Marvel Comics has never been averse to redefining its most iconic teams, yet its new twist of the Fantastic Four may be the most radical and bizarre redefinition of the group to date.
In a new crossover, Marvel presents a variant of the Fantastic Four that bears no resemblance to Reed Richards and his family. This time around, the group consists of apes only.
Why Marvel’s Planet Of The Apes Fantastic Four Experiment Feels So Timely
The surprise team is introduced in Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four #1, a comic that is heavy on alternate timelines, sci-fi anarchy, and the sort of wildness that Marvel Comics is most famous for. The novel begins with a typical Marvel miscalculation. Reed Richards’ old enemy, Red Ghost, tests some dangerous technology, and everything goes wrong quickly. Rather than preventing him, the Fantastic Four are thrown into a different dimension, and they have no powers at all.
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To make the situation worse, the team is soon taken captive by a ruling council of apes. However, there is the actual twist: the powers of the Fantastic Four have been consumed by four ape leaders. Cornelius acquires the elasticity of Reed. Zira disappears like Sue Storm. Dr. Zarius adopts the rocky appearance of Ben Grimm. And General Ursus burns with fire like Johnny Storm.
With a single surreal gesture, Marvel turns the Planet of the Apes universe into the homefor Fantastic Four. It is not just a visual gimmick to see these powers fall into the hands of apes. It reverses the traditional power structure of the Planet of the Apes series, in which supremacy has never been founded on brute superhuman strength.
A Crossover That Fixes A Missed Opportunity
Another gap that is filled by this comic is the one that was left by the MCU. Red Ghost and his Super-Apes were initially intended to feature in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘, and concept art even depicts Reed fighting the primates of the villain. Those scenes were eventually cut, and fans were left to wonder what might have been. Comics are now filling the gap.
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With the acquisition of Fox, Marvel is finally able to combine the Fantastic Four with the Planet of the Apes mythos, and it is surprisingly effective. The fact that the heroes are de-powered, the emergence of a new ape-led super team, and the fact that Doctor Doom is lurking in the background give the story actual stakes beyond novelty. It is weird, dangerous, and very comic-book-like, and that is why it works.
This new Fantastic Four is not intended to replace the original. It demonstrates that the most sacred team in the Marvel Universe can still surprise us when the creators are ready to go big.
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