Summary
Marvel Studios has finally revealed the new costumes for the titular team ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, and this has only made me more excited for the upcomingMCUreboot. Recent updates concerning the introduction of the Fantastic Four into the MCU have raised anticipation for their upcoming Phase 6 debut massively, especially after that long period of silence following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. Since thecast ofThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswas revealed on Valentine’s Day, I’ve reveled in seeing the MCU reboot develop.
Most recently,The Fantastic Four: First Stepsreceived some hugeupdates at this year’s San Diego Comic-Conand D23. Despite filming only just starting, a pre-viz reel of footage was shown that delved deeper into the movie’s alternate universe setting, stressed the connection and chemistry between the team’s members, and even showed off theofficial Fantastic Four costumes.I was so happy to see Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm sport a blue and white costume, and the Marvel Comics inspiration of this design makes me even more hopefulfor a strong debut for Marvel’s First Family.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
The Fantastic Four’s New Costumes Perfectly Reflect The Team’s Classic Suits From Marvel Comics
Every previouslive-action adaptation of the Fantastic Four teamhas dressed the group in their blue and black superhero suits, inspired by the team’s original costumes back in 1961’sTheFantastic Four #1. However, Marvel Studios is taking the Fantastic Four in a new direction by giving them blue costumes with white accents instead of black.These suits remind me of the team’s blue and white suits from the 1980s, first seen in writer and artist John Byrne’s run, which started with 1981’sFantastic Four #233.
The costumes seen in the MCU do have clear differences from their Marvel Comics counterparts. There is a more prominent use of white across the chest and sleeves and the logos are noticeably different. However,there is a clear resemblance to John Byrne’s Fantastic Four costumes in the ’80s, which fills me with hope that some of Byrne’s other themes could be included inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. I love that Marvel is making this change - the brighter suits reflect the lightheartedness of the MCU, and hint at a more joyful tone for this Fantastic Four.
The Fantastic Four Went Through Huge Changes In Their White & Blue Costumes
It’s generally perceived thatstories featuring the Fantastic Fourhad started to become stagnant by the time John Byrne joined the title in 1979. Byrne took on full control in 1981, and completely revitalized the slumping property, introducing many striking changes that helped the Fantastic Four to, once again, become one of Marvel’s most popular fixtures. One of Byrne’s most significant changes saw him change Sue Storm’s superhero moniker.She had originally been known as the Invisible Girl, taking on the traditional wife and mother role, but Byrne made her the Invisible Woman, who was more assertive and confident.
Everything Marvel’s The Fantastic Four Comics Inspiration Reveals About The MCU Movie
Marvel Studios has revealed five issues of Marvel Comics inspiring The Fantastic Four, which could reveal more about the upcoming project’s storyline.
This was a huge move for gender equality in the male-leaning Marvel Universe, and Byrne didn’t stop there. After the Thing left the team following 1984’sSecret Warsevent, Byrne introducedShe-Hulk as his replacement in the Fantastic Four, completely evening out the gender roles of the team. In a shocking move, Byrne had Reed Richards and Sue Storm experience a miscarriage, briefly transformed Sue Storm into the villainous Malice, and saw Johnny Storm form a romantic attachment to the Thing’s longtime girlfriend, Alicia Masters.I’d love to see some of these stories adapted for the MCU.
John Byrne Stressed The Fantastic Four’s Family Dynamic, Just As First Steps Will
Something that I really enjoyed about John Byrne’s run was that he stressed theFantastic Four’s family dynamicmore than their previous stories. This was the original intention of the Fantastic Four, but the team veered away from this during the 1970s. Byrne brought them back to basics, putting more focus on their connection as relatives and close friends, andthis is something that the MCU’sThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsis also expected to explore. This has been director Matt Shakman’s focus since he joined the project, as he has previously explained toScreen Rant.
I think I love the space race, Kennedy-era optimism of that world. The idea that we can solve all of our problems, that we can, through the right heart, the right mind, and the right technology, conquer any problem. It’s different. It’s different in so many ways because they are a true family… Not a family you find along the way like the X-Men or the Avengers, but true family with all the messiness of a family like on Monarch [Legacy of Monsters]. With all the love, the hurt, and the complexity of that. And also, they approach things with a sort of an optimistic and scientific approach that is very different from these other Marvel characters that I absolutely love, but how they solve problems is unique, and I’m excited about it as well. I hope folks like it when we put it out.
John Byrne introduced struggles in Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s marriage, created conflict between Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm, and saw Grimm abandon his childhood friend, Richards, afterSecret Wars, to name a few examples. I’ve already seen this family dynamic, and the tribulations that come with that, being utilized in thefirst footage fromThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, which makes me very happy.Previous live-action adaptations have somewhat explored these themes, but I’m certain the MCU will do it better than ever before.
I Can’t Wait To See The Fantastic Four’s New Costumes In Action
I’ve struggled to get over how brilliant the Fantastic Four’s official first costumes are in the MCU.Joseph Quinn looks incredible as Johnny Stormin the superhero suit, and the idea of the blue and white suit carrying with it some of the themes from John Byrne’s run in the 1980s only makes me even more excited. Beyond that, though, the design of the suit itself makes me desperate to see it in live-action.The sweater-style costume is clearly ribbed, making me hopeful that we’ll see the iconic ribbed Human Torch design from Marvel’s originalFantastic Fourstories.
The MCU Already Proved It Could Pull Off A 1960s Setting For The Fantastic Four 3 Years Ago
The Fantastic Four is rumored to be set in the 1960s and Marvel Studios has already proven that it can excel in recreating this bygone era on screen.
This has never been seen in live-action before, so I can’t wait to see it in the MCU. These costumes also clearly reflect the retro-futuristic 1960s-style ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, mirroring the team’s classic stories from Marvel Comics, which is something previous suits sported by the likes of Ioan Gruffudd, Kate Mara, Chris Evans and John Krasinski have failed to capture.This surely won’t be the Fantastic Four’s only costume design on their upcoming MCU journey, but I reckon this is afantastically strong place to start.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
