Marvel Studios has never been a stranger to self-awareness, especially with its Deadpool projects, where humor often takes precedence over comic book accuracy. However, there comes a point where even the most devoted fans of Marvel’s irreverent style want justice for their favorite characters.
This is where ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ delivers, especially when it comes to the power dynamics between Johnny Storm and the X-Men villain Pyro.
Johnny Storm Reclaims His Powers And Comic Book Respect In ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
The much-hyped ‘Deadpool & Wolverine‘ gave audiences a riot of crossover cameos and gags. However, one moment included a moment where Pyro absorbs the flames of Johnny Storm, effectively “switching him off” and sending him tumbling from the sky. It was hilarious, but it wasn’t very pleasing for comic fans. In the comics, that scenario is fundamentally inaccurate. Pyro, who can only control fire but not create it, would never outmatch the Human Torch.
Thankfully, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ takes a clear and deliberate step toward correcting that misconception. In a scene from the film, Johnny Storm arrives at a blazing city block, where several skyscrapers are engulfed in flames. Rather than simply flying through the fire or adding to the chaos with more heat, Johnny calmly absorbs the external fire into his body. This extinguishes the blaze completely. It’s a quiet moment of power, but it speaks volumes.
For longtime comic readers, this isn’t news. The Human Torch has consistently been portrayed in the source material as someone who can not only generate flames but also absorb and manipulate fire from external sources. This ability has made him a formidable threat against characters like Pyro. So, the scene from ‘First Steps’ retroactively reframes the showdown from ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’.
In that film, Pyro temporarily steals the spotlight and Johnny’s flames. However, it wasn’t an accurate depiction of their power levels. In a serious battle, Johnny Storm should have been able to reclaim his flames, regenerate his power from the environment, or simply overpower Pyro with a nova blast. The comedic scene sold Johnny short, and ‘First Steps’ brings the dignity back.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is The Most Comic-Accurate Tribute Ever Seen In The MCU
While ‘First Steps’ does a lot to set the record straight for Johnny Storm, it also takes a bold leap in honoring the Fantastic Four’s comic book origins. Perhaps the most goosebump-inducing moment comes during a fast-paced montage showing the team’s earliest superhero outings. One particular sequence shows the team fighting a monstrous subterranean creature in a chaotic city street.
In case you missed it: Why ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Will Succeed Where Every Other Versions Failed
For fans of Fantastic Four #1, the resemblance is instantly obvious. It’s not just inspired by the 1961 cover; it’s a near frame-for-frame recreation. Mr. Fantastic is shown stretching around wreckage, Sue Storm erects a force field to shield bystanders, the Thing charges forward with his signature boulder-punch, and Johnny flies overhead in a fiery arc. Even the colors, the angle of the camera, and the creature’s retro design scream “Jack Kirby.”
What makes this recreation so special isn’t just its visual accuracy; it’s how seamlessly it’s folded into the film’s narrative. It doesn’t feel forced. It feels like a tribute to the original comics that brought Marvel’s first family to life. The MCU has always taken liberties with its characters. However, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ proves that when Marvel slows down and honors its roots, the result can be truly electrifying.
