Marvel fans were left both surprised and delighted this week as Giganto, one of the franchise’s most monstrous villains, made an unexpected and comedic appearance in a brand-new pizza advertisement — joining forces (sort of) with the Fantastic Four.
The ad, which aired during a high-profile primetime NBA Finals commercial break, was part of a collaborative promotional campaign between Marvel Studios and Mega Slice Pizza, a fictionalized nationwide chain created for the spot. The timing of the campaign comes just months ahead of the Fantastic Four‘s highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut, scheduled for release in mid-2025.
A Slice of Superhero Humor
The 60-second commercial opens with a dramatic shot of Giganto — the towering, kaiju-like sea monster first seen in early Marvel comics — rising from the ocean and approaching the city shoreline in classic monster fashion. Just when all seems lost, the Fantastic Four arrive, not with weapons… but with a piping hot pizza.
Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) stretches an oversized pizza toward Giganto while explaining, “Science shows… monsters love mozzarella.”
Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) encases the pizza in a glowing force field as it floats toward the hungry beast.
Johnny Storm (Human Torch) flamboyantly flies in to add a fiery finish to the crust.
Ben Grimm (The Thing) deadpans: “It’s clobberin’ thyme,” before taking a big bite of his own slice.
To everyone’s shock, Giganto suddenly speaks — in a deep, goofy voice:
“I came for destruction… but I stayed for the crust.”
The ad ends with the tagline:
“Mega Slice Pizza — Big Enough for Any Appetite.”
Followed by: “Catch Giganto in Fantastic Four — Only in Theaters 2025.”
Setting the Stage for the MCU’s New Era
Giganto’s appearance has sparked speculation among Marvel fans. While primarily a humorous promo, some believe the ad is a soft confirmation that Giganto will indeed appear as a major threat in the upcoming Fantastic Four film, directed by Matt Shakman.
The character, originally introduced in Fantastic Four #