A look at the Fantastic Four in comics from their 1961 debut onwards shows how the the Marvel universe originated from the Four.

“Fantastic Four” has a “distinct retro-futuristic aesthetic and family-focused themes,” according to Rotten Tomatoes. With a “certified fresh” critics score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes, reactions to “Fantastic Four” seem largely positive — even if they sometimes come with qualifications.

This iteration of the Fantastic Four has a standalone adventure without all the burden of the MCU's history and cast of characters.

This week, Marvel Studios is releasing the highly anticipated The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25th. The upcoming Marvel movie marks the long-awaited induction of the first superhero family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the third cinematic iteration of the iconic comic book characters overall… or, is it?

Fantastic Four: First Steps opened to an estimated $57 million in the United States on Friday, including preview screenings, making it the second-largest opening day of the year. The figure puts the Marvel Cinematic Universe entry just behind A Minecraft Movie, which earned $57.11 million on its opening day.

The Fantastic Four have traditionally struggled with the transition to the big screen.

However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has taken it a step further with its marketing, more than any other Marvel film that I can think of. For the press, the releases are often typed up in a vintage 1960s typewriter format, which is impressive. But for the public? Gosh, it’s been so fun.