The Fantastic Four: First Steps officially hit theaters on July 25. Although set in an alternate reality (Earth-828), this blockbuster is sure to have a major impact on the Multiverse Era and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
In their MCU debut, Marvel’s first superhero family faces off against Galactus, the planet-eating cosmic threat and the greatest enemy they’ve encountered so far. Contrary to many fan theories, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm succeed in saving Earth and pushing back the “World Devourer.”
However, even after the credits roll, several mysteries about the film remain unresolved.
Why Does Galactus Want Franklin Richards?
At first, Galactus seems to target Earth randomly, guided by his herald Shalla-Bal’s search. But when the Fantastic Four board his ship to negotiate, he immediately senses the extraordinary power within Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s unborn son, Franklin Richards. Galactus offers a deal: trade the baby in exchange for Earth’s safety.
Naturally, the superhero family, who value “family” above all, refuses and flees to protect Franklin. Galactus loses interest in Earth itself and focuses entirely on the Richards’ firstborn.
In the MCU, Galactus’s origin differs from the comics. He is an ancient entity predating time on Earth-828. Once an ordinary man of normal size, he was cursed to consume planets to satisfy an endless hunger. This contrasts with the comics, where the hunger is a transferable curse.
Meanwhile, Franklin Richards possesses the Power Cosmic, meaning he can absorb Galactus’s insatiable hunger and might be the key to breaking the curse forever.
The Fantastic Four won’t let that happen. After failed negotiations and a botched plan to relocate Earth, they confront Galactus. Thanks to Sue Storm’s power, the planet eater is pushed to an unknown location, possibly even another timeline.
Unlocking Franklin Richards’s Power
Galactus sensed Franklin’s immense power the moment the Fantastic Four boarded his ship. Reed Richards repeatedly searched for signs of abnormalities during the pregnancy but found nothing definitive.
Galactus believes the child is hiding his true power from his father. Reed continues to monitor Franklin, hoping to detect something unusual. Franklin appears completely normal until his mother, Sue Storm, sacrifices herself after overusing her powers.
At that moment, Franklin touches his mother’s body and brings her back from death. Upon awakening, Sue’s eyes reflect the universe itself, revealing that her son’s abilities far exceed their imagination. Clearly, Franklin possesses extraordinary power despite being a child.
This closely follows the Marvel comics, where Franklin can rewrite reality, create universes, and control life and death. He hides his powers to avoid fear and scrutiny. His MCU abilities seem equally vast in scale and scope.
Why Did Shalla-Bal Betray Galactus?
Shalla-Bal serves as Galactus’s herald, tasked with finding planets for him to consume. When Johnny Storm learns her language, he discovers she once made a pact with Galactus to save her home planet.
However, serving Galactus tormented Shalla-Bal, burdened by guilt for destroying countless lives. So when Sue Storm reveals a chance to defeat Galactus, she chooses to betray her master and save Earth.
Silver Surfer’s fate after the film remains unclear. She may have escaped or could be captured and tortured by Galactus, as happened previously when she questioned him.
Doctor Doom Joins the MCU
The mid-credit scene takes place four years after the film’s events. While Sue Storm searches for a book to read to Franklin, Victor von Doom suddenly appears. He says nothing and immediately approaches the Richards’ son.
Notably, Marvel Studios does not reveal Doom’s face, despite earlier announcements that Robert Downey Jr. would play the role. This might be a cost-saving measure for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Previously, Robert earned $10 million for just eight minutes in Spider-Man: Homecoming, released eight years ago.
Some speculate the Doom in the mid-credit scene is not portrayed by Downey Jr. Marvel Studios seems to be preparing unexpected surprises for fans ahead of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, coming in 2026 and 2027.
The big question now is why the Fantastic Four head to Earth-616, as teased in the post-credit scene of Thunderbolts/New Avengers. The answer will likely unfold in future Marvel projects and may directly lead into the upcoming Doomsday event in the MCU.
Source: ScreenRant