SPOILER Warning: For Wanda Vision (better catch up on the series or I'll spoil a reveal)
No Artist has launched as many profitable IP’s as Jack Kirby. But the two series that are most associated with the King of Comics are the Fantastic Four (the series that launched him from obscurity) and The New Gods (his failed DC follow up). While Jack Kirby launched, The Hulk, X-men and Iron Man he did the more issues of the Fourth World Saga (an umbrella term for almost all of Kirby’s DC work in the 70’s) and Fantastic Four (which he and Stan Lee still have the record for collaboration on series). But to the more casual fans these series are most loved for their Villains Dr Doom and Darkseid in particular topping best villains list.
When Marvel sold the film rights to their First Family to Roger Corman’s Constantine films in the 1980’s they had no idea what a thorn in their side this would be. The Fantastic Four were Marvel’s first big success and every subsequent title would either be spun off from a concept introduced in the series or legitimised by a crossover. The Hulk’s sales got so low that series would get cancelled, look who guest stars in issue 12, Stan Lee wants Spider-man to be a success Fantastic Four Guest star in Amazing Spider-man 1. Dr Strange was introduced as the second feature in the Human Torch’s solo book, The Kree were introduced in Fantastic Four 13 to be the ancient enemy of the Skrull who were introduced in issue 2. Shield and Nick Fury first appeared in Fantastic Four 21. Wakanda and Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four 52 with Ulysses Klaw introduced in the next issue.
With Fox buying Constantine Films and making Fantastic Four movies just to keep the license (I have already written a blog about those movies), Marvel’s film productions had constant arguments over who owned what, and what characters could be used. Joss Whedon wanted to use The Skrull in Avengers but instead they had to create the Chitari. After this Marvel realised they had very few villains to work with so instead had to make deals with Fox until buying the company out completely. Ulysses Klaw was the first F4 villain to make it off the comic page into the MCU, then Ronan the Accuser appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy (who debuted in Fantastic Four 65). A deal had to be made so that James Gunn could use Ego the Living Planet in the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel in its current state would’ve been impossible without the Fox/Disney Merger. Wanda vision in it’s latest episode revealed that Agatha Harkness was behind everything (with a theme tune that sounded suspiciously like the Munsters). Agatha Harkness the live in Nanny to Franklin Richards the son of Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. Agatha Harkness the mother to Dr Strange and Fantastic Four Villain Nicholas Scratch.
The future of the MCU looks to continue this trend with rumours of Dr Doom as the villain for Black Panther 2 and Kang the Conquerer for the villain in Ant Man 3. Kang may not be a Fantastic Four villain but he is the time travelling descendent of the team although the F4 often clash with his alter ego The pharaoh. Kang has many different personas from different altered Timelines and is often in conflict with himself.
So what of the New Gods? well Darkseid is the villain in “Snyder-cut” of Justice League. The Super Powers team cartoon (the later less goofy version of Super-Friends) had Darkseid, Desaad and Kalibak as frequent villains appearing in the show more than Lex Luthor, the Joker or the Legion of Doom. The earlier or “Whedon” cut of Justice League had Steppenwolf as the antagonist. But where are the heroic New Gods, Orion, Big Barda, Mr Miracle, Light-Ray or The High-father? Does anyone who doesn’t obsess over superheroes even know who they are?
