I can’t believe that Disney expects us to buy this character as the Fantastic Four’sHuman Torch. Throughout 2024, Disney and Marvel have been collaborating to put some of animation’s most iconic characters in the shoes of famous superheroes. Now, following the success of Donald Duck as Thor and Wolverine, as well as Minnie Mouse as Captain Marvel, a new crossover has been announced for 2025, and it’s perhaps the most interesting yet.
Marvel & DIsney: What If…? Mickey & Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 is a new one-shot by Steve Behling, Riccardo Secchi, and Lorenzo Pastrovicchio that will transform the Mickey Mouse gang into Marvel’s First Family. It’s a fascinating concept that will utilize the most famous faces from the group for the ultimate comic team-up. However, as much as Mickey, Donald and Minnie fit their respective roles, Goofy feels out-of-place as the Human Torch.
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MARVEL & DISNEY: WHAT IF…? MICKEY & FRIENDS BECAME THE FANTASTIC FOUR #1 (2025) |
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Release Date: |
January 8th, 2025 |
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Writers: |
Steve Behling, Riccardo Secchi |
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Artists: |
Lorenzo Pastrovicchio |
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Cover Artist: |
Lorenzo Pastrovicchio |
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Variant Covers: |
Chrissie Zullo, Phil Noto |
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Mickey has stretching powers! Minnie can turn invisible! Goofy can burst into flame! Donald has become some kind of rocky… THING! With these incredible powers they vow to help those in need as — the Fantastic Four. And they’ll need all their awesome abilities if they are to succeed in their first mission together to stop Mole Pete from destroying Duckburg! But how did they get their super-powers? Find out in this fantastic origin special! |
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The character is known for being incredibly hot-headed, and while it’s clear he was given the role because he’s a major Disney icon, he isn’t the first character to come to mind when Fantastic Four fans think of Johnny Storm.
Mickey’s Greatest Rival Would Fit the Human Torch’s Persona Better
Mortimer Mouse Shares A Lot in Common with Johnny Storm
There’s no denying that Goofy was chosen to be the Human Torch out of brand recognition for Mickey and his friends. However, if Disney had a chance to start over, I believe that Mickey’s greatest rival, Mortimer Mouse, would be a great face for the Human Torch. While he and Mickey are technically enemies, his personality fits incredibly well with who Johnny Storm was in his early days on the team. He’s brash, arrogant, and full of self-serving charisma, which goes well with a retelling of the Fantastic Four’s origin.
Goofy’s well beyond who he was in the mid-20th century when he was portrayed as an “every-man” for adult viewers.
Of course, this isn’t to say that Goofy couldn’t be a decent Human Torch, especially with editor Mark Paniccia expressing full confidence in the project, saying it will bring “the spirit of Marvel’s first family to a story I can only describe as Funtastic!” However, Goofy feels so much more like a gullible yet lovable fool that makes mistakes in good faith. He’s well beyond who he was in the mid-20th century when he was portrayed as an “every-man” for adult viewers, so it would only make sense to substitute him with a character like Mortimer who fits Johnny Storm’s character a bit closer.
The Rest of Mickey’s Friends Feel at Home in Their Fantastic Four Roles
Variant Cover by Chrissie Zullo
While Goofy is definitely the odd one out for this crossover team-up, the casting choices for the rest of The Fantastic Four feel so much more inspired. Mickey playing the role of Mr. Fantastic is an obvious pick, as he’s essentially the leader of his friends. Minnie doubles as an effective second-in-command, especially since she and Mickey are canonically a couple, just like Reed Richards and Susan Storm.
However, the best pick of the bunch is easily Donald Duck as The Thing. His anger fits the role of Ben Grimm perfectly, and it will make for entertaining reading to see him belt out the iconic catchphrase “it’s clobberin’ time!” before jumping into battle.
Even with the odd choice of turning Goofy into the Human Torch, What If…? Mickey and Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 is sure to be a fun addition to Disney’s ever-expanding list of crossovers released during the past year. They make for fun story ideas that please fans both young and old, and this new What If…? comic likely won’t be any different. It’s hard to buy Disney claiming that Goofy will make a believable Human Torch, but it will still be a fun take on the Fantastic Four, and there’s no telling how much the upcoming story could surprise fans.
Marvel & Disney: What If…? Mickey & Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 is available January 8th, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics’ first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel’s success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years, Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
- First Film
- The Fantastic Four (1994)
- Latest Film
- Fantastic Four (2015)
- First Episode Air Date
- September 9, 1967
- Cast
- Ioan Gruffudd , Jessica Alba , Chris Evans , Michael Chiklis , Miles Teller , Kate Mara , Michael B. Jordan , Jamie Bell , Pedro Pascal , Vanessa Kirby , Joseph Quinn , Ebon Moss-Bachrach
- Video Game(s)
- Fantastic Four (1997) , Fantastic Four (2005)
Summary
The Fantastic Four is a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics’ first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel’s success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years, Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
