Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four: First Steps has earned critical acclaim with an 87% Rotten Tomatoes score and over $521 million worldwide box office, but like any cosmic MCU adventure involving reality-warping babies and planet-eating gods, it’s sparked burning questions from fans. Having spent years covering Marvel’s cosmic stories and diving deep into Galactus lore since Jack Kirby first unleashed him in 1966, I’ve got to say – most of these apparent “plot holes” in Fantastic Four: First Steps actually make more sense than you’d think.
I wanted to tackle these concerns with the deeper comic book context that explains why many of these story choices aren’t just defensible – they’re downright clever.
Why Didn’t Galactus Just Teleport Franklin Richards? The Real Answer
The most common question about Fantastic Four: First Steps is why Galactus didn’t simply beam Franklin Richards up to his ship instead of personally descending to Times Square like some cosmic kaiju. Having followed Galactus stories since the original “Galactus Trilogy” in Fantastic Four #48-50, this question misses something crucial about who Galactus is in Marvel Comics.
The Power Cosmic Explained: In the comics, Galactus possesses vast telekinetic abilities through the Power Cosmic, which allows him to “teleport objects up to entire galaxies across space and time.” So yes, he theoretically could have teleported Franklin. But here’s what makes the movie’s choice brilliant:
Galactus has waited eons for a suitable replacement, and “given his cosmic nature, many have claimed that Galactus is part of the fabric of reality and must exist for everything to continue functioning.” This isn’t just hunger – it’s cosmic succession planning. After billions of years, would you trust a tractor beam with the most important acquisition of your existence?
What struck me about this choice is how it reflects Galactus’ comic book psychology. As someone who “spent thousands upon thousands of years evolving into his current form,” Galactus operates on cosmic timescales where personal involvement in crucial moments isn’t rushed – it’s methodical. The film actually nails his character: an immortal being who treats universe-shaping events with the patience they deserve.
Does the Science in Fantastic Four: First Steps Actually Work?
One area where First Steps deserves credit is its handling of relativistic physics near the black hole. The time dilation effects during the Silver Surfer chase sequence sparked numerous fan questions, but the movie’s internal logic holds up better than most superhero films attempt.
The Black Hole Physics: When Silver Surfer gets pulled toward the black hole, months pass on Earth while she experiences only minutes – classic time dilation. The film’s $200 million budget clearly went into making sure these cosmic sequences felt grounded in real science, even when dealing with Power Cosmic-enhanced beings.
The trickier question is how the Fantastic Four returned home so quickly without their FTL ring. Even traveling at near-light speed from Alpha Centauri would take over four years. But honestly? This is a universe where Franklin Richards can “create pocket universes from scratch” and “manipulate the four fundamental forces of the universe on a potentially cosmic scale.” Maybe baby Franklin unconsciously helped them get home faster than physics should allow.
What Are Franklin Richards’ Powers in Fantastic Four: First Steps?
Here’s where the movie gets really interesting from a comic book perspective. Franklin Richards, now going by “Powerhouse” in recent comics, “possesses reality-warping abilities that place him beyond omega-level mutant classification” and has even been described as having “abilities that surpass even the Celestials.
Why Galactus Wanted Franklin Richards: The movie shows Franklin reviving Sue Storm after her apparent death, with her eyes lighting up with cosmic energy. In the comics, Franklin has demonstrated the ability to “restore life” and his “future self helped revive Galactus by restoring his essence.” This isn’t just powerful – it’s Celestial-level creation ability.
What I love about the MCU’s take is how it grounds Franklin’s powers in family protection rather than cosmic destruction. In comic continuity, “when no one else could stop them, Future Franklin returned and teamed up with Galactus to destroy the Celestials, saving the universe again.” The movie sets up that same cosmic potential while keeping him relatably human.
Why Is Shalla-Bal the Silver Surfer Instead of Norrin Radd?
Marvel’s decision to make Shalla-Bal the Silver Surfer instead of Norrin Radd “isn’t just gender-swapping for the sake of diversity – it’s a logical progression that honors the spirit of the source material.” Having read decades of Silver Surfer stories, this change actually improves the emotional stakes.
The Comic Book Origins: Norrin Radd was “born on the planet Zenn-La, part of an extremely long-lived and technologically advanced humanoid race” and “offered to become his herald and seek out new worlds for him in exchange for Galactus sparing Zenn-La.” Shalla-Bal was traditionally “the love interest of Norrin Radd” who later became “Empress of the rejuvenated Zenn-La.
