Natasha Lyonne’s Fantastic Four MCU Character Honors Comics Legend

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For a while now, there’s been speculation about the exact part that Natasha Lyonne would play in the upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Even after it was disclosed that she would portray an original Marvel Cinematic Universe character named Rachel Rozman, her role’s specifics remained a puzzle. This enigma persisted, even when it became clear that this character appears to be a discreet homage to an often overlooked figure in American comics.

The movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” pays homage to the team’s co-creator, Jack Kirby, in numerous ways. For instance, the story is set on Earth-828, which mirrors Kirby’s birthday, August 28th. Additionally, the film ends with a quote that Kirby once said: “If you examine my characters closely, you will find me. No matter what character you create or embody, a piece of yourself must always remain there.” Furthermore, the character Rachel Rozman might be a subtle nod to Jack Kirby’s wife, Roz Kirby.

Originally from New York City, Rosalind Goldstein resided in the same Brooklyn apartment building as Jack Kirby. Prior to marrying Jack in 1942, she honed her craft as a lingerie designer, which proved beneficial when it came to helping her spouse by ink-shading numerous comics. In addition to this collaboration, she joined forces with him on storylines for the comic book series Adventure Comics and World’s Finest Comics.

Who is Natasha Lyonne’s Fantastic Four MCU character, Rachel Rozman?

In the narrative of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Rachel Rozman plays a lesser yet significant role. Initially, she’s introduced as a teacher on Yancy Street, engaging in conversation with Ben Grimm during his playtime with her pupils. There’s an allure about this spirited woman that intrigues Ben. Nevertheless, he hesitates to approach her when he spots her departing from the local synagogue, afraid of being turned down. Later in the film, however, he musters up courage and visits the temple expressly to converse with Rachel.

In the iconic Fantastic Four comic books, it’s often shown that Ben Grimm, better known as The Thing, had a romantic connection with sculptor Alicia Masters. Prior to transforming into The Thing, he was engaged to a teacher named Debbie Green. However, due to concerns about her safety, he ended their engagement. It’s worth noting that Rachel Rozman seems to be a character inspired by Roz Kirby, much like how Ben Grimm was patterned after Jack Kirby in these comics.

Although Roz Goldstein didn’t hold the title of a teacher, her spirit bears striking similarities to the audacity often associated with Jack Kirby’s wife. Notably, Roz served as the inspiration for Big Barda, the fierce amazon from Apokolips who wed Mister Miracle in Kirby’s comics. Mark Evanier, one of Kirby’s assistants, reminisced about her protective nature during a eulogy after her death in 1997. In his words, “before any of us could defend Jack… before Jack himself could even speak up, there was Roz, rebuking the corporate bully more effectively than any of us.” This leads one to believe that the woman who captured Ben Grimm’s affections might have been inspired by the love of Jack Kirby’s life.

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2025-07-25 19:56