Warning! This article contains spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The Fantastic Four: First Stepsmight take place in an alternate reality to the main timeline of theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but the impact this film will have on the rest of the Multiverse Saga promises to be huge as set out by the ending of the movie.Marvel’s First Family has officially arrived in the MCU, and while they have already been saving the world for four years.
However, the movie sees them take on their biggest threat to date in the form of Galactus. The final act of the film sees Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben come together to fight the Devourer of Worlds, but there isstill a lot more to learn about these heroesby the time the credits finish rolling.
Why Galactus Wants Franklin Richards Explained
Galactus initially appears to have his sights set on Earth coincidentally thanks to his herald, Shalla-Bal, marking the world for death. However, when The Fantastic Four travel to meet Galactus on his ship, herecognizes the astonishing power of the babySue Storm is pregnant with, and he attempts to make a bargain to exchange the Earth’s survival for the boy.
Evidently, this doesn’t go down well with the close-knit family, and they choose to run and save the boy. ButGalactus appears intent on taking the childin place of the world that he was set to feed on from the moment he meets the team.
Galactus' Origins And Endless Hunger Explained
In the MCU,Galactus appears to have a slightly altered origin story. He is still a being that has existed since before the dawn of time in Earth-828. And he used to be a man of a normal human size. However, he was then cursed with an endless hunger that forces him to feed on entire planets.
This is a slight deviation from the comics, where thishunger is now a cursethat can somehow be passed along, and it’s unclear what would happen toGalactus if he succeeded in passing the hunger onand whether he could continue to survive even without consuming entire worlds.
Franklin’s Power Cosmic Means He Could Absorb Galactus' Hunger
However, it is made perfectly clear that Franklin Richards, the baby of Sue and Reed, is a being whopossesses the Power Cosmic, and this means he could take Galactus' endless hunger. As a result, Galactus is obsessed with the idea of taking Franklin to rid himself of this curse for good.
Where Did The Fantastic Four Send Galactus? (Is He Dead?)
While attempting to take Franklin,Galactus is beaten back by The Fantastic Four. Their initial plan to barter for the world fails, as does their attempt to transport the planet to a new distant location elsewhere in the universe. However, after all of that, Sue Storm manages to exert tremendous power to push Galactus into the last transporter, and send him elsewhere in the universe.
Galactus is clearly stranded somewhere in the universe, or potentially even passing into another timeline. Despite this, it isunlikely Galactus has actually been killed. He may struggle to satisfy his hunger and to get around, but there is no clear indication that he is dead and gone for good.
Why Sue Storm Died And How Franklin Brought Her Back
Franklin Richards Has The Power Cosmic, Despite Being A Baby
Galactus was able to quickly see thatFranklin Richards was no ordinary child, recognizing that he possessed the Power Cosmic as soon as he arrived on his ship. However, Reed had attempted to detect any anomalies several times throughout the pregnancy with no clear indication of anything.
Galactus then suggests that the boy ishiding the extent of his powersfrom his father. Reed continues to question his son, hoping for some sign of his powers, but Franklin appears to be completely ordinary until the moment when his mother, Sue Storm, passes away due to pushing her powers too far.
In this moment, Franklin is able to touch his mothers body and bring her back from the dead. When she wakes up, her eyes appear to be glazed over with a reflection of the universe, andSue mentions that the boy is so much more than them. Clearly, Franklin has extraordinary powers far beyond his age.
This ties in with the comics, where the child is able to rewrite reality, create entire universes, and control life and death itself. However, Franklin conceals his powers to avoid being studied and feared.Franklin’s powers in the MCU appear to follow the comic booksboth in scale and ability.
Why Shalla-Bal Betrayed Galactus And What Happens To Her Now
The Silver Surfer Turned On Galactus, Saving The Earth From Certain Doom
Shalla-Bal is a herald of Galactus, tasked with finding worlds for her master to consume. But when Johnny Storm learns to decipher her language, he uncovers her past, and howshe made a deal with Galactusto spare her planet and become his herald.
However, the time she spent in his service has weighed heavy on her, and she feels remorse for helping him to take countless lives. So, when Sue Storm sets up a way for Galactus to be defeated,Shalla-Bal decides to betray her masterand save Earth.
It’s possible once the pair arrived in a part of the universe that she was able to fly away and escape, but Galactus could have easily regained his composure and tortured his herald, as seen earlier in the film when she questions him. If this is the case,Galactus may use his herald to secure transportand eventually escape his exile.
4 Years Later, Franklin Richards Is Visited By Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom Makes His Debut In The MCU In The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Kind Of)
As the film wraps up, there is another time skip four years into the future, with Franklin now a toddler. Since the movie is set in an alternate reality, it does not necessarily need to go to a specific year to match up to Earth-616 and the events inAvengers: Doomsday. However, the mid-credits scene featuring DoctorDoom showing Franklin his facewhile he holds his mask in one hand suggests this could lead in toDoomsday.
There may be another time jump before the team and Franklin joins the main timeline of the MCU, which could mean Franklin will be older still. But, as early as when Franklin is just four years old,Doctor Doom makes his presence known, and appears to take an interest in the boy.
Sue seemed surprised to see Doom in her home, and he did not enter through a door, which suggests this character would indeed be a threat. But thisscene could lead directly into the events ofAvengers: Doomsday, with Victor von Doom convincing The Fantastic Four that he needs their help to accomplish something.
Whatever the case,The Fantastic Four: First Stepssets up the events ofAvengers: Doomsdayand beyond with Marvel’s First Family firmly established in the Multiverse.
