Copyright Screen Rant
The Fantastic Four: First Steps reintroduced Marvel’s First Family, featuring a bold mix of characters with varying degrees of power. The MCU’s First Steps delivered both a heartfelt family dynamic and some jaw-dropping power displays. First Steps showed just how far these heroes, and their enemies, could push their abilities, and how they might fit into the wider MCU timeline. From Mole Man’s underground schemes to Galactus’ world-ending hunger, every major character in First Steps played a distinct role in shaping the team’s journey. However, not every hero (or villain) lived up to their comic book potential. Some displayed staggering power on screen. While others seemed surprisingly restrained. Indeed, ranking these characters by strength reveals how First Steps balances human vulnerability with godlike might. Whether it’s Franklin Richards’ reality-bending resurrection or the Silver Surfer’s cosmic rebellion, this lineup proves that even within one film, the Fantastic Four universe contains an extraordinary hierarchy of power. Harvey Elder, AKA Mole Man The Fantastic Four: First Steps first villain, Mole Man, is more of a narrative catalyst than a real threat. Played with quirky eccentricity, he introduces audiences to the movie’s tone: strange, humorous, and slightly tragic. Unfortunately, in terms of power, he doesn’t quite make an impression. His control over subterranean creatures and seismic technology offers potential, but First Steps uses him primarily to demonstrate the team’s early coordination. His schemes and eventual defeat are largely relegated to an opening montage which established the Fantastic Four as heroes. As a result, Mole Man’s demonstrations of power are fleeting and serve only to bolster the team’s backstory. Mole Man’s gadgets and intellect hint at danger, but his presence fades quickly as the story expands into cosmic stakes. While he might rank lowest in sheer might, Mole Man’s importance is undoubted, offering an uneasy alliance with the team in the battle against Galactus. As a villain, he’s minor; as a narrative stepping stone, he’s essential. Ben Grimm, AKA The Thing Ben Grimm’s The Thing is the Fantastic Four’s muscle. However, in First Steps, he’s notably less powerful than expected. His strength and durability are immense, capable of toppling buildings and hauling a ship from the sea. Yet his comic-level feats never subsequently materialize. First Steps intentionally offered a far more gentile Thing than seen before. While certainly effective, it’s hard to imagine this Thing going toe-to-toe with Mark Ruffalo’s Savage Hulk as he so often does in the comics. Regardless, his combat scenes emphasize emotion over spectacle, grounding the film’s action in real humanity. Still, even with limited raw strength, The Thing’s courage and resilience elevate him. When the rest of the team falters, Ben’s grit keeps them together. He might not rival the cosmic heavyweights on this list, but his heart, loyalty, and determination remain as unbreakable as his stone skin and created an instant MCU icon. Reed Richards, AKA Mr Fantastic As Mister Fantastic, Reed Richards is the intellectual core of the Fantastic Four. In First Steps, his powers of elasticity take a backseat to his mind. While his stretching abilities appear briefly in combat, his brilliance is what truly defines his strength. Reed’s inventions and strategies keep the team alive, whether evading a black hole or plotting to move Galactus elsewhere in the universe. While he barely flexes his elasticity in battle, he uses his powers practically, merging flexibility with problem-solving. Though not as bombastic, it feels consistent with his personality. Nevertheless, he likewise seems less powerful than his comic book counterpart. Ultimately, Reed’s greatest weapon is his intellect. His capacity to think beyond the limits of reality itself makes him indispensable. While not the flashiest member of the team, he’s arguably the most essential in ensuring the Fantastic Four’s survival. Johnny Storm, AKA The Human Torch Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, delivers some of First Steps’ most thrilling power sequences. From his high-speed flight through Manhattan to his fiery dogfight against Silver Surfer, Johnny proves he’s evolved far beyond the reckless hothead audiences remember. His control over flame shows immense precision. The montage scene in particular demonstrated his effortless control, absorbing external flames into his fiery form. This already ranks him as more powerful than previous cinematic Human Torches. As seen in First Steps, Johnny is one of the few human heroes capable of fighting the mighty Silver Surfer, at least for a moment. Despite his swagger, Johnny’s growth shines through. He fights smarter, using teamwork and tactics rather than pure flash. His power may not rival gods, but his mastery of it earns respect – and makes him one of the MCU’s most visually stunning heroes to watch. Sue Storm, AKA The Invisible Woman Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, quickly proves to be one of the most powerful and emotionally resonant characters in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Her ability to manipulate force fields evolves far beyond invisibility – by the final act, she’s the only one to hold back the total might of Galactus. Sue’s control and precision are extraordinary. Yet her arc emphasizes inner strength. She’s a protector who channels emotion into incredible control. In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Sue’s power peaks when she sacrifices herself shielding her family, only to be revived later through Franklin’s gift. This feat alone is something her teammates could never achieve, placing her highest within the superhero team. However, it’s her balance of compassion and strength that makes her a standout hero. She’s not just the heart of the team – she’s their most quietly powerful. Shalla-Bal, AKA The Silver Surfer Reimagined as Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer is First Steps’ cosmic centerpiece. Gifted with the Power Cosmic, she wields abilities that dwarf nearly everyone else in the film. Her flight, energy manipulation, and matter control make her both breathtaking and terrifying. Initially serving Galactus, Shalla-Bal’s inner conflict becomes the emotional pivot of the story. Shalla-Bal’s powers are kept vague throughout First Steps, though she does display abilities typical of the power cosmic. These include superstrength, speed, durability, flight, and intangibility. It’s implied that she has even further powers, though these have yet to emerge. The final sequence where she knocks Galactus into the portal establishes her as a top-tier character. Indeed, without the Silver Surfer, the Fantastic Four would have fallen. She bridges the gap between mortal heroism and cosmic destiny – a symbol of empathy overcoming infinite power. Galactus Galactus stands as the embodiment of cosmic hunger. He’s a being who devours entire worlds simply to survive. In First Steps, he appears not as a mere storm or cloud (as in the disappointing Marvel movie), but a tangible, terrifying presence towering over Earth’s atmosphere. His sheer scale dwarfs every other character on this list. The Fantastic Four’s combined strength, Reed’s inventions, and even Sue’s barriers barely delay him. Only the intervention of Shalla-Bal can force him back. His voice echoes with ancient authority, and his power feels almost mythological. Even weakened, Galactus could erase planets with a gesture. His defeat isn’t through brute strength, but a coordinated effort to move him somewhere else. That alone speaks volumes – it takes an army of intellect, courage, and cosmic rebellion to simply redirect him. Galactus was the definitive upper limit of power in this film’s universe. Franklin Richards Franklin Richards, the young son of Reed and Sue, appears late in First Steps but instantly redefines the power scale. After Franklin is introduced, Galactus’s entire plan changes. After Sue’s apparent death during the Galactus battle, Franklin unknowingly channels his latent abilities – bending reality itself to resurrect her. It’s a brief yet universe-altering display. The scene hints at vast, uncontrolled potential: time reversal, matter creation, and life restoration. Reed and and the team immediately recognize what’s happened: Franklin possesses powers rivaling Galactus himself, though his mind hasn’t yet grasped it. This quiet ending turns First Steps from a simple superhero adventure into a story about legacy and evolution.
