Get the look: The Fantastic Four First Steps

With the new Fantastic Four movie, Marvel’s first family is finally joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (for real this time—sorry, John Krasinski!). The most exciting thing for creatives is the retro-futurism vibes in the promo art. Think curved architecture, chrome gadgets, swooping curves, bubble helmets, and lots of glowing buttons. It’s stylish, imaginative, and full of character.

Let’s explore what makes this look so iconic and why it’s the perfect fit for Marvel’s first family. We’ll learn what retro-futurism and retro revival are, take a look at the film’s 60s aesthetic design, and see how you can capture some of that same magic in your own work.

Here are some key takeaways from each design aspect we’ll be covering in this article that you can try out for yourself in your own projects:

Before we dive into the look of the new Fantastic Four movie of 2025, I think it’s worth taking a step back. Because Fantastic Four is set in the 60s, the characters have always kind of been retro-futurist icons, even if we didn’t use that word back in the day.

You’re not alone if you’re wondering, “Hey, what is retro-futurism?”.

Retro-futurism is an artistic and cultural movement that imagines the future through the lens of the past (most notably the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s). As an aesthetic movement it explores how people in the past thought the future would look, often with bold colors, chrome everything, and technology that’s somehow both sleek and clunky at the same time.

The Fantastic Four is set in the 60s, and a considerable part of retro-futurism is the 60s aesthetic, especially in visual design. This era was full of optimism, Space Race fever, and a belief that science could solve everything. Designers used clean geometric shapes and bold palettes (mustard yellow, teal, orange, and chrome) to picture a brighter, groovier tomorrow.

You might hear the term ‘retro revival’ tossed around, too, and it’s closely connected. So what is the retro revival, exactly? It’s when older styles (like the 60s aesthetic) come back into fashion, either in updated forms or through lovingly faithful recreations. The new Fantastic Four movie is a perfect example. It doesn’t just reuse the past — it reimagines it.

Looking for a bit of retro inspiration and mid-century patterns? Check out these colorful graphics below:

The Fantastic Four debuted in 1961, right as the Space Race was heating up and the world was dreaming about moon landings, rocket ships, and the limitless possibilities of science. You can feel that energy baked into their origin story: a team of astronauts turned superheroes, transformed by cosmic rays on a mission gone wrong.

Jack Kirby, one of the original creators, was a master of bold, otherworldly design. I love how his machines had too many buttons, wires, and glowing spheres. Everything looked just a little bit impossible, but in the best way. His art fused classic comic book action with wild sci-fi imagination. You weren’t just reading superhero stories but exploring weird alien dimensions and retro 60s labs.

One of my favourite things about the Fantastic Four’s 1960s era is their costumes. They’re more than the standard superhero outfits—they’re science suits, lab uniforms, and space gear.

At their core, the FF uniforms are designed for function. These characters dive into alternate dimensions, explore the Negative Zone, and occasionally get launched into orbit, so it makes sense that their suits have always felt more NASA than ninja—clean, uniform, and built for adventure.

Retro-futurism in fashion is what people in the past thought people in the future would be wearing. Think 1960s mod silhouettes, metallic fabrics, bold color blocking, and accessories that look more like gadgets than jewelry. It’s where 60s optimism meets sci-fi imagination. Space-age jumpsuits, bubble helmets, silver boots: it’s playful, dramatic, and strangely timeless.

If there’s one thing I always get excited about in a new film, it’s the graphic design. The Fantastic Four 2025 movie posters, logos, fonts (like the ones you can check out below), and all those little design details subtly shape the world. And with the new Fantastic Four movie in 2025, it looks like Marvel is tapping into some entertaining retro 60s energy.

Let’s start with that “4” logo design. It’s not trying to be edgy or hyper-modern. It’s soft, curved, and proudly 60s retro. I love that it feels like it could’ve been pulled off the side of a 1960s science exhibit or the tail fin of a rocket. It’s a classic design that feels like it belongs on a badge.

So far, the typography choices we’ve seen are an absolute 60s retro-futurist dream. The sweeping wordmark features tall, elegant letterforms with subtle curves that nod to mid-century graphic design. Everything about this logo, from the vintage “Marvel Studios” banner to the soft blue color palette, signals the future but in a nostalgic way. Unlike many modern superhero branding, it doesn’t feel gritty, militaristic, or overly techy. Instead, it has that ’60s Space Race elegance, which is cool.

