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Something About Reed Richards’ Costume in The Fantastic Four is Driving Us Nuts

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In the upcoming movie “First Steps,” the Fantastic Four will make their first appearance within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unlike previous big-screen adaptations, such as those directed by Tim Story and Josh Trank (including Reed Richards’ brief cameo in “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness”), this film’s costumes are a striking sky blue and white instead of the usual dark blue or black. Additionally, these suits appear to be made from softer materials compared to typical modern superhero garb. These costumes align with the retro-futuristic setting of the movie, which unfolds in an alternate universe’s past. While most fans seem pleased with the team’s designs in “First Steps,” there is a peculiar detail: Ben Grimm, Sue Storm, and Johnny Storm all have white sections at the tops of their suits, but Reed Richards’ entire torso is blue. At this point, no official reason has been given for why Reed’s costume in “First Steps” is designed this way; however, there are several plausible explanations, some practical and others symbolic.

Each member of the Fantastic Four team sports a suit with its unique twist: Reed stands out the most, but there are subtle differences among them. For instance, Ben has white cuffs at the bottom of his pants, unlike any other teammate. Both Ben and Johnny possess white stripes on their sleeves, yet Ben’s stop at the elbows while Johnny’s nearly reach his gloves. In contrast, Sue and Reed boast entirely blue sleeves. The upper white sections on their suits differ too – Ben and Johnny’s are straight across, while Sue’s is circular, resembling her comic character more closely. Additionally, Sue has a taller collar than the rest of the team. There are also minor textural differences between the suits. Marvel appears to have aimed for greater distinction among the Fantastic Four members compared to the comics or past films. Since Reed serves as the team leader, it makes sense that his suit stands out the most. However, it’s a bit odd how much less white Reed wears than the others. Given that the upper portions of Ben and Johnny’s suits match, it would have been logical for Reed’s to align with Sue’s.

Mister Fantastic’s Suit Usually Matches the Rest of the Fantastic Four

Members of the Fantastic FourReal NameActor in First Steps
The ThingBenjamin “Ben” GrimmEbon Moss-Bachrach
Invisible WomanSusan “Sue” StormVanessa Kirby
Mister FantasticReed RichardsPedro Pascal
Human TorchJonathan “Johnny” StormJoseph Quinn

Over time, the Fantastic Four have sported numerous costumes, with their initial ones being iconic blue outfits debuting in issue #3 of The Fantastic Four comic. These suits, along with subsequent versions, were crafted using unstable molecules, a creation by Reed Richards. This unique material enabled the suits to mirror the superpowers of their users; Invisible Woman’s suit could make her invisible, Mr. Fantastic’s could stretch, and Human Torch’s could ignite without causing harm. Although it was Sue Storm who designed these suits, the team’s costumes remained consistent until issue #256, where they switched to a design featuring white accents instead of the traditional dark blue or black. This updated version appears to have influenced the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s adaptation of the Fantastic Four. The team has occasionally donned more unconventional costumes, like the red and black suits introduced in the 2014 “Fall of the Fantastic Four” storyline, but they generally revert back to some version of blue and black or blue and white.

Despite being designed equally for each member, the Fantastic Four’s costumes have undergone modifications by some team members on multiple instances. Initially, Ben Grimm’s suit tore apart within the first issue itself, leaving him in just his pants. Subsequent designs mainly consisted of pants, shorts, or briefs, exposing much of his rocky physique. In Fantastic Four #132, Johnny Storm’s blue costume got damaged, which was then repaired by the Inhumans using a peculiar device they called an “electro-weave gadget.

In issue #371 of The Fantastic Four, there was a more debatable change in Sue’s outfit that paid tribute to something. Ironically, it was Reed who had not significantly altered his suit in the comics, which may explain why his costume in First Steps looked different. This difference could be due to the film itself.

Marvel Films Have Different Needs Than Comic Books

When Reed elongates, it requires his suit to expand along with him, making patterns like white stripes more challenging for the visual effects team. To avoid complications regarding distortion, the majority of Reed’s suit in “First Steps” is blue, enabling them to manipulate large sections of his body as a whole. The only parts of Reed’s costume that remain white are his gloves, belt, and boots, which are located on areas of his body that he doesn’t elongate often compared to his torso or limbs.

In this scenario, the white parts of the characters’ suits might be made from a material less prone to stretching compared to the blue sections, providing an internal consistency within the storyline. Since Ben’s super strength doesn’t affect his costume, the intricacy of it is inconsequential. Similarly, when Sue becomes invisible or Johnny forms a fiery aura, the specific details of their suits become irrelevant. Given the challenges in portraying elasticity realistically in live-action, anything that simplifies this aspect, even slightly, would prove to be a thoughtful decision.

The style of Reed’s suit could possibly reflect his character as well. Characters like Ben and Johnny, who sport the most white in their costumes, are usually the jokers of the group. They frequently engage in friendly banter that adds humor to their interactions. In the trailers for “First Steps“, it’s clear that Ben grapples with deep-rooted trauma concerning his monstrous appearance, but he typically conceals these feelings. Sue, on the other hand, is generally more serious. Being a mother brings a lot of obligations, and she often steps up to maintain harmony within the team when Reed, Ben, and Johnny clash heads.

Reed Richards, the scientist at the center of the story, appears to be more serious and introspective than ever. He’s deeply engrossed in his work, often portrayed with a practical, skeptical perspective on life. In the trailer for First Steps, there are hints that Reed may hold himself responsible for the arrival of Galactus and the Silver Surfer: “It’s my fault. I pushed the boundaries of space, and they heard.” The absence of white on Reed’s suit might suggest a darker portrayal of the character in this universe. The Marvel Cinematic Universe could be laying the groundwork for a storyline reminiscent of the descent that occurred in the Ultimate universe.

The lack of white on Reed’s costume in the film “First Steps” could be due to a few reasons. Firstly, his suit might have been the original design, which was simpler compared to the costumes of his teammates that came later. Secondly, the costume designer may have simply preferred the way it looked. However, without any behind-the-scenes information or the release of the film, we can’t be certain about the reasons behind Reed’s costume design.

Fans might not appreciate the costumes in “First Steps,” but it’s likely that they won’t last long since most MCU films introduce new costumes for superheroes. Sometimes these changes are minor adjustments, while other times, the designs are completely overhauled. In “Avengers: Doomsday,” we’ll see the Fantastic Four, and it’s possible that they’ll get new costumes similar to those in the MCU afterward. Reed’s distinctive suit could be a unique trend for his character or specific to his first appearance.

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2025-06-06 01:40

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