The MCU is about to introduce one of its biggest villains of all time, as Giganto battles theFantastic Four- and fans just got a look at the monstrosity thanks to an advert for Little Caesars. Here’s everything you need to know about the monster, includingthe definitive answer of whether it’s actually MCU canonor just made for the ad.
Fantastic Four: First StepsFans were surprised yesterday when Little Caesars released a new advert for its ‘Fantastic Four-N-One’ pizza, showing Marvel’s First Family arriving in their Fantasticarto battle the towering Giganto. The ad (below) has sparked debate about the creature’s CGI and whether it will actually appear in the movies or only exists for the ad.
Giganto was introduced in 1961’sFantastic Four #1(by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby), and is the monstrous servant of the Mole Man. WhileMole Man is considered the FF’s first villain, Giganto technically got there first, since the monster appears on the comic’s iconic cover. But what can Giganto do, and is she really MCU canon?
Is Giganto Really MCU Canon?
Yep - Here’s How We Know
First things first - is Giganto MCU canon, or does she just exist for this ad? While many are debating the answer, they’re forgetting thatMarvel already confirmed Giganto is MCU canon. Earlier this year,Marvel revealed a tie-in comicto the movie, presented as an in-world recounting of the team’s first mission. Phil Noto’s cover shows the heroes battling Giganto as she erupts out of the street, in an homage to the original cover forFantastic Four #1. This comic is an in-world ‘factual’ document meaning that yes, Gigantoismovie canon.
Cover Artist:
PHIL NOTO
Four years ago, the world was transformed as an amazing cosmic-powered quartet revealed themselves and their astonishing abilities to the public! Since that time, they have become world-famous as the Fantastic Four! Now, to celebrate that anniversary, Marvel Comics recounts their very first exploit that saved our city from near destruction!
Whether Giganto will specifically appear in theFantastic Four: First Stepsmovie is up for debate, but it’s probable.Since the comic tie-in confirms the monster is part of the team’s origin story, it would be a weird decision toalsodesign and create the character for a Little Caesars ad and then not show her on-screen, at least as part of a montage. Whether Giganto will appear inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsisn’t yet known, but the comic tie-in means the monster is 100% movie canon.
While Giganto first appeared in the early ’60s, she surprisingly wasn’t named until 1989’sAvengers West Coast #54.
Giganto Is a Giant Monster Enslaved by the Mole Man
She Digs Enormous Tunnels That Allow Mole Man to Transport His Army
Giganto is one of many gigantic monsters in the Marvel Universe, and appeared in the waning days of the ‘Age of Monsters.’ This was a period in Marvel lore before the widespread appearance of superheroes, covering an era where giant monsters commonly appeared and attacked humanity. The Age of Monsters is a semi-retcon of the fact that before focusing on superheroes, Marvel published a lot of giant monster stories. Kaiju characters like Goom, Droomand Groot (yes,thatGroot)were later grandfathered into Marvel’s shared universe once the superheroes took over (a process that officially started with the FF’s debut.)
Giganto is a particularly huge and strong monster which is naturally subterranean, possessing powerful claws that can dig immense tunnels. This has made it afavorite thrall of the Mole Man (aka Harvey Elder), who uses ancient Deviant technology to control the beast, utilizing its strength to rule his underground kingdom of Subterranea. InFantastic Four #1, Mole Man uses Giganto to attack a series of power plants, with the FF putting paid to his schemes. Giganto has also been enslaved by the Skrulls in the past.
What Are Giganto’s Powers?
Giganto’s Underground Abilities Make It Mole Man’s Ideal Stooge
Giganto has few ‘superpowers’ beyond being a gigantic physical threat, though its ability to dig huge tunnels and to hold its breath for extended periods make it the perfect vanguard for Mole Man’s army of Moloids. When not enslaved, Giganto lives onMonster Island - a kaiju game reservenear Japan often visited by Marvel’s heroes. Giganto appears to have an animal-like intellect and has no natural aggression towards human society. While many creatures from the Age of Monsters were alien invaders or science experiments gone wrong,Giganto appears to be a natural subterranean being. Indeed, other members of its species exist, with Giganto having a mate on Monster Isle and an adopted robot child (a result of its interactions with the Skrulls.)
Strangely, Giganto isn’t the only monster named ‘Giganto’ in Marvel canon. The name is also used for a species of whale-like Atlantean monsters, with Namor able to summon these creatures by blowing the Horn of Proteus.
Hopefully, MCU fans will get to see more of Giganto whenFantastic Four: First Stepshits the big screen, as the monster’s raw physical power and historic issue #1 appearance have given it a lasting presence inFantastic Fourlore. However, whatever happens in the movie, Giganto’s movie story will be recounted in the upcomingFantastic Four: First Steps #1comic.
Fantastic Four: First Steps #1is coming June 19, 2025 from Marvel Comics.
Fantastic Four
TheFantastic Fouris 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 Fourhas 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.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
