Marvel Comic Confirms Mole Man, Silver Surfer, and Galactus in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’

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In a thrilling turn of events, Marvel Comics is set to release a standalone comic issue as a precursor to the much-anticipated MCU film titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“. This upcoming comic seems to validate several fan speculations, making waves among Marvel enthusiasts and the broader audience. With an impressive 200 million views in just 24 hours, the teaser trailer of “First Steps” has solidified its position as one of the most awaited films of 2025. After three unsuccessful attempts at bringing the Fantastic Four to life on the silver screen (four if we count the unreleased movie), Disney and Marvel Studios are well aware of the high stakes associated with this film, and they’re already gearing up for an extensive promotional campaign.

On July 2, 2025, Marvel Comics is set to publish a unique one-shot comic book titled “Fantastic Four: First Steps“. This announcement was made by Deadline. The comic will be penned by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Mark Buckingham, with Phil Noto providing the cover art. Intriguingly, this comic is a joint effort between Marvel Studios and Marvel Comics, existing within the movie’s universe, and will be “published” by the Future Foundation, Sue Storm’s charity organization. To create this comic, Marvel Comics collaborated closely with the filmmakers, even inviting Matt Fraction and his team to visit the movie set. The cover, a remake of The Fantastic Four #1 from 1961, and details that the story takes place four years after the team acquired their powers, have sparked curiosity among fans, hinting at potential major plot points.

Hints at Mole Man’s Actor, the Silver Surfer, and the Arrival of Galactus

In a nod to the classic cover of The Fantastic Four #1 featuring the team battling the enormous monster Giganto, fans speculate that actor Paul Walter Hauser might portray the Mole Man in the film. This theory gains credence as the underground civilization of Subterranea, ruled by Mole Man, was confirmed to appear in the movie through maps distributed at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. It’ll be interesting to see how Mole Man fits into Fantastic Four: First Steps if the comics, set in the same universe, show he’s already clashed with the team. Will he serve as an early adversary or later as a member of the Future Foundation, working together to protect Earth from Galactus?

Discussing Galactus and his emissary, the Silver Surfer, it appears that the storyline of The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes a nod from the comics by being set four years after the team obtained their powers, which in the comic books was November 1961. The introduction of Silver Surfer and Galactus in the comics occurred four years into the Fantastic Four series run, in March 1966. The trailer suggests that the Silver Surfer’s appearance on Earth happens around Halloween. Since Sue Storm is pregnant in the film, it could span nine months before she gives birth to her son, Franklin Richards, and Galactus threatens the planet. If the movie adheres to the Fantastic Four gaining their powers in November 1961, that means the Silver Surfer might appear in October 1965, and the film’s climax could occur on the same date as when the comic was published, March 1966.

In the new Marvel Comics, it seems the Fantastic Four’s established universe and timeline are being incorporated into the MCU, suggesting that they may have already crossed paths with Doctor Doom. Interestingly, it looks like Downey’s Doctor Doom is from the same universe as “First Steps”. Although Doctor Doom won’t be in the upcoming film due to director Matt Shakman’s confirmation, this raises questions about his whereabouts when Galactus threatens his world. This could potentially lead to “Avengers: Doomsday”, implying that he might be venturing through different realities.

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2025-04-25 22:33