Fantastic Four: First Steps” – An Outstanding Film Depicting Marvel’s First Family Bond
The film showcases the Fantastic Four, a remarkable superhero team doubling as the universe’s top explorers, but beyond their superpowers, they are a family. The profound affection they share is the core of this family unit. The movie beautifully portrays the tender emotions and dramatic undercurrents that define the team, although it fell short by omitting one crucial member of the Fantastic Family.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s initial journey with the Fantastic Four, Alicia Masters, the Thing’s cherished love interest and future spouse, was noticeably absent. Instead, a brand-new character took her place, which is truly regrettable because Alicia deserves to be recognized alongside the Four.
Alicia Has Been Here Since the Beginning
In the comic book series “Fantastic Four,” first appearing in issue #8 of 1961, we meet Alicia Masters. She’s the blind step-daughter of one of the Four’s arch-nemesis, the Puppet Master. Over time, she proved crucial in thwarting his mind-controlling schemes that aimed to conquer the world. Since her initial appearance, Alicia has remained intertwined with the lives of the Four, quickly bonding with Ben Grimm, also known as The Thing. Despite his rough, monstrous exterior, she was one of the first individuals to appreciate his true worth and forge a meaningful relationship with him. As an accomplished artist and sculptor, Alicia is renowned for finding beauty in things that others often overlook, which extends to her appreciation of Ben Grimm as well.
Alicia proved to be more than just a romantic figure; she frequently stepped up when necessary, contributing significantly to saving the world on numerous occasions. For instance, she was instrumental in persuading the Silver Surfer to oppose Galactus and save Earth, teaching him about human values. Trained in combat, she even received a cane-like weapon from Matt Murdock, modeled after his own equipment. Later, Alicia married Ben Grimm (the Thing) and adopted two children, a Skrull girl and Kree boy who were orphaned during the Cotati invasion of Earth. Alicia serves as an emotional anchor for the Fantastic Four, helping them maintain their family dynamic amidst their otherworldly adventures. Her down-to-earth demeanor keeps the focus on personal relationships, ensuring that the Fantastic Four’s stories remain grounded and relatable, even with their cosmic exploits.
Why Alicia Was Replaced
One plausible explanation as to why Alicia wasn’t introduced with the rest of the family in “Fantastic Four: First Steps” might be that the creators deemed her backstory too convoluted, given their already heavy focus on the main plot. Puppet Master was briefly mentioned as one of Mister Fantastic’s captures before Franklin’s birth, but without any clear connection to Alicia. Including both in the same narrative without elaborating on their relationship might have felt odd. Instead, it seemed that the movie intended for the Thing to encounter his love interest for the first time within the film itself.
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2025-08-04 00:12