‘Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ – Review

Absolutely bursting with cosmic energy, superhero swagger, and heart, The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in the Marvel Cinematic Universe like a blast from the past—charged with new-gen spectacle and deep-rooted nostalgia. After seventeen long years of waiting and a staggering thirty-six entries into the MCU canon, Marvel’s First Family finally make their long-awaited debut, and it’s every bit as awe-inspiring, joyous, and emotionally powerful as you’d hope.

Marvel Studios and director Matt Shakman deliver a film that soars on a wavelength of retro-futurism, pop-art exuberance, and pure Kirby-inspired grandeur. With this vibrant and kinetic entry, the MCU taps back into the essence of what made the Marvel mythos great in the first place — family, imagination, and the eternal pull of the unknown. It’s a bold new direction for the franchise, and one that feels like the MCU rediscovering its soul.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.

Set in the alternate multiversal realm of Earth-828, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces audiences to a world unlike any we’ve seen before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A place where the sleek optimism of the 1960s still reigns supreme — a Kennedy-era utopia filled with wonder, art deco sci-fi aesthetics, and futurist promise. Think vintage NASA merged with classic Jack Kirby panel art, and you’re starting to get the picture.

It’s in this world that we meet our heroes: Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), a haunted genius with a troubled heart; Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), the emotional core of the group and a commanding presence in her own right; Johnny Storm/The Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), a brash, cocky firestarter with a rockstar edge; and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), the gravel-voiced, brokenhearted bruiser with a heart of gold.

They’ve already become legends on their Earth—protectors of a bizarre, monster-laden New York City, and defenders of the cosmic balance. And when a universe-threatening crisis looms in the shape of a shimmering messenger from the stars and an all-devouring celestial titan, these four extraordinary beings must band together like never before.

Director Matt Shakman, no stranger to Marvel fans after WandaVision, turns up the emotional volume and visual scale here—and the results are staggeringly good. He leans hard into the classic works of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, channelling their wide-eyed cosmic pulp wonder and melding it with modern cinematic spectacle. If Guardians of the Galaxy is Marvel’s punk rock space opera, then First Steps is its cosmic golden age love letter—a film brimming with ambition, heart, and visual inventiveness.

Shakman’s take on the Fantastic Four is equal parts space-race epic and interdimensional soap opera, and it works wonders. He understands the dynamic that makes these characters sing: the family friction, the scientific curiosity, the emotional baggage, and the raw courage. There’s style and substance in every frame, from the high-concept cosmic action sequences to the quietly devastating emotional beats between characters. It’s a film that breathes, pulsing with equal measures of drama, humour, and wonder.

Leading the charge is Pedro Pascal, whose Reed Richards is a more introspective take on the brilliant scientist. Pascal plays him not as a cold intellectual, but as a man weighed down by consequence — a leader riddled with guilt and desperation, especially regarding his best friend Ben Grimm’s tragic mutation into The Thing. There’s a beautiful tension between Pascal’s cerebral nature and his emotional struggle, and it adds gravitas to the team’s dynamic.

But the film belongs to Vanessa Kirby. As Sue Storm, she is fierce, intelligent, and emotionally resonant—the lynchpin of the team and the story. Kirby brings nuance, power, and vulnerability to every scene, and she shines both in the high-stakes battles and the quieter, human moments that define her role. It’s a star-making turn that puts her firmly at the centre of the MCU’s future.

On the flip side, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach absolutely steal the show with their sibling-style chemistry and raw charisma. Quinn brings heat and swagger to Johnny Storm, channelling that teen idol recklessness and cocky grin that defined the character in the comics. But there’s an arc of growth here too; one that gives Quinn the space to move from impetuous thrill-seeker to genuine hero.

And then there’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, and folks, he’s the beating heart of this entire movie. With gruff charm and bruised soulfulness, Moss-Bachrach nails the character’s iconic line, “It’s clobberin’ time!”, with the full force of emotional resonance. He’s tragic, lovable, and fiercely loyal, and his performance is a beautiful tribute to Kirby’s original vision of The Thing as both monster and man.

As a Marvel cosmic story, First Steps doesn’t hold back. The introduction of The Silver Surfer, played with icy allure by Julia Garner, is one of the film’s most captivating moments. Garner brings regal poise and existential sorrow to the role of Shalla-Bal, a twist on the original comic canon that works wonderfully. She’s magnetic, mysterious, and otherworldly, gliding through scenes like a celestial spirit of doom and salvation.

And then there’s Galactus.

Yes, the Devourer of Worlds finally makes his full-on debut in the MCU, and it is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Voiced with gravely menace by Ralph Ineson, this version of Galactus is more than just a cosmic threat — he is an elemental force of nature, rendered in colossal scale and terrifying grandeur. His presence is felt long before he’s seen, and when he finally appears, it’s one of the most awe-inspiring moments in superhero cinema.

Visually, this film is a feast. From the chrome-slick vistas of deep space to the futuristic architecture of 1960s-inspired Earth-828, every shot is dripping with artistic detail. The costume design, production aesthetic, and visual effects are a loving homage to Kirby’s art, filled with swirling colours, cosmic energy blasts, and impossible geometry. This is a movie that wants you to believe in the impossible, and makes you believe in it, wholeheartedly.

Two standout action sequences in particular will have fans buzzing: a hyperspace chase between the Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer that’s equal parts F1 race and astral ballet; and a monumental final battle against Galactus, filled with epic teamwork, desperate last stands, and emotional sacrifice.

And yes, stick around for the post-credit sting — because Doom is coming!

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is everything fans have hoped for and more. It’s Marvel Studios reclaiming its mythic grandeur and reminding audiences why these characters are so beloved. This isn’t just another entry in the MCU — it’s a rejuvenation, a celebration, and a statement.

For fans of classic Marvel, for lovers of bold storytelling, and for anyone seeking that old-school sense of comic book wonder, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a celestial gift. Bursting with heart, charged with cosmic energy, and anchored by an all-star cast, this is the kind of superhero film that comes along only once in a generation.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures