In a shocking reveal, Marvel has confirmed that the Fantastic Four's new allies in a truly surprising way.
The new team is a perfect addition to the MCU, especially because several of its already exist in movie continuity.
The Future Foundation Is Coming to the MCU
Reed Richards' Think-Tank Team Is Already Movie Canon
Marvel just revealed that it will be releasing Fantastic Four: First Steps #1 - a comic not just set in the world of the movie, but presented as a piece of media from within that world. In MCU canon, the comic was made to celebrate the Fantastic Four's first ever adventure (seemingly the same as their real-world first appearance, squaring off with the Mole Man and his pet monster Giganto.) However, what makes this tie-in comic particularly special is that it's published by the Future Foundation - a separate hero team also under Reed Richards' leadership. The Future Foundation has appeared elsewhere in Fantastic Four's marketing too, confirming Marvel has plans for this spin-off team.
Fantastic Four: First Steps #1 |
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Release Date: |
July 2, 2025 |
Writer: |
MATT FRACTION |
Artists: |
MARK BUCKINGHAM |
Cover Artist: |
PHIL NOTO |
Four years ago, the world was transformed as an amazing cosmic-powered quartet revealed themselves and their astonishing abilities to the public! Since that time, they have become world-famous as the Fantastic Four! Now, to celebrate that anniversary, Marvel Comics recounts their very first exploit that saved our city from near destruction! |
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Introduced in Jonathan Hickman and Neil Edwards' Fantastic Four #579, the Future Foundation are a team of (mostly) young geniuses who work on impossible problems under Reed Richards' guidance. This other FF cracked how to turn the Thing back into a human, redeemed the android villain Dragon Man, and helped reconstruct the multiverse after the events of Secret Wars. Core include Reed's genius daughter Valeria, supervillain clone Bentley-23, Wakandan genius Onome and the power-sapping Leech.
Fantastic Four: 10 Strongest Reed Richards Villains Created by Stan Lee
From Doctor Doom to Ronan the Acc, the Fantastic Four have an army of villains, but some have a specific grudge against Reed Richards.
Reed Richards founded the Future Foundation after deciding the world's greatest scientists had grown pessimistic and unimaginative, attempting to recruit young geniuses who would focus on potential, not limitations.
While the Future Foundation may not be in its full comic form in the MCU's retro-futuristic 1960s, that gives the team plenty of time to grow before it appears in the MCU's modern day. Indeed, most of the work is done already, because several of the hero team already exist in the MCU...
Multiple Future Foundation Heroes Are Already in the MCU
She-Hulk and Ant-Man Led the Team
When the Fantastic Four left reality for a family holiday in 2013, they left behind She-Hulk, Ant-Man, Medusa and pop star Darla Deering to take their place, in FF by Matt Fraction and Michael Allred. The team were only supposed to fill in for four minutes, since the main team would use time travel to return home almost immediately, but of course the Fantastic Four ended up off-target, leaving this ragtag group of heroes to fend off their enemies and help run the Future Foundation.
Spider-Man's connection to the Future Foundation could chart a new course for Tom Holland in the MCU.
Obviously, Paul Rudd's Ant-Man and Tatiana Maslany's She-Hulk already exist in the MCU, while Serinda Swan's Medusa was introduced in the questionably-canon Inhumans. And while Darla Deering doesn't exist in the movies yet, that suits the character, since she only ended up on the FF because Johnny was dating her at the time and had forgotten to recruit a suitable candidate (thankfully, Darla was able to use an advanced suit to mimic the Thing's powers, taking the codename Miss Thing.)
10 Most Powerful Of The Fantastic Four, Ranked
The Fantastic Four were the first Marvel superheroes, and, while many ed over the years, some were more powerful than others.
During the period when the Human Torch was presumed dead, the main Fantastic Four ditched their codename and donned new Future Foundation costumes. Recruiting Spider-Man onto the team (as he originally asked them to do way back in The Amazing Spider-Man #1), the family used a three-part logo until Johnny Storm's eventual return.) With Tom Holland beginning his own new Spider-Man trilogy, hip on the Future Foundation is entirely possible. In fact, if Peter is ed by Reed Richards' resources, movie fans could finally see some of the gadgets Spider-Man has created in the comics, such as his electro-webbing and Spider-Mobile.
