Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) (film/dvd review)
How many ‘Fantastic Four’ films have there been now? The Corman one few if any have seen but would like to. One which had a close approximation to what they should look like. One with Johnny Storm is coloured. Now this one, where Reed Richards (actor Pedro Pascal) has a moustache. About the only thing the filmmakers haven’t done is go with the early Lee/Kirby and have Reed smoking a pipe as a signal of his intellect.
From the opening of this film, ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’, is set Earth 828 whatever that means. We get a quick resume of the FF’s early adventures. Everyone from the Moleman and the Mad Thinker. Doctor Doom’s chair appears vacant. They are also elevated in the public eye and media icons. Looks like at least ten years into their lives as Franklin is about to be born. Considering that the New York police officers are wearing old style caps and raincoats probably is the better accuracy. H.E.R.B.I.E. (voiced by Matthew Wood) is also there as the Richards’ house servant.
Then there is a little matter of Silver Surfer (actress Julia Garner) arriving and declaring Earth is to be consumed by Galactus. The first major change as he is now a female. DA773 is the Surfer’s energy signature. I looked up why the change and it was to differentiate it from the ‘Fantastic Four: The Rise Of The Silver Surfer’. Ooops, another film forgotten. I’m sure people would have preferred accuracy to the comicbook.
I always thought it a bit dubious of the FF having their pogo-plane taking off in the middle of Manhattan but they do it with a shuttle this time. They unite with a bigger power unit in hunt of Galactus (actor Ralph Ineson). Speaking of which, we have a Galactus closer to the comicbook rather than a puddle of energy. Galactus will spare the Earth in exchange for Sue’s baby. They aren’t exactly happy with that and flee with the Surfer pursuing them. They lose her in a singularity and manage to return to Earth. Oh and Sue (actrsss Vanerssa Kirby) gives birth on the way back.
Earth’s people aren’t happy with why the FF didn’t hand over Franklin (actor Ada Scott), especially as Reed’s tests show him normal. They, in turn, are trying to find a different solution. Richards’ solution is to put mechanisms across the Earth to teleport it to the safe zone of another star system and hidden from Galactus. When the Surfer destroys the pylons, they have to come up with a different solution and that means the rest of the film is under spoiler conditions. What I will say about that is it stayed in context with their capabilities. Mostly. It does make Sue Richards their most powerful team member.
To be fair, it is watchable and I’ll even forgive the Thing’s (actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach) chin getting extended when he tried shaving before the power went off. Oh, another significant role was the Human Torch (actor Joseph Quinn) who was able to translate the Zenn-la language from collected alien communication disks acquired over the years, similar to the one we sent out on the Voyagers. The note that the FF will reappear in ‘The Avengers: Doomsday’ does raise a question as to whether this is on the formal Marvel Earth and, if it is, where were the rest of the super-heroes while this was going on. Then again, that was also the question mark with the original three-part comicbook.
Oh, watch the credits for a ‘4 years later’ and right at the end for some animation from the animated show.
GF Willmetts
January 2026
(pub: Marvel Studios, 2025. 1 DVD 110 minute film. Price: varies. ASIN: BUA4034101)
cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn and many more.
check out website: www.marvel.com
