THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Gives Mole Man a Surprising New Role in the MCU — GeekTyrant

Geek Tyrant

28-07-2025

Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps wastes no time diving into the team's beginnings, and it does so with an exciting nod to the comics. The movie opens with a montage of their origin story and their very first showdown with Mole Man.
Spoilers ahead!
In an epic moment straight out of classic Marvel lore, he sinks the Pan Am Building in Midtown Manhattan.
The team, decked out in their blue-and-black costumes, eventually brings down Giganto and captures Harvey Elder, better known to comic fans as Mole Man. But this isn't the last time we see him.
Later, it's revealed that Sue Storm has brokered a peace agreement between Subterranea and the surface world through her work with the United Nations.
After the Silver Surfer drops his ominous warning, Harvey reappears, watching the team's press conference. In an unexpected twist, Sue invites him to the Baxter Building during the film's final act.
With Galactus coming, and New York City in danger, the city needs to evacuate fast. Sue convinces Harvey to let millions take refuge in Subterranea, but not before a sharp exchange of words between him and the Human Torch, with Mister Fantastic delivering one of the film's more humorous lines by calling him 'Mole Man.'
Once the city descends underground, Harvey steps into an almost heroic role, opening his subterranean world to the people of the surface, including Natasha Lyonne's character, Rachel Rozman.
There were rumors of bigger arcs for both characters, but those plans were apparently trimmed down to keep this reboot under two hours.
As for the so-called Moloids, Marvel took a grounded approach. Instead of the monstrous creatures from the comics, they're regular people who joined Harvey in building a life below New York. They wear mining gear and goggles that faintly resemble the big, bug-eyed look of their comic counterparts. It's a clever visual nod, though some fans might find it a little underwhelming.
What's surprising is how the MCU flips the script on Mole Man. Rather than making him a one-note villain, the film portrays him as a reluctant ally, which I appreciated. This move adds a refreshing dynamic and sets up intriguing possibilities for the future.
Plus, with name-drops like Wizard, the Mad Thinker, and Diablo sprinkled throughout the story, Marvel clearly has plenty of villains waiting in the wings.
Whether we'll see more of Paul Walter Hauser as Mole Man remains to be seen, but his role here serves a very practical purpose. By sheltering New Yorkers underground during the Galactus battle, Marvel sidesteps any Man of Steel-style backlash over mass casualties.
I liked how they handled Mole Man in the movie, and I hope that we get to see more of the character.