The Fantastic Four Movie is approaching and with it comes a new era of the Fantastic Four. We have been through many different eras of Fantastic Four movies from humble beginnings to very weird middles and now we are officially in the MCU era of Fantastic Four. What I am marking is the true happy family era of the Fantastic Four. This means it’s time for a Fantastic Four Reading guide for the Movie. With the introduction of different elements that have not been part of the movies before I think it’s needed. In this What to Read Before Fantastic Four First Steps
What to Read Before Fantastic Four First Steps
1.Fantastic Four #143
Some of my favorite Fantastic Four issues are the ones when they’re at each other’s throats showing the complex ins and outs of a family. However this is more focused on Doctor Doom and how he can manipulate the Fantastic Four and what he kind of thinks about them. The lack of Sue Storm is missed though but we will be making that up in the later issues. Also a little side note Johnny having the red Fantastic Four suit is great and I hope to see that in the near future.
2.Secret War 1-9 (2015)
There are many stories in this What to Read Before Fantastic Four First Steps that show the unique relationships. However Secret War is a complex story full of backstory and build. when you really boil down the story to its core. It’s a Reed Richards and Doom story that is hidden behind the Secret War. As we really see Doom get everything he wants. Then Mr Fantastic foils his plans and kind of restores the Marvel Comic universe. It’s a great story that took a while to build to. It terrifies me that the Secret War Movie will feel like Thor Love and Thunder butchering one of the great Thor stories. A great comic story rushed to get the movie out. Maybe even Justice League vibes but at least we have Secret War 2015 comic. This comic doesn’t give you much Fantastic Four, it does give you a weird conclusion to a feud that has spanned decades of comics reading. It’s a great read for what Reed Richards and Doom could be in the MCU, one of the greatest feuds in comic history.
3.Ultimate Invasion
The Ultimate Universe is currently one of the most interesting things in the Marvel Comic Universe. Even though it looks to be ending in some way. Still the main villain, this being the Maker is another interesting strand of the Ultimate Universe. Even though this universe spans back to 2000 and ended with the creation of now iconic Spider-Man and Miles Morales. Anyway not to sidetrack The Maker Makes a massive return in the Ultimate Invasion. Setting the stage for a whole new era of the Ultimate Universe. However also dives massively into the slight evil tendencies of Reed Richards and stretches them out to a thousand. If they adapted this in the future and used a Past Fantastic Four actor with the current it could also be one of the best possible future movies of the MCU.
4.Fantastic Four #528
Some of my favorite comic books are the ones where we kind of see the person behind the superhero. We don’t get it that much as we are here for the crazy stories in the comic books. However they do make some appearances here and there usually used to set up the next big story in the next issue. X-Men does this well with usually a sport issue showing how the X-Men interact with each other. In this issue we get a similar thing as we see how the First family of Marvel live their everyday lives making them feel like a real sort of family.
5.X-Men Vs. Fantastic Four
Not only does X-Men vs Fantastic Four show the possibility of interesting stories around parenthood from both Reed and Sue but also the whole family. With Franklin also being an Omega level mutant. This also shows off some possible interesting stories of new virus stories in the future where the X-Men goes up against the Fantastic Four. There are so many layers in this story as well. Including the involvement of Doom and that extra layer of complication when the Son of Sue and Reed is introduced. It might not be the best Fantastic Four story out there. However Its very interesting and great one to understand the relationships that could evolve into the MCU.
6.Galactus: The Devourer #1–6
For me the villain of Galactus is very hit and miss for me in the comics. Making me not the most excited for his first appearance. The only excitement does stem from the fact we have seen a kind of Galactus twice but never the big purple behemoth of a villain. This comic basically goes into the craziness of Galactus and also goes quite deep into the Silver Surfer but not the one from the movie.
Talking of the MCU Silver Surfer while looking around there isn’t really a deep dive into the Shalla-Bal Silver Surfer. There isn’t much on her in the comics. Making it very likely that they take a lot of inspiration from different Silver Surfer comics. The only real time she did was in an alternative universe comic called X Earth. There are also a lot of different things going on in Earth X. I wouldn’t really recommend it really for a look into the Silver Surfer. She does though appear in many Silver Surfer comics. It does feel like someone read this one comic in an alternative universe and thought, Okay Fantastic Four first steps is an alternative universe, let’s go with that. Still a weird choice but I am looking forward to a new take on the Silver Surfer.
7.Fantastic Four #1
I know reading really old comics isn’t for everyone due to kind of basic story and design but it feels like the Fantastic Four kind of story is kind of easy to follow through the years. It feels like you could start from 1 and read all the way to current. Also it just feels good to read where it all began before watching the first time seeing the Fantastic Four in the MCU.
8.INVISIBLE WOMAN #1-#6
Sue Storm is the true badass of the Fantastic Four and for many issues though she’s sometimes an afterthought. This makes the Invisible Woman centre stage. Even though it’s not the best as it puts her into a kind of spy-ish type story. what isn’t my thing especially in a comic — but Sue Storm still shows why she is the leading woman of the Fantastic Four.
9.Fantastic Four #54 (2002)
Even though we most likely see the birth of Franklin Richards in Fantastic Four First Steps. They pull the trigger and do twins but when I look at both issues of their birth I would go with Valeria Richards’ birth as it’s a kind of wild ride that ends with Doom helping Sue give birth to her daughter only helping if he can name the daughter. Not only does this foreshadow the close relationship between the new daughter of Fantastic Four in the future, kind of acting like an evil uncle Doom through the comics after this. What is an interesting story and adds even more complication between Doctor Doom and Fantastic Four.
This is all may What to Read Before Fantastic Four First Steps and with that we are ready to watch see you in Cinema.