'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' end-credits scene, explained

The Fantastic Four: First Steps gifts viewers with a pair of wildly different post-credits scenes.

Its mid-credits scene brings a harbinger of doom to not just the Fantastic Four, but the whole MCU. Thankfully, though, The Fantastic Four: First Steps lightens things up in its end-credits scene, so you're still able to leave the theater smiling, instead of, you know, panicking about the fate of baby Franklin. Let's break it down.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' end-credits scene features a sweet Jack Kirby tribute.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." Credit: Marvel Studios

As the credits finish rolling on The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a quote from Fantastic Four co-creator Jack Kirby appears on screen, saying, "If you look at my characters, you will find me. No matter what kind of character you create or assume, a little of yourself must remain there."

The attribution to Kirby also includes the dates of his life: Aug. 28, 1917 to Feb. 6, 1994. The American way of writing out his birthdate (8/28) corresponds to the number of the Fantastic Four's reality, which is Earth-828, making for a sweet tribute to the artist behind Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn).

The Fantastic Four: First Steps gets animated in its end-credits scene.

Pedro Pascal in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." Credit: Jay Maidment

Following the Kirby quote, The Fantastic Four: First Steps launches into the Fantastic Four cartoon that is mentioned throughout the film. As Ben laments, it's the origin of his catchphrase, "It's clobberin' time."

We get to see that animated catchphrase in action, but that's not all. The end-credits scene features a snazzy theme song, along with fights with comic villains previously brought up in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, like Puppet Master, Diablo, and Red Ghost.

Unfortunately, this cartoon only exists in the world of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, so you won't be able to catch more of Pascal, Kirby, Moss-Bachrach, and Quinn's animated selves. (At least, not yet. Disney could make this happen!) However, if you're yearning for more animated Fantastic Four, you're in luck. The 1994 Fantastic Four animated series is now streaming on Disney+.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now in theaters.