‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Trailer: Easter Eggs and References Explained

The first teaser trailer to Fantastic Four: First Steps has arrived, and the quartet’s injection of retrofuturistic panache comes with a deluge of references to the classic comic books and links to the wider MCU.

Let’s break down some of those Easter eggs and nods to the past.

The Baxter Building

The trailer begins in a 4:3 aspect ratio as elevator doors open to reveal the home of the Fantastic Four, named the Baxter Building, led by Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and his wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), with Richards espousing the value of family. The trailer shows the exterior of the building and the rest of New York, and it is immediately noticeable that this is not the proper 616 universe of the MCU by the curved Jetsons-esque vehicles and buildings.

The glass tower that the Fantastic Four have made their home bears a striking resemblance to the Avengers Tower with its curved structure.

Marvel Studios Logo

Even the Marvel Studios logo gets a retro twist. Instead of the usual red and silver version, the Fantastic Four: First Steps features an era-appropriate Marvel Studios logo before the trailer transitions into the modern wide-screen format which may be a sly hint at how the Fantastic Four goes from their 1960s-inspired universe to the modern-day MCU.

‘The Bear’ and H.E.R.B.I.E

Ben Grimm, aka The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), appears alongside the robot H.E.R.B.I.E, offering instructions in the kitchen in a wink to Moss-Bachrach’s Emmy-winning role on FX’s “The Bear.”

H.E.R.B.I.E first appeared in the 1978 cartoon The New Fantastic Four as a replacement for Johnny Storm, as the character’s rights were tied up in a solo television series that never materialized. Debuting just a year after R2-D2 and C3-PO had taken the galaxy by storm, H.E.R.B.I.E was well-received by fans and soon introduced to the comic books. The cute little robot was also the final collaboration between the legendary duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby before the latter left Marvel Comics.

Unstable Molecules

The Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) takes off through the skies after engulfing his body with flames with no apparent damage to his clothing. This could potentially be due to Unstable Molecules, synthetic fabric developed by Reed Richards in the comics that allows superheroes’ clothing to adapt and withstand their impressive powers like Johnny Storm’s intense heat and flames.

Ben Grimm’s Classic Disguise

Though the Four’s suits may be unstable, one of Ben Grimm’s most consistent looks appears in the trailer. Ben Grimm’s go-to disguise in comics has always been a fedora and trench coat, and showing up here signals a reverence for the classic Silver Age material and gives insight into the emotionally tortured Grimm, cursed to be trapped in this rocky form forever.

Galactus

The iconic horned helmet of Galactus looms ominously throughout, enveloping the city in shadow and staring down on the Statue of Liberty. Galactus is one of the most fearsome foes of all in Marvel’s gallery of villains, known for consuming entire planets. The giant’s corporeal form is a welcome addition for longtime fans, as the legendary force of nature was turned into a cloud in 2007’s Fantastic Four: The Rise of Silver Surfer, much to the derision of fans.

A scene shows debris raining from the sky as children dressed in Thing costumes look up into the sky. It has been confirmed that the Fantastic Four will appear in the upcoming Avengers sequels Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars but with First Steps taking place in an alternate universe, could it be possible that Galactus succeeds in devouring this planet sending the Four to the version of the MCU audiences are familiar with? Could it be related to John Malkovich’s unknown character?

The Fanasti-Car

The Fantasti-Car, the group’s signature vehicle also appears in the trailer, zooming through the streets. Oftentimes depicted as a hovercar, this version draws inspiration from old Cadillacs and cars of the 1950s and 1960s. It is sure to take flight at some point, however, since a tireless, flying version of the vehicle dazzled crowds at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 by flying overhead in Hall H.

The Beatles on ‘Ed Sullivan Show’

The trailer concludes with a group shot of the Fantastic Four in their matching uniforms on a stage with the ‘4’ icon in the background and arrows pointing to the stage as in homage to the Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 that kicked off Beatlemania in the United States. This could be a similar moment for the family, and the group rockets to superstardom after gaining their fantastic feats.