in our own. We know H.E.R.B.I.E. is being produced for the masses, and it seems that's the idea for the Fantasticar, also. 

Finally, the comic confirms that The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place four years after the team gained their powers. We've known that for a while, of course, but it's also established that they're more than just superheroes: they're adventurers, humanitarians, and most importantly, a family.
 

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SuperCat
SuperCat - 7/9/2025, 12:52 PM
User Comment Image
Matador
Matador - 7/9/2025, 1:37 PM
@SuperCat - LOOL Creepy Glyph Factor Achieved!
Vigor
Vigor - 7/9/2025, 12:57 PM
Cool. Exciting
AllsGood
AllsGood - 7/9/2025, 1:04 PM
Marvel Studios is giving one of my comic dreams coming true. I been waiting for time for this.

User Comment Image
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/9/2025, 1:26 PM
Honestly , I didn’t realize or remember that in some versions of their origin that the mission they go where they get their powers isn’t sanctioned because I remember it being so in atleast the 2005 film.

Also given the radiation seems to be purple , I wouldn’t be surprised if Galactus is some sort of Celestial in this version and maybe even is indirectly responsible for their powers hence him coming to Earth and trying to get Franklin.

Mole Man being talked down in this version and seemingly becoming an ally to this FF feels very remisnicent of Fantastic Four Season One to me and even in his main comics history , he goes from villain to friend at times.

User Comment Image
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 7/9/2025, 1:39 PM
I'm still not watching.
ThorArms
ThorArms - 7/9/2025, 1:48 PM
@Nonameforme - no one cares
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 7/9/2025, 2:14 PM
@ThorArms - you cared enough to respond. Love this for you!
SummersEssex
SummersEssex - 7/9/2025, 2:17 PM
@Nonameforme - it’s ok. I’m going twice to make up for it.
ThorArms
ThorArms - 7/9/2025, 2:26 PM
@Nonameforme - and you care enough about this film to go read articles about it and comment.
dragon316
dragon316 - 7/9/2025, 1:51 PM
Don’t resemble movie looks characters in movie
DarthMauve
DarthMauve - 7/9/2025, 2:07 PM
@dragon316 - I know, right? The Thing looks nothing like The Thing from the comics, it's outrageous!
SummersEssex
SummersEssex - 7/9/2025, 2:17 PM
@dragon316 - lol. Ok.
PatientXero
PatientXero - 7/9/2025, 2:17 PM
Does it cover the rumor that Ben and Reed, who may have been college roommates, experimented with each other during college, before Reed met Sue? Which creates a new and unique dynamic between the 3.
Corruptor
Corruptor - 7/9/2025, 2:33 PM
I'm surprised they haven't banned the use of "celestial" as a hurty word, like Doctor Who's Toymaker lost his Celestial in the recent iteration of the show.
Maybe they haven't learned about it yet.
KingZero
KingZero - 7/9/2025, 2:46 PM
Cool. Now I'm off to bathe in celestial tradition until this movie comes out.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/9/2025, 5:34 PM
@KingZero - my favorite kind of tradition.
Reginator
Reginator - 7/9/2025, 3:17 PM
making ego and now galactus a celestial is just lazy. the more i hear about this movie the more i am ready for a mcu complete reboot without kevin in charge
tRuckRogers46A
tRuckRogers46A - 7/9/2025, 3:30 PM
Wtf is an archaeologist doing on a space ship?
MarvelZombie616
MarvelZombie616 - 7/9/2025, 5:13 PM
I was right about Cap 4 being underwhelming (5/10), Thunderbolts being great (9/10) and Superman being great (8/10).

I think F4 will be mediocre to underwhelming.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 7/9/2025, 6:01 PM
Tie-in comics are fun, but I don't really put much stock in them. Most recently, Brave New World had Sidewinder find Leader after TIH, while the comic had Black Widow.
heisei24
heisei24 - 7/9/2025, 7:32 PM
That "Celestial radiation" isnt THE Celestial (Marvel space god) btw, it's celestial (with the small C) which is just another words for space-related stuff. So yeah, space radiation/cosmic radiation/celestial radiation, basically the same shit.
RacialPowerman
RacialPowerman - 7/9/2025, 9:53 PM
So if you go and destroy part of a city the "Heroes " will fight to make sure you became a recognized nation under an already existing nation? Wtf. That's quite the message kids. Be criminals you'll get rewarded. Be terroristic and force people to make you accepted.

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