By making Shalla-Bal the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: First Steps, the movie eliminates the somewhat problematic aspect of Norrin’s original bargain – he saved one world while dooming countless others. As Empress, “her decision to make a deal with Galactus feels more grounded in the duty of a ruler protecting her people, which not only makes her more relatable but adds greater thematic heft.”
How Does the Retro-Future Setting Work in the MCU?
The film’s “1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world” isn’t just aesthetic choice – it’s storytelling genius. This setting explains why there’s no S.H.I.E.L.D., no other heroes, and why Reed would be naive enough to broadcast Galactus’ intentions to the world.
The Optimistic Context: In this timeline, the “Future Foundation got the entire world to agree to disarm, so Earth is now a utopia.” Reed’s decision to share everything publicly makes sense in a world without the cynicism and paranoia of our modern Marvel universe. It’s a brilliant way to isolate the Fantastic Four story while maintaining the MCU’s interconnected feel.
Is Galactus Too Weak in Fantastic Four: First Steps?
One frequent complaint is that Galactus seems “nerfed” compared to his comic book incarnation. But this misunderstands what makes Galactus terrifying in Marvel Comics. In the comics, “the energy demands of his vast size and power can only be met by consuming planets” and he “eats planets not out of malicious intent or a desire for power but simply because he hungers.”
The Cosmic Horror Approach: The movie treats Galactus less like a supervillain and more like a force of nature – which is exactly what he should be. He “serves as a corrective force in the Marvel Universe, helping achieve cosmic order and balance with the worlds he destroys.” Making him a Godzilla-sized threat instead of a galaxy-spanning god actually makes him more visceral and threatening to audiences.
What Does Fantastic Four: First Steps Mean for the MCU’s Future?
Having covered cosmic Marvel stories for years, I’m impressed by how First Steps captures the essential weirdness of these characters while making them emotionally accessible. The film has “officially overtaken Ant-Man among Walt Disney Studios’ all-time highest-grossing theatrical releases,” proving audiences are hungry for this kind of cosmic storytelling.
The Family Dynamic: What separates Fantastic Four from other superhero teams is that family bond, and the movie nails this. Franklin’s powers manifesting to protect his mother, Reed’s willingness to sacrifice himself for his family, Sue’s fierce maternal instincts – these aren’t just superhero moments, they’re family moments that happen to involve cosmic powers.
The Bigger Picture: Setting Up Marvel’s Cosmic Future
Franklin’s MCU introduction “positions him as a key player in upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars events.” The movie’s apparent “plot holes” are actually careful setup for Marvel’s next phase of storytelling.
The Galactus Problem: With Galactus now millions of years away but certain to return, the MCU has time to develop Franklin’s powers gradually. In the comics, Franklin’s abilities include “the creation of entirely new universes” and “cosmic awareness and future sight, allowing him to perceive threats long before they occur.”
The post-credits scene with Doom discovering Franklin’s existence isn’t just a tease – it’s the foundation for Marvel’s cosmic expansion. Franklin “offers something new” as “a character who can anchor entire cosmic sagas for decades, or even centuries.”
Why These Fantastic Four “Plot Holes” Don’t Actually Matter
After years of covering superhero movies, I’ve learned that the best cosmic stories work on emotional logic rather than scientific precision. Fantastic Four: First Steps succeeds because it understands that Galactus isn’t really about physics – he’s about family, sacrifice, and the question of whether love can overcome cosmic inevitability.
The movie’s supposed “plot holes” are mostly fans trying to apply Earth-logic to cosmic-scale storytelling. When you’re dealing with reality-warping babies and planet-eating gods, sometimes the most logical explanation is that normal logic doesn’t apply.
The Real Test: Does the story serve the characters and themes? Absolutely. Reed’s intelligence, Sue’s strength, Johnny’s growth, Ben’s loyalty, and Franklin’s potential all shine through. The cosmic spectacle supports the family drama instead of overwhelming it.
How Does Fantastic Four: First Steps Set Up Secret Wars?
With Fantastic Four: First Steps earning $521 million worldwide and positive critical reception, Marvel has successfully launched their cosmic expansion. The foundation is set for stories that will make the Infinity Saga look small by comparison.
What excites me most is how the movie balances cosmic scope with human stakes. Franklin Richards isn’t just the most powerful being in the universe – he’s also a baby who just wants his family safe. That’s the kind of storytelling that will carry Marvel’s cosmic phase.
The apparent “plot holes” in Fantastic Four: First Steps aren’t flaws – they’re features. They’re the inevitable result of trying to fit cosmic-scale storytelling into human-sized emotions. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What questions about Fantastic Four: First Steps have been bothering you? The cosmic Marvel universe only gets weirder from here, and I can’t wait to see where these characters take us next.