In a first for the MCU, the Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios divisions are working together on a new comic based directly in the world of one of their upcoming movies. Per Deadline, they’re prepping a one-shot for The Fantastic Four: First Steps that is designed to be an in-universe artifact from the First Family’s alternative 1960s, published by Future Foundation. It was made with the collaboration of the filmmakers, including production designer Kasra Farahani, with Marvel Comics veterans Matt Fraction and Mark Buckingham, both of whom have worked on past Fantastic Four comics, penning the story and illustrating, respectively, while Phil Noto created the cover art. The comic will be released on July 2, just weeks before the film hits theaters.

Beyond being a first-of-its-kind project for the two branches of Marvel, the comic also confirms a few key details of the movie. For one, it officially reveals that First Steps is not an origin story for the team, but rather picks up four years after they first get their powers. That tracks with what we’ve seen so far from the film, as the four astronauts-turned-superheroes have clearly established themselves as celebrated figures. Moreover, the cover itself is an homage to the team’s debut in Fantastic Four #1 back in 1961, depicting the family fighting Giganto, a monstrous minion working under one of their biggest recurring foes, Mole Man. That seems to hint that the subterranean villain will have a role to play in the film, as has been speculated, but viewers will have to wait until they’re in theaters to know for certain.

The comic is also just the latest way in which Marvel has been pushing the return of The Fantastic Four. First Steps is arguably one of the studio’s most important movies in some time, marking a chance to finally nail a big-screen adaptation of the First Family after previous attempts have been little more than a mixed bag. Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski hammered home how important the heroes are to the comics giant’s legacy and how the new one-shot honors the very roots of the studio:

“As Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four and their stories have always been at the very center of the Marvel Universe. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps coming later this summer, we at Marvel all felt this was the perfect opportunity to bring our teams together in honor of their legacy in both the world of the film and within our comics. It’s been a blast to have our teams in Publishing and Studios bounce ideas back and forth to create something truly special and one-of-a-kind, and we can’t wait for fans to be able to dive in to this comic—squarely in the world of the MCU—and experience the Fantastic Four like we’ve never seen before this summer.

The heart of Marvel has always stemmed from the comics, and Kevin and the team have been bringing those pages to life in extraordinary ways with each and every film. With this comic, we’re bringing those two worlds together in a way we think fans will love.”

What Else Do We Know About ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ So Far?

Marvel is still keeping things fairly close to the vest when it comes to the finer details of First Steps. The most recent trailer put the First Family in action and gave us our first look at Julia Garner‘s Silver Surfer, Shalla-Bal, while also revealing that Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) have a child on the way. As Earth’s protectors, they’ll be scrambling to save everyone once their planet becomes “marked for death” and the planet-devouring Galactus (Ralph Ineson) makes his presence known. The family angle, however, makes it more personal for the team, something that Kirby has driven home. She spoke about how she worked closely with director Matt Shakman to craft a complicated Sue Storm who has to balance being a mother and a crucial part of a powerful family with a bit of a darker side.

“Matt and I were really aware that there hasn’t really been a mother with a baby in these superhero archetypes women have been getting. One of the things I love most from Sue’s history is when she becomes Malice, and all her dark stuff comes out. I was obsessed with that chapter of her life. So I wanted to make sure that there were tones of Malice in there with her, that she wasn’t just the stereotype of a goody, sweet mother. I’ve always been really interested in the mess of femininity, and how can you be both? How can you be all the things? Not just the tough, invincible, powerful woman, but also a mother who gives birth, which is itself a superhero act. I love that these characters are real humans in a messy family who argue and try to work it out and get things wrong.”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps one-shot comic will be available on July 2, before the movie reaches theaters on July 25. Check out the cover art for the story in the gallery above.

via Collider