Marvel Fans Should Be Excited About the Future Foundation's Potential
The MCU Is Diving into FF Lore Feet First
While the Future Foundation aren't as famous as the Fantastic Four, they're arguably more interesting. One of the coolest parts of the Future Foundation is how the team draws from the Fantastic Four's enemies. Dragon Man - once a fire-breathing android - s the team after being given an IQ upgrade, becoming their live-in mentor. Meanwhile, Bentley-23 is the clone son of Reed Richards' vicious enemy the Wizard. Likewise, the team has both Moloid (Tong, Korr, Mik and Turg) and Atlantean (Vii and Wu) , making the roster a tribute to Fantastic Four adventures past and future.
It would be easy to use the Fantastic Four to introduce Power Pack into movie canon...
Despite being younger than the Fantastic Four, the Future Foundation are also more morally dubious. Reed and Sue's daughter Valeria is one of the group's leaders, and combines Reed Richards' genius with Doctor Doom's moral flexibility. Likewise, Bentley-23 has complex feelings about his father's supervillain status, often pushing the limits of what Reed Richards will allow. The team have also had several dubious mentors, including Reed's father Nathaniel Richards and an older, more chaotic version of the Human Torch. Even Doctor Doom has been a member of the Future Foundation, during a period when Reed hoped the villain's genius could be used for good.
The Future Foundation are one of Marvel's most diverse and progressive teams, including one of Marvel's few transgender heroes in the Moloid Tong.
Fantastic Four: First Steps Is Making a Historic Comics Move, Paving a New Road for MCU Lore to Grow
Marvel's making history by releasing the first in-universe comic book starring The Fantastic Four: the first steps in a massive change for MCU canon.
Future Foundation Can Add Yet Another Team to MCU Continuity
This Is the Perfect Way to Debut Power Pack
One mentor for the Future Foundation who definitely isn't villainous is Alex Power - a young hero who can control gravity. Alex is a member of the Power Pack - a group of siblings who were granted powers by an alien visitor. The team are aimed at younger fans and were particularly popular during the '80s, though they've received many different series since and been a constant presence in Marvel lore.
With the MCU introducing the idea of the Future Foundation, it would be easy to use the Fantastic Four to springboard Power Pack into movie canon, since several of the family have been part of the Foundation. Power Pack includes:
- Alex Power's Zero-G, who can control gravity
- Julie Power's Lightspeed, who can fly at superspeed, leaving a rainbow trail
- Jack Power's Mass Master, who can control his own density and size
- Katie Power's Energizer, who can create powerful explosions
While the young heroes might not be able to their own movie, they'd be interesting to see in animation, and could end up being a valuable contribution to the live-action MCU in time - for example, Lightspeed recently ed the Avengers for the first time in the comics.
How the Fantastic Four Beat Galactus in the Original Marvel Comics (Can the MCU Pull the Same Trick?)
Galactus was originally introduced to be a new kind of villain - will the MCU keep what made his Fantastic Four debut so impactful?
The Fantastic Four Are About to Change the Face of the MCU
The First Family Weren't First, But They Still Matter
In the comics, the Fantastic Four often act as the bedrock of vital lore, having been the first heroes in the publisher's modern shared universe. Sadly, they didn't get the same honor in the movies, but they still have the potential to introduce a host of fresh ideas, from cosmic forces like Galactus to the Future Foundation itself. Hopefully, Marvel takes full advantage of the Future Foundation now that the concept has been introduced, as while Fantastic Four's early stories are great, the expanded universe surrounding the team has so much to offer fans.
Fantastic Four: First Steps #1 is coming July 2, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
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Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics' first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel's success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years, Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Director
- Matt Shakman
- Writers
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Tim Lewis
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / The Invisible Woman
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Ebon Moss-BachrachBen Grimm / The Thing
The Fantastic Four: First Steps depicts Marvel's First Family navigating their roles as heroes amidst a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. As they defend Earth from Galactus and the enigmatic Silver Surfer, they must also uphold the strength of their family bond.
