Marvel Comics is renowned for its grand crossover events, sweeping narratives that bring together numerous characters to face an apocalyptic threat that could shake the universe. For years, tales like “The Infinity Gauntlet” and “Secret Wars” have marked significant periods in storytelling and provided fans with memorable experiences. Yet, not all events are masterpieces. In Marvel’s rich history, only a handful of storylines are as universally criticized as the 1996 debacle, “Heroes Reborn”. This event was an attempt by Marvel Comics that is now primarily remembered as a creative and commercial disappointment. Nevertheless, with the arrival of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“, the MCU now has an opportunity to reimagine the central idea behind this notorious event and do it justice.
Warning: Spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps below.
The “Heroes Reborn” was conceived during a period of financial distress for Marvel Comics. In the mid-90s, the comic book market experienced a significant crash, and while the X-Men series continued to sell well, titles like Avengers and Fantastic Four struggled with decreasing sales and creative exhaustion. Facing the possibility of bankruptcy, Marvel decided to implement a drastic strategy to revamp some of its key superheroes.
Why Is “Heroes Reborn” Such a Despised Marvel Experiment?
The reason behind the “Heroes Reborn” label was the “Onslaught” storyline, a significant crossover event in which it appeared that the Avengers and Fantastic Four had given up their lives to eliminate Onslaught, a terrifying psychic being born from the combined subconsciousness of Professor X and Magneto. In reality, these heroes were surreptitiously transferred to a separate universe, known as “Counter-Earth,” which was mentally created by Franklin Richards, a young boy devastated by the thought of his family’s demise. This transition resulted in the heroes starting anew, without any recollection of their previous escapades.
As a devoted movie critic, I found myself taken aback by Marvel’s bold yet contentious decision during their reboot phase. Instead of maintaining control over their coveted four pillars – Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Avengers, and Captain America – Marvel chose to entrust the production of these flagship titles to the studios of two of their original stars, Jim Lee and Rob Liefeld. These comics legends were co-founders of Image Comics, a formidable competitor that emerged from a highly publicized and bitter parting with Marvel only a few years prior.
This move was met with widespread criticism, perceived as a humbling acknowledgement of defeat, as Marvel passed its prized possessions to the very artists who had once departed from their ranks. The decision also stirred up internal resistance and disenchanted long-term readers by abruptly dismissing beloved creative teams without due ceremony.
One of the most regrettable casualties was the highly esteemed partnership between writer Mark Waid and artist Ron Garney on Captain America. Their character-focused run, a critical and commercial triumph that bucked the tougher trends of the time, stood as a shining testament to their storytelling prowess. Alas, this dynamic duo’s departure left a significant void in Marvel’s lineup.
The “Heroes Reborn” series faced significant criticism and commercial underperformance after an initial surge in sales. Many found the new origins confusing, and the art style was often criticized for embodying the over-the-top aesthetics of ’90s comics, as seen in Rob Liefeld’s controversial Captain America artwork, featuring an unrealistically large and distorted chest. This image became a laughing stock and is still remembered today as a symbol of the era’s questionable depictions of anatomy. Liefeld’s tenure was so poorly received that Marvel ended his contract after just six issues, with Jim Lee’s studio taking over to complete the year-long experiment. However, the event failed to breathe new life into the characters, and the “Heroes Return” miniseries marked their return to the main Marvel universe. Most fans welcomed this end to the ill-fated relaunch.
The MCU Can Redeem “Heroes Reborn”
The Fantastic Four: Initial Strides
The film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, portrays a unique depiction of Franklin Richards as a character endowed with extraordinary reality-altering abilities. In this movie, Galactus (Ralph Ineson) seeks to seize control over Franklin, aiming to exploit the baby’s abilities to quench his insatiable hunger, thereby alleviating his suffering.
As the story progresses, the film’s climax unveils a dramatic turn of events where Franklin miraculously brings back his mother, Sue (Vanessa Kirby), after she selflessly sacrifices herself to thrust Galactus into a portal, hurtling him towards a remote part of the universe.
Lastly, The Fantastic Four: First Steps hints at Doctor Doom’s (Robert Downey Jr.) pursuit of Franklin, suggesting that the child will be instrumental in the forthcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. This is intended to culminate the Multiversal Saga. It appears, therefore, that Franklin Richards may pave the way for Marvel Studios to rejuvenate the MCU, possibly echoing his role in “Heroes Reborn.”
Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars,” the existence of numerous realities could be on the verge of destruction. Given the magnitude of chaos that ensues, a commensurate solution is needed, and Franklin Richards appears to be shaping up as that solution. Similar to his comic book counterpart, Franklin may use his tremendous power to save everyone from a multiverse on the brink of collapse by establishing a new, secure reality – a reborn MCU.
A well-executed “Heroes Reborn” scenario presents numerous creative avenues for a fresh era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This approach could simplify the MCU’s complex universe, offering a clean start for new viewers while acknowledging and appreciating longtime fans who have been with it since the beginning. In this revamped world, we might encounter a different Tony Stark dealing with a more authentic Mandarin character, or a fresh Steve Rogers embarking on journeys that the original couldn’t experience.
The statements from Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, imply that the original Avengers may be replaced by new actors in the future. This could happen through the creation of a new universe within the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), which would allow for fresh faces to step into iconic roles like Iron Man and Captain America without erasing the significant impact of Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. This approach would also enable the MCU to correct past mistakes while preserving the continuity that unites all its projects. In fact, a similar scenario occurred in Marvel Comics after the second Secret Wars miniseries. Therefore, by making the creation of a new universe the culmination of its biggest storyline, the MCU might turn what was once seen as a catastrophic event into the basis for an exciting future.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently available in theaters.
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2025-08-10 02:41