A heartfelt tribute to the Space Age of our dreams, encapsulated in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
In the world of comic books and cinema, the Fantastic Four have once again taken centre stage with the release of "Fantastic Four: First Steps." This film, which is currently captivating audiences in theatres worldwide and will soon be available on Disney+, pays homage to the team's roots in the era of human space exploration.
The connection between the Fantastic Four's debut in August 1961 and the early years of space exploration is evident in the original comic origin story. The team, comprising Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm, embark on a test flight that goes awry, exposing them to cosmic rays. This was a direct nod to the excitement and mystery of early space exploration during the Space Race era, firmly rooting the Fantastic Four in the contemporary cultural context of the time.
"Fantastic Four: First Steps" revisits this origin story, highlighting how Marvel’s first superhero team was inspired by and intertwined with the early space exploration zeitgeist. The film's New York City is a futuristic landscape of flying cars, towering, futuristic buildings, and the Excelsior rocket, reminiscent of the real-life SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets.
The cosmic ray accident in the film symbolically connects the superhero origins to humanity's first "steps" into the cosmos. The Fantastic Four's powers—Reed Richards' ability to stretch, Sue Storm's invisibility and force field powers, Johnny Storm's flight covered in fire, and Ben Grimm's transformation into the rock-like creature called the Thing—are all acquired after their first mission encounters cosmic turbulence and cosmic rays.
The film also depicts a united world under the Future Foundation, a stark contrast to the real-world struggles faced by NASA, such as budget woes and competition with China. The world's unity is further emphasised in the film, with Johnny Storm translating alien signals from deep space, similar to NASA's Golden Records.
The Fantastic Four have been active for years, saving the world from various threats, and their adventures predate the first human spaceflight by a month (Yuri Gagarin). Their new suits, featuring a sleek blue aesthetic, are a far cry from their initial suits, which left them vulnerable to cosmic radiation.
The film's launch sequence for the Excelsior rocket bears a resemblance to that of the movie "Apollo 13," adding to the film's space-age allure. The film also features cameos by Jupiter and Mars, further emphasising the team's cosmic connections.
"Fantastic Four: First Steps" is a thrilling journey that encapsulates the spirit of discovery, risk, and transformation linked to early space exploration. It's a must-watch for fans of the Fantastic Four and space enthusiasts alike.
- The Fantastic Four's debut in comic books and their cinematic revival, such as "Fantastic Four: First Steps," reflect a connection with the era of human space exploration and technology.
- In the film, the cosmic ray accident symbolically represents the four characters' origins being linked to humanity's initial steps into space, mirroring the excitement and mystery of the Space Race era.
- "Fantastic Four: First Steps" showcases a unified world under the Future Foundation, contrasting with real-world space exploration challenges like budget issues and international competition.
- The film features a New York City skyline reminiscent of real-life futuristic space tech, such as SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, underscoring its space-age theme.
- Beyond its ties to the Fantastic Four's origin story, "Fantastic Four: First Steps" also references other popular elements of entertainment and science, including cameos by Jupiter and Mars, a space-themed aesthetic, and allusions to NASA's Golden Records and the movie "Apollo 13."
