10 Must-Read Fantastic Four Comics That Will Help You Enjoy First Steps

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With Fantastic Four: First Steps just months away, the Fantastic Four is on everyone’s minds. The MCU is about to enter its next phase, and potentially its biggest, with converging multiversal storylines in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

To prepare for the arrival of First Steps––which features the debut of the Fantastic Four, the Silver Surfer and Galactus in the Marvel Cinematic Universe––fans should check out some of the best Fantastic Four with all those elements and more. When the Fantastic Four met Galactus and the Silver Surfer, the birth of Franklin Richards, the epic clash of heroes and villains in the classic Secret Wars event, and more.

10

Coming Of Galactus & The Silver Surfer

As excited fans are to finally see the full Fantastic Four roster join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’re much more thrilled to see a full, comic-accurate version of Galactus on the big screen. Alongside the female version of Silver Surfer, Fantastic Four: First Steps is going to be massive, with unknowable ramifications for the MCU moving forward as the Fantastic Four inevitably join the rest of the Avengers in Doomsday.

The first must-read material for fans is definitely Fantastic Four #48, a Silver Age classic by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby featuring the first appearances of both Galactus and the Silver Surfer, characters whose very existence could change the MCU.

9

Galactus Vs. The Fantastic Four & The Avengers

Galactus quickly became one of the most powerful, destructive forces in Marvel’s Silver Age. Years after his debut, he returned with sights set on Earth once again. The cover of Fantastic Four #243 features a massive image of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four battling the behemoth Galactus, something that could now happen on the big screen in the MCU.

On top of just being a great issue with greater fights within, Fantastic Four #243 represents something that fans have wanted to see in theaters for decades now. With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars on the horizon, the MCU is looking bigger than ever.

8

H.E.R.B.I.E. Vs. The Fantastic Four

The creators behind Fantastic Four: First Steps are taking a lot of inspiration from the Fantastic Four’s Silver and Bronze Ages in Marvel Comics, especially with the film set on an Earth in the 1960s, and the inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E.

H.E.R.B.I.E. was an artificial-intelligence robot created by Reed Richards to watch over the Baxter Building and nanny Franklin Richards. It looks like he’ll perform those duties in First Steps. Fans who want to learn more about H.E.R.B.I.E. can read about the time he battled the Fantastic Four after being corrupted––something he hopefully doesn’t do in First Steps, as the team will have their hands full with Galactus and the Silver Surfer already.

7

A New Silver Surfer In A New Universe

Earth X is one of the greatest Marvel miniseries of all time, proving that sometimes, alternate-reality stories can be even more popular than the main canon. These “what if” stories give writers and artists so much freedom. Earth X is a must-read for fans heading into Fantastic Four: First Steps, and features just about every major Marvel character.

Beyond the many differences between Earth X compared to Marvel’s Earth-616, such as a murderous Captain America and Black Bolt trying to transform the world into Inhumans, Earth X introduced Shalla-Bal as a female version of the Silver Surfer, who will appear in First Steps as the Herald of Galactus.

6

The Human Torch & The Thing

In the trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps, Johnny Storm celebrates the news that Sue Storm is pregnant, commenting that he and Ben Grimm are going to be the best uncles. Johnny and Ben have always had a brotherly relationship, full of arguments, pranks and loyalty.

During the Marvel 2-In-One miniseries, Reed Richards and Sue Storm, along with their children, disappeared, leaving the Human Torch and the Thing as the Fantastic… Two? Marvel 2-In-One highlights their friendship and bond, especially without the presence of Mister Fantastic or the Invisible Woman.

5

Doctor Doom Tries To Challenge Galactus

Secret Wars is technically not a Fantastic Four book, but they’re some of the most prominent heroes who all go through massive developments. Human Torch falls in love, Ben Grimm receives a temporary cure, and Doctor Doom obtains more power than he’s ever held before, challenging both the Beyonder and Galactus.

Considering the next two Avengers films will be Doomsday and Secret Wars, the original Secret Wars limited series from 1984 is a must-read––the perfect prelude to both Fantastic Four: First Steps and the Avengers movies that will follow.

4

The Life Of The Fantastic Four

After the success of Spider-Man: Life Story, Marvel published Fantastic Four: Life Story. Both miniseries featured the unique concept of a sliding timescale, meaning the characters aged naturally through the years, allowing fans to read about the Fantastic Four in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and so on.

Life Story is the perfect miniseries for fans who want a crash course in the Fantastic Four. Marvel’s decades of publication can be daunting for new readers, so Life Story offers a condensed version of the Fantastic Four’s origin and history, highlighting their greatest adventures in a new universe where they grow and develop from issue to issue.

3

The Fantastic Four “Fourever” After Secret Wars (2015)

Fantastic Four: First Steps marks a bold new beginning for the Fantastic Four. After an especially unsuccessful film that withered as quickly as it appeared, Marvel’s First Family needs this win as they officially enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Readers looking for the best Fantastic Four relaunches should check out the start of their sixth comic volume.

Written by Dan Slott, known for his long-running work on books like Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Verse, Fantastic Four (vol. 6) takes place immediately after the events of Secret Wars in 2015. “Fourever” and the arcs that follow feel like a celebration of all that has happened to the Fantastic Four, featuring their children, the FF team, She-Hulk, the Inhumans and more.

2

The First Appearance Of Franklin Richards

The Fantastic Four is called Marvel’s First Family for a reason. Beyond their superpowers and partnerships, the Fantastic Four treat each other like siblings. Stan Lee wanted to progress their development, not as superheroes, but as that family, introducing Franklin Richards in Fantastic Four Annual #6.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailers have already confirmed that Sue Storm will give birth to Franklin Richards. Who knows how large a role he’ll play in the movie or the future of the MCU, but readers can check out his origins here for a refresher on the newest member of the First Family.

1

Alex Ross Recreates A Classic Fantastic Four Comic

Quite a few rumors are circulating about Fantastic Four: First Steps, particularly the state of the Fantastic Four’s Earth and how they reach the Earth, and the timeline of the MCU. The Fantastic Four are more space explorers than superheroes, and First Steps looks to highlight their cosmic adventures.

Readers should check out Fantastic Four: Full Circle, as Alex Ross recreated a classic story created by Stan Lee, where the Fantastic Four first explored the Negative Zone. Beautifully rendered like a psychedelic oil painting, Full Circle bravely takes the team where they’ve never gone before.

“}]] Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who want to dive into the comics to prep for Fantastic Four: First Steps have a few amazing reads ahead of them.  Read More