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In recent years, the Fantastic Four, one of Marvel Comics’ earliest superhero teams, has been looked down on, ignored, or downright maligned by many fans of the comic book medium. While they used to be one of the most popular teams in comic books, years of mediocre live-action adaptations, a lack of any solid animated content, and a premise that looks somewhat dated at first glance have made the Fantastic Four a bit of a joke with modern fans.
Unfortunately, the Fantastic Four’s position in fans’ minds as one of the more forgettable teams in comic book canon could not be further from the truth. The Fantastic Four have some of the most dynamic, engaging, thought-provoking, and groundbreaking stories in all of Marvel Comics history, and the character depth and complexity of each member of the team is head and shoulders above some of Marvel’s other heroes. The Fantastic Four and their history are the foundation of everything the Marvel Universe became, and it’s time that fans started to appreciate and understand that.
The Fantastic Four Were One of Marvel’s Earliest Teams
The Team First Appeared in Marvel Comics Way Back in November 1961
Pre-dating characters like Spider-Man and the Hulk, and teams like the Avengers and the X-Men, The Fantastic Four are lovingly referred to as Marvel’s First Family, a symbolic mantle establishing their importance to the comics company and the superhero universe at-large. In the early days of Marvel Comics, the Fantastic Four series was the premiere book for fans to pick up. It contained all the greatest action, the best art, and the most engaging world-building. The FF would be facing off against the enigmatic Namor in one issue, battling Doctor Doom in the next, and then taking on the Inhuman royal family mere months later. It was a constant barrage of excellent comic book storytelling, and it was the start of something truly special at Marvel Comics.
On top of being one of the first teams to grace the pages of a Marvel comic book, The Fantastic Four were also a major factor in the shared universe of Marvel Comics at the time. The team acted as a sort of linchpin for the entire Marvel Universe, contextualizing every other story and character in relation to their own. Spider-Man’s first solo book saw him crossing over with The Fantastic Four, as the team was Marvel’s most iconic group. Every major shift in the grand scheme of the Marvel Universe came from the pages of Fantastic Four in the early days. The establishment of Galactus, Silver Surfer, the Skrulls, the Inhumans, and dozens of other iconic characters and ideas continued to cement the FF’s book as the single most important one releasing monthly.
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Despite the fact that they have waned in popularity over the years, The Fantastic Four’s members have thankfully remained integral to many Marvel Comics stories and events over the years. While The Fantastic Four itself has disappeared from both the comic book universe and the public eye a few times over the years, the iconic members of the team have always found ways to evolve and bounce back from obscurity. Reed Richards remains an important facet in Marvel’s scientific community, Johnny Storm has found himself a surprising member of the Avengers, Ben Grimm remains one of Marvel’s most recognizable figures, and Sue Storm’s character depth has only grown and made her more engaging and three-dimensional in the decades since her inception.
One of Marvel’s Greatest Villains Is Fundamentally Tied to The Fantastic Four
Doctor Doom Has Remained a Pillar of the Marvel Comics Villain Roster for Years
Ironically, despite The Fantastic Four themselves losing some of the audience love and attention that they had in their early days, some of the characters from their book have gone on to become major players in modern comic book tales and live-action adaptations. For example, Doctor Doom has remained one of Marvel’s most powerful and iconic villains, even when The Fantastic Four are at a low point in popularity. Fans love Victor Von Doom, and his incredibly complex relationship with the superhero community of the Marvel Universe makes him a wonderful foe for anyone to face off against. His power levels and incredible strategic mind make him a formidable opponent for any hero who dares face him, but Doom owes all of his popularity to the original Fantastic Four series.
First appearing in Fantastic Four #5 in 1962, Doctor Doom quickly became one of the FF’s most terrifying threats. With an incredible character design, a wonderfully villainous obsession with Reed Richards and his team, and enough intellectual and mystical prowess to pose a threat to any superhero who stands in his way, Doom has stood the test of time in ways that The Fantastic Four, unfortunately, have not. Even when fans considered the Fantastic Four themselves dated, Doctor Doom was always considered timeless. In the years since his creation, Doom has been at the forefront of many iconic comic events, most notably, Secret Wars from 2015, where he gained the powers of the Beyonder and remade the multiverse in his image.
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Doctor Doom has had numerous solo comic books of his own, something that is quite uncommon for villains in the Marvel Universe, and his character development and evolution have never felt forced or uncanny. Though Doctor Doom has appeared in numerous live-action adaptations, like 2005’s Fantastic Four, the sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and 2015’s Fantastic Four reboot, the character has never been properly adapted to the big screen.
Doctor Doom is one of the most compelling and complex villains in all of comic book history, and his live-action interpretations have failed to convey that. Fans are hopeful, however, for Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of Doom, which is set to appear for the first time in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, a film that seems primed to adapt a few surprising Marvel Comics storylines.
Many Aspects of Modern Marvel World Wouldn’t Exist Without The Fantastic Four
Tons of Characters, Locations, and Concepts First Appeared in the Pages of Fantastic Four
It is hard to understate just how much of an impact the original Fantastic Four comic book series had on the world of Marvel Comics in its early years. An unfathomable number of iconic characters, locations, storylines, and general ideas would not exist without the Fantastic Four and the vast creativity of superstar creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Without The Fantastic Four, fans wouldn’t have the explosively popular Black Panther and his entire supporting cast and story. There would be no Inhumans, no Galactus, and no Doom. Stories like Secret Wars, Secret Invasion, and The Annihilation Saga would all cease to exist without Marvel’s First Family. Without The Fantastic Four, there would be no Watcher, and there would be no What If series, in comic book form or in animated form.
Concepts like the Negative Zone, the Inhumans and their Terrigen Mists, and even Marvel’s version of the multiverse owe their existence to The Fantastic Four and their characters’ stories. There is no denying that The Fantastic Four have lost popularity over the decades, but fans that brush them aside as if they have no impact on the world of comic books or superheroes are absolutely wrong to do so. Sure, the team’s dynamic isn’t as modern or exciting as some of the more contemporary teams like the Avengers and the X-Men, but the family dynamic, sense of genuine curiosity and scientific discovery, and dedication to bold new concepts make The Fantastic Four a force to be reckoned with in Marvel’s canon.
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While the Marvel Universe has evolved and grown in new ways since The Fantastic Four’s most impactful storylines built the bedrock of the world, it’s hard to imagine what a Marvel Universe without the FF would actually consist of. Characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, and the X-Men would, of course, still thrive and excel in their own stories, but the major crossover events and world-building storylines simply wouldn’t be the same.
Without Reed Richards, Tony Stark has no scientific equal. Without Ben Grimm, the Hulk has no other hero to come to blows with. People refuse to realize just how vital The Fantastic Four are to the Marvel Universe, and hopefully, the all-new Marvel Cinematic Universe interpretation of the team that is set to appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2025 will reinvigorate audiences’ love for the characters and their stories.
“}]] Many Marvel Comics fans don’t truly understand how important the Fantastic Four has been in the shaping of the entire Marvel Universe. Read More