Superman is not the only superhero movie this July, even if it arguably has taken the lion’s share of public attention at the moment. Marvel Studios is also in the game at the end of the month as they try their own hand at a Fantastic Four movie with Matt Shakman’s Fantastic Four: First Steps out on July 25.
The trailers look interesting to me, with their mid-century retro future aesthetic, reminding me a bit of the world before the nuclear bombs dropped in Fallout. I think it’s a wise decision to make the Fantastic Four a period piece, keeping with it the Space Race wonder in their origin. Even if it kind of raises questions about their place in the broader MCU. While it seems like they’re drawing inspiration from many different aspects of the comic, front and foremost is one of the most famous stories in Marvel Comics history, The Coming of Galactus.
“You must forget about him who rides the skyways! The danger is Galactus! For he is the ultimate danger–perhaps the final danger!”
Originally published in Fantastic Four #48-50, “The Coming of Galactus”, by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott, Artie Simek, and Sam Rosen introduced us to the titular cosmic force as well as his herald, the Silver Surfer. The story threatened Earth with destruction, presenting Galactus’ hunger for energy as an all-consuming force.
The serial storytelling of this era of the Fantastic Four is on display here as the stories don’t necessarily begin or end cleanly. For instance, issue #48 opens partway through an ongoing arc with the Inhumans, concluding locking off their Great Refuge from humanity before the coming of Galactus starts in earnest. Though the enormity of the peril of Galactus hits almost immediately as the Watcher (looking a bit like a cross between Dom DeLuise and Marlon Brando in those early days) breaking his oath of non-interference to try to protect the Earth. What I find particularly interesting is that while the story is immense, dealing with a cosmic quest from the Human Torch and the fight with Galactus, it circles back to human drama as the Silver Surfer finds his own empathy through crash-landing at Alicia Masters’ apartment. A development that itself then feeds into the next story in #51, the equally iconic story, “This Man…This Monster”.
Jack Kirby’s artwork is phenomenal. The action, bombast, and designs are incredible here, from the characters introduced in Galactus, Silver Surfer, and Galactus’ Punisher to the various technological marvels that he creates. This is also during a period where he was experimenting with highly detailed machine drawing collages, shown here in one of the Watcher’s devices. The weight of Kirby’s lines kept in Joe Sinnott’s inks. And a question as to how big Galactus actually is, as he doesn’t seem that large in his initial appearances (something that appears to be variable over time). A wonderful smattering of primary colours to keep the art popped. Unfortunately the colourist isn’t credited, though many sources seem to credit Stan Goldberg. And solid lettering from Artie Simek and then Sam Rosen to capture Galactus’ immensity.
“How can the silver one convince his master? Galactus is not evil! He is above good…or evil! He does what he must…for he is Galactus!”
“The Coming of Galactus” by Lee, Kirby, Sinnott, Simek, and Rosen remains a high water mark in the already stellar original run from Lee and Kirby on Fantastic Four. The stakes were raised and the Four faced an interstellar threat that seemed nigh impossible. Introducing the tragic hero of the Silver Surfer and one of the Marvel Universe’s greatest antagonists in Galactus.
It remains to be seen how the adaptation of this story will play out in the Fantastic Four: First Steps movie—especially since Norrin Radd has been replaced by his love Shalla-Bal in the movie, why and how, we don’t know. Perhaps just to emphasize this as an alternate world—but it should be fun to find out.
Classic Comic Compendium: FANTASTIC FOUR – THE COMING OF GALACTUS
Fantastic Four – “The Coming of Galactus”
Writer: Stan Lee
Penciller: Jack Kirby
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Colourist: Stan Goldberg (? – uncredited)
Letterers: Artie Simek & Sam Rosen
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: December 9 1965 – February 10 1966 (original issues)
Available collected in Fantastic Four Omnibus – Volume 2, Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four – Volume 5, Fantastic Four Epic Collection – Volume 3: The Coming of Galactus, Marvel Visionaries: Jack Kirby, and Fantastic Four: Penguin Classics
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