The Fantastic Four are coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with a self-titled movie planned for Marvel’s first family in 2025. They’ll undoubtedly have lots to deal with when the potentially catastrophic multiversal events poised to unfold in the MCU happen in the coming years. However, they should still make time for Peter Parker, AKA Spider-Man, to befriend them.
There are many reasons for this, based on two primary factors. The first is that there’s plenty of comic book precedent for Spider-Man being strongly associated with the team, and the second is that their relationship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be mutually beneficial.
Spider-Man’s association with the Fantastic Four has existed for many years, and his close friendship with Johnny Storm is long-established.
What Is The Comic Book Precedent For This Alliance?
In 2007, the four-issue limited series Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four hit comic book shelves worldwide and was a significant success for Marvel. It saw the five characters combating the threat of the Impossible Man.
Then, in 2010, another four-issue limited series, Spider-Man/Fantastic Four, followed the alliance between the two parties over four different periods in Marvel history, facing opponents like Doctor Doom, the Venom Symbiote, the Skrulls, and Kristoff Vernard.
More recently, in 2011, following the death of Johnny Storm, AKA the Human Torch, Storm left his place in the Fantastic Four to Spider-Man in his will, and the Webbed Wonder joined the team for a spell that started in #Spider-Man 657 and #FF 1.
Moreover, in 1990 and 1991, comprising the issues Fantastic Four #347-349, when a Skrull captured the original four members of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man joined forces with Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Wolverine to form the New Fantastic Four.
The comic book connection is undeniably there, and it’s undoubtedly about time audiences see it in a live-action movie.
The Silver Surfer is currently the only fellow superhero the Fantastic Four have interacted with in a live-action film, so it’ll make a nice change from previous incarnations to see them forming super-friendships.
Johnny Storm’s friendship with Spider-Man deserves to be depicted on screen more than most. The pair are great friends, as proven when Spidey inherited Storm’s place in the Fantastic Four.
How Will This Benefit Spider-Man & The Fantastic Four?
In the MCU, Spider-Man befriending the Fantastic Four could greatly help everyone concerned – and not just because they’d offer support when it came to fighting villains (though that would undoubtedly help Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four in a big way).
Spider-Man’s friendship with Johnny Storm could help to ground the latter. Storm is notoriously vain, big-headed, and hot-headed. Having a nice, regular guy like Peter Parker as his pal might do what Storm’s Fantastic Four teammates often fail to do – and that’s control him. Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, and Johnny’s sister, Sue Storm, would all appreciate that.
But the primary beneficiary of the potential friendship is Peter Parker. Parker has no friends since the end of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Doctor Strange’s spell to make people forget he was Spider-Man meant the likes of MJ, Ned Leeds, and Flash Thompson were no longer his friends – and it’s not yet known if he’ll reignite that friendship or let them live their lives without the dangers that come with being a friend of a superhero.
After Tony Stark’s death, Parker also needs a mentor – and that’s a role Reed Richards or Ben Grimm could fill. Richards appears to be the best candidate on the face of it, given that he and Parker have a genius intellect and love of science in common. Richards could even replace Stark as someone who occasionally updates Spider-Man’s suit and gadgets.
Considering all that – and, of course, with everyone concerned residing in New York City – the Webbed Wonder and Marvel’s first family will likely become friends and allies in the MCU once the latter gets introduced to the franchise.
