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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a return to form for the MCU, filled with thrilling visuals, a villain who’s actually imposing, and well-realized characters who go through a range of complicated, sometimes conflicting emotions while facing an impossible threat. Each of the Fantastic Four does an outstanding job of bringing their hero to life, but Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm gives an especially magnificent performance.
Throughout the film, Kirby portrays Sue with steadfast conviction, empathetic wisdom, and strength to lead by example in the team’s darkest hour. Now that the movie has been out for a few weeks, it’s time to get into spoiler territory and discuss some of Sue’s most badass moments in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The following moments are ranked by Kirby’s intensity, the impact on the plot, and general badassery.
5
Sue Saves Lives Through Diplomacy
Not every badass moment involves a heroic feat of strength, and Sue demonstrates this with her life-saving diplomacy skills. Early in the film, the groundwork is laid that Sue strives to connect the world through civil discussion by founding the Future Foundation and inviting all countries to play a role in its efforts. The foundation is successful thanks to Sue, and peace is largely brokered, even extending to Fantastic Four adversaries like Harvey Elder, AKA, the Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser). This peace and cooperation are put to the test when the Earth’s population is faced with potential extinction at the hungry, hungry hands of Galactus (Ralph Ineson). Rather than allow the world to be overthrown by chaos, Sue unites all countries in an attempt to build teleportation bridges designed by Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal). Although the plan doesn’t ultimately work, Sue’s diplomacy saves the lives of their version of New York when she calls upon Mole Man for civilian sanctuary.
Sue’s ability to operate as a diplomat creates an open line of communication that will save the lives of millions before Galactus takes his first destructive steps into the city. When Mole Man arrives at the Baxter Building to hear the Fantastic Four’s request, he takes the time to savor the idea that the bright and shiny heroes need his subterranean assistance. Tensions are high between Reed and Mole Man, and their animosity takes less than two seconds to surface, with Reed seemingly quick to call off the meeting and look for another solution. Sue steps in before things escalate, and by taking charge of the conversation, she convinces Mole Man to provide shelter for the citizens before Galactus arrives. Mole Man admits he was planning to help either way, but his willingness to step up is because of Sue. Without her leadership abilities, it’s likely Mole Man and the Fantastic Four would still be trapped in a cycle of fights that would have left millions vulnerable to Galactus’ destruction.
4
Sue Takes on the Silver Surfer While in Labor
The Fantastic Four’s meeting with Galactus does not end as the heroes would have hoped. The behemoth is indifferent to the humans’ pleas, but when he senses that Sue’s unborn child is imbued with cosmic power, he offers to spare Earth in exchange for the child. The Fantastic Four reject the offer, but Galactus doesn’t take no for an answer and induces labor in Sue to possess the baby. As the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) gives chase to the powerful superhero team, they scramble toward their ship to protect Sue and the soon-to-be-arriving baby. However, when the Silver Surfer cuts off their escape, it’s Sue who does the saving when she puts a force field around the Silver Surfer’s throat and flings her away. The move buys them enough time to reach the safety of the ship and puts distance between them and Galactus.
Superheroes fight all the time, but how many do it during labor? Outside of some wild fan fiction, when did Spider-Man ever beat the Green Goblin while having contractions? Sue is in so much pain that she needs to be carried to the ship, but through impressive resilience and grit, she neutralizes the Silver Surfer with a Jedi move that looks designed to be painful. Sue is a champion for diplomacy, but when she tells Johnny (Joseph Quinn) to kill the Silver Surfer, she makes it clear this is not one of those moments. These are forces that want to hurt her family and take her child, and no punches will be pulled.
