Fantastic Four Post-Credit Scene: Doom, Galactus & Franklin

Marvel fans have learned to stay in their seats when the credits roll, but the Fantastic Four: First Steps ending rewards patience in a way that redefines the MCU’s next phase. The mid-credits scene introduces one of the most powerful mutants in Marvel lore — and connects directly to the looming threat of Doctor Doom.

Post-credits scenes: 2 (1 mid-credits, 1 post-credits) · Doctor Doom appearance: Mid-credits scene · Franklin Richards age: 5 years old · Film title: Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) · Galactus role: Antagonist linked to Franklin

Five key facts emerge from the film’s post-credits staging — one that sets up the franchise’s biggest villain.

Is there a post-credits scene in Fantastic 4?

Yes — and you need to stick around for both. CNET tech and entertainment news site confirms the film has two post-credits scenes: one mid-credits and one after the full credits. The mid-credits scene is the significant one, setting up a major MCU crossover.

How many post-credits scenes are there?

• Mid-credits scene: Takes place four years after the events of the film. Sue Storm reads to a now-5-year-old Franklin. A cloaked figure — Doctor Doom — kneels before the boy. (Variety; Esquire)
• Post-credits scene: A short animated sequence — a cartoon depiction of the Fantastic Four cast on an in-universe TV show. (CNET; Looper entertainment news site)

When do the credits scenes play?

The mid-credits scene plays after the first set of main credits (approximately 2–3 minutes in). The post-credits scene appears after the full scrolling credits. Combined, they run roughly 2 minutes of new footage.

The implication: Marvel is using these scenes not simply as teases, but as a direct narrative bridge from First Steps into Avengers: Doomsday. The four-year time jump gives the Richards family room to establish a normal life — before Doom shatters it.

Who was in the fantastic 4 post credit scene?

The mid-credits scene features three key characters — and one implied presence. Los Angeles Times major metropolitan newspaper reports Sue Storm returns to the Baxter Building after running an errand and finds a mysterious cloaked figure interacting with Franklin. The scene hinges on the reveal of that figure.

Which characters appear in each scene?

The table below maps on-screen characters against those implied off-screen.

Reporting from Bam Smack Pow fan-focused entertainment site adds that the cartoon sequence revisits villains the team previously faced, suggesting the First Steps universe is rich with history beyond the main film.

The pattern: Marvel is using Franklin as the pivot point. The mid-credits scene establishes Doom’s interest in the boy, while the cartoon reminds audiences that this is a world with a deep rogues’ gallery — one that Doom may soon command.

Why does Dr. Doom want Franklin Richards?

Doctor Doom’s objective in the mid-credits scene is not stated aloud, but the visual language is unmistakable. Times Now global news network reports that Doom’s interest is directed specifically at Franklin, not the Fantastic Four as a team. The motivation lies in Franklin’s powers — abilities that rival cosmic entities.

What is Franklin Richards’ power?

• Reality warping: Franklin is a mutant who can alter the fabric of spacetime. In the comics, he is classified as an Omega-level mutant. (Times Now)
• Power Cosmic: According to Times Now, Franklin possesses the Power Cosmic — the same energy wielded by Galactus. This makes him a potential cosmic equal.
• Comic precedent: In several storylines, Franklin creates pocket universes, restores the multiverse, and even defeats Galactus. The film appears to draw on this lore.

The catch: Franklin’s power is still developing. The mid-credits scene shows him as a child, not yet able to fully control his abilities. Doom’s approach — kneeling, not threatening — suggests manipulation over force.

Why did Galactus want the baby?

The main plot of First Steps involves Galactus targeting Earth. But the post-credits scene reveals a deeper motivation: Galactus wanted Franklin Richards. Esquire notes that the entire conflict with the Devourer of Worlds was tied to Franklin’s existence.

Why is Galactus afraid of Franklin Richards?

• Franklin, even as a toddler, possesses the latent Power Cosmic. Times Now reports that this is the same force Galactus uses to sustain himself.
• If Franklin matures, he could either replace Galactus as the cosmic balance-keeper or destroy him outright. In the comics, adult Franklin has reshaped the universe after incursions.
• The film implies Galactus sought Franklin not just as a threat but as a source of power. Consuming or controlling the child would secure Galactus’s dominance.

The trade-off: If Galactus is weakened or removed from the cosmic equation, Franklin becomes the new cosmic anchor — a role he may not be ready for. The MCU appears to be building toward a Secret Wars–style conflict where Franklin’s power is the fulcrum.

Did Dr. Doom become Galactus?

In Marvel comics, Doctor Doom has indeed merged with Galactus — or at least attempted to. The film’s mid-credits scene hints at this path. Variety reports that Doom is shown holding a silver mask, reminiscent of Galactus’s herald armor. The imagery suggests Doom is preparing to harness cosmic power.

What is Galactus’s weakness?

Galactus’s primary weakness is the Ultimate Nullifier — a weapon that can erase him from existence. In the comics, Reed Richards once used it to force Galactus to leave Earth. The research notes do not confirm its presence in the film, but the lore is established.

Who kills Galactus in Marvel?

In the comics, Galactus has been defeated by several beings: Franklin Richards (in Fantastic Four #600–604), the Beyonders, and even Thor under specific circumstances. However, Galactus is not typically killed — he is an essential cosmic force. The MCU may reinterpret that.

Can Galactus lift Thor’s hammer?

No canonical account exists of Galactus lifting Mjolnir. The hammer’s enchantment (“whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor”) applies to mortals and gods, but Galactus is a cosmic abstract — his worthiness is irrelevant. The question is more a fun fan debate than a narrative plot point.

The pattern: Doom’s arc in the next MCU phase seems to mirror his comic trajectory — power-hungry, willing to bond with cosmic forces to defeat the multiverse’s greatest threats. The silver mask is a strong signal that Doom will become a Herald of Galactus, or perhaps Galactus himself.

Timeline

What we know and what we don’t

Expert perspective on the scenes

“The first credit scene cuts to four years after the events of the movie, with Sue reading to Franklin who is now five years old.”

— Digital Spy entertainment news outlet

“It’s a clear signal that Marvel is treating the Fantastic Four as the new center of the universe — and Franklin Richards as the most important being in it.”

— Los Angeles Times

What this means for the MCU

The First Steps post-credits scenes are not just Easter eggs — they are the first chapter of the MCU’s next multiverse saga. Franklin Richards, a child with the power of a god, is caught between Doctor Doom and Galactus. For fans who have followed the comics, the trajectory toward Secret Wars (2027) is clear. For casual viewers, the scenes plant a simple question: what happens when a 5-year-old can rewrite reality? The implication for Marvel Studios: bet on Franklin, or face Doom.

Frequently asked questions

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