Marvel’s Latest What If Gives The Fantastic Four In A Disney Makeover (Exclusive Preview)

The first inside page is the title and credits page, with two lines of character headshots that parallel who he is:

• Mickey Mouse = Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (both team centers)

• Minnie Mouse = Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (the only girl on the team)

• Goofy = Johnny Storm/Human Torch (comic cameo)

• Donald Duck = Ben Grimm/The Thing (fast-tempered)

The following pages parallel the structure of “Fantastic Four” #1 Written by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. In this issue, the front pages introduced the four people one by one, all of whom live in midtown Manhattan and actually Having their powers. Their origin, being astronauts exposed to and changed by cosmic rays during a space flight, is told in flashback across pages 9-13. The rest of the issue lived up to the cover, showing the Fantastic Four fighting a giant monster controlled by the Mole Man.

The first drawn page shows the blazing symbol of the Four in the sky, echoing how Reed Richards fired a flare to summon the other three in “Fantastic Four” #1. The citizens of Duckburg look up to the sky in awe.

As in the original comic, the first hero we meet is the Invisible Woman. Minnie Mouse is watching TV with Clarabelle Cow, but when she notices the signal in the sky, it disappears.

Next comes the thing. In “Fantastic Four” #1, Ben Grimm is introduced in a clothing store, wearing a thick coat to hide his stone skin. When his true appearance is discovered, he goes on a bit of a rampage. Meanwhile, Donald Duck is simply ironing his clothes (which have been torn since his transformation). However, when he sees the signal, he runs out the door and rips it off the hinges along the way.

Next, the Human Torch. Goofy says the flame catches while working on a car with Horace Horsecollar. He doesn’t accidentally melt a car like Johnny Storm did, but he flies into a barbecue competition and gives everyone a spark to help out.

This obviously takes The Goofy Torch’s energy, but don’t worry, because when he falls, the super-stretch Mickey is there to catch him. With The Fantastic Four assembled, the comic teases the origin story yet to come.

Although he doesn’t appear in this preview, it’s clear that Pete, Mickey’s archenemy, will be playing the Mole Man. Who then is this universe’s version? The always envious Doctor Doom, who blames his old colleague Reed Richards for his scarred face? Maybe Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, by Walt Disney Firstly Creation (displaced by Mickey).

“Marvel & Disney: What If…? Mickey & Friends Became the Fantastic Four” #1 will be released in print and digitally on January 8, 2025.