Mole Man: Fantastic Four’s First Foe Revealed

Delving into the subterranean depths of Marvel’s upcoming “Fantastic Four: First Steps”, beyond the cosmic threats of Galactus and the Silver Surfer, lurks a more earthly menace: the Mole Man, portrayed by Paul Walter Hauser. This isn’t just another villain; Harvey Elder, the Mole Man, holds the distinction of being the first adversary the Fantastic Four ever encountered in the comics. Given the available information, it appears he will be the first villain they face in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as well. However, with numerous interpretations of the Mole Man across the comic books and a seemingly different portrayal on screen, let’s unearth the intriguing history of this enduring Marvel character.

The Mole Man: The Fantastic Four’s Inaugural Foe

“Fantastic Four” #1, penned by Stan Lee and illustrated by Jack Kirby, is widely regarded as the genesis of modern comics. Surprisingly, the issue doesn’t begin with the team’s origin story; that unfolds several pages later. Furthermore, the initial villain isn’t Doctor Doom, but the Mole Man, originally referred to as Moleman.

After a summons from Mister Fantastic, the team ventures into an enormous hole leading to Subterranea, an underground realm reminiscent of the Hollow Earth concept, partially governed by the Mole Man. As he recounts, Harvey Elder was a physically unattractive man, rejected by women, scorned by his superiors, and ridiculed by passers-by. Feeling like a monster, he sought refuge on Monster Isle, a haven for actual monsters. There, he stumbled into a chasm, resulting in his blindness and the moniker “Mole Man”.

In that inaugural issue, details about how his fall led to ruling an underground kingdom remain scarce. He battles the Fantastic Four, who thwart his plan to invade Earth through a network of tunnels, by sealing them off.

A Constant Nuisance Across the Marvel Universe

Since his debut in 1961, the Mole Man has repeatedly clashed with the Fantastic Four, but his villainous escapades extend to nearly every hero in the Marvel Comics universe. He’s battled the Avengers, the X-Men, Namor the Sub-Mariner (a frequent Fantastic Four antagonist), and the Hulk. He even concocted schemes to win a date for Squirrel Girl’s best friend.

Essentially, if a story requires heroes to venture underground or needs a minor threat before the main event, the Mole Man is the ideal choice. While not particularly formidable himself, he commands colossal, kaiju-sized monsters capable of wreaking havoc on the surface world.

Harvey lacks genuine superpowers. Due to his severe visual impairment, his other senses are heightened, though not to the extent of Daredevil’s. He possesses considerable intelligence and has trained himself in combat using his ever-present staff. In a one-on-one confrontation with any hero, he would be swiftly defeated. His strategy relies on overwhelming opponents with hordes of monsters, hoping to survive the encounter.

The Moloids and Subterranean Monsters

Another crucial element of the Mole Man’s lore, absent from “Fantastic Four” #1, is his Moloids. These small, yellow beings are typically non-verbal and fanatically devoted to their leader. Although created by the Deviants, adversaries of the Eternals, they are more closely associated with Harvey. Along with the Moloids come the massive subterranean monsters, such as Giganto, the enormous green kaiju who attacks on the cover of “Fantastic Four” #1.

Adaptations and Alternate Interpretations

The Mole Man has appeared in several animated series and video games. Intriguingly, he was initially slated to appear in two previous cinematic adaptations of “Fantastic Four”, although the character was replaced by another before the films’ release.

However, two significant versions of the character exist in different iterations of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe. In the first, he was Dr. Arthur Molekevic, a scientist working alongside the Fantastic Four at the Baxter Building. Feeling increasingly marginalised, he created the Moloids and established an underground dwelling with them.

The second iteration was recently introduced in “Ultimate Spider-Man”. He is a member of the Sinister Six – mob bosses who have divided New York City and operate under Wilson Fisk, also known as the Kingpin. The Mole Man controls the area beneath New York and briefly assists Spider-Man for his own purposes.

Mole Man’s Potential MCU Portrayal

To understand how the Mole Man will be depicted in the MCU, we must consider “Fantastic Four: First Steps” #1, a tie-in comic that retells the origin of the Fantastic Four as if the comic were published four years after the team gained their powers in the MCU (or its retro-future Earth).

Mirroring “Fantastic Four” #1, the Mole Man is the first villain they confront. Similar to his comic book counterpart, this Mole Man controls both Moloids and giant monsters, such as the massive, green Giganto.

However, the twist lies in the fact that the Mole Man was peacefully residing in his Subterranean civilisation, drilling and building, until the humans above began constructing larger and larger structures. Each instance of surface dwellers drilling below or creating a subway tunnel was perceived as an “act of war.” The final straw was the Fantastic Four building their new headquarters, prompting Harvey to attack the surface world.

The Fantastic Four stop him – or rather, he surrenders upon seeing his pregnant mate in danger. In this continuity, “Moloids” are simply the term for people who live underground. Once captured, Susan Storm realises he’s not just a labour organiser, but a leader of a civilisation. Sue helps Harvey make Subterranea part of the United Nations, and they all become friends.

Given that “First Steps” begins with a montage explaining the team’s origins, we will likely see much of what was on the page, on screen. According to Director Matt Shakman, Harvey is “really more of a union boss than a supervillain… He’s all about community, and that’s why Sue and Harvey have a good relationship and they get along. They understand each other.”

This is a significant departure from the character who fell into a hole in “Fantastic Four” #1.