As Marvel Studios gears up for its Fantastic Four reboot—rumored to be titled Fantastic Four: First Steps—fans are buzzing with speculation. Who’s going to be the villain? Will we see Galactus looming large? Doctor Doom returning in full regal menace? Or maybe… just maybe… we’ll get a surprise throwback: Mole Man, Marvel’s first-ever villain to challenge the Fantastic Four.
Yeah, you read that right. Mole Man. The guy who lives underground, commands monsters, and wears a cloak like he’s straight out of a 1950s B-movie. But here’s the thing—Mole Man isn’t just a joke character from Marvel’s early days. He’s a symbol of everything the Fantastic Four were created to fight: isolation, arrogance, unchecked power, and the unknown.
While newer fans may not recognize his name right away, long-time Marvel readers know that Harvey Elder (aka Mole Man) is an essential piece of Fantastic Four history. In fact, he was the very first villain they encountered way back in 1961's Fantastic Four #1. That makes him Marvel royalty—albeit in a tattered cape and with a kingdom full of subterranean creatures.
With the MCU known for remixing its characters in bold new ways (think Vulture in Spider-Man: Homecoming or Wenwu in Shang-Chi), Mole Man could very well be next in line. A tragic genius who was rejected by the surface world and found his own underground empire? That’s pure cinematic gold if handled right.
So let’s dig deeper (pun totally intended) and explore who Mole Man is, why he matters, and what makes him a strong candidate for Marvel’s next big screen villain.
Who is Mole Man? A Comic Book Classic You Shouldn’t Underestimate
Before Thanos snapped the universe or Loki charmed his way into our hearts, Marvel’s first major villain wasn’t a god or a galactic conqueror. It was a short, nearsighted, socially rejected man named Harvey Rupert Elder—better known as Mole Man. He made his debut in Fantastic Four #1 in 1961, making him literally the first supervillain the team ever fought.
Mole Man’s origin is a mix of science fiction, tragedy, and social commentary. A brilliant scientist and geologist, Elder was constantly mocked for his appearance and his eccentric behavior. Fed up with the cruelty of the surface world, he ventured underground in search of a mythical land called Subterranea—and he found it. There, he stumbled upon lost civilizations, ancient monsters, and the Mole People, who eventually crowned him their leader.
This wasn’t a man drunk on power from the start. Elder was a victim first—a man consumed by loneliness and rejection. That’s what makes him interesting. He didn’t seek evil; he just wanted a place to belong. But power and isolation warped his ideals, and soon he began plotting against the surface world that had once scorned him.
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Mole Man embodied the early Marvel formula—a blend of larger-than-life spectacle with very human emotions at the core. He wasn’t just a villain who wanted to blow up a city; he had a deeply personal motive rooted in pain.
Over the years, Mole Man has appeared in dozens of storylines, sometimes as a threat, sometimes as a misunderstood antihero. He’s fought not just the Fantastic Four, but the Avengers and X-Men too. And every time, he brings something Marvel desperately needs today: a touch of weird, a dash of sympathy, and a lot of underground monster madness.
Powers, Abilities, and What Makes Mole Man Dangerous
Okay, let’s get this straight—Mole Man isn’t going to punch through planets like Thor or wield cosmic energy like Scarlet Witch. But don’t let that fool you. This guy is dangerous in his own bizarre way. What Mole Man lacks in flashy powers, he makes up for in strategy, intellect, and his freaky underground army.
Here’s what Mole Man brings to the table:
-
Genius-Level Intellect: Before he became the ruler of Subterranea, Harvey Elder was a top-tier geologist, engineer, and explorer. He understands the Earth’s crust like Tony Stark understands tech. His knowledge allows him to create traps, machines, and pathways others can’t even detect.
-
Master of Subterranea: Mole Man controls massive sections of Earth’s underground world, including ancient lost cities and hidden civilizations. He knows every inch of this strange world, giving him a serious home-field advantage.
-
Monster Command: One of his biggest assets? Gigantic beasts. Creatures like Giganto, the whale-like kaiju that once threatened New York, are under his control. These monsters are straight out of an old Godzilla flick—and they pack a punch.