3
Sue Faces an Angry Crowd
The Fantastic Four left Earth as heroes, but when they return after their encounter with Galactus, they quickly become pariahs. Upon learning that Galactus will spare Earth if Franklin is relinquished to him, a low murmur of discontent turns into deafening outrage when an angry mob forms outside the Baxter Building. Feeling that their heroes have abandoned them to protect one of their own, the public demands that the heroes make a sacrifice for the greater good. Sue is saddened by the display, but she understands everyone is scared, so she goes down, speaking to them directly with Franklin in her arms. Appealing to their humanity, Sue calms the crowd with reassurance that her love for her child will not stop her family from fighting for Earth.
…Sue calms the crowd with reassurance that her love for her child will not stop her family from fighting for Earth.
Sue didn’t need to leave the building, and the other members of her team probably wouldn’t have thought it a wise decision, but she instinctively knew what was needed at that moment. Kirby is incredible in this scene, projecting a regal mixture of wisdom, kindness, and humility. She speaks without judgment or the condescension that can accompany seeing an answer that others don’t and calmly explains that choosing her son does not mean she forsakes everyone else. Just because a demand is made doesn’t mean appeasing it is the only solution. Heroic is a word open to interpretation, and it can mean many things in many situations, but to walk into an angry crowd and meet their hate with empathy and compassion speaks to Sue’s ability to inspire others when hope seems lost.
2
Sue Gives Birth in Space
Image via Marvel Studios
After momentarily escaping the clutches of the Silver Surfer and Galactus, the Fantastic Four climb onto their ship, where they will soon become the Fantastic Five. Sue is in the throes of labor, and with the closest hospital many light years away, she’ll be forced to give birth in space. Complicating matters further is the Silver Surfer, who is still trying to take Sue’s baby so that she may return to Galactus with the child. Johnny attempts to strap Sue down, and she quickly stops him by knocking him against a wall with her powers. As the ship flies at top speed in a return to Earth, Sue grabs her husband’s hand and prepares to bring their child into the world.
First off, let it be acknowledged that accepting a space mission while in the late stages of pregnancy makes Sue a badass. She goes in understanding the risks, bravely doing it anyway, because Sue knows the world and her family are counting on her, even if they would never outright ask her to do something so dangerous. Sue didn’t want her baby born in a spaceship fleeing an alien threat — that wasn’t the way she wanted to bring her son into the world — and yet she pushed forward. Giving birth is a highly stressful situation under ideal conditions, but Sue has to do it floating in zero gravity, in what must be immense pain, while cloaking the ship with her powers at the same time. Sue giving birth is one of the film’s greatest scenes, and it’s a defining moment for the character.
1
Sue Confronts Galactus
The climax of The Fantastic Four: First Steps pits Marvel’s First Family against the Devourer of Worlds when Galactus lands on Earth and seeks to claim Franklin Richards for his own. The time for planning and strategy is over, and with Galactus rattling New York City with each step toward the baby, the Fantastic Four make one last-ditch effort to replace Franklin with a decoy without the cosmic threat noticing. Because the plan was a little undercooked, Galactus easily discovers the ruse, snatches Franklin, and turns away from the heroes, unconcerned with their presence now that he has what he came for. Sue is far from finished, and she uses her force field to gain Galactus’ attention. Increasingly irritated by her persistence, Galactus struggles against the sheer will of Sue, as, inch by inch, she pushes the giant toward the portal that will fling him to the other side of the galaxy.
Throughout the film, Sue has shown diplomacy, resilience, compassion, and bravery, but at that moment, with her child in Galactus’ hand, she channels raw, unwavering determination. Everything has led to Galactus and Sue standing on the same level ground, each an obstacle in the other’s path, neither accepting defeat as a possibility. Galactus may tower over her, and he may have lived for eons before and will continue to for eons after, but at this moment, they are equals in a battle of wills that Galactus lost the moment he touched Franklin. For Galactus, this is about relieving a burden, a hunger satiated, but Sue is motivated by the immeasurable love for a child she didn’t think she would ever have. That’s the type of love you sacrifice for, struggle for, and, if called to do so, die for. Sue puts every ounce of her being into saving her child, and no cosmic force in existence has the power to deny her.
