Summary
- Secret Wars #1-9 by Jonathan Hickman showcases an epic showdown with vast implications for the multiverse.
- FF #1-11 delves into grief, growth, and unexpected partnerships within the Future Foundation, an essential read.
- Fantastic Four #48-50 unveils Galactus and Silver Surfer, shaping Marvel's cosmic stories and cinematic universe.
Known as one of the best superhero teams in comics, the Fantastic Four broke new ground in its era with its diverse members and deep story themes, such as family, sacrifice, and acceptance, becoming one of the fans’ most beloved tales. It did not take long for the heroes to be adapted for television and to become one of the most anticipated figures in the MCU.
With the team’s arrival in the MCU, the best Fantastic Four comics to read before the movie become essential, both to learn more about its heroes and their threats and about its universe, which opened doors for many key events in Marvel. Thus, the comics give fans more immersion when watching Fantastic Four: First Steps.
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10 Secret Wars #1-9
This Issue Delivers One Of Marvel’s Greatest Showdowns
- Release year: 2015
- Writer: Jonathan Hickman
With the death of the multiverse, the Fantastic Four must gather unlikely allies, ranging from cosmic champions to former enemies, in one of Marvel’s most ambitious events. Its shocking finale shows Victor von Doom reshaping all existence in his own image, while Reed Richards stands powerless, stripped even of his wife and children by the arrogant despot, as entire realities crumble around them.
In one of Marvel’s most memorable exchanges, writer Jonathan Hickman lets Mister Fantastic and Doctor Doom pause their rivalry long enough to rebuild the multiverse together, proving brains can do what fists cannot. The resulting victory flows not from raw force but from steadfast hope and the bond of family, an emotional note that previews the heart of the upcoming MCU feature.
9 FF #1-11
One Of The Most Famous Hero Foundations Appears In This Comic
- Release year: 2011
- Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Cited as early as the trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps, the Future Foundation, an ambitious think-tank of young geniuses, receives full focus in one of the team’s most layered comics. Within FF, the Fantastic Four no longer exists after Jonathan Storm’s tragic death, prompting Reed Richards to assemble a replacement squad capable of confronting looming intergalactic threats with fresh ideas and courage.
This comic is required reading for the film adaptation, as even the team’s arch-enemy, Victor von Doom, accepts an unprecedented invitation to join the fledgling think-tank. Its narrative explores grief and growth in equal measure, spotlighting characters who push past sorrow to safeguard Earth and the cosmos through bold inventions, constructive debate, dizzying high-concept science, inspired solidarity, and unexpected partnerships.
8 Fantastic Four #583-588
One Of The Marvel Quartet’s Most Memorable Losses
- Release year: 2010
- Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Portraying one of Marvel’s most impactful deaths, Fantastic Four #583-588 examines the far-reaching sacrifices the quartet makes to keep both Earth and the wider galaxy safe from annihilation. Its layered storytelling contrasts Ben Grimm’s lingering humanity inside his rock-like shell with a relentless assault erupting from the Negative Zone, tests every bond within the team, and sets the stage for an emotional turning point that still resonates with readers.
As one of the team’s most unforgettable arcs, the story is vital for grasping the depth of their relationships, their cosmic responsibilities, and the physical and emotional limits of each hero. Jonathan Storm, often painted as carefree, ultimately chooses to lay down his life without hesitation for the greater good under extreme pressure, highlighting the core ideals that drive the franchise.
7 Fantastic Four #570-572
In This Marvel Comic, The Team Leader Gains New Layers
- Release year: 2009
- Writer: Jonathan Hickman
With the multiverse as a central theme, Fantastic Four #570 tells one of the darkest and most profound tales about the leader of Marvel’s hero team. Determined to solve every problem on Earth, Reed Richards travels across the multiverse and meets other versions of himself. In doing so, Mister Fantastic receives one of his greatest bouts of character growth.
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The narrative centers on a crucial dilemma for the Fantastic Four’s leader, forcing Mister Fantastic to confront the limits of his own intellectual arrogance so he does not lose the wife, children, and friends he holds dear. Through this lens, readers dig deep into the psychological and emotional makeup of one of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, an exploration that makes his actions in Fantastic Four: First Steps easier to understand and accept.
6 Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #67-70 & #500
It Is Through Their Suffering That Marvel’s Hero Team Grows
- Release year: 2003
- Writer: Mark Waid
Considered one of the best Fantastic Four stories, this comic is decisive for watching the MCU film. After numerous scientific defeats, Victor von Doom embraces his mystical side and attacks the quartet brutally, kidnapping Reed and Sue’s children and confronting them with physical and mental assaults that leave the family extremely vulnerable in a harrowing sequence that still shocks readers today.
The work not only explores its villain but also intensifies the team’s layers, pushing them to embrace their abilities and deploy them to safeguard their most precious treasure: family. In doing so, each member reaches peak character growth, making the Marvel comic a bona fide masterpiece for longtime followers and newcomers alike, thanks to Waid’s sharp writing and emotional stakes that redefine the series.
