The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review – Marvel’s Most Relatable Family Adventure Yet

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has spent over a decade building out an expansive universe of heroes, villains, and intergalactic threats. But even with gods, genius billionaires, and talking raccoons in the mix, something’s always felt incomplete. Enter: The Fantastic Four.

With Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel finally plants its flag for one of its oldest and most iconic teams. But instead of dropping us into another world-ending spectacle or a forced origin retread, director Matt Shakman offers a different approach one that leans into familial intimacy, emotional nuance, and a dose of retrofuturistic weirdness.

It’s not the MCU’s flashiest entry. It’s not the funniest. And it’s not even the most action-packed. But First Steps is something many of us didn’t know we needed: a superhero film that’s as much about what happens around the dinner table as it is in a cosmic battle.

Meet the New Fantastic Four

Recasting Marvel’s First Family is no small task, and the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. Fortunately, Marvel has assembled a cast that not only fits their roles but brings something new to the table:

• Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards: Brilliant, emotionally complex, and at times agonizingly human. Pascal brings a gravitas to Reed that stretches (pun intended) beyond his intellect.
• Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm: The true heart of the film, Kirby plays Sue as both a fierce protector and a vulnerable woman navigating the weight of impending motherhood.
• Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm: With humor, charm, and a touch of chaos, Quinn’s Johnny is an instant fan favorite especially in his fiery scenes with the Silver Surfer.
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm: Stoic, grounded, and quietly heartbreaking, Moss-Bachrach gives The Thing the pathos he deserves.

The chemistry among these four is undeniable. Unlike previous iterations, this Fantastic Four actually feels like a family one that laughs, argues, and sticks together through cosmic-level catastrophe.

A Superhero Movie That’s Really About Parenthood

Let’s be honest: Marvel could’ve gone the easy route here. Drop the team into a multiversal warzone, pit them against Kang or Doom, and call it a day. But First Steps chooses a more unexpected, and arguably more powerful, metaphor: becoming parents.

Much of the film focuses on Reed and Sue grappling with the imminent birth of their child a decision made all the more complex by their roles as Earth’s protectors. And yes, the looming arrival of Galactus (via his harbinger, the Silver Surfer) directly mirrors the anxiety and anticipation of pregnancy.

At one point, Reed and Sue argue about the future of their family in a scene so grounded and emotionally raw it’s hard to believe this is a movie about people who can stretch, turn invisible, and light themselves on fire. But that’s First Steps’ quiet magic: It makes the absurd deeply relatable.

The Retro World of Earth-828

Set in a slightly altered timeline, First Steps takes place in Earth-828, a retrofuturistic world inspired by 1960s science fiction. Think bubble cars, vacuum-tube computers, and space-age architecture.

This choice isn’t just for style. It frames the story in a way that feels timeless and slightly removed from the current MCU continuity a smart move that lets Shakman and the screenwriters build a sandbox without worrying about stepping on multiversal toes.

There’s also a surprising amount of world-building packed into the film’s brisk runtime. We’re introduced to:

• Subterranea, a hidden underground kingdom ruled by the eccentric Mole Man (played hilariously by Paul Walter Hauser)
• Super-Apes — yes, they exist
• A brief nod to the Baxter Foundation’s connections to other scientific minds (is that a nod to Doom’s Latveria in the background?)

Despite the wild concepts, the movie never slows down to over-explain. It assumes you’ll keep up — and for the most part, you will.

Silver Surfer & Galactus: Harbingers of Change

The Silver Surfer gets a surprising amount of screen time in First Steps, acting not just as Galactus’ messenger but as a mirror to Johnny Storm. Their tension both philosophical and literal gives the film some of its most exciting and emotionally charged moments.

Julia Garner brings a serene coldness to the Surfer, playing her as both compassionate and terrifyingly detached. One gets the sense that she wants to spare Earth, but knows it’s futile.

As for Galactus, his arrival is more symbolic than literal. We never see him fully only his immense shadow, his voice echoing through space, and the destruction left in his wake. It's an effective choice that preserves the mystique of Marvel’s ultimate devourer and sets him up as a major Phase 6 player.

Looking ahead? This definitely isn’t the last we’ve seen of either character.

Reed & Sue: The Emotional Anchor

What truly elevates First Steps beyond being “just another Marvel reboot” is the dynamic between Reed Richards and Sue Storm.

Their relationship feels lived in. There are years of trust, betrayal, love, and fatigue between them. Sue, played with stunning clarity by Vanessa Kirby, is the film’s emotional bedrock. Whether she’s calming Reed during a cosmic panic or fending off Galactus’ sentries while in labor (yes, really), she owns every scene she’s in.

Reed, for his part, is equal parts brilliant and broken. Pedro Pascal gives us a Reed Richards who is afraid to fail especially as a father. His arc may not be dramatic, but it is real and, in a universe, full of infinity stones and magic hammers, that matters.

Easter Eggs & MCU Connections

Marvel fans will find plenty to sink their teeth into here. Without spoiling too much, here are a few callouts to look for:

• A TV show-within-the-movie that recaps the team's original origin story (hint: look closely at the background cameos!)
• A brief reference to a Latverian diplomat (hello, Doom?)
• One character casually mentions the “Savage Lands” — will Ka-Zar show up next?
• Ben Grimm mutters “Yancy Street” under his breath before one brawl (deep comics cut)

Plus, that post-credits scene is absolutely worth sticking around for. Let’s just say, we finally get the acknowledgment of Earth-616, and there’s a cameo that teases Avengers: Doomsday.

Verdict: A Quiet Triumph

Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t the MCU’s most explosive movie, but it’s one of its most human. It understands that the strength of the Fantastic Four lies not in their powers, but in their bond.

By prioritizing emotional storytelling over flashy set pieces, Matt Shakman delivers a strong foundation for Marvel’s First Family. And while it doesn’t offer the spectacle some fans might crave, it more than makes up for it in heart, humor, and hope.

Rating: 8.0/10 – A confident, character-driven reboot that promises bigger things to come.