To herald the release of Fantastic Four: First Steps, we're starting the second half of our Summer of Superheroes with a look at the romance of 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer!

Join in as we discuss the history of FF adaptations, the challenge of writing a super-genius, the flattening of Sue Storm, and our favorite movies of 2025 so far.

Plus: Why are adaptations so scared of Dr. Doom? Why is Galactus a cloud in this movie? What is Doom's plan with the silver surfboard? And how did this movie's promotional campaign break federal law?

Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe!

Next week: Venom (2018)

-------------------------------------------------

Key sources and links for this episode:

• MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzalez, and Gavin Edwards (2023)
• All of the Marvels by Douglas Wolk (2021)
• "Inside Move: Surfer May Board Four" (Variety)
• "2007 Preview: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" (Wizard Universe)
• "Fantastic Four 2 Set Footage and Comments" (SuperHeroHype)
• "Fishburne Voices Surfer" (Variety)
• "US Mint: Silver Surfer Coin is Breaking the Law" (Fox News)
• "The Fantastic Four Movie You'll Never See" (Wired)
• "A Mania for Marvel" (Variety)
• "Down with Love's Reed Won't Do Fantastic Four" (Entertainment Weekly)
• "Fantastic Four Almost Made Jessica Alba Quit Acting" (PopEater)
• "The Hundred Best Movies of the Twenty-First Century" (New York Times)