The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review: A New Standard for Superhero Movies

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The very first Marvel comic I encountered featured the First Family, and it was 2002’s Fantastic Four Vol. 2 #60. The narrative revolves around an advertising executive who struggles to modernize the team for the new millennium. He ultimately realizes that people perceive them as superheroes, but they are in fact “astronauts…emissaries…Adventurers, Explorers.” This resonates with the creative minds behind The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as this sentiment seems to be a guiding principle for them. This isn’t your typical summer superhero flick; it’s more of an epic science-fiction tale that happens to follow a family with extraordinary abilities.

Similar to how the 2025 Superman film skips an extensive origin tale, The Fantastic Four: First Steps also opts for brevity, offering a concise five-minute recap at the outset to introduce the team’s past and the Earth-828 world of the 1960s with its retro-future vibe. The narrative then swiftly progresses, diving headfirst into a conflict against the Silver Surfer and the peril that Galactus, Devourer of Worlds, poses.

The script beautifully reflects the essence of a timeless Fantastic Four comic, centering around a cosmic peril that science can overcome instead of ordinary bank robbers armed with futuristic weapons. In line with the original content, the monthly crises are mostly secondary events. Essentially, Fantastic Four: First Steps is about the exploration of a family’s struggles with everyday issues we can all relate to.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps about characters, not crises

The unique aspect that distinguishes “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” from other portrayals of Marvel’s Family of Heroes lies in the character interactions. Each character shares at least one scene exclusively with a single team member, fostering an atmosphere that underscores their family dynamic without implying constant togetherness. For example, Johnny Storm has a scene where he assists Reed Richards in an experiment after inquiring about designing new spacesuits.

The script collaborates superbly with stellar performances to bring forth the most intricate portrayals of the Fantastic Four yet. Ebon Moss-Bachrach skillfully portrays Ben Grimm’s everyman demeanor and his yearning for a normal romance amidst his life as The Thing. Pedro Pascal masterfully makes Mr. Fantastic endearing despite his nearly alien perspective on the world. Joseph Quinn embodies a Human Torch who craves respect in spite of his fame. However, it is Vanessa Kirby who steals the show as Sue Storm. Unlike earlier portrayals, this Sue Storm is not just a woman devoted to her man – she’s a fierce powerhouse and a Mother Bear you wouldn’t want to cross.

Apart from acknowledging the talented actors, credit should also be given to the production team. Compared to any previous Marvel Studios project, First Steps exceptionally embodies Jack Kirby’s distinctive visual style. The scenes featuring Galactus evoke a sense of being inside one of his comic books. It’s no surprise that the film frequently acknowledges and honors him.

The movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” truly shines; it’s nothing short of remarkable. Not only does it faithfully embody the essence and visual style of the comics that birthed it, but it also redefines the bar for superhero films. It’s not exceptional merely as a superhero film or even an MCU production; it’s simply excellent cinema.

Grade: 9/10

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2025-07-25 16:46