Marvel Reveals the Team's New Origin Ahead of Fantastic Four: First Steps

The following contains spoilers for Fantastic Four: First Steps #1, on sale next week from Marvel Comics.

As we prepare ourselves for the release of the very first Marvel Studios' production of the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel is doing a fascinating comic book experiment to tie in with the movie. Rather than adapting the movie itself, Marvel is producing Fantastic Four: First Steps #1, a comic book designed as if it was an officially licensed comic book from WITHIN the continuity of the upcoming film! CBR has an exclusive look at the comic set within the world of the upcoming film!

Fantastic Four: First Steps #1 is from writer Matt Fraction, artist Mark Buckingham, colorist Alex Sinclair, and letterer Joe Caramagna, and gives us the first glimpse at the new origin of the Fantastic Four within this universe's continuity.

FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS #1

MATT FRACTION (W) • MARK BUCKINGHAM (A)

FROM THE WORLD OF THE UPCOMING FILM, AS AUTHORIZED BY THE FUTURE FOUNDATION!

Four years ago, the world was transformed as an amazing cosmic-powered quartet revealed themselves and their astonishing abilities to the public! Since that time, they have become world-famous as the Fantastic Four! Now, to celebrate that anniversary, Marvel Comics recounts their very first exploit that saved our city from near destruction!

MATT FRACTION and MARK BUCKINGHAM bring you this all-new adventure marking the moment that all of history changed!

Comic · 32 pages · $4.99

In the preview pages, we see that the Fantastic Four's origin in this continuity is that they were on an official government mission, one that was publicized, and included a visit to the White House to meet with John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, thus firmly establishing the timeline as being in the 1960s of this alternate universe (and not just a world that LOOKED like the 1960s in the United States). This "stellar mission" went awry when they were hit by cosmic rays that transformed them into the Fantastic Four.

However, we then follow the team to their quarantine period, where they are forced to remain isolated until it is clear that the cosmic radiation that gave them their fantastic powers isn't contagious. We see Johnny and Ben argue for the first time, and Reed and Sue still getting to know each other (in this world, they appear to have started the mission as just colleagues, not sweethearts). Fraction cleverly interjects quotes from various fictional interviews by the members of the team.

In the end, though, while in quarantine, we see that Sue discovers that there is a problem in Manhattan, and she compels the others to help her do something about it, thus leading to the team's debut as a superhero team. To see what happens next, you'll have to pick up a copy of Fantastic Four: First Steps #1 next week!

Source: Marvel