Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Fantastic Four: First StepsNow that we’ve been introduced to The First Family in Fantastic Four: First Steps, I can’t wait to see some epic MCU team-ups. Fantastic Four’s cast is already confirmed to be part of Avengers: Doomsday next year. This means we won’t have to wait long before the super-family is introduced to the wider MCU multiverse and its heroes.
Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces the iconic Marvel team hailing from Earth-828, a separate reality apart from the MCU’s main timeline known as Earth-616. However, post-credit scenes from Thunderbolts* and Fantastic Four have already teased the First Family jumping universes. As such, here are the biggest Fantastic Four team-ups I’m most excited to see in the MCU’s future.
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Johnny Storm & Spider-Man
Bringing Two Superfriends Together In The MCU
Confirmed to be a “blue-sky dream” of Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, it would be very exciting to see Johnny Storm’s Human Torch and Spider-Man sharing the screen in the MCU. After all, Johnny is one of Spider-Man’s best superhero friends.
Spider-Man has even joined The Fantastic Four from time to time, most notably with the Future Foundation in the wake of Johnny’s death (a death that naturally ended up being temporary on the page). With any luck, Johnny and Peter Parker will meet for the first time either in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
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The Thing & The Hulk
Two of The MCU’s Biggest Brawlers
While The Hulk is allegedly “the strongest one there is”, that’s never stopped Ben Grimm’s Thing from taking on the Jade Giant from time to time in the comics.
As two of the strongest and biggest brawlers in Marvel Comics, it would be very exciting to see The Thing and Hulk clash and/or join forces in the MCU. That said, it would be even better if the MCU reverts Bruce Banner back to his typical more “Savage Hulk” status rather than the current “Smart Hulk”.
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The Thing & Wolverine
Ben and Logan Have A Dynamic History
Similarly, The Thing and Wolverine also have some dynamic history in the comics. Interestingly enough, a clash between Ben Grimm and Logan was one of the rare times when The Thing received a visible long-lasting scar, right across his face thanks to Wolverine’s adamantium claws.
Seeing how the MCU has already proven a willingness to get fresh directions with Ben’s look on screen with his beard, it would be a pretty cool look. Logan and Ben are also confirmed to be poker buddies, and Ben could easily sub in for Colossus for a “Fastball Special” if needed in Doomsday or Secret Wars.
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Sue Storm & Namor
Should Reed Be Nervous?
While The Fantastic Four are confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday, so has Tenoch Huerta’s Namor. Keeping that in mind, it’s quite possible that we could end up seeing the MCU adapt the classic romance arc in the comics where Namor actively and repeatedly pursues Sue Storm.
Sue’s always chosen Reed over Namor, though there have been moments on the page where Namor’s passion can seem awfully appealing compared to her husband, who can struggle due to his priority on logic and calculation. Likewise, Sue Storm actress Vanessa Kirby has already confirmed her interest in sharing scenes with the MCU’s Namor.
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Sue Storm & Nightcrawler
A Unique Clash Of Superpowers
Sue Storm has the ability to turn invisible and manipulate energy fields, allowing her to psionically grab, push, and pull objects at will. As such, it would be fascinating to see how she might handle the X-Men’s Nightcrawler and his impressive powers of teleportation. All things considered, she’s probably be the best-equipped in her family to deal with him.
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Sue Storm & Mystique
Different Forms Of Avoiding Detection
Sue Storm can go undetected by turning invisible at will. Conversely, Mystique can go undetected as a shapeshifter, allowing her to become anyone she wishes. As such, the parallel utility of their powers would be exciting to somehow see them in tandem in the next MCU crossover.
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Reed Richards & Beast
Superpowered Geniuses
Kelsey Grammer’s Beast will play a key role in Avengers: Doomsday, having been introduced The Marvels’ post-credits scene in another reality that’s home to the X-Men (apart from Earth-616 and Earth-828). As the X-Men’s resident genius, it would be fascinating to see Reed Richards and Hank McCoy putting their impressively big brains together in Avengers: Doomsday.
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Reed Richards & Shuri’s Black Panther
Great Minds Think Alike
Similarly, Reed Richards and Shuri’s Black Panther would be just as exciting. Not only did Black Panther and Wakanda first debut in the original Fantastic Four comics, but Shuri is one of Earth-616’s brightest minds. Naturally, it’d be great to see a think tank of geniuses from three separate realities assembling to potentially save the entire multiverse.
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Reed Richards & Bruce Banner
Even More Big Brains
As much as I would love to see Hulk and The Thing join forces in the MCU, I’d also love to see Bruce Banner and Reed Richards putting their heads together.
Bruce Banner is a genius, and is good friends with Reed in the comics. Especially if the Hulk remains “Smart Hulk”, joining forces with Mister Fantastic could be a lot of fun, though likely more on an intellectual level.
4
Sentry & Franklin Richards
Two of Marvel’s Most Powerful Beings
This year’s Thunderbolts* debuted The Sentry in the MCU, one of the most powerful superheros of all time wielding “the power of a thousand suns” with a dangerous dark side to boot. Remarkably, Fantastic Four: First Steps then introduced Franklin Richards just a couple of months later.
The son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, Franklin is one of the most powerful beings in the entire universe, capable of rewriting reality on a whim with epic powers of creation, even as an infant. As such, I would love to see a scene where Bob’s Sentry gets to meet the young boy, bringing together two major powerhouses.
