The Fantastic Four: the first steps hid a sincere tribute to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby that you probably lost

The Fantastic Four: First Steps It is full of all the shows of superheroes and fans of cosmic chaos could hope, but immersed in all the intergalactic drama and the action is a touching tribute to the two legends that have started everything: Stan Lee AND Jack Kirby.

The film takes place on Earth 828, an elegant and retro world modeled after the 1960s oscillating and is inspired by Kirby’s birthday, August 28th. In this alternative reality, the fantastic four are cultural icons.

Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), His Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and well grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are plastered on everything, from the boxes of cereals to a Saturday morning cartoon and even act in their officially sanctioned comic, courtesy of the future foundation.

The tribute affects the front and the center during the moment Silver Surfer of the film. Like Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) descends into a flame of cosmic glory to warn of galactus (Ralph Inesion), arrives outside the imaginary building of timely comics in Times Square.

Looking in awe are two timely employees, interpreted by Martin Dickinson AND Greg Haistswho look like a young Kirby and a pre-Mustache Lee, who is a fun nod to their first days of wonder.

The timely comics were the precursor of wonder, and it is where Lee and Kirby collaborated for the first time to unleash The Four Fantastic On the world in 1961. That debut problem put the team against the monstrous Mole Man and his pet Kaiju, Giganto, who even gets a show moment in the first steps during a assembly that recreates the iconic comic coverage.

Inside the timely office, fans with eagle eyes will find a treasure chest of Easter eggs. The Kirby drawing table presents works of art that echoes Strange Tales #79, a 1960 comic monster co-based by Lee, pencil from Don Heck and embellished with a cover of Kirby with a creature called “The Thing”.

There is also a panel in a way not colored by Suspense stories #27, entitled “Oog Live Again!” and a page ended by Fantastic Four #13 which shows the first appearance of Utu The Watcher, from a segment entitled “The Watcher appears”.

Kirby and Lee have had some cameos of comics, whether it was Dr. Doom to visit the Marvel Bullpella Fantastic Four #10 or the duo has exhilarating the entry to Reed’s wedding and his in Fantastic four annuals #3, their sense of self -conscious fun lives in this film.

“He is a visionary”, director Matt Shakman He told Marvel.com. “Today we would not have Marvel Studios without Jack Kirby. He created so many of these fantastic characters, and built this world together with Stan Lee. So many of our heroes launched by his mind and pen, and wanted to honor him. We wanted to honor his distinctive style.”

The creative team described their visual inspiration as “when Kirby meets Kubrick”, referring to the visionary of science fiction Stanley Kubrick. Kirby has adapted notoriously 2001: a spatial odyssey In a special of the Marvel treasure in 1976, merging cosmic art with bold narration.

Kevin FeigePresident and producer of Marvel Studios, he further explained the meaning: “We wanted it to be more than a simple tip of the hat. There are lines directed by his pencil with which he designed on his drawing table alone, pouring his imagination that turns into the universe on the page.

“There are direct lines from there in this film.” He continued, “[We wanted] This film is a shameless celebration of Mr. Kirby, which I think should be spoken in the same breath as Stan Lee at all times.

“He has never been so vocal or on the front line like Stan. He also died long ago, and he didn’t see any of what his work would have inspired.”

The film ends with a powerful note, not with a post-Credito mockery, but with a quote from Kirby himself:
“If you look at my characters, you will find me. It doesn’t matter which type of character you create or take, a little bit of yourself has to stay there.”