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How the Fantastic Four Shaped the Future of Superheroes

BBG News

This coming week, as The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits the screens, it signifies a resurgence in popularity for four characters who are not just cornerstones of Marvel’s vast universe of comics, films, and TV series, but also essential figures in contemporary pop culture and narrative crafting.

In 1961, comic legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the world to The Fantastic Four, an extraordinary group bound by family ties and unique abilities. Unlike traditional superheroes such as Superman and Batman, this groundbreaking comic series featured characters who argued and were based in New York City, challenging genre norms. The Fantastic Four’s immediate popularity set the stage for the rise of Marvel Comics and its extensive universe of characters, including over 35,000 issues worth of stories so far. Moreover, they established the blueprint for modern superheroes: humorous yet intelligent, imperfect and vulnerable. The success of The Fantastic Four paved the way for other iconic Marvel characters like Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and Iron Man, among others, by adopting this innovative approach.

Without a doubt, the Marvel superhero storyline made its mark beyond comic books, starting with cartoons, then moving to television and eventually films. The Fantastic Four not only laid the groundwork for the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe, which spans 37 films generating $31.9 billion, but also seven Superman movies ($2 billion so far), 13 X-Men films ($2.49 billion), the Dark Knight Trilogy ($1.12 billion) and numerous others. Even outside the superhero genre, it’s challenging not to notice hints of the Fantastic Four’s genetic makeup in series like Star Wars and Fast & Furious, with their group of argumentative, unconventional heroes.

In simpler terms, Tom DeFalco, a previous chief editor at Marvel who penned around sixty issues of the Fantastic Four comics during the 1990s, noted that the Fantastic Four have always been the essence and lifeblood of the Marvel universe, and this universe has served as a catalyst for countless creative minds across various fields.

On and off the silver screen

As a devoted Marvel enthusiast, I’ve been missing the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a group whose influence on Marvel’s history is undeniable. This absence is largely due to some missteps in the 90s when cash-strapped Marvel sold off the movie rights to its big names, such as Spider-Man, the X-Men, and yes, the Fantastic Four. Unlike Spidey and the X-Men who had their moments on the silver screen in the early 2000s, Fantastic Four fans haven’t been so lucky. We were served a pair of rather humor-heavy movies in 2005 and 2007 that left critics less than impressed, and then came the 2015 reboot which, quite frankly, pales in comparison to those early attempts.

Throughout its history, the Fantastic Four comic has experienced periods of both popularity and decline. Initially serving as Marvel’s primary comic in the 1960s, it struggled in the 1970s before rebounding in the 1980s. The series garnered high praise during writer Jonathan Hickman’s tenure in the early 2010s, only to vanish entirely between 2015 and 2018, rumored to be a tactic to avoid providing free promotion for Fox’s film adaptation.

In 2019, when Disney purchased Fox’s movie studio, Marvel once again gained control over the Fantastic Four (alongside the X-Men). Currently penned by Ryan North, the Fantastic Four comic book series has seen a resurgence in popularity recently.

Regardless of its past challenges, C.B Cebulski, Marvel’s editor-in-chief, maintains that the company has consistently remained dedicated to the Fantastic Four comic series. With the upcoming movie release,

According to Cebulski, “From my perspective, the Four Fantastic (FFs) have always been central to our publishing.” He adds that he’s primarily focused on ensuring these characters – Reed, Johnny, Ben, and Sue – are presented in the best manner possible throughout his time at Marvel, even before. The happenings beyond publishing have not been a significant concern for him.

The story of the Fantastic Four

In today’s world filled with numerous superheroes, it might seem difficult to believe, yet there was once a period when these costumed champions were scarcely visible in our cultural panorama.

As a passionate moviegoer and comic book enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the birth of modern superheroes in the late 1930s. These larger-than-life characters graced countless titles throughout the 40s, their stories imbued with a sense of patriotism that captivated readers worldwide. Sales skyrocketed, with some issues selling over a million copies each year!

However, by the heart of the 1950s, superheroes seemed to have vanished from newsstands almost entirely. This was due to shifting tastes and a growing fear during the Cold War era, which led to a campaign aimed at protecting children from perceived negative influences.

The turning point was the publication of “Seduction of the Innocence,” a 1954 book by psychiatrist Frederick Wertham. This book suggested that children were being influenced towards delinquency by graphic and violent comics. This book sparked a Senate investigation, led by Senator Estes Kefauver from Tennessee, who was renowned for his investigations into organized crime. The fallout also resulted in the blacklisting of numerous comic creators. Moreover, it prompted the creation of the Comics Code Authority, an autonomous regulatory body within the comic book industry. This body enforced restrictions such as prohibiting titles with “Horror” and “Terror,” banning any references to the occult, and insisting that law enforcement be portrayed respectfully and crime should not be glorified.

