Why Fantastic Four’s Galactus Takes Center Stage Over Doctor Doom!

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The iconic comic series of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, titled “Fantastic Four,” marked the onset of the Marvel Comics era. Over a span of nearly a decade (1961-1970), these visionary creators brought forth a plethora of characters, such as Marvel’s founding family – Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Girl, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing. Additionally, they introduced the Black Panther and Doctor Doom into the Marvel universe. However, it was their epic trilogy, spanning issues #4850 of “Fantastic Four,” that truly stands out as a Lee-Kirby masterpiece.

In “The Arrival of Galactus,” as a captivated moviegoer, I found myself immersed in the final pages of Fantastic Four #48, where Jack Kirby and Stan Lee unveiled none other than the titular cosmic menace, the planet devourer himself. Accompanying him was the enigmatic Silver Surfer, his herald announcing the impending arrival of a force beyond our comprehension. The Fantastic Four, in their characteristic heroism, thwarted Earth’s impending apocalypse in “If This Be Doomsday!” and “The Extraordinary Tale of the Silver Surfer.” These interstellar tales wove a cosmic tapestry that elevated Fantastic Four to the status of “the world’s most remarkable comic book series,” leaving an indelible mark on the genre.

This means that “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which is situated in a retro-futuristic 1960s timeline distinct from the main Marvel Cinematic Universe, is reviving Lee and Kirby’s iconic characters for the big screen once more. It has been a while since the Fantastic Four, particularly Galactus who was portrayed as a cosmic cloud without a face in 2007’s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” produced by Fox.

Matt Shakman, director, expressed in Entertainment Weekly that he preferred Ralph Ineson to physically portray Galactus rather than relying solely on motion-capture technology. He explained, “We’ve constructed a full costume for him and have conducted extensive photography tests to determine factors such as scale and filming techniques like capturing Mount Rushmore.

In addition, this situation signified distancing from the character Victor von Doom. However, it wasn’t until the Mole Man that the Four encountered their first adversary in the comics. Interestingly, Doctor Doom has always been the primary antagonist in every initial Fantastic Four film to date. Joseph Culp portrayed the masked ruler in the 1994 Roger Corman-produced Fantastic Four, with Julian McMahon stepping into the role for the 2005 adaptation, and Toby Kebbell taking over in the 2015 version, titled Fant4stic.

In the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, Avengers: Doomsday, Doctor Doom – portrayed by previous Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. – will make his entrance. This shift in casting enabled the director to concentrate more on the narrative’s familial aspects.

Shakman clarified that Doom is an impressive character, but he’s quite dominant. Previous movie adaptations have handled both his origin and the storyline. In our adaptation, we’re choosing not to do either, which gives us a unique viewpoint on these characters.

Actress Julia Garner, famously known for her role in “Wolf Man,” is set to portray the herald of Galactus, a character with cosmic powers and a silvery-toned appearance who traverses spaceways. Meanwhile, Natasha Lyonne (“Poker Face”), Paul Walter Hauser (“Inside Out 2”), and John Malkovich (“Space Force”) have landed roles yet to be disclosed. The star-studded cast of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” produced by Marvel Studios, also includes Pedro Pascal (“The Last of Us”), Vanessa Kirby (“Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”), Joseph Quinn (“Stranger Things”), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”). This epic tale hits theaters on July 25.

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2025-04-10 22:10