Review: Marvel Legends Johnny Storm from The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Mephitsu
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
“What time is it Ben?”
Our reviews of The Fantastic Four: First Steps Marvel Legends wave is written ahead of the movie release. It contains no spoilers other than the imagery used on the packaging and figures, all of which has been seen in the trailers.
The first MCU Fantastic Four figures landed on the 1st of July 2025 to collectors worldwide, a six figure wave that incorporated the full Fantastic Four team as well as a ‘flame on’ version of Johnny Storm and the new Silver Surfer. The packaging mirrored the dimensions and layout of the current Legends packaging, but completely redesigned everything else. The look of the Fantastic Four figure boxes moves away from the usual sleek black to an off white base colour, with deep blue logos and nameplates, and even a blue colour to the ‘Legends’ wording of the Marvel Legends logo. This is very much intended to give the figures the same feel as the movie, as though coming from an alternative timeline with a 50s and 60s vibe. This even extends to the use of the old Hasbro logo bottom right.
The artwork on the box side is retained, but shaped in an off-centre blue frame. These are realistic illustrations against deep orange coloured backdrops. The full image is placed on the box reverse, where we find the character posed against a bold orange circle. Unusually, there is no background text or synopsis for the movie itself. The figure is set against a blue card back which incorporates the four circular designs that are applied to our four main characters - designs that are also used on the box itself around the character name plates, apart from on the Silver Surfer.
Johnny Storm has two figures in the same wave, representing both his suited look and the ‘flame on’ version when he powers up. The suited figure is an entirely new sculpt and features a core blue sculpted suit with padded, almost quilted segments, and emblazoned in the centre of the chest with the Fantastic Four logo in a circular panel and most likely an applied decal considering how crisp it is. Johnny’s suit also incorporates more white than that of Reed or Sue, with the blue overpainted on the top of the chest and down the arms with a white finish. Painting white over any colour, particularly dark or strong ones, does impact the finish and while there are no immediate coverage issues, you can see the variations in the white of the suit to the white of the boots and gloves, which are cast in white plastic.
The suit is finished off with black trim around the gloves and boots as well as a belt piece in white with black trim and a wrist device in silver which sits on Johnny’s left wrist, and is removable if you wish.
The headsculpt is a good likeness to actor Joseph Quinn, with the sculpt capturing his boyish smirk. As is now standard, the realism is dialled up on the head with the use of facial printing, and the hair is applied as an individual piece, creating a crisp transition from skin to hair and with the hair itself two toned to give depth and further added realism.
Johnny comes with a pair of alternative hands, allowing you to select either clenched fists or open hands - the latter featuring a gripping left hand, while the right is more open and almost reaching out rather than gripping.
Over any of these hand options can sit the two flame effects. These are reused and go back to the likes of Captain Marvel. They are cast in orange translucent plastic with darker orange to one side and as brighter yellow to the other. They are flexible and are designed to wrap around the hands or lower arms and hold in place.
Articulation is 19 points in total, pin-less throughout, and providing sufficient range for a variety of posing options without the full flexibility that a torso joint and butterfly shoulders might have given. I found Johnny’s joints had a gummy fell down the central trunk, the head is difficult to turn without resisting and wanting to spring back, and the torso ball joint behaves in the same way only to a lesser extent. Working within the extent of the joints, Johnny Storm is relatively easy to position and holds a pose well with a good level of stability.
The Fantastic Four suited Johnny Storm is a good recreation of the character we see on screen and when not in direct action. He is perhaps lacking in additional flame effects, and I would have certainly liked some flexibility in display. The articulation of the Fantastic Four figures overall feels a slight step backwards considering more recent MCU releases, and that does limit posing to some extent. Johnny Storm is a good-looking figure, certainly one aimed at displaying within a wider team to make the most of it. He is just lacking in some accessories and articulation.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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