‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ has successfully launched in theatres, marking the beginning of Marvel's Phase 6 with spectacular cosmic action and universe-shaking revelations. The film delivers answers about Marvel's First Family while setting up major storylines for upcoming Avengers films, particularly ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.
Marvel fans finally witness the proper introduction of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie establishes their origin story while immediately thrusting them into a battle against one of Marvel's most powerful cosmic entities, creating stakes that extend far beyond their home dimension.
View this post on Instagram
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Post-Credit Scene And Ending Explained
The film's conclusion and post-credits sequences provide crucial setup for the MCU's next phase, introducing elements that will directly impact the broader Marvel narrative moving forward.
How Does Galactus Get Defeated, And Is He Gone for Good?
The climactic battle against Galactus reaches its conclusion when Marvel's First Family successfully transports the planet-devouring entity to the furthest reaches of their alternate universe, designated Earth-828. Without his massive space vessel, the now-stranded Galactus faces millions of years before potentially returning to threaten their homeworld again.
The team's victory comes at a tremendous cost and requires extraordinary sacrifice. Initially, Reed Richards and his allies plan to relocate their entire planet using scaled-up teleportation technology based on Reed's laboratory experiments. However, when Silver Surfer destroys most of their giant teleporters, the team must improvise a desperate backup plan.
What Makes Franklin Richards So Powerful in the MCU?
Franklin Richards, the infant son of Reed and Sue, becomes the key to their strategy. Galactus seeks Franklin as his successor because the child possesses the Power Cosmic - an unlimited energy source that could satisfy Galactus's eternal hunger for planetary consumption.
View this post on Instagram
How Did the Fantastic Four's Final Plan Almost End in Tragedy?
The Fantastic Four's final gambit involves using Franklin as bait to lure Galactus into their remaining teleporter's range. Their plan requires precise timing: distract Galactus through coordinated attacks while secretly replacing Franklin with an empty carrier, then activate the teleportation device to banish the cosmic threat.
The strategy initially appears successful until Galactus realises Franklin has been moved to the Baxter Building headquarters. The cosmic entity immediately changes course, overwhelming the team's defences and successfully capturing the powerful infant.
View this post on Instagram
What Role Does Silver Surfer Play in Galactus's Defeat?
Sue Storm regains consciousness just as Galactus prepares to depart with her child. Driven by maternal instinct, she summons extraordinary strength to use her force field powers against the cosmic giant. Ben Grimm topples a building that Galactus uses for support, Johnny Storm activates the teleporter, and Reed stretches to rescue Franklin from Galactus's grasp.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps: Who Appears in the Post-Credits Scene? Is That Doctor Doom?
The mid-credits scene reveals events occurring four years after Galactus's defeat. Sue reads The Very Hungry Caterpillar to a now-speaking Franklin in the Baxter Building's living room - an ironic book choice given Galactus's insatiable appetite for planets.
When Sue steps away to retrieve another book, she senses something wrong upon returning. Activating her powers, she peers around the room's central column to discover Franklin is not alone. A mysterious figure in a dark green hooded cloak crouches before the child, holding Franklin's face with one hand while grasping a metal mask in the other.
The scene introduces Doctor Victor von Doom to the MCU, though his face remains hidden beneath the hood. Only the iconic mask and cloak confirm his identity as he makes contact with the most powerful child in the universe.
View this post on Instagram
Is Robert Downey Jr Really Playing Doctor Doom?
While not officially confirmed, strong evidence suggests that Robert Downey Jr portrays Doctor Doom in this scene. At San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Marvel announced Downey Jr's return to the MCU as the legendary villain, shocking fans who knew him as Iron Man from 2008 to 2019.
Downey Jr's casting followed Marvel's decision to replace Kang the Conqueror as the Multiverse Saga's primary antagonist. After Jonathan Majors was fired in December 2023 following his conviction on assault charges, Marvel pivoted to Doctor Doom as their new overarching villain for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo shot the mid-credits scene during their preparation for the upcoming Avengers films. Though Downey Jr. receives no credit in First Steps, the Russo brothers' involvement strongly suggests his uncredited appearance as the masked villain.
Don't Miss:7 Reasons The Fantastic Four: First Steps Proves Marvel Still Knows How to Tell a Human Story
How Does This Set Up Avengers: Doomsday?
Franklin Richards' demonstrated powers make him a crucial figure for Doom's apparent plans to prevent the Multiverse's collapse through Incursions. If Doom intends to merge all known universes into a single reality, mirroring Marvel's Secret Wars comic storyline, Franklin's reality-warping abilities would prove essential.
The child's powers include matter manipulation, reality alteration, and pocket dimension creation. These abilities would allow someone like Doom to position himself as the Multiverse's saviour while installing himself as God Emperor of a merged reality called Battleworld.
Franklin's resurrection of Sue Storm demonstrates his unlimited potential, making him an irresistible target for Doom's cosmic ambitions. The public knowledge of Franklin's abilities, spread through Earth-828's news agencies, ensures Doom understands exactly what powers the child possesses.
View this post on Instagram
What’s the Connection Between The Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts?
The Fantastic Four will likely flee to the main MCU timeline (Earth-616) to escape Doom's pursuit, explaining why their spaceship Excelsior emerges from a wormhole in Thunderbolts' post-credits scene. However, their arrival will create immediate tension with the MCU's existing heroes, who remain suspicious of superpowered beings arriving from alternate realities.
Doom's genius-level intellect and strategic planning ensure he will quickly track the Fantastic Four to Earth-616. Franklin may find temporary safety in the main MCU timeline, but Doom's pursuit will bring cosmic-level threats directly to Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Is There a Bonus Post-Credit Scene and What Does It Mean?
The film's final post-credits scene presents a lighthearted animated sequence featuring the in-universe Fantastic Four cartoon series created to honour the team on Earth-828. The animated introduction showcases Ben Grimm's signature catchphrase and stylised versions of the MCU team members.
While entertaining for fans, this sequence serves no narrative purpose for the broader MCU storyline. Pedro Pascal's animated Reed Richards performs impressive stretching feats, but the scene functions purely as comedic relief rather than plot advancement.
View this post on Instagram
Marvel's Next Phase Begins
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ successfully establishes Marvel's First Family within the MCU while creating direct connections to the next Avengers saga. Doctor Doom's introduction promises immediate consequences for both the ‘Fantastic Four’ and the broader Marvel universe.
With Franklin Richards' unlimited power now revealed and Doom's interest in the child confirmed, the stage is set for cosmic conflicts that will determine the fate of the entire Multiverse. The film delivers satisfying standalone entertainment while serving the larger Marvel narrative that will unfold in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and beyond.
Keep reading Herzindagi for more such stories.
Take charge of your wellness journey—download the HerZindagi app for daily updates on fitness, beauty, and a healthy lifestyle!
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation