The Fantastic Four: Prequel Insights and Celestial Connections
As fans anticipate the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Comics has provided a special prequel comic, Fantastic Four: First Steps #1, penned by Matt Fraction. Unlike the movie, which skips their origin story, this comic explores the team’s beginnings four years into their superhero careers. It offers intriguing hints, such as revealing that Paul Walter Hauser will portray the Mole Man. Interestingly, the comic suggests a slight tweak to their origins.
Origins Shake-Up: Cosmic to Celestial
Traditionally, the Fantastic Four gain their powers via a cosmic storm in space, bathing them in "cosmic radiation." However, this tie-in comic swaps out "cosmic" for "celestial." This might seem like a minor change, but in the Marvel Universe, Celestials are powerful space gods, which could indicate major shifts for the team and the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Celestials’ Role in the MCU
The Celestials were first hinted at in Guardians of the Galaxy and got a fuller introduction in Eternals as the creators of the Eternals team. Celestials are ancient beings, existing before the Big Bang. They play a crucial role in creating life and stabilizing the universe. To birth new Celestials, they plant seeds on planets, and as the planet’s population grows, it provides the energy needed for a Celestial to be born—unfortunately, at the cost of the planet’s destruction.
Celestials made an appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, while the one in the Indian Ocean from Eternals was central to Captain America: Brave New World as the source of Adamantium, a significant element in the MCU.
Connections Across Universes
What’s interesting about the Fantastic Four is that they don’t exist in the main MCU timeline where Celestials are introduced. First Steps is set in an alternate 1960s universe. This means the "celestial storm" giving the Fantastic Four their powers might not be linked to the MCU’s Celestials. However, What If…? Season 3 has confirmed that Celestials exist throughout the Multiverse, implying that a version of them could appear in the Fantastic Four’s reality.
A New Reality for the Fantastic Four
In this universe, the Fantastic Four’s connection to the Celestials offers an exciting twist. It hints at potential storylines that could weave through different Marvel narratives. This multiverse angle allows the integration of new ideas without altering the core MCU.
Overall, the prequel comic offers fans a peek into the revamped origins of the Fantastic Four, possibly setting the stage for new and engaging stories. Whether the changes are symbolic or hint at more profound modifications, they certainly stir curiosity about how the characters will fit into the evolving Marvel Universe.
