The Fantastic Four: First Steps Prequel Ties Marvel Villain to MCU Team’s Origin

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The movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t spend much time showing how the team got its start, quickly moving into the adventure after a quick explanation of their powers. Now, a new comic book series is diving into that backstory and connecting it to a well-known Marvel villain.

Besides the Mole Man, the movie Fantastic Four: First Steps didn’t feature any of the team’s usual enemies as main characters. However, it included subtle hints – or ‘Easter eggs’ – referencing several of their villains, like a brief clip resembling the intro to the old cartoon series after the credits. A few villains were also simply named within the movie.

The comic book Fantastic Four: First Foes actually introduced one of the team’s most famous enemies. Interestingly, a sneak peek at the issue shows that this villain’s backstory has a surprising twist.

What villain is tied to the Fantastic Four’s MCU origins?

The villain known as the Mad Thinker has a different backstory in the Marvel Cinematic Universe compared to his original appearance in the Fantastic Four comics. In the comics, he started as a typical criminal genius who worried the Fantastic Four would foil his plans. Eventually, he became envious of Reed Richards’ intelligence and tried to prove he was the smarter scientist.

In this role, he’s depicted as Reed Richards’ old math teacher and the person in charge of mission control during the Excelsior launch. His intelligence is crucial in guiding the Fantastic Four back to Earth after they’re caught in a dangerous cosmic storm. We also see hints of his future arrogance, as he bristles at being compared to Reed Richards, even with praise.

The main cover and first four pages of Fantastic Four: First Foes #1 may be viewed below.

Fantastic Four: First Foes #1 arrives in comic shops on March 25, 2026.

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2026-03-20 23:46