The Fantastic Four 2025 movie poster nails the retro-futurism vibe with clean lines, bold geometry, and a striking blue and cream palette. The sweeping curves and vanishing point create a sense of motion and discovery, perfectly capturing the spirit of the Fantastic Four 60s era. And I love how the team’s silhouettes are simple yet iconic, tying the whole 60s sci-fi vibe together.

Feeling inspired to create your own retro space illustrations? Check these graphics out:

Like this Valentine’s Day piece, the Fantastic Four 2025 posters from the marketing campaign are the perfect blend of 60s domestic charm and retro-futuristic flair. With pastel colors, vintage furniture, and wholesome vibes, it feels like The Jetsons meets a sci-fi sitcom. I love how it shows the team as a space-age family with a friendly robot and matching suits. It’s fun, stylish, and totally in line with a future imagined by the past.

Because The Fantastic Four is set in the 60s, one of the things I’m most excited to see in this film is the world it creates. Because if you’re going to go retro-futuristic, you can’t stop at the costumes — you’ve got to build a whole reality that feels like it was imagined in the 60s but built with tools from the future. If you’re looking for 3D props inspired by this aesthetic, check out these ones from Envato:

I love a good movie prop, especially when it looks like someone had way too much fun designing it. The teaser trailer gives you a sneak preview of what’s in store. We see a chunky vintage television with the “Prepare 4 Launch” screen. It’s got the boxy frame, oversized dials, and thick screen glass that scream 60s design. It’s the kind of prop that instantly sells the vibe—part nostalgia, part mystery, all style!

The Baxter Building is basically its own character in the Fantastic Four’s 1960s-era universe, and I hope this version leans hard into the sleek, space-age aesthetic. You can see a sneak preview of the set in the trailer’s opening seconds. It’s just a few shots, but the interior already hints at that 1960s retro-futurist tone, showcasing high ceilings, soft lighting, retro 60s furniture, and tech that feels both advanced and old school.

You can’t have a 60s retro-futurist superhero team without a stylish ride. From the looks of the teaser, the Fantastic Four movie 2025 is bringing back one of their most iconic vehicles: the Fantasticar! We quickly glimpse a sleek, blue car near the end of the trailer, which looks like it’s labeled “Fantasticar.” We’ll have to wait a bit longer to see if this is true, but the sleek look and dash of 60s car design have already got me hyped.

First introduced in Fantastic Four #3 (1962), this flying car has been the team’s primary mode of transport for decades, and it can sometimes be seen splitting into pods so each member can cruise through the sky solo.

Now, let’s look at how Marvel’s first family is depicted across different media. You can see a similar design energy spilling into other corners of the Marvel universe.

In the game Marvel Rivals, the Fantastic Four show up looking sharper than ever. Their designs blend classic elements like the iconic “4” emblem with sleeker, high-tech suits that still feel fun and adventurous.

The game’s overall aesthetic leans heavily into high-contrast colors, cel-shaded textures, and dynamic lighting, which gives everything a stylized comic-book feel. The character designs have exaggerated shapes and proportions, making it feel like a Saturday morning cartoon dialed up to eleven!

The Fantastic Four’s 2022 comic relaunch, written by Ryan North with art by Iban Coello, marked a fresh start for Marvel’s first family. Visually, it leaned into a brighter, cleaner, more optimistic tone, with storytelling that felt heart-warming and a serial TV show vibe. Coello’s artwork gives Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben expressive faces and streamlined suits that echo their classic designs while still feeling modern.

The Fantastic Four have been animated many times, and retro-futurism has always been in the mix. From the jazzy, space-age vibe of the 1967 series to the 2006 show Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes, the shows embraced the team’s sci-fi roots with bold colors and wild gadgets. While the animation styles varied, the spirit of science-driven adventure has always been there.

The Fantastic Four have always stood apart in the Marvel universe, not just because of their powers but because of their personality. They’re explorers, inventors, and cosmic adventurers who just happen to be a family. And now, with this new vision of 60s retro-futurism, Marvel finally seems ready to lean into what makes them truly unique. Everything about this reboot looks like a love letter to a future imagined in the past, from the sleek logo to the space-age sets.

If you’re an artist, designer, or someone who loves a strong aesthetic, there’s so much to take inspiration from here. The Fantastic Four are finally getting the world they deserve, and there’s never been a better time to borrow from the film’s visual playbook.

If you enjoyed this article, why not read more about the fun, creative places where graphic design meets film? Check out our articles on the cinematic palette of Bong Joon-ho movies and the Wes Anderson aesthetic.