Under this self-imposed censorship policy, comic book publishers significantly reduced the number of superhero titles in favor of genres such as westerns, romance, and humor comics. Only a few heroes survived this purge, primarily stalwarts like Superman and Batman, but their stories were lackluster and contrived compared to the thrilling tales from past decades.

Out of this parched environment, came the Fantastic Four.

While initially conceived as a team consisting of a genius scientist, his trusted companion, his love interest, and her little brother venturing into space and exposed to cosmic radiation in the comics—the development of the Fantastic Four’s title is enveloped in an enigma, debate, and legal disputes.

As a passionate comics enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the origins of Marvel’s iconic team – the Avengers. While versions vary, one thing is clear: the success of DC’s Justice League stirred Marvel’s publisher to demand a response. Some claim it was Stan Lee, tired of producing ordinary comics and yearning for fresh inspiration, who took up the challenge. Others credit Jack Kirby, a genius artist and storyteller who preferred the shadows, with igniting this creative spark.

However, history doesn’t provide a definitive answer as to who did what. What we know is that for the next 101 issues, these two titans collaborated, with Kirby largely shaping the stories and providing the artistic vision, while Lee infused his unique dialogue and tirelessly promoted the series. The inclusion of Joe Sinnott, a legendary inker, completed this unforgettable team.

In essence, although the Fantastic Four brought about groundbreaking changes in comics, their individual powers aren’t particularly innovative. Mr. Fantastic’s elasticity is reminiscent of Plastic Man, the Human Torch echoes a character from the 1940s with the same name, the Invisible Woman’s abilities can be traced back to H.G. Wells, and the Thing shares similarities with numerous monsters. Furthermore, as a group of uniformed explorers armed with futuristic devices, they bear a striking resemblance to the Challengers of the Unknown, a team created by Kirby for DC Comics in 1957.

Rather than deriving creativity primarily from plot twists, it stemmed more from the personalities and their dynamics. In the initial edition, The Thing, understandably upset about his transformation into a monster, lashes out at his teammates. By the third issue, the adolescent Human Torch storms off in anger. However, by issue eight, it’s The Thing who decides to leave the team. This series also featured humor, cultural references, and plenty of action. For young comic enthusiasts, this was a groundbreaking change from their usual reading material.

In the ’80s, I, as an editor, found that DC characters embodied power and righteousness, much like the officers who would visit our school to share their wisdom. There was an undeniable raw, instinctual aspect to Marvel characters.

As a devoted fan, I’d say what sets the Fantastic Four apart from other super groups is their familial bond. Unlike other teams where members may rotate, the Fantastic Four are inextricably linked, whether it’s through shared triumphs or challenges. We, the fans, can’t help but root for this unique family, regardless of the twists and turns their journey takes them on.

According to Walter Simonson, who worked on the comic in the 90s, the members of the Fantastic Four are deeply connected due to the shared circumstances that transformed them into this team. Each one has experienced these events differently, much like receiving unique cards in a deck. He emphasizes that they’re not just individuals from distinct backgrounds who decide to team up to fight crime.

As Hickman, who penned Fantastic Four from 2009 to 2012, points out, the initial versions of the First Steps script lacked a crucial aspect. He stated, “The story is fantastic and cool, but there’s an issue: It focuses on a superhero team rather than a family.” (He notes that later drafts addressed this concern).

Following the initial triumph of the Fantastic Four comic series, Stan Lee swiftly introduced an array of new superheroes to the Marvel universe, frequently collaborating with Jack Kirby. The titles were brimming with cross-references and expansions at a rapid pace. A year after the debut of the Fantastic Four, they graced the cover of Amazing Spider-Man Issue 1. The Hulk made his first appearance in Fantastic Four issue 12. The Avengers united five heroes for the first time. All comics included letter pages where fans would discuss intricate aspects of the storylines and characters. Lee’s monthly columns were consistently used to promote the expanding universe. A fan club soon sprang up, with readers eagerly embracing the content. As Salicrup puts it, “It felt like joining a kind-hearted cult.”

By the closing years of the 1960s, the narrative style unique to Marvel Comics started influencing DC, causing their superheroes to tackle real-life problems such as racism and substance abuse. Meanwhile, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby kept churning out their captivating tales, creating characters as diverse and iconic as Black Panther, Dr. Doom, Nick Fury, and Thor.

According to Hickman, that remarkable decade-long burst of creative energy in comic books was essentially a magical collaboration between Lee and Kirby.

According to Hickman, some individuals hold the viewpoint that one should always take a bold swing in their ideas. They believe that ideas aren’t finite but rather a self-sustaining mechanism – the more you contribute, the more you gain. He suggests that those who share this perspective are likely capable of producing extensive and impactful works of art. These prolific creators, he notes, played a pivotal role in shaping the North American superhero industry. We’re incredibly lucky to have had them leading the way.

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2025-07-25 20:06

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