Before Reed Richards and his family faced down Galactus on screen, they were quietly taking down a rogue’s gallery of villains who never made it to live action. Marvel Comics is now filling in those blanks — and the latest reveal introduces one of the Fantastic Four’s most personal enemies: the Wizard.
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What the new comic reveals?
“Fantastic Four: First Foes – The Wizard” #1, arriving in December, gives fans their first proper look at Bentley Wittman, a villain only briefly referenced in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” In the film, Reed Richards mentions the Wizard as one of the criminals police rounded up while he was “baby-proofing” New York ahead of his son Franklin’s birth. This new one-shot finally explains why.
Written by Fabian Nicieza with art by Mark Buckingham, the issue reveals the Wizard’s motivation is pure jealousy — he wants the fame and adoration New Yorkers shower on the Fantastic Four, so he sets out to literally steal their headquarters, the Baxter Building.
Marvel Updates
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Comic | “Fantastic Four: First Foes – The Wizard” #1 |
| Release date | December 2026 |
| Writer | Fabian Nicieza |
| Artist | Mark Buckingham |
| Villain | The Wizard (Bentley Wittman) |
| Villain team introduced | The Frightful Four |
| Series | Final entry in the “First Foes” quarterly one-shots |
| Cover artist | Phil Noto |
Who is the Wizard, and why does he matter?
Despite the name, the Wizard isn’t a sorcerer — he’s a genius inventor whose advanced tech, including his signature anti-gravity discs, only looks like magic. First introduced in 1963’s “Strange Tales” #102 by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby, he began as Johnny Storm’s rival before escalating into a full-blown enemy of the entire team.
Realizing he couldn’t beat the Fantastic Four alone, Wittman formed the Frightful Four — a villain team originally made up of himself, Sandman, Paste-Pot Pete, and an amnesiac Medusa. Over the decades, the roster has shifted to include names like Thundra, Electro, Titania, and Klaw, making it one of the most enduring “evil counterpart” teams in Marvel Comics history.
Why this ties into the bigger MCU picture?
The “First Foes” comic line has quietly been building out the Fantastic Four’s rogues’ gallery for the MCU’s world, previously spotlighting the Mad Thinker, Shalla-Bal, and Dragon Man. None of these villains have appeared on screen yet, but their presence in tie-in material suggests Marvel Studios is laying groundwork for future live-action appearances — particularly with a “Fantastic Four” sequel already anticipated.
The issue’s cover captures the stakes vividly: Sue Storm fending off an attack, Reed stretching mid-fall, Johnny ablaze aboard the Fantasticar, and Ben Grimm trapped in a gooey substance, all while the Wizard grins at the center of the chaos.
For more MCU comic tie-ins and Fantastic Four news, check out our Entertainment section and browse trending stories on TechnoSports.
FAQs
Q: When does “Fantastic Four: First Foes – The Wizard” #1 release?
The one-shot comic arrives in December 2026.
Q: Who are the Frightful Four?
A villain team led by the Wizard, historically including Sandman, Medusa, and Paste-Pot Pete.
