Fantastic Four First Steps: A Reflection on Heroes and Hope

Written by Caleb Thomas

Anyone who knows me knows that after home and church, the next place I’m most-

likely at is AMC. Especially during Summer which is always packed with new movie releases, you’ll find me at the theater at least once or twice per week. Beyond myself, students are on summer break and people expect annual summer blockbusters to captivate their imagination in a way that only movies can. Studio’s understand our expectations so they pack the release calendar with crowd-friendly movies and deploy millions of dollars in marketing to draw the largest audience possible. 

Because the emphasis of the summer release schedule is about getting “butts in seats”; often the highest-grossing movies are family-friendly-flicks with bright colors that leave you feeling uplifted (ex. Lilo & Stitch - 2025, Inside Out 2 - 2024, Barbie - 2023). It’s with this expectation that I walked into the theater to watch The Fantastic Four: First Steps last week. 

For anyone who has watched a Marvel movie in the last 6 years, you know that you’re likely not getting a movie with as much quality as you did before 2020. The dearth of compelling stories in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been noticed, and Marvel is

launching a renewed line of stories in a series of films known as Phase 6, beginning

with the most recent Fantastic Four movie. 

In my opinion, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a good, not great movie with several great themes that are worthy of digesting. It is also instantly distinct from the existing Marvel movie canon. Set in an alternative universe on Earth 828, for the viewer Fantastic Four begins without an established canon or history. The visual style is reminiscent of mid-20th century America featuring classic cars, retro televisions, and a sense of post WW2 optimism that defines the film. The biggest problem with this sleek version of Earth outlined in brilliant blues and purples seems to be the intermittent outbursts of your run-of-the-mill supervillains. 

Despite being set in a separate version of Earth, viewers are reminded of a time in the

US where we struggled with racial inequality and a rising fear of nuclear war. Instead of

grappling with these threats, it seems that the Fantastic Four led by their chief scientist

Reed Richards and chief diplomat Sue Storm have all but squashed any problems that

may seem familiar to us. Instead, the principle foe of the film comes from outer-space

when the planet-eating Galactus, heralded by the Silver Surfer, arrives to literally devour

Earth 828. 

In film language, this planetary threat has a clear connection to modern climate change. The leaders of Earth must band together to defeat this single foe or risk total planetary annihilation. This planetary alliance is formed despite the birth of a miracle-child who in the beginning of the film, has the opportunity to be the sacrifice who spares the world from destruction. For believers, we see the obvious parallel to Jesus Christ. For the Fantastic Four, understandably offering the baby is not in question. Instead, action is then demanded from The Fantastic Four to mobilize the world’s leaders to unite for the common good. 

In our own world, the effort to combat climate change has been one that many nations disagree on and there exists no international unity. The world of the Fantastic Four offers a hopeful, if simplistic view of international cooperation. Nations must sacrifice if they are to stand a chance against their world-ending threat. 

The values of unity, cooperation, and sacrificing for the common good are righteous values for all people. When we look at the bible we see examples of such values when the Hebrews were building and rebuilding the temple, in the early church of Acts, and in the life of Jesus. The difference between the takeaways for the christian and the non- christian viewer of Fantastic Four comes down to the primacy of these values over something else. 

For many non-christian viewers, these values are the primary pathway to improving our world. Especially in our modern climate ripe with political polarization, themes of unity, cooperation, and sacrifice offer hope for many. If we are to make our world a better place, surely it will be through values such as these. The problem with putting our hope in these values of unity, cooperation, and sacrifice is that when we do, we’re simply putting our hope in our own strength. 

The thought behind this hope is that by working hard to be our best selves, we can overcome the problems we’ve created. Sometimes this is the case, and we certainly are called by God to be faithful workers in the spaces we operate, whether local, national, or international. But even as good as these values are, if the chief hope of mankind is for unity, cooperation, and sacrifice, that’s not good enough. There exists something bigger, something deeper that mankind longs for whether we know it or not.

For the christian viewer, the pathway to improving our world is not through any value or effort, but through a person. As humans, we are familiar with superhero stories like Fantastic Four, and the hero archetype presented in the film fills the hole we have in our hearts, the need for a personal savior. Even with this film’s hope in the strength of mankind, after the whole of Earth’s leaders unite to defeat Galactus, their efforts are not enough and they are in need of saving by the Fantastic Four. Thus this newest Fantastic Four movie is another in a long line of hero-stories that reminds us that we are hard-wired to long for a savior. 

When we are presented with messages that encourage us to place our hope in our own efforts, we are misled from the truth that the only object worthy of our hope is Jesus. As Paul writes, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” - 1 Timothy 4:8-10

Our hope is in the living God, and not our own efforts. This truth is backed throughout scripture, especially when we read verses such as: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,” - 1 Peter 1:3-4

Understanding that our hope is in Jesus and not in our efforts, noble as they may be, watching The Fantastic Four: First Steps draws a clear contrast between where the world puts its hope and where believers put our hope. Do not be mistaken, Fantastic Four is a hopeful movie! That is what people will walk away thinking after they see it. But because we know of man’s sinful nature and that ultimately, we cannot earn our own salvation, we can see the shortcoming of putting our hope in our own actions.This may seem like a disparaging statement, but when we’re reminded of God’s character, we can rest assured that he is a worthy source of our hope and praise. In scripture we see that: “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” - 1 Chronicles 29:11 “Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.” - Psalm 130:7

Ever since the fall, our world has longed for a hero. Epic poems throughout history have told of mighty individuals like Gilgamesh, Hercules, or Beowulf who overcome incredible enemies either directly or indirectly for the benefit of mankind. Though form may have changed, this historical pattern persists in our heroes of today. There is something that we as humans find captivating about heroic figures that fight for us. In that respect, Fantastic Four is the most recent contribution to the legacy of man’s fascination with heroes. As such, it’s another opportunity for believers to accept the story, enjoy it, and turn towards Jesus as our true and eternal hero.     

When the world looks to people, to movements, or to values as the source of their hope; we look to Jesus as the author of life, and as the worthy source of our hope. Let him be the source of your optimism that is evident to all people.