Since the announcement of a Fantastic Four film, fans have wondered how Marvel’s first family would enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, viewers got a first look at the Fantastic Four via a variant of Reed Richards. But audiences are still curious about what's in store for Marvel's First Family, especially the teammates who have yet to be seen.
There are endless directions the MCU can take the group. They could be introduced via an origin film establishing the whole team at once, like with The Guardians of the Galaxy. Another option could be skipping an origin story altogether, jumping straight into the early days of the team’s heroic career, similar to how Spider-Man was introduced. In fact, Sue Storm can be hard at work as Invisible Woman long before the Fantastic Four takes its place among the well-established heroes of the MCU, thanks to her first solo series.
What Was Sue Storm’s Solo Comic Series?
Back in 2019, Sue Storm received a miniseries. Invisible Woman, written by Mark Waid and pencils by Mattia De Iulis, is about Sue returning to the world of espionage. While the main storyline follows Sue as she jumps back into the spy game, the comic revisits a chapter of her life new to many readers. Back in the day, she undertook an undercover mission on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Sue being a spy makes perfect sense, thanks to her powers. Obviously, her ability to make herself invisible means it's easy for her to spy on others and sneak behind enemy lines. As seen in the miniseries, she can also alter the colors of her hair and eyes, making her a master of disguise. Along with making herself invisible, she can make objects and people invisible. Sue is the perfect partner in the field, as she can provide cover in numerous ways, whether that is via her force fields or by making her partner invisible to the naked eye. Meanwhile, her ability to make objects invisible means she can see through them. Whether it is trying to see if an enemy is sneaking up on her or if she is trying to gather crucial information without breaking into something, this power gives her a huge advantage when working in the world of spies.
The MCU Can Introduce Invisible Woman Before the Fantastic Four Film
Introducing Sue Storm on her own and prior to the Fantastic Four film could work well since the MCU has done something similar with several of its most successful characters. Captain America: Civil War introduced Black Panther and Spider-Man to the MCU before their solo films. Even when they had their own films, these movies did not deliver origin stories, as T’Challa and Peter Parker had been working as heroes beforehand. Not only does this switch up the formula for superhero origin stories, but it also proves the world of the MCU is home to plenty of heroes beyond the official Avengers.
Meanwhile, characters who are not set for their own films but are destined for team-up movies have similarly been introduced this way. Yelena, for instance, was introduced in Black Widow. While she does not have a film in-store focusing on her, she will play a major role in Thunderbolts. That also goes for Winter Soldier, Red Guardian and U.S. Agent. All three were supporting characters in their introductions to the MCU rather than being the focal hero or villain. Despite this, they are all set up to be major players in Thunderbolts. Bucky Barnes, in particular, highlights how this approach to character introductions can set someone up for a bigger role.
It could be the same for Sue. Prior to an official Fantastic Four film where she is front and center with the other members, she can be introduced in a supporting role -- akin to how Bucky, Yelena, T’Challa and Peter were introduced. She can even still steal the show like these characters have done and tease what could be in store for the Fantastic Four. Besides, there are plenty of projects ahead of the MCU that would suit Invisible Woman and her short-lived career as a spy.
Marvel Features Espionage in Thunderbolts and Secret Invasion
Over the years, the MCU has gone beyond what’s expected of superheroes by pulling in elements from other genres. That includes espionage-thrillers, best seen with Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Since then, there have been other attempts to weave more of the spy side of these comics into their film adaptations, like with Black Widow. But come Phase Five, the MCU has more in store for this subgenre.
While little is known about Thunderbolts, based on the team’s comic history and the characters’ backgrounds, it would be shocking for the film not to feature espionage. Because of this, Sue Storm could fit right in, even if she isn’t a full-time team member. Like in her miniseries, she could be brought in for a specific mission rather than being brought on as a permanent member. That would give her a chance to show off her abilities and establish her as an ally to the characters on this team.
Another espionage-like title from the MCU is Secret Invasion. While more is known about this show, there is still a lot of mystery to the Disney+ series, like who Emila Clarke is playing and what the Skrulls want. In a show about aliens blending in with humanity, having a character who can alter her appearance, keep out of sight of those stealing identities and gather information without leaving a trace would be a huge advantage for Nick Fury and Talos.
Between these two titles, there is a place for a character like Invisible Woman. Given the success of other characters introduced into the MCU prior to their own films or series, it makes sense to pull inspiration from the Invisible Woman solo series and introduce Sue Storm earlier than her teammates, ideally in an espionage setting.