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The Fantastic Four has a distinct reputation as 'The First Family of Marvel.' The quartet of science-loving, quirky superheroes has been a staple of Marvel Comics since their debut in 1961. As the supergroup sets its sights on the MCU with its new film The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I could not help but notice how unique their position is. 

The Fantastic Four are known for their campy powers, galactic adventures, and an iconic rogues' gallery of villains. What they have that many other groups in Marvel do not is cohesion. They are one of the few Marvel superhero groups that prioritize their brand uniformity over individualistic expression. Form and function tower over aesthetics, resulting in a rich and cohesive brand identity that echoes its roots in the retrofuturistic science and adventure genre.

A family united

Have you ever been to a major amusement park, such as Disney World or Times Square, before the 2000s? If so, you may have seen or run into large families on vacation, all dressed the same. Some custom T-shirts with their last name embossed on the front and back. "RICHARDS FAMILY VACATION," it may say. Other than a security measure in case someone gets lost, it's to showcase their collective love and ride for their family. You see it during family reunions as well. Generations of people all coming together to celebrate their family name. What a beautiful sight. Now, look at the Fantastic Four. 

They do the exact same thing. Known for their family bonds, their uniformity reinforces that notion as they clash with cosmic threats and underground mole folks. The uniforms are a symbol of their shared origin story. The event that made them a superhero family in the first place. Those darn gamma rays bonded them in a way no other superhero team has been connected. Their powers may be different, but they all underwent the same event to acquire them. Their uniforms represent that in the simplest way possible.

While the X-Men may use a belt buckle or a giant "X" draped across their chest to identify their association with the mutant league, Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben all wear matching outfits adorned with their "4". The colors, style, and general form of the outfits are consistent. A uniform. It depicts solidarity, shared goals, and a general cohesion that demonstrates that if you mess with one, you mess with all. 

One 4 all

Part of their uniform is their logo. A pretty iconic logo at that. When pop culture fans see that "4", they know exactly who is showing up. That tends to happen when a man ablaze draws a four in the sky using his flames as a marker to write on the heavens. Like Batman or the X-Men, The Fantastic Four leverage their brand in every conceivable way possible. The Fantastic Four films demonstrate the depth of this as the group gains sponsors, toy deals, and television time. All while looking snazzy in their matching outfits.

The 4 is the handshake. The first impression. The 4 show up before the group does, announcing they're coming like the Herald to Galactus. It's their family crest, a modern-day minimalist heraldry. A superhero coat of arms.

Fantastic Form and Function

Comics, by nature, highlight individuals and their stylistic choices over uniformity. You have to. While The Avengers is a powerful group, it resonates thanks to each hero's individual contributions to the team and how those clash or mesh with their teammates. Much like the Justice League, it's a lot of colorful superheroes fighting together. However, the League always looks like they all accidentally showed up to the same call. Heroes are about individual expression. The Fantastic Four are the exact opposite.

The blue research suits are pretty slick. Fun fact, the color blue is a popular brand color often associated with trust, loyalty, and responsibility. That's not a coincidence, as the team exemplifies those traits and wants its members to be seen as dependable and trustworthy. Uniforms are a surefire way to gain trust. The suits aren't flashy or overly stylized. Quite the contrary. The outfits are utilitarian research jumpsuits or, in some cases, space suits. They serve a purpose outside of superheroing.

That form and function carry over to their world-saving. It's like those old shoe commercials that promoted fancy workplace shoes that were comfortable on the go. Who doesn't want to be ready for anything? The Fantastic Four are. Name me an outfit you have that you can wear to work and fight Mole Man. I'll wait. 

In the group's debut issue, The Fantastic Four are depicted on the cover all in civilian clothing, looking like a ragtag bunch of strangers being harassed by Giganto and his disastrous breath. It's not until issue #6 that the four don their iconic, Jack Kirby-designed jumpsuits. It is not a coincidence that every incarnation of the Fantastic Four wears uniforms. The colors, even the logo, have differed over the years, but the heart of the Fantastic Four lies in their uniformity. That goes for their abilities as well. 

Most superhero costumes give some indication of their power set, abilities, or general moral alignment. As wildly different as The Fantastic Four's powersets are, the uniforms present them as a single unit. It isn't about any single member of the team. It's about the unit. Fighting as one against the galactic forces of evil.

To stand out as 4

The Fantastic Four stand out in their uniformity. Their brand and uniforms are a visual representation of their cosmic family bond. In the tapestry of individual heroes, the Fantastic Four stand together as one. Their family ties help shape their bond, which is echoed in their shared branding and public appearance. No matter how cool Johnny is, how much The Thing stands out, how powerful Sue is, or how brilliant Reed may be, the team is what matters. They deal with everything as a family. A perfectly designed, super-powered, super-loving family.