The Fantastic Four’s iconic costumes have been brought to life in numerous Marvel movies, with varying degrees of comic book fidelity. Since the early 1990s, the Fantastic Four has been rebooted across four different live-action movie series – with wildly different costume designs to match. With the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s a perfect time to ᴀssess previous costumes.

From scrappy B-movie outfits to tactical sci-fi armor, the evolution of the Fantastic Four’s suits reflects the evolving approach to superhero filmmaking. For comic book purists, accuracy is always king, and the Fantastic Four’s iconic blue-and-white costumes are among the most instantly recognizable in Marvel history. While some films took liberties, others fully embraced the source material, with mixed results.

The Fantastic Four movies have fluctuated notably in quality. The first attempt at Marvel’s First Family was in 1994 and went unreleased. Since then, Fox has attempted two different franchises, totaling three movies. After some hints and cameos, the team finally made it into the MCU timeline with the celebrated Fantastic Four: First Steps.

6

The Unmatching Tactical Suits

Fant4stic (2015)

The 2015 reboot, Fant4stic, took a gritty, grounded approach to the Fantastic Four’s origin – one that extended all the way to their costume design. Gone were the bold blues and iconic “4” logo. In their place were dull, dark, mismatched containment suits with muted black and grey color palettes. Each member wore a suit tailored to their specific power set.

Reed’s suit stretched with him, Sue’s adjusted to her invisibility, Johnny’s resisted heat, and Ben was left ɴuᴅᴇ to display his full rocky form. These costumes had almost no connection to the comic books. They lacked the classic team cohesion, vibrant colors, and even the signature emblem that ties the Fantastic Four together.

The only real nod to the comics was the subtle blue tinge to some of the fabric. The intent was to give the team a militarized, realistic wardrobe that reflected the film’s tone. However, in stripping away the iconography, the movie also stripped away the team’s idenтιтy and was a mᴀssive departure from any version of the comic book outfits.

5

The 2000s Updated Suit Designs

Fantastic Four (2005) & Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

The mid-2000s Fantastic Four films offered a more accessible and mainstream-friendly take on Marvel’s First Family. It included suits that paid homage to the comics while updating them for the big screen. These costumes were primarily dark blue, with a rubber-like texture that mirrored the X-Men films’ aesthetic.

The “4” logo was prominently featured, but toward the left shoulder instead of the traditional chest placement. Despite this change, the suits kept the core elements intact. They feature the high collar originally designed by Jack Kirby. While the all-over blue design also recalls Kirby’s design, it’s more in keeping with the early 2000s designs, such as Michael Turner’s.

The overall silhouette was faithful to the comics, even if the material leaned more toward tactical gear. The suits only evolved slightly in the sequel, adding some contour lines and structure. Though the color was darker than most comic depictions, it was still recognizable. While not a page-for-page recreation, these suits balanced comic inspiration with early-2000s superhero film trends.

4

John Krasinski’s Mister Fantastic Suit

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Though his appearance was brief, John Krasinski’s turn as Mister Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness gave audiences their first MCU Reed Richards – along with a slick new uniform. This version of the costume fused comic book elements with a modern, tech-driven aesthetic reminiscent of the Ultimate Fantastic Four comic line.

The suit featured a navy blue base with black paneling and a raised “4” logo centered on the chest. The high-tech fabric had a leather-like sheen and was clearly more armor than spandex. It also featured structured plating along the arms and legs, giving it the feel of a futuristic flight suit.

While the overall design was more militaristic than the classic comic version, it was instantly recognizable as a Fantastic Four uniform. The symmetrical design, logo placement, and color blocking all stayed true to the source material. For a brief cameo, the suit was impressive with its sleek adaptation and hinted at what the MCU’s Fantastic Four lineup could look like.

3

Chris Evans’ Updated Human Torch Suit

ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine (2024)

Chris Evans’ surprise cameo in ᴅᴇᴀᴅpool & Wolverine gave longtime viewers a nostalgic thrill. It also offered a slightly more comic-accurate update to his original Human Torch suit. Compared to the 2000s suits he wore in Fantastic Four, this version adjusted several key elements to better match the comics.

It featured a more muted blue tone and, most notably, a centered “4” logo on the chest. The material still resembled a rubberized bodysuit, but featured black paneling and muscle definition absent from the 2000s comic costumes. The costume featured darker accents and more detail, giving it a more tactical look.

It’s unclear whether these changes were simply to update the design, or deliberate attempts to make him appear more like the MCU’s Captain America. The ambiguity certainly helped sell the surprise, which would have been spoiled immediately had Johnny been sporting the original uniform. Regardless, this version of the Human Torch suit came slightly closer to resembling the comics.

2

Roger Corman’s Team Suits

The Fantastic Four (1994)

Though the infamous Roger Corman-produced Fantastic Four movie was never officially released, its costumes remain one of the most accurate depictions of the team’s comic book look. The suits were unapologetically faithful to John Byrne’s 1983 designs. They boasted bright blue fabric, white collars, gloves and boots, matching team belts, and the classic “4” logo made larger and slightly lower.

These uniforms looked like they leaped straight off the page. While the materials were clearly cheap, the fidelity to the comics was undeniable. The brightness of the color palette, the unity of the team’s appearance, and the instantly recognizable silhouette all worked in its favor.

The Thing’s look was a different story. Ben Grimm was made from a bulky foam suit that looked like a theme park mascot and offered little in the way of emotion. Nevertheless, the effort to bring his rocky form to life in a pre-CGI era still reflected the spirit of the comics.

Despite the low production value, this version of the team’s costume remains admirably faithful. It certainly did not have the polish of later adaptations, but it understood exactly what the Fantastic Four should look like. Though doomed, Fantastic Four (1994) delivered the right approach without compromise.

1

MCU’s Retro 60s Suits

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

The MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps finally gave fans what they’d been waiting decades for. It featured a fully comic-accurate interpretation of the team’s iconic look. Set in a 1960s alternate universe, the film embraced the classic aesthetic with a modern sensibility. While matching, each character’s suit had subtly different white panels.

The team’s suits were wool-based and tailored to resemble both Jack Kirby and John Byrne designs. Most feature Byrne’s bold blue coloring, white gloves, collars and belts, and the perfectly centered “4” emblem on each chest and belt. Reed Richard’s does not have the white collar, more closely resembling Kirby’s first design of the plain blue jumper-style jersey.

Even more impressive was the fabric choice. Rather than CGI textures or rubberized armor, the suits felt real, tangible, and era-specific. They weren’t stylized into futuristic uniforms, they were the classic suits, faithfully recreated for the screen. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel Studios delivered the most comic-accurate version of the Fantastic Four yet—balancing authenticity, nostalgia, and practicality.