On today’s Disney+ deep-watch of Fantastic Four: First Steps, Eric slows the noise down and uncovers the real spine of the film — the cosmic triangle formed by Galactus, Franklin Richards, and Doctor Doom.

We explore why this Galactus feels more like a survivor than a villain, what his strange, life-support feeding cycle reveals about the universe before the Big Bang, and why Franklin Richards isn’t a target… but a successor.

Then the post-credit scene cracks open a bigger door:Is this Doom a local variant? A multiversal general? Or the first breadcrumb of the Council of Dooms Marvel hinted at long before Doomsday?

Short, sharp, and theory-rich — this episode maps the hidden architecture beneath First Steps and the storm it’s building toward.

Rate the show, join the Patreon community at patreon.com/marvelmaniac, and buckle up.Galactus ain’t done. Doom hasn’t begun. And Franklin Richards may be the hinge between them.

💡**Link Tree** <---- Follow me on all your socials to stay up to date on the lastest Marvel Maniac news and episodes!

CREDITS:
💡 Co-Producer: Nova (ChatGPT) – Creative collaborator and production partner for Marvel Maniac: An MCU Aftershow.

💡Deliberate Thought by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3635-deliberate-thought
License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

💡 Patreon.com/MarvelManiac

💡Have thoughts or theories? Share your feedback at MarvelManiacPod@gmail.com
OR drop something in the tip jar and leave a comment! Your voice matters!

Support Marvel Maniac: an MCU Aftershow by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/marvel-maniac-an-mcu-aftershow

Read transcript