It has been known for some time that Natasha Lyonne would play a major role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, it has been unclear just what that role would be. The mystery remained even after it was revealed she was playing an MCU original character named Rachel Rozman. This character seems to be a subtle tribute to an unsung hero of American comics.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps honors the team’s co-creator Jack “The King” Kirby in many ways. The Earth-828 setting takes its number from Kirby’s birthday of August 28th. The movie also concludes with a quote from Kirby: “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.” However, the character of Rachel Rozman seems to be a subtle tribute to Jack Kirby’s wife, Roz Kirby.
A New York City native, Rosalind Goldstein lived in the same Brooklyn apartment building as Jack Kirby. She worked as a lingerie designer before marrying Jack in 1942, so she had the skills needed to assist her husband by inking many of his comics. She also collaborated with him on stories for the anthology series Adventure Comics and World’s Finest Comics.
Who is Natasha Lyonne’s Fantastic Four MCU character, Rachel Rozman?
Rachel Rozman is a minor, but important character in the story of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. She first appears as a schoolteacher on Yancy Street, who talks with Ben Grimm as he plays with her students. Something about the brassy young woman appeals to Ben. However, he resists approaching her when he sees her leaving the local synagogue for fear of rejection, Ultimately, he enters the temple later in the movie, specifically to talk to Rachel.
In the classic Fantastic Four comics, Ben Grimm was mostly commonly romantically linked to sculptor Alicia Masters. He was also engaged to a teacher named Debbie Green before he became The Thing. However, he broke off the engagement for fear of endangering her. Despite this, Rachel Rozman seems to be based on Roz Kirby in the same way Ben Grimm was modeled on Jack Kirby.
While Roz Goldstein was not a teacher, Rachel Rozman seems be born of the same boldness attributed to Jack Kirby’s wife. Roz famously inspired the character of Big Barda, the combative amazon from Apokolips who married Mister Miracle. Kirby’s assistant Mark Evaniver also recalled how protective Roz was of her husband in a eulogy following her passing in 1997. “Before any of us could rush to Jack’s defense . . . before Jack himself could even raise his voice, there was Roz, telling off the corporate goon better than any of us could,” he wrote. Given that, it seems likely the woman who won Ben Grimm’s heart is based on the love of Jack Kirby’s life.
