The latest The Fantastic Four: First Steps prequel just introduced a whole new species whose fate could carry some serious implications for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Fantastic Four: First Foes — Shalla-Bal #1 (by Charles Soule, Mark Buckingham, Alex Sinclair, Ryan North, Phil Noto, and VC’s Joe Caramagna) picks up well before the events of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, with the titular Shalla-Bal embarking upon yet another quest to help sate the hunger of the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus. Unfortunately for the unnamed species of aliens who call the world Polaris their home, no amount of empathy or sadness can keep Shalla-Bal from fulfilling her duties as Galactus’ latest herald, nor can the Devourer of Worlds himself keep from showing the people of Polaris exactly how he earned that mantle.
The Fantastic Four: First Foes — Shalla-Bal #1
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by MARK BUCKINGHAM
Colors by ALEX SINCLAIR
Letters by VC’s JOE CARAMAGNA
Design by ADAM DEL RE
Main cover art by PHIL NOTO
Variant covers by MARK BUCKINGHAM & ALEX SINCLAIR and MARVEL CREATIVE
“Fantastic Science” by RYAN NORTH & PHIL NOTO
The official solicit synopsis for The Fantastic Four: First Foes — Shalla-Bal #1 from Marvel Comics reads, “THE ORIGINS OF SHALLA-BAL! Years ago, in order to save her planet, astronomer Shalla-Bal gave up her freedom to become the sustenance-seeking Herald of the intergalactic Devourer of Worlds, Galactus! Now, for the first time, learn the secrets of her transformation, her journey, and the horrifying decisions that she had to make!”
CBR Exclusive · Quiz WHICH MARVEL CHARACTER ARE YOU? Your Powers Are About to Be Revealed The Marvel Universe is full of extraordinary people — genius billionaires, super-soldiers, sorcerers, and gods. Twenty questions stand between you and the truth. Answer honestly. Your true self will assemble.
⚡Iron Man
🛡️Captain America
🗡️Black Widow
☘️Thor
🕷️Spider-Man
01
You’re outnumbered and outgunned. What do you do? A hero’s instinct is defined in their darkest moment.
02
Your team disagrees with your plan. How do you handle it? Every Avenger has their own idea of teamwork.
03
What does your hero identity mean to you? The mask — or the lack of one — says everything.
04
How do you typically make big decisions? A hero’s process shapes their outcome.
05
Someone takes credit for your work in front of everyone. You: Pride is the armor and the weakness of every hero.
06
A government agency wants to oversee your activities. Your response? Accountability is the line every hero must face.
07
When facing a villain, your strategy is: Every fighter has a philosophy.
08
Your biggest personal flaw is: Every hero has a crack in the armor.
09
A rookie hero is overwhelmed on their first mission. You: How a hero mentors others reveals their character.
10
What drives you more than anything else? The “why” behind the hero is everything.
11
You’ve just suffered a crushing defeat. What’s next? A hero is measured by how they get back up.
12
You could end a threat permanently — but it crosses an ethical line. You: The hardest choices define a hero from a weapon.
13
What do you actually fear most? Even the mightiest hero has something to lose.
14
People who just met you would describe you as: First impressions carry a grain of truth.
15
What’s your ideal base of operations? Where a hero operates reveals how they think.
16
What does “being a hero” actually mean to you? The philosophy behind the power is the real definition.
17
What do you want to leave behind? The mark a hero leaves is their truest measure.
18
Someone you love is in danger. Your first move is: Crisis strips away everything but the truth.
19
Your power — where does it come from? Origin shapes destiny in the Marvel Universe.
20
The final battle. Everything is on the line. You: This is the moment that defines everything.
THE MARVEL UNIVERSE HAS SPOKEN YOUR HERO IDENTITY
Your scores are shown below. The character with the highest number is your match. Read their description to discover which hero the universe chose for you.
⚡ Iron Man
🛡️ Cap. America
🗡️ Black Widow
☘️ Thor
🕷️ Spider-Man
Brilliant, driven, and uncompromising in your ambition. You believe that the right technology — in the right hands — can solve any problem, and you’re confident enough in your own abilities to back that up. Beneath the armor and the bravado, you carry the weight of responsibility deeply. When it truly matters, you’re willing to sacrifice everything.
Principled, courageous, and steadfast. You have an unshakeable sense of right and wrong, and no amount of pressure, politics, or power can make you compromise it. People trust you instinctively — not because you demand it, but because you’ve earned it. You lead not by authority but by example, and you will always get back up.
Strategic, precise, and formidably self-reliant. You don’t need a suit or a superpower — your greatest weapon is your mind and your nerve. You keep your cards close, trust slowly, and operate three steps ahead of everyone else. Your past is complicated, but you’ve turned it into something that makes you nearly impossible to stop.
Powerful, honorable, and ultimately humbled by what truly matters. You came into your power believing it was your birthright — and then you learned it had to be earned. Your strength is immense, but your greatest growth came from learning to serve rather than reign. Loyal to your people, terrifying to your enemies, and always magnificent.
Quick-witted, deeply compassionate, and driven by a responsibility you didn’t ask for. You’ve learned the hard way that great power comes with great cost — and you show up anyway. You stay grounded when others would ascend, and your humanity is your greatest strength. You make it look effortless. It never is.
Who is Shalla Bal in Marvel Comics?
Shalla-Bal has been a part of the Marvel Universe since the character was introduced all the way back in Silver Surfer #1 by Stan Lee and John Buscema in 1968. A former lover of Norrin Radd, better known as the original Silver Surfer, the Shalla-Bal of Marvel Comics was a tragic, complex, and often profoundly insightful figure in her original incarnation.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduced a new version of Shalla-Bal, portrayed by Julia Garner, who in her reality became the Silver Surfer and served as the Herald of Galactus. When Shalla-Bal brought Galactus to Earth, she and the Devourer of Worlds were both met by The Fantastic Four, who came together to drive back the cosmic threat in truly epic fashion.
Currently, both Shalla-Bal and Galactus have been driven off to some far-flung corner of their universe, although that doesn’t mean they won’t return in the future. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe heading towards Avengers: Doomsday, which will introduce reality-destroying Incursions to the MCU, heroes and villains from across the Multiverse will be crossing paths soon enough.
As such, Garner’s Silver Surfer could very well take center stage once more in a future MCU production. She could even bring whatever version of Polaris and its people still exist along with her for the ride, which would add a whole new layer of intrigue to the MCU’s tightly woven cosmic narrative.
The Fantastic Four: First Foes — Shalla-Bal #1 from Marvel Comics is on sale now.
Release Date
July 25, 2025
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Matt Shakman
Writers
Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Kat Wood, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
