Marvel’s latest ‘What If’ gives Fantastic Four a Disney makeover (Exclusive Preview)

The first inside page is the title page and the credits page, with two rows of character images side-by-side showing who’s who:

• Mickey Mouse = Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (both in the center of the team)

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

• Goofy = Johnny Storm/Man Torch (Comic Relief)

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

The following pages follow the structure of Fantastic Four #1 Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. In that issue, the front pages featured the four individually, all of whom lived in midtown Manhattan and already having his powers. Their origins, being astronauts exposed to and altered by cosmic rays during spaceflight, were told in a flashback on 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.

Marvel Comics

The first illustrated page shows the Four’s symbol burning in the sky, echoing how Reed Richards fired the rocket to summon the other three in Fantastic Four #1. The people of Duckburg look up at the sky with fear.

As in the original comic, the first character we meet is an invisible woman. Minnie Mouse is watching TV with Clarabelle the cow, but when she notices a signal in the sky, it disappears.

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Next comes The Thing. Fantastic Four #1 features Ben Grimm in a clothing store, wearing a thick coat to disguise his stony skin. When his true form is revealed, he goes on a rampage. Meanwhile, Donald Duck is just ironing his clothes (which were torn after his transformation). However, seeing the signal, he runs out the door, tearing it off its hinges on the way.

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Next up, Human Torch. Goofy says the flames are burning as he works on the car with Horace Horsecollar. He doesn’t accidentally melt a car like Johnny Storm did, but he flies past barbecue competitions and gives everyone a spark of help.

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This apparently drains Goofy Torch’s energy, but don’t worry because when he falls, super elastic Mickey picks him up. With the Fantastic Four reunited, the comic teases an origin story that is still to come.

Marvel Comics

Although he doesn’t appear in this preview, Mickey’s nemesis Pete will apparently play the role of the Mole Man. Who then is the version of this universe the ever-jealous Dr. Doom, who blames his scarred face on his old schoolmate Reed Richards? Perhaps Walt Disney’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit the first creation (which was supplanted by Mickey).

“Marvel & Disney: What If…? Mickey and Friends Become the Fantastic Four” #1 is out in print and digital January 8, 2025.