If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Marvel comic creators visit the Baxter Building and meet Sue Storm on the set of Fantastic Four: First Steps

Not amongst the Marvel talent on set for the new Marvel Studios movie was Jonathan Hickman, but not because he wasn't invited

Tom Brevoort, Substack
Image credit: Tom Brevoort, Substack

Ok gang, I've figured out how to get scoops on the Marvel Cinematic Universe: All you have to do is spend much of your life dedicated to creating the best and most interesting Marvel storylines, then apparently, you might get invited to an MCU movie set! At least, that's what happened to several high-profile Marvel Comics creators, who got to visit the Fantastic 4: First Steps set just a few weeks ago. Among them was executive editor Tom Brevoort, who took the time to write down (what he was able to of) his experience.

The report comes from Brevoort's weekly substack, Man with a Hat, in the October 27 edition. The current captain of the X-Men line shared a little bit about what he and the creators pictured above saw on-set in England, but don't expect very much in the way of spoilers. Even the picture that headlines this piece was, in Brevoort's words, "the one photograph that has been cleared for release so far," which gives you an idea of just how tight-lipped the whole operation had to be.

What Brevoort can say with no reservation, however, is just who did and didn't make it to set that day. As you can see from the photo, that was "Marvel EIC C.B. Cebulski, SVP David Bogart, Sara Pichelli, Alan Davis and his wife Heather Davis, Matt Fraction, Dan Slott, Chip Zdarsky, Mark Bagley, Ryan North and Tom DeFalco." All of these folks have created or were adjacent to the creation of landmark stories in the long history of Marvel's Fantastic Four comics.

Other unspecified comic creators were also invited, Brevoort writes, only naming one who couldn't make it. That was Jonathan Hickman, who wrote the FF between issues #570-#611, and who couldn't make it due to an expired passport. Sorry Mr. Hickman; we know the Krakoan customs agency can be pretty paperwork-heavy.

The creators who did manage to make it, however, saw some pretty exciting stuff according to Brevoort, not the least of which was the set of the Baxter Building (which we knew would be a part of First Steps thanks to some San Diego Comic Con footage) and the set of Yancey Street (which we did not know would feature in the film). They were also greeted by a very enthusiastic Vanessa Kirby, who Brevoort writes "was super-interested in talking with everybody about her character Sue Storm."

Unfortunately, that's all Brevoort could reveal of his time on the Fantastic 4: First Steps set, which he called "a top-5 day in my long Marvel career." But don't worry everyone, I'm working on learning how to draw The Thing so I can invited to set before the movie comes out July 25, 2025.

Wish me luck!



Find yourself in the Marvel U with our MCU watch order, best Marvel Comics list, all of the MCU movies ranked, and our weekly column on all things Marvel - Marvel Matters.

 

Grant DeArmitt

Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. As Popverse's Staff Writer, he criss-crosses the pop culture landscape bringing you the news and opinions about the big things (and the next big things). In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.

Comments

Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.

View Comments (0)

Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy