Marvel redeems itself with 2025 releases

Fantastic Four 2025 has made $382 million so far, which is encouraging because the film exceeded expectations.

After four terrible live-action adaptations from 20th Century Fox, Marvel had a lot to prove. The company originated this comic book franchise. If anyone could concoct a serviceable adaptation of Marvel’s most iconic family of superheroes, it was them.

Fantastic Four 2025 and Superman 2025 are surprisingly similar in the sense that both films embrace their comic book origins in ways we have not seen in the genre. However, Superman 2025 did absolutely nothing for me, whereas Fantastic Four 2025 worked.

The team dynamics are refreshing. Every protagonist is a fully fleshed-out character with clear motives and a function, Johnny included. Gone is the Playboy from the old films. Marvel made him a competent scientist with a proper character arc.

Then, you don’t see any of the pointless and cringe-inducing infighting that most team-based stories use to create tension and drama. The exaggerated and highly irrational personalities we see in so many superhero films are absent here.

I have not even touched on the incredible production values, flawless CGI, and larger-than-life villains. Adaptations such as Fantastic Four 2025 are fascinating because they ignite curiosity about the source material, which raises a question: If you loved Fantastic Four 2025 as much as I did, and don’t want to wait for Avengers: Doomsday to see Marvel’s first family again, what next?

Where else can you dip your toes into all things Fantastic Four? The comics are the obvious answer. Fantastic Four was first published in 1961, which gives you over six decades of comics to choose from.

Finding a starting point is easier said than done. Fortunately, comics don’t run continuously. You get short eras in which specific author/ artist teams are assigned to a particular book.

Once their story runs its course, they exit, paving the way for a new team to wow audiences with their unique take on the comic and its characters. So, where can you go next to get your Fantastic Four fix?

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original run is somewhat unconventional, particularly for beginners, because the art and storytelling style are dated. However, the 102-issue run shows you where this franchise began.

Lee and Kirby built the Marvel Universe we know today during those 102 issues, introducing Galactus, The Silver Surfer, Black Panther, The Inhumans, and more.

Also, the novelty of 1960s art and dialogue may appeal to you. Jumping to modern times, Jonathan Hickman’s run is often praised for not only reworking the Fantastic Four mythology readers had known for years but also expanding it.

Longtime comic book readers do not like Chris Claremont’s 1998 run, criticizing the author for his annoying characters and inability to utilize vital team members. That said, new readers may appreciate the family dynamics in his stories.

Also, Claremont’s run introduced Valeria (Reed and Sue’s daughter), who became a staple of the Fantastic Four cast. The Trial of Reed Richards by John Byrne placed Reed on trial for his decision to spare Galactus’ life.

In exploring the role and purpose of Galactus, Bryne adds new textures to Marvel’s universe. Mark Waid wrote a Doom-focused story in the late 1990s in which Victor renounced technology in favour of the supernatural, allowing the franchise to delve into stories of a more fantastical nature.

Ryan North wrote a story in 2022 where a series of asteroids threatened to destroy the world. The story takes an interesting turn once Franklin Richards enters the picture. Lee and Kirby’s run alone could easily take you months to complete, which sounds intimidating.

Ultimately, if you are having a good time, you will appreciate the extensive list of issues waiting in your future. And if you are bored, you can just skip to a different author.

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