Via Deadline, Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios have announced a Fantastic Four: First Steps tie-in comic, written by former Fantastic Four & FF scribe Matt Fraction, with art by Mark Buckingham (Fables). Releasing ahead of the movie this July, the one-shot comic will depict the origin story of the movie’s heroes, in the style of a book released in-universe by its version of the Future Foundation.
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!
The comic marks the first tie-in Marvel Comics has produced for the MCU since 2020’s Black Widow Prelude. Marvel Comics editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski stated, “As Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four and their stories have always been at the very center of the Marvel Universe. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming later this summer, we at Marvel all felt this was the perfect opportunity to bring our teams together in honor of their legacy in both the world of the film and within our comics. It’s been a blast to have our teams in Publishing and Studios bounce ideas back and forth to create something truly special and one-of-a-kind, and we can’t wait for fans to be able to dive in to this comic — squarely in the world of the MCU — and experience the Fantastic Four like we’ve never seen before this summer.”
He adds, “The heart of Marvel has always stemmed from the comics, and Kevin [Feige] and the team have been bringing those pages to life in extraordinary ways with each and every film. With this comic, we’re bringing those two worlds together in a way we think fans will love.” Fraction himself stayed in-character for the press release, channeling Stan Lee by saying, “What an honor to be asked to help celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Fantastic Four! It was a thrill to bring their first legendary adventure to the world of comic books for the first time! It’s a story we all know by heart, but I think Magic Mark Buckingham and I have found a way to tell it as you’ve never heard or seen before — and who knows, this could be the start of something big!”
Buckingham is not quoted in the exclusive or press release, but given his strong affinity for Jack Kirby‘s artwork, we can definitely expect his pencils to channel the King’s energy for this universe’s version of the Fantastic Four. Per Deadline, he and Fraction got to spend time on the film’s set as part of the renewed collaboration between both Marvel companies. His previous stories with the First Family include 2003’s Fantastic Four #65-66, and 2019’s Wedding Special, while his upcoming ones include June’s Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man, and Fantastic Four Fanfare #2.
Fantastic Four: First Steps will follow all of the aforementioned books into theaters on July 25.
