Plot
Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, and Sue Storm pilot a spaceship, but are bombarded with celestial radiation [1] and have to return to Earth. They isolate themselves in a building Rocket City at Reed's insistence in order to fully understand the way their physiologies were changed and ensure they were not a danger to others. Having learned to control their new superpowers, the group get frustrated with their isolation and decide to leave when they see Harvey Elder leading an attack on New York City.
They arrive in New York City and are met by paparazzi, when Giganto appears from underground. Sue works to protect civilians while Reed, Ben, and Johnny attack Giganto. Sue eventually creates a forcefield around Giganto, suffocating him. Suddenly, the Pan Am Building falls into the ground as flashbacks reveal that Elder is attacking out of revenge for the surface world's drilling into his underground society, Subterranea. The team, now dubbed the Fantastic Four, reach the ground floor of the Pan Am Building, where Elder orders his army to attack. A pregnant Moloid gets trapped in a forcefield, worrying Elder and causing him to surrender and end the attack. Elder is taken into the Fantastic Four's custody while the team discuss the pregnant attacker's dedication to the cause.
Sue approaches Elder in custody, and Elder reveals that he studied with Sue's grandfather. Sue acknowledges Subterranea as a society and asks how the people of Subterranea and the people of the surface world can coexist peacefully. Sue helps Elder guarantee sovereignty for Subterranea, and the Fantastic Four help to rebuild the underground city as they are recognized by the public as a team of superheroes.
Development
Writing
Set four years prior to the events of the film, [2] the comic focuses on the origins of the Fantastic Four [3] [4] and their villain, Mole Man, the latter receiving a different story than in the comics. This version of Mole Man was described as a union organizer and politician who had developed an underground society where its citizens could stay away from the surface world. [5] It also featured an organization which would be featured in the movie, the Future Foundation. [3] The use of the first adventure was inspired by the first issue of the first Fantastic Four comic by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, taking the opportunity to tell the team's origin while the film did not.
The comic is written as though it existed within the world of the Fantastic Four, with Matt Fraction playing along when talking about the writing process, saying, "It was a thrill to bring [the Fantastic Four's] first legendary adventure to the world of comic books for the first time! It's a story we all know by heart, but I think Magic Mark Buckingham and I have found a way to tell it as you've never heard or seen before -- and who knows, this could be the start of something big!" [6] The comic presents itself as having been authorized by the Future Foundation in-universe to celebrate the team's fourth anniversary. [4] They further work on the illusion by having various in-universe advertisements for things such as a 1950s-themed soda, the Fantasticar, and a fan club dedicated to Johnny Storm. It also has various quotes from the characters throughout to give readers further insight into the characters. [7] To further sell the illusion, Marvel Comics is confirmed to exist within the universe of the Fantastic Four movie. [1]
Art
The art of the comic was done by Mark Buckingham, who ensured that the characters in the comic bared resemblance to the actors portraying them in the movie. [8] This was particularly notable for the actor Paul Walter Hauser, whose role in the movie had not been confirmed prior to the release of the comic. However, Mole Man was drawn to look like Hauser, [9] which The Direct said was "the best indication yet that his role has finally been revealed ahead of the film's debut. [8] IGN India noted that the casting had been rumored for a long time prior to the comic's release, but this was the first confirmation. [3] TheWrap referred to this revelation as the biggest of the comic. [1]
The cover art, which was done by Phil Noto, is a recreation of the cover art of the first Fantastic Four comic with the team fighting Giganto. [2]
The characters were noted to have been designed with different uniforms than the ones in the film. The art also included live action pictures of the actors, such as Johnny Storm actor Joseph Quinn. [1] Both Buckingham and Matt Fraction visited the set of the film while it was in production to get the appropriate design for the comic. [10]
Reception
Gizmodo noted that Marvel Studios appeared to be treating the comic with more significance than past Marvel Cinematic Universe tie-in comics. They also said that it was an "inspired choice" to have the comic exist within the universe of the film celebrating the Fantastic Four's fourth anniversary to convince audiences of the idea that the team had been operating for some time. [4]
AIPT also praised the in-universe aspects, saying that things such as the in-universe advertisements helped to sell the illusion. They referred to the comic as a celebration of the Fantastic Four, but also noted that its story is repeating that of the first Fantastic Four comic. They praised the team's response to Mole Man's imprisonment and their subsequent dealings, referring to it as "a wholesome and diplomatic turn that shows this team isn't about jailing every villain, but finding reasonable solutions." [7]
The Direct praised the design of Mole Man, who had not yet been seen in release footage from the film, saying that he looked perfect. [8] AIPT had a mixed review of the art of the comic, praising the design of the character Giganto but saying that certain elements looked "awkward or unfinished." They particularly noted Invisible Woman not always looking like Vanessa Kirby. However, they did agree that Buckingham's style as an artist fit the comic well. [7]
TheWrap analyzed Sue Storm's character in discussing the difference between the end of their conflict with Mole Man in The Fantastic Four: First Steps in contrast with Fantastic Four #1, saying that the change reflects Sue's increased agency. They praised the increase focus on the character. They said that Sue's choice to help Mole Man reflected the team's place within Marvel. [1]
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