I Can’t Believe We’re Meant to Buy This Disney Hero as Fantastic Four’s Human Torch

I can’t believe that Disney expects us to buy this character as the Fantastic Four’sHuman Torch. Throughout 2024, Disney and Marvel have been collaborating to put some of animation’s most iconic characters in the shoes of famous superheroes. Now, following the success of Donald Duck as Thor and Wolverine, as well as Minnie Mouse as Captain Marvel, a new crossover has been announced for 2025, and it’s perhaps the most interesting yet.

Marvel & DIsney: What If…? Mickey & Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 is a new one-shot by Steve Behling, Riccardo Secchi, and Lorenzo Pastrovicchio that will transform the Mickey Mouse gang into Marvel’s First Family. It’s a fascinating concept that will utilize the most famous faces from the group for the ultimate comic team-up. However, as much as Mickey, Donald and Minnie fit their respective roles, Goofy feels out-of-place as the Human Torch.

The character is known for being incredibly hot-headed, and while it’s clear he was given the role because he’s a major Disney icon, he isn’t the first character to come to mind when Fantastic Four fans think of Johnny Storm.

Mickey’s Greatest Rival Would Fit the Human Torch’s Persona Better

Mortimer Mouse Shares A Lot in Common with Johnny Storm

There’s no denying that Goofy was chosen to be the Human Torch out of brand recognition for Mickey and his friends. However, if Disney had a chance to start over, I believe that Mickey’s greatest rival, Mortimer Mouse, would be a great face for the Human Torch. While he and Mickey are technically enemies, his personality fits incredibly well with who Johnny Storm was in his early days on the team. He’s brash, arrogant, and full of self-serving charisma, which goes well with a retelling of the Fantastic Four’s origin.

Goofy’s well beyond who he was in the mid-20th century when he was portrayed as an “every-man” for adult viewers.

Of course, this isn’t to say that Goofy couldn’t be a decent Human Torch, especially with editor Mark Paniccia expressing full confidence in the project, saying it will bring “the spirit of Marvel’s first family to a story I can only describe as Funtastic!” However, Goofy feels so much more like a gullible yet lovable fool that makes mistakes in good faith. He’s well beyond who he was in the mid-20th century when he was portrayed as an “every-man” for adult viewers, so it would only make sense to substitute him with a character like Mortimer who fits Johnny Storm’s character a bit closer.

The Rest of Mickey’s Friends Feel at Home in Their Fantastic Four Roles

Variant Cover by Chrissie Zullo

While Goofy is definitely the odd one out for this crossover team-up, the casting choices for the rest of The Fantastic Four feel so much more inspired. Mickey playing the role of Mr. Fantastic is an obvious pick, as he’s essentially the leader of his friends. Minnie doubles as an effective second-in-command, especially since she and Mickey are canonically a couple, just like Reed Richards and Susan Storm.

However, the best pick of the bunch is easily Donald Duck as The Thing. His anger fits the role of Ben Grimm perfectly, and it will make for entertaining reading to see him belt out the iconic catchphrase “it’s clobberin’ time!” before jumping into battle.

Even with the odd choice of turning Goofy into the Human Torch, What If…? Mickey and Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 is sure to be a fun addition to Disney’s ever-expanding list of crossovers released during the past year. They make for fun story ideas that please fans both young and old, and this new What If…? comic likely won’t be any different. It’s hard to buy Disney claiming that Goofy will make a believable Human Torch, but it will still be a fun take on the Fantastic Four, and there’s no telling how much the upcoming story could surprise fans.

Marvel & Disney: What If…? Mickey & Friends Became the Fantastic Four #1 is available January 8th, 2025 from Marvel Comics.