In establishing the unique reality of Earth-828, Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces a staggering number of the First Family’s villains, almost all co-created by Stan Lee. And while Galactus and the Silver Surfer take center stage and the Mole Man has an important role in the plot, some of Stan ‘the Man’ Lee’s other creations get incredibly understated – almost hidden – debuts.
Five of the Fantastic Four’s oldest and most dangerous villains are mentioned in First Steps, only fully shown in the end-credits scene depicting the animated show based on the movie’s heroes.
fantastic four cartoon in end credits sequence
However, while they may not have arrived with much fanfare, these villains are now official MCU canon, and could well appear in future movies. Here’s everything you need to know about the underrated Stan Lee villains introduced in First Steps.
5
The Wizard, aka Bentley Wittman
Debuted in Strange Tales #102, Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby
fantastic four villain the wizard 2
A mad genius obsessed with fathering a new ‘superior’ offshoot of humanity, the Wizard is a technologist who designs his gadgets to look like magic. His trademark invention is the gravity disc, which allows the wearer to fly, however he’s also created mechs powered by his own clones and an army of robots nicknamed the Frightful Four Hundred.
Bentley Wittman has grown more and more unstable over the years, with the Fantastic Four eventually adopting his clone son, Bentley-23, onto the Future Foundation, leading to even more bad blood.
4
Diablo, aka Esteban Corazón de Ablo
Debuted in Fantastic Four #30 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
fantastic four villain diablo 4
An ancient alchemist, Diablo is one of Marvel’s most dangerous villains. Having granted himself immortality to study his craft, Diablo is capable of everything from shapeshifting to controlling minds to animating water into monstrous life. He’s also prone to initiating plans that take decades to come to fruition.
Capable of creating explosions, summoning demonic enforcers and accessing alternate planes of existence, Diable is among the FF’s most dangerous foes, especially because his field of expertise has been lost to time, meaning even Reed Richards struggles to understand his capabilities.
3
The Red Ghost, aka Ivan Kragoff
Debuted in Fantastic Four #13 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
fantastic four villain the red ghost 3
Played by John Malkovich in scenes ultimately cut from Fantastic Four: First Steps, the Red Ghost is a Russian villain who commands three trained apes imbued with superpowers.
Informed by the Fantastic Four’s origin, Red Ghost studied how to use Cosmic Rays, but didn’t want to empower anyone who might stand against him. He gained intangibility powers out of the bargain, while his apes developed superstrength, shapeshifting and magnetic powers.
2
The Puppet Master, aka Phillip Masters
Debuted in Fantastic Four #8 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
fantastic four villain the puppet master
A maniacal manipulator, Phillip Masters discovered radioactive clay which can control the actions of any individual, so long as it’s shaped into a ‘puppet’ resembling them. Puppet Master can control everyone from Mister Fantastic to the Hulk.
Puppet Master has a particularly personal connection to the FF, since his adopted daughter Alicia is a longtime love interest (and eventual wife) of Ben Grimm’s Thing.
1
The Mad Thinker, aka Julius
Debuted in Fantastic Four #15 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
fantastic four villain the mad thinker
A mysterious genius who can predict the future by studying endless variables, the Mad Thinker has an enduring rivalry with Reed Richards – not least because the FF are the one variable he finds himself unable to account for. The Mad Thinker has struck at the Fantastic Four in a variety of ways, from unleashing his henchman the Awesome Android to messing with their DNA to turn their powers against them.
Fantastic-Four-Road-Trip-Cover-Image
While he’s not visually impressive, Mad Thinker is one of Marvel’s smartest villains of all time, earning the respect of Reed Richards and Doctor Doom, who have both consulted him when the chips are down.
Those are the five awesome Stan Lee villains that Fantastic Four: First Steps introduced to MCU canon – while the villains don’t get much screentime in the movie itself, here’s hoping they’ll get the spotlight in future movies.
Release Date
July 25, 2025
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Matt Shakman
Writers
Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Kat Wood, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
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Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
