Marvel Studios used April 4, 2024 as an opportunity to announce the official title of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, coronating April 4th as 4-4 Day. However, the superhero group actually made their first appearance in The Fantastic Four #1, published in Marvel Comics November of 1961. The Fantastic Four was the first superhero team created by artist Jack Kirby and editor/co-writer Stan Lee, and through this title the “Marvel method” style of production was developed.

The four main characters gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space. The Fantastic Four includes: Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), the leader and a scientific genius, who can stretch his body into incredible lengths and shapes; the Invisible Woman (Susan “Sue” Storm-Richards), Reed’s wife, who can render herself invisible and project powerful invisible force fields and blasts; the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Sue’s younger brother, who can generate flames, surround himself with them and fly; and the monstrous Thing (Ben Grimm), a former college football star, Reed’s college roommate and a skilled pilot, who possesses tremendous superhuman strength, durability and endurance due to his stone-like flesh.