The Fantastic Four: First Steps is finally arriving in theaters this week, marking the long-awaited debut of the First Family in the MCU years after Marvel Studios nabbed the rights back following Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Based on the trailers that fans have seen, the film has a unique visual style since it is set in a different universe with a retro-futuristic aesthetic, and it is a standalone story centering on the titular team without any crossovers with the other characters in the Marvel property.
Fans know that the MCU franchise has been struggling in the last few years. Whether you like their film and TV show releases or not, there is no denying that the reception hasn't been on the same level as the Infinity Saga, and there is now hope that the recent efforts, such as The Fantastic Four: First Step, will be a return to form.
Why The Fantastic Four: First Steps Sets Up a Promising Return to Form for the MCU
There is a lot of burden hanging on The Fantastic Four: First Steps as it is heading to its global release this week. Aside from setting up the future of the MCU, there has never been a Fantastic Four movie that is generally liked by many.
The past attempts at adapting the First Family to the big screen have either been a failure or resulted in a mediocre film at best that doesn't satisfy the fans of the characters. None of them captured the magic and charm of what makes the First Family beloved among comic book fans or made them valuable among the casual fans or the general public who are interested in the Marvel universe.
When it was announced that Marvel Studios would finally get their hands on the Fantastic Four and become part of the MCU, fans were wondering how they would handle the First Family, whether they would be part of the main MCU universe alongside some of the beloved characters, or make them a multiversal figure to avoid the questions like why they were not present when Thanos arrived on Earth and other conflicts that the Avengers have faced.
Marvel Studios solved the question by making The Fantastic Four: First Steps a standalone story, set in a different universe, and exploring a different style that other MCU movies have never done. Together with director Matt Shakman and the talented writers and crew, they created a 60s-style retro-futuristic world where the Fantastic Four are the only heroes that exist, and that creative decision gives the filmmakers the capability to capture the Jack Kirby-style aesthetic that is in the spirit of its comic book origins and without the hindrance of the modern world (yet).
With this particular creative decision that they've made for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it shows that Marvel Studios is no longer afraid to explore other styles, genres, and tones that are far from their past movies, even if it may not align with the main MCU timeline. Yes, they have experimented with different genres before, but none of them have been as significant as what they've done with the First Family's MCU debut, and they chose a distinct style that makes it unrecognizable from the rest of the MCU.
With its lack of connections to other MCU films, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now also accessible to all kinds of audiences, even if it's unapologetic in embracing its comic book roots. They don't need to watch other movies and TV shows to understand the characters. The film doesn't have an extended sequence dedicated to the origins of their powers. It's a standalone story with a beginning, middle, and end. It's a pure Fantastic Four story with no typical MCU fan service.
It remains to be seen what the First Family's presence will all mean when they crossover with other MCU characters in the future, but it is pretty clear that the MCU is on a bold new direction where they are willing to explore different styles that are standalone from one another and prioritizes the importance of being creative again, rather than churning out a lot of content or relying on crossover and fan service.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is not just a fantastic effort from this era of Marvel Studios, but it promises that the MCU is slowly returning to form, and it is a sign of what's to come in this era of comic book movies.
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