5 Fantastic Four #262
One Of The Team’s Most Tense Conflicts Is Explored In This Marvel Comic
- Release year: 1984
- Writer: John Byrne
Depicting one of the darkest Fantastic Four stories, this comic is essential for understanding the nature of the team’s leader. After Galactus devours the Skrulls’ homeworld, Mister Fantastic is captured and taken to stand before an intergalactic court to answer for the consequences of his choices, a trial that pits cosmic law against compassionate pragmatism and forces countless interstellar observers to decide whether saving a planet-eating god was justifiable.
In a universe that deeply develops its heroes, like the MCU, this reading is mandatory to grasp how the Fantastic Four handle threats and the fallout of their battles, with a spotlight on Reed Richards. With Galactus set to appear in Fantastic Four: First Steps, the storyline’s exploration of accountability becomes even more relevant for modern moviegoers eager to see cosmic ethics on screen.
4 Fantastic Four #45-47
Marvel’s Universe Expansion Is Frequent In The Quartet’s Comics
- Release year: 1965
- Writer: Stan Lee
Introducing the Inhumans, Fantastic Four #45-47 is one of the must-read issues for any Marvel follower. When Jonathan Storm falls for the red-haired, super-powered Crystal, the quartet stumbles upon a hidden society whose staggering abilities trigger diplomatic crises, compelling the heroes to serve as Earth’s ambassadors in a tense, far-reaching storyline.
This narrative rhythm repeats in later tales led by the Fantastic Four, where they unveil Wakanda’s high-tech kingdom and reveal the existence of shape-shifting alien empires like the Kree. Consequently, the quartet becomes responsible for broadening Marvel’s cosmos across numerous comics, establishing first-contact protocols, bridging cultural gaps, and setting a precedent that Fantastic Four: First Steps can translate into breathtaking cinematic exploration on screen.
3 Fantastic Four #51
The Work Delves Into The History Of One Of Marvel’s Greatest Heroes
- Release year: 1966
- Writer: Stan Lee
The epic conclusion of the Galactus trilogy arrives in Fantastic Four #51, making its reading essential for the MCU’s Fantastic Four film. Focus centers on Ben Grimm, who loses his powers and tries to live a normal life, while a vengeful scientist targets Mister Fantastic by hijacking The Thing’s form, assuming the hero’s identity, and sowing distrust within the team.
Exploring sensitive, profound themes like family and sacrifice, the issue balances super-powered spectacle with equal attention to emotional and psychological stakes. By spotlighting one of Marvel’s most emblematic heroes, it provides an ideal entry point for viewers to connect more deeply with The Thing before stepping into the movie theater and appreciating the cost of heroism he constantly shoulders through decades of heartbreaking storylines.
2 Fantastic Four #48-50
One Of Marvel’s Best Villains Is Introduced In This Quartet Story
- Release year: 1966
- Writer: Jack Kirby
With its universe reaching into the cosmos, Fantastic Four #48-50 unveils the villain of Fantastic Four: First Steps in Marvel comics. Known as the Galactus trilogy, the arc introduces not only the destroyer of worlds but also one of comicdom’s most iconic characters, the Silver Surfer, propelling the quartet into battle against an invincible entity that threatens every life in the galaxy.
Its plot’s similarity to Fantastic Four: First Steps makes the trilogy compulsory reading before visiting theaters, as the story broadens Marvel’s classic rogues’ gallery with an intergalactic menace. That precedent later shaped myriad comics and, eventually, the MCU itself, evidenced by the success of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and Captain Marvel, which proved audiences embrace cosmic stakes on the big screen worldwide.
1 Fantastic Four #1
Exploring Its Origin, This Edition Is Mandatory For The MCU Movie
- Release year: 1961
- Writer: Stan Lee
Revolutionizing comic-book storytelling, the 1961 debut Fantastic Four #1 is essential for understanding the plot of the MCU’s Fantastic Four: First Steps. Its iconic cover showcases the quartet in civilian clothes alongside fantastic elements, namely Human Torch and The Thing, in a well-staged action scene that defined a new era for Marvel’s growing superhero lineup and captured readers’ imaginations worldwide for decades to come.
The narrative highlights the dynamics of Marvel’s most iconic superheroes as they confront Mole Man. Flashbacks detail the origin of their abilities and the fallout of their spaceflight, revealing how each member copes with newly gained powers and underscoring why this creative debut remains the best entry point for meeting the Fantastic Four for readers of any generation before the team’s silver-screen rebirth.
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
- Director
- Matt Shakman
Cast
-
Pedro PascalReed Richards / Mister Fantastic -
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / Invisible Woman
WHERE TO WATCH
- Main Genre
- Action
- Studio(s)
- Marvel Studios
