Fantastic Four: Casting Marvel’s First Family in the MCU
By Mark Lynch
Alicia Masters
Alicia Masters is an underappreciated part of the Fantastic Four’s family. She isn’t just one of Ben Grimm’s love interests. Nor should she be used as just a plot device to introduce Puppet Master. She’s part of the reason Ben doesn’t lose his mind. Alicia knows Ben better than almost anyone and always reminds him how he’s not the monster that some people see – and not the one he sees himself. In the recent Fantastic Four run (written by Dan Slott) Alicia has become a mother after she and Ben adopted two alien children – something that is going to add even more depth and responsibility to her character.
Whoever plays Alicia Masters has to be believable when she’s caring – giving us a character who not only loves Ben Grimm for who he is but isn’t afraid to check him when he’s being too hard on himself. Jurnee Smollett comes to mind here.
This may not be a superpowered role like the Black Canary, but it’s an essential one and Smollett has shown that she can be caring and gentle through her performances in Lovecraft Country. We’ve also seen her be tough and outspoken in that show and in the aforementioned role as Black Canary in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn). She would be the perfect person to stand beside Ben Grimm in his time of need.