10 Best Fantastic Four: First Steps Easter Eggs Only Eagle-Eyed Viewers Caught on Streaming

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We’re excited to introduce a fantastic new team and a completely fresh perspective in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This movie is set in a universe separate from the other MCU films, concentrating solely on Marvel’s first family and their rich history within the comics.

With acknowledgements to the people who first imagined them and nods to entire comic book arcs, The Fantastic Four: First Steps both celebrates the Fantastic Four’s past and delivers a fantastic movie for its fans. The film offers a new spin on superhero movies while staying true to the source material, including subtle references-or Easter Eggs-that dedicated viewers will appreciate.

Fantastic Four Mentions Great Names From The Team’s Rogues Gallery

The Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t a story about how the heroes got their powers, but the movie does begin by quickly reminding viewers of the famous origins of these superheroes. This opening also shows the team fighting some of their most well-known enemies.

Let’s start with Giganto, a massive monster who debuted in the very first Fantastic Four comic book. The film also briefly references the Mad Thinker and the Red Ghost, along with his Super-Apes (John Malkovich was originally cast as the Red Ghost, but those scenes didn’t make the final cut). Then there’s Mole Man, who served as the team’s initial major adversary within the Marvel universe. The movie also includes quick mentions of other villains like the Wizard, Diablo, and the Puppet Master. These are all well-known Fantastic Four foes who probably won’t ever get their own films, but they were acknowledged because of their importance to the team’s backstory.

The Movie References The Beatles

While not directly from Marvel comics, observant fans-particularly those who remember it-might have spotted a detail. When the Fantastic Four are on the Ted Gilbert Show, you can see arrows on the stage pointing at them. These arrows are the same as the ones used on stage during The Ed Sullivan Show appearance by the Beatles on February 9, 1964.

This isn’t a nod to Marvel, but it really highlights how dedicated the filmmakers were to building a realistic world rooted in the 1960s. The Ed Sullivan Show and The Beatles were hugely popular during that time. Given that the Fantastic Four were also cultural icons of the ’60s, it’s fitting that the movie draws so much inspiration from the decade.

There’s A Nod To WandaVision

A billboard in the background of The Fantastic Four: First Steps features a company called Westview Appliances. This is a subtle reference to the show WandaVision. In that series, Westview is the town that the Scarlet Witch isolates, and during the events of the Hex, a store named Westview Appliances also existed.

It’s difficult to say whether this reference will develop further or if it’s just a subtle connection to a minor detail from Earth-616. WandaVision and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are the only two Marvel Cinematic Universe projects that heavily focus on the theme of “family,” so the Westview Appliances could simply be a reminder of this, while also subtly hinting that the multiverse contains many similar, yet unique, elements.

Franklin Richards’ Fate May Be A Callback to the Comics

When asked about why he was interested in Franklin Richards, Galactus explained that Franklin is destined to take his place. Reed and, as the villain stated, are central to this. The comic books are a clear influence on this storyline. Specifically, on Earth-9997, also called Earth X, Reed Richards defeats Galactus by turning him into a star.

Following that, the High Evolutionary transforms Franklin, and he develops into the next Galactus, taking inspiration from the Silver Surfer. Viewers understand Franklin is destined for a significant part in the MCU’s future, and this could be how that happens. Since Galactus is distant from Earth-828, Franklin might mature into a similar danger.

Earth-828 References Jack Kirby

Currently, the MCU has officially identified fewer than six different Earths. The primary Earth was initially labeled Earth-199999, but is now recognized as Earth-616. We’ve also seen Earth-838, which is the reality featured in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Additionally, Deadpool and Wolverine takes place on Earth-10005, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set on Earth-828.

Initially, the use of ‘818’ as a name seemed unnecessary, but the film’s final scene reveals it’s a direct reference to August 28th – the birthday of Jack Kirby. Kirby, who co-created the Fantastic Four with Stan Lee in 1961, brought countless Marvel characters to life, so this is a fitting tribute to him in the movie.

The First Ever Fantastic Four Got A Cameo

Most people are aware that the Fantastic Four had movies released in 2005 and 2015. But few casual fans recall the 1994 film that was never actually shown in theaters. The Fantastic Four: First Steps pays tribute to the original cast by featuring cameos from the actors who first portrayed Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben in the films, well before Marvel became widely popular.

Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith all appear together in a scene, waving and thanking viewers as “Thank you, Fantastic Four.” In the story, Bailey Smith and Underwood play power plant workers saved by the Human Torch, and Hyde-White and Staab are reporters shown on television screens. Despite being the original actors to portray these characters, Marvel largely overlooked them for years, but the MCU finally gave them the recognition they deserved.

Stan Lee Gets A Shout Out Too

During the Ted Gilbert Show segment, we learn that the Fantastic Four gained their abilities during a space voyage aboard a ship called the Excelsior. Interestingly, in the original comic books, the ship was known as The Marvel-1. Excelsior is actually .

He famously used it when signing autographs, his “Marvel Bullpen Bulletins“, and the well-known “Stan’s Soapbox“. The word “Excelsior” means “ever upward,” which perfectly captures the spirit of such an inspirational figure as the head of Marvel. Even after his death in 2018, Stan Lee’s legacy continues within the MCU, shown through thoughtful details like this.

Both Creators Work At Timely Comics In The Film

It’s a very quick reference, but when the Silver Surfer initially appears on Earth, two men are watching her from the window of their art studio. They appear to be comic book artists, as the studio is filled with drawings and drawing boards. Sharp-eyed viewers have noted that one of the comic pages says “Timely Comics,” and there’s also a cover of the actual 1961 comic “Oog Lives Again!”, which originally appeared in Tales of Suspense #27.

All the evidence suggests that the two artists involved were Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, who were working at Timely Comics when it was first established. Given that the Fantastic Four also appear in a cartoon series within the movie, it’s reasonable to believe they had their own comic books published by Timely Comics as well. It seems likely that this company will eventually evolve into Marvel within the established Marvel Universe that fans are familiar with.

Galactus Debuted Four Years After The Fantastic Four

On the Ted Gilbert Show, the host explained that the Fantastic Four had been working as a superhero team for four years by the time the movie took place. In the comic books, Galactus first appeared in Fantastic Four issue #48. Because this comic came out monthly, that means the Fantastic Four battled the Devourer of Worlds four years after they received their powers.

It’s a minor detail that doesn’t really impact the movie, but it shows how dedicated the filmmakers were to staying true to the source material. Considering the previous two adaptations weren’t successful, this is a really appreciated and smart Easter egg.

The Movie Referenced Doctor Doom Before His Actual Cameo

Viewers were thrilled by the post-credit scene in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which showed Doctor Doom talking with Franklin Richards. But observant fans spotted a key hint about the villain much earlier in the film. During the scene at the United Nations, an empty chair labeled Latveria can be seen, displaying a distinctly recognizable green flag.

Latveria is the home country of Doctor Doom. He is, in fact, the ruler of this secluded nation, which possesses remarkably advanced technology but chooses to remain separate from the global community. Prior to The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Latveria hadn’t been featured in the MCU, leading fans to speculate whether it also exists within the primary Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline, Earth-616.

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2025-09-30 02:10