RIOTUS

Have you ever realized a movie title has hidden meaning, but only after seeing it? With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, there’s the obvious wink—we’ve all seen Sue Storm’s pregnancy teased in trailers—but the title also signals something bigger. Like the Silver Surfer heralding change, this movie and its title might signal Marvel is moving in a new way. After Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in 2023, I said the MCU needed to slow down, release less, and focus more on story. Most of Phase 5 reinforced that point, with only Deadpool & Wolverine standing out as an act of fan appreciation and Thunderbolts* almost—but not quite—getting it right with a story that isn’t completely reliant on the next joke. Going into Fantastic Four: First Steps, I wasn’t excited, but the cast and visuals gave me hope. It turns out, “hopeful” is exactly the point.

During the debates about “superhero fatigue,” at Geek Girl Riot and RIOTUS, we’ve always said people aren’t tired of the genre; they’re sick of going to the movies, paying $30 for a ticket and a bottle of water, and coming out less than satisfied. Amid sickeningly sympathetic villains and characters who hate themselves, we’ve been missing out on heroes. Directed by Matt Shakman and written by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer, this leap into Phase Six is a retro-futuristic reset for Marvel’s first family, and it’s got enough emotional warmth and visual fire to make us believe that superheroes might be back (just like the Superman movie from earlier this month). Maybe we’re ready to return to big hero aura—or maybe we see where following villains leads us. 

Set in an alternate reality, retro-futuristic 1960s world brimming with fringe science, quantum physics, and deep space exploration, Fantastic Four: First Steps reintroduces F4 as the only superheroes in a universe that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly different. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are already established as a team when the story begins, balancing their roles as deep space explorers and protectors of Earth. But their greatest challenge arrives in the form of Galactus, a towering cosmic entity voiced with arrogant grandeur by Ralph Ineson, and his enigmatic herald, the Silver Surfer/Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner). As the Fantastic Four face a threat that could devour their world, the film weaves together cosmic stakes with grounded, heartfelt moments, reminding us that heroism is all about family—both chosen and linked to humanity as a whole.

What makes you lean into this movie is the Fantastic Four’s family dynamics, grounding the cosmic spectacle in authentic moments. There’s a fully realized script here, and it threads together emotional beats—like Reed and Sue’s daily domestic life and how deeply they truly see each other, or Johnny and Ben’s brotherly banter—making the team feel lived-in and real. The humor is organic, never forced, and when I call it “exceedingly cute,” it’s because this movie is genuinely sweet and homey on so many levels. That’s what makes the heroism feel personal. It’s a story and a style you’d expect to find in a great animation rather than a live-action one; something that The Incredibles borrowed from the Fantastic Four comics that the Pixar film is now giving back.

This is a movie about family made for families, but it’s also about teamwork. Every member of the Fantastic Four is essential, with no one reduced to sidekick or backup dancer roles. Each character is given the spotlight in three meaningful ways: through their powers, their unique contributions to the team, and their roles as individuals within the family and the world.

Reed/Mr. Fantastic is the team’s brilliant astrophysicist and inventor, whose elasticity is less about spectacle and more about problem-solving, reflecting his ability to adapt to any challenge. He’s also a squishy human who cares more than he knows how to show. Beyond his powers, Reed’s scientific genius and leadership are indispensable, but it’s his partnership with Sue that makes it work, showing that softer side. 

Sue/Invisible Woman emerges as the true powerhouse of the group, with her prismatic light-bending abilities playing a pivotal role in both action and strategy that’s symbolic of her strength. She’s not only the emotional anchor of the team, uniting them with her compassion and connection to what makes them heroes, but her commanding presence makes her as much the team’s leader as Reed, finally giving the character the depth she’s deserved. 

Johnny/Human Torch is fire—literally and figuratively—with unstoppable charm, but his loyalty and bravery reveal a deeper side to the team’s hot boy. His willingness to sacrifice and take on a big part of the problem-solving, taking the pressure off Reed, makes him more than the “frat boy” he’s previously been portrayed as. He’s golden.

Meanwhile, Ben Grimm/The Thing is the team’s heartbeat and hearth—his physical strength is matched by his emotional intelligence and asute observations coded with wit. As always, the most human member of the group looks it the least, and First Steps doesn’t shy away from his pain, but it also celebrates his resilience and humor, making his compassion shine through his rocky exterior. 

Oh, and there’s H.E.R.B.I.E. (the Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics), voiced by Matthew Woods, the sweetest housekeeper, butler, and all-around helper on the planet.

In the final battle, the Fantastic Four: First Steps makes it clear that no one member is the axle turning the wheel—they each bring something essential, and if victory is possible, it’s through their teamwork. Together, they feel like a true family, with Sue’s depth and leadership cementing her as the emotional core of both the group and the story. Even the depictions of Galactus and the Silver Surfer are handled with either gravitas or emotional motivation, but without justifying their actions, while the Silver Surfer’s backstory brings unexpected depth to the cosmic conflict.

Some fans will be reminded of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, or Lost in Space, and even The Jetsons, framed within Marvel Comics’ cosmic style. The production design is gorgeous, the color palette and tech evoke both the optimism of the space age and the wild possibilities of fringe science combined with quantum physics. Those elements work nicely with the comicbook accurate character designs: Johnny’s flames are rendered with painterly detail that Rioter Julian compared to illustrator Alex Ross, Reed’s elasticity is tactile rather than cartoonish, and Sue’s powers shimmer with light refraction. Galactus is realized as a towering, awe-inspiring figure he’s meant to be, and the Silver Surfer glides through space like the universe is her wave. 

Those visual effects and color grading depart from the muted tones of recent superhero films. Ben/The Thing, especially, looks amazing and has big ole softie vibes when he’s walking around the city in gigantic penny loafers and showing off his strength for kids. This goes back to that nod to classic animation I mentioned. Fantastic Four: First Steps’ creative team even partnered with animation house Titmouse to give us vintage ABC on-air graphics and Hanna-Barbera animation, making Fantastic Four: First Steps a visual feast that illustrates how committed the creators are to capturing the era’s spirit and comicbook roots.

With its advanced technology, cosmic threats, and sense of wonder, this movie brings back what’s been missing from recent MCU entries. One major thing: It trusts the source material. The story adapts the legendary Galactus Trilogy from 1966 (Fantastic Four #48–50), written and illustrated by Jack Kirby and co-written by Stan Lee, finally giving fans a faithful take on one of Marvel’s most iconic arcs. That’s why the tone is more The Incredibles than Avengers, with a focus on family dynamics and teamwork over bombast.

Despite its many strengths, for me, Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t get me emotionally high. The film is cohesive, visually inventive, and finally gives Marvel’s first family the spotlight they deserve, but my heart never swelled the way I wanted it to. It doesn’t hide its deeper feelings—Ben’s quiet sadness, Sue’s unbreakable will-power, Reed’s fear of failing, or Johnny’s optimism—but it does skate along the surface in some ways. That said, this movie is satisfying and fun.

There’s something undeniably charming about seeing the Fantastic Four re-established as a cornerstone of Marvel. The chemistry crackles, the visuals dance, and the film’s focus on family and heroism deserves a tackle hug. Finally, the first family of Marvel is everything they’re meant to be in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and it’s super cute, brave, bold, and hopeful. 

Special Note: At the close, there’s a Jack Kirby quote. It was so good to see one of the greatest comic book creators of all time get his due.