-
The Mole People: His loyal followers, often treated as mindless servants in the comics, are an entire race living beneath the Earth. Mole Man rules them like a king, and they’ll do anything he commands.
-
Tactical Guerilla Warfare: From toppling skyscrapers by weakening their foundations to launching sudden assaults from underground tunnels, Mole Man doesn’t fight fair. He fights smart.
That’s what makes him such a compelling choice for an MCU debut. He’s not another “big bad” in a metal suit—he’s a master of the earth itself, with an army of monsters and centuries-old tech ready to rise from beneath your feet.
Mole Man’s Role in Fantastic Four Comics: Marvel’s First Supervillain
When fans talk about iconic Fantastic Four villains, names like Doctor Doom, Galactus, or even Annihilus tend to steal the spotlight. But dig back (literally) into the origin of Marvel’s First Family, and you’ll find that their very first adversary was none other than Mole Man. That’s right—Fantastic Four #1 in 1961 didn’t just kick off Marvel’s Silver Age; it introduced us to the mole-eyed menace from below.
In that groundbreaking issue, the newly formed Fantastic Four investigate mysterious seismic attacks and disappearing nuclear plants. Their journey takes them to Monster Isle, where they face Mole Man and his terrifying subterranean beasts for the first time. It wasn’t just a villain-of-the-week story—it was the beginning of Marvel's shared universe, with Mole Man playing a foundational role.
Since then, Mole Man has popped up time and again—not just in Fantastic Four titles, but across the broader Marvel landscape. He’s tangled with the Avengers, fought against the X-Men, and even clashed with Hulk. While he often fills the “villain” slot, his motivations have shifted over the decades. Some writers portray him as a full-blown conqueror. Others lean into his sympathetic, tragic qualities, painting him as a man betrayed by the world and looking to carve out his own space.
One of the most memorable arcs features Giganto, a massive monster that Mole Man unleashed on the surface world, causing chaos. Another storyline explored his attempts to make peace with the surface dwellers—only to be manipulated or rejected once again.
His complexity makes him more than just an old-school baddie. He’s a relic of Marvel’s past, yes—but also a character brimming with potential for reinvention. And in a cinematic world that loves underdog narratives, Mole Man might just be ready for his close-up.
Why He’d Fit Perfectly in the MCU’s “First Steps”
Let’s be honest—Marvel has a soft spot for the weird, the underappreciated, and the overlooked. Just look at what they did with Guardians of the Galaxy, Shang-Chi, or even Ant-Man. So, when it comes to launching Fantastic Four: First Steps, starting with Mole Man wouldn’t just be a bold move—it’d be on brand.
First, there’s the symbolic value. Mole Man was the Fantastic Four’s very first enemy. Bringing him into the MCU as the team's initial villain would be a poetic full-circle moment—especially if First Steps is indeed an origin-style reboot. It connects to Marvel history while allowing space for creative reinterpretation.
Second, he’s the perfect “low-stakes with high impact” villain. Instead of jumping straight into cosmic-level threats like Galactus, the MCU could ease viewers into the Fantastic Four world with something more grounded—literally underground. Mole Man doesn’t need an Infinity Stone to cause chaos. With an army of subterranean monsters, he could level cities from beneath, challenge global infrastructure, or even hijack Wakandan vibranium mines (just imagine the crossover potential!).
Most importantly, Mole Man offers something different: emotional depth wrapped in absurdity. He’s not evil for the sake of it. He’s a loner. A man who wanted to belong, only to be pushed away. That makes him relatable, tragic, and—if portrayed right—oddly lovable. Exactly the kind of complex character the MCU thrives on.
And let’s be real: seeing the Fantastic Four battle kaiju-like creatures in dark caverns with collapsing tunnels? That’s pure cinema.
By introducing Mole Man, Marvel could tap into nostalgia, reinvent a legacy villain, and lay the groundwork for bigger threats down the line—all while keeping things weird and wonderful.
Will Mole Man Appear in Fantastic Four: First Steps? Here’s What We Know
Alright, let’s get to the big question—will Mole Man actually show up in Fantastic Four: First Steps? While Marvel Studios hasn’t officially confirmed the villain for the reboot, there are several clues (and fan theories) pointing toward his possible debut.
