Marvel's First Family is here! Fantastic Four First Steps finally does right by this superhero team for a fun, exciting, and visually wowing experience. As with anything Marvel Studios, there are plenty of easter eggs to be found. Unlike the rest of the MCU, these easter eggs focus on the comics and the golden age of the Fantastic Four. But don't worry, there are still some hints that the sacred timeline is out there.
Spoilers ahead if you have not seen Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Fantastic Four First Steps Easter Eggs
Earth-828 is in homage to Fantastic Four creator Jack Kirby. His birthday is 8/28/1917
Excelsior Launch– Marvel-1 is the name of the Fantastic Four's ship, but it has also been called Excelsior. This is also a phrase Stan Lee used a lot during his lifetime.
Scenes from the 1967 Fantastic Four cartoons are shown including The Thing saying “it's clobberin' time!”
Ted Gilbert is based on the real life TV show host Ed Sullivan.
Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith, the cast of the never released 1994 Fantastic Four film can be seen in the crowd cheering “Thank you, Fantastic Four.”
The sewer monster they are seen fighting is Giganto who first appeared in Fantastic Four Vol 1 issue 1.
Mole Man is also shown here and comes into play later when they need his help moving citizens to Subterranea.
Ted Gilbert also lists off other bad guys the Fantastic Four have defeated including Red Ghost and his Super Apes as well as Mad Thinker and Puppeteer.
Reed has discovered that there are alternate dimensions and parallel earths. This is the most direct nod to the fact that the Sacred Timeline exists.
During the Future Foundation meeting, Latveria is noticeably absent. Latveria is the home of Dr. Doom.
When Ben is talking to Rachel, you can see a Stanley's Service Center sign for Stan Lee.
Also in the city is a building called Timely Comics, which is where Marvel Comics was born. There are even two cartoonists shown in that building, representing Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Drawings of the characters can be seen on the wall.
Elsewhere in Times Square are various fun signs. One says “Superpowered Twins” which references either Sue and Johnny Storm or the twins Sue has later on in the comics.
There is also a poster that reads ‘Oog Lives Again,' complete with an illustration of a big, hairy monster. Oog was created by Jack Kirby and first appeared in Tales of Suspense, 1961.
Westview Appliance is a nod to director Matt Shakman's work on WandaVision.
Reed is trying to baby proof the city. He talks about crime organizations that he has led the police to including: Puppet Master, Diablo, and Wizard.
Galactus says Franklin has “Power Cosmic.” In the comics, Franklin Richards is an extremely powerful being who can warp reality, telepathy, telekinesis, magic, and a lot of other powers that are connected to these. Growing up, Agatha Harkness was his babysitter.
After their escape from Galactus' lair, Ben and Johnny need to achieve 0.88 in order to slingshot around the star. This is a reference to Back to the Future, where Doc and Marty have to hit 88mph to time-travel. Back to the Future was also mentioned in Avengers: Endgame.
Thing calls Franklin “precious cargo,” which is a nod to Pedro Pascal's other son, Grogu in The Mandalorian.
For Disney Parks fans, A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow from Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress can be heard as well. This of course has sparked rumors Disneyland's Tomorrowland might be getting a fantastic refurb.
Fantastic Four First Steps Post Credit Scenes
During the mid-credit scene, Sue is reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Franklin who is now 4 years old. In the comics, Franklin is destined to take on Galactus' powers, and be very hungry. Get it? She leaves to get another book to read, A Fly Went By (although he also loves On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin) but when she returns Dr. Doom is sitting with Franklin on the couch.
The post-credit scene is purely for fun. It shows The Fantastic Four's retro cartoon.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now!
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