The final scenes ofFantastic Four: First Stepsmay have set up the next major villain throwing the MCU into chaos, but the film also quietly destroyed another villain who could have given Marvel’s most brilliant minds their next challenge.
Audiences can be forgiven for missing the secret twist, since the movie isn filled with A-level Marvel supervillains: Galactus joining the MCU, thecosmic powers of Franklin Richardsteased, and the mysterious Doctor Doom on the horizon. But a single moment inFirst Stepsdoesn’t just diminish an incredible villain, but guarantees he’s no threat for Earth-828.
Fantastic Four: First Steps Turned Diablo Into A Throwaway Joke
Just prior to the arrival of the Silver Surfer to herald the death of planet Earth, Reed reveals several plans coming to fruition with help from the NYPD. Looking out over the city from the Baxter Building balcony, Reed explains his attempts to"baby-proof"the world itself:
“For the last few months, I’ve been tracking a small number of criminal organizations… 47 of them. Including The Puppet Master in The Bowery, The Wizard in Gramercy Park, and Diablo in Washington Heights.”
To the uninitiated, these names will seem to be little more than another dose ofMarvel Easter Eggs inFantastic Four: First Steps, intended as a nod to the comic fans ‘in the know,’ as opposed to any actual hints about relevant characters or impending appearances in future movies.
That might be true for The Puppet Master, able to control humans via dolls sculpted out of ‘radioactive clay,’ but the third in the trio is far more significant.Make no mistake: this line of dialogue turns the potentially god-tier MCU villain Diablo into a meaningless criminal. And fans will be crushed to realize the opportunity Marvel Studios has passed up.
Diablo Is An Unmatched, Immortal, Scientific Mastermind in Marvel Canon
First Appearance:Fantastic Four#30 (1964) by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
While his name might have guaranteed a life of villainy was in story, Esteban Corazón de Ablo (“Di-ablo”) is much less of a gimmick than his title, andFirst Steps, might suggest. For starters, he was born in 9th century Spain, instantly making him one of the oldest living humans in Marvel’s Universe. One of the oldest and, most importantly, one of the wisest.
Some villains might make a trade with the Devil (or in this case, Mephisto) to defeat death, immortality was simply a means to an end for Esteban. Determined to pursue his scientific excellence and unlock the secrets of true alchemy, the genius managed to do exactly that. Unlike those who wield magic, Diablo’s power lies in hard-earned mastery of the alchemical arts.
The exact difference between ‘magic’ in the Marvel Comics of the 1960s and alchemy might seem surface-level, but it distinguished Diablo as a higher caliber of thinker than his fellow costumed rogues. Aside from being immortal, Diablo can create matter, transmute elements, shapeshift, and even mind control or manipulate victims on a cellular level. And that includes cosmic villains, too.
Diablo unlocked his most powerful form in the pages ofIron Man/Thor(2011) by allying with, then turning against the High Evolutionary himself. Fusing his own powers with the otherworldly might of the Asgardian Destroyer, Diablo ascended to legitimately god-tier levels of influence. All of which makes him an ideal candidate for adaptation to the MCU.
Why Diablo’s Treatment is A Worrying Sign For This Version of Fantastic Four
A Villain of Esteban’s Status Deserves More Than The Movie Delivered
In practice, the allusion to the classic supervillain is likely to slip by most members of the audience. Even Marvel die-hards might not immediately place Diablo at the drop of his name, and for casual viewers, the title is suitably villainous to be dropped alongside the comic book-y ‘Puppet Master’ and ‘Wizard." But that doesn’t mean the decision isn’t a disappointing one.
Disappointing and, for those thinking of the Fantastic Four’s long term presence in the MCU, more than a little worrying. Especially if Marvel Studios has any intention of giving Reed Richards and his team more than a supporting role in the coming Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
Thelist of great Fantastic Four villainsmay be long, but to see a prime candidate tossed out of contention with little thought (and were not even referring toJohn Malkovich’s Red Ghost) shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Diablo Could’ve Made A Great Future Fantastic Four Movie Villain
The List of Marvel Villains For The F4’s Future is Running Out
Don’t get us wrong: the Fantastic Four have a majorDoomsdayrole to play, as quite possibly the only Marvel heroes who actually have any connection or awareness of Victor Von Doom at all. Andthe post-credit appearance of Doctor Doompromises their drama will be personal. But afterDoomsday, and afterSecret Wars, what’s next?
To be fair, that question may be difficult to answer for even Marvel Studios at this point. If the Fantastic Four leave their reality behind for the MCU, then it’s anyone’s guess what story the next Fantastic Four appearances could eventually tell. But whatever story it tells, a strong villain will be needed.
Having crossed Galactus and Doctor Doom off the list, an opponent like Diablo would have been incredibly valuable, matching the heroes with both wisdom and scientific brilliance. But there is still one way to undo this potential misstep, considering the Fantastic Four still haven’t joined the MCU.
The Diablo from the Earth-828 reality ofFantastic Four: First Stepswas small-time enough to be arrested off-screen… but what about the 616 version of the character? Or for that matter, whatever future versions of Diablo that might be altered or created inthe new sacred timeline, post-Secret Wars.
There is reason to hope that,if there is a solo movie future for theFantastic Four, an alternate version of Diablo could right this wrong. But only time well tell.