For starters, the rumored subtitle “First Steps” feels like a nod to the team’s comic book roots. And who was their first villain? You guessed it—Mole Man. That alone makes his inclusion a poetic, full-circle move. Marvel loves to respect its comic history, especially in origin stories. Just like how Iron Man introduced Obadiah Stane before Thanos, or Captain America: The First Avenger focused on Red Skull before diving into larger stakes.
There’s also the rumor mill. Marvel scooper Grace Randolph and other insiders have hinted at the MCU diving into lesser-known villains for Phase 5 and Phase 6, in order to avoid the burnout of “end-of-the-world” scenarios. Mole Man fits that bill perfectly—a smaller-scale threat with rich narrative potential. He doesn’t need a multiverse or a celestial being to bring drama. He just needs dirt… and a grudge.
And let’s not ignore the casting rumors. Some speculators have linked actors like Jason Alexander and even Danny DeVito to a quirky underground ruler-type role. While nothing’s confirmed, the buzz suggests Marvel could be planting the seeds for a character like Mole Man—either in a main villain role or a post-credit cameo.
At the very least, Mole Man’s iconic status, his ties to the Fantastic Four’s debut, and the MCU’s love for remixing old-school characters suggest this isn’t a theory to dismiss. If First Steps really is about going back to basics, then Harvey Elder might just be waiting beneath the surface.
How Fans Might React to Mole Man’s Arrival in the MCU
Let’s be honest—if Marvel Studios announced that Mole Man was the main villain in Fantastic Four: First Steps, the internet would explode. Some fans would cheer at the throwback. Others might go, “Wait… who?”
And that’s exactly why this could work.
Marvel’s always taken risks on characters that seemed “too weird” or “too unknown” for the mainstream. Remember the skepticism around Guardians of the Galaxy before it became a billion-dollar franchise? Or how people doubted Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel—yet both became fan favorites? Mole Man fits that same mold: a quirky character with real emotional layers, just waiting to be rediscovered.
Comic book purists would likely be thrilled. Mole Man’s return would be a nod to Marvel’s deep lore, a love letter to those who’ve followed the Fantastic Four since their earliest adventures. It also shows that the studio isn’t afraid to dive into its stranger, more retro roots.
Of course, casual moviegoers might be confused at first. Mole Man doesn’t carry the instant name recognition of someone like Doctor Doom or Magneto. But that’s where smart writing, casting, and world-building come in. If Marvel leans into his tragic backstory, his monster army, and the visuals of a terrifying underground world, they could turn confusion into curiosity—and curiosity into obsession.
Let’s not forget the merch and meme potential either. Mole Man could easily become the next breakout weirdo, like Korg or MODOK. Picture Mole Man plushies, Funko Pops, or even Halloween costumes. (Tell me you wouldn’t wear a green cloak and carry a monster plushie.)
Bottom line? If Marvel introduces Mole Man with the right mix of humor, pathos, and epic kaiju action—fans might love him more than they expect.
Conclusion:
So, is Mole Man the next Thanos? Definitely not. But does he have the potential to be the perfect launchpad for Marvel’s First Family in Fantastic Four: First Steps? Absolutely.
What makes Mole Man so compelling isn’t just his legacy as the first-ever Fantastic Four villain. It’s his story. He’s not a cosmic overlord or a time-traveling tyrant. He’s a human being—cast aside, misunderstood, and determined to build something of his own in a world that rejected him. That’s a villain origin story that hits different, especially today, when audiences crave flawed, layered characters.
His underground kingdom, massive monsters, and twisted brilliance offer unique cinematic possibilities we haven’t really seen in the MCU yet. Imagine sprawling caverns lit by glowing crystals, ancient tech hidden beneath our feet, and a lonely king rallying his army of mole people against the surface world. That’s not just epic—it’s weird, wonderful, and so very Marvel.
And let’s not forget the broader MCU vision. Introducing a character like Mole Man lets the Fantastic Four start small, fight personal battles, and earn their place as heroes before facing multiversal madness. It’s smart storytelling.
Whether Mole Man shows up as the main villain, a background presence, or even in a post-credit stinger, his inclusion would show Marvel still values its deep roots while taking bold new creative risks.
So keep your eyes peeled. Because when Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters, the real action might just be happening beneath our feet.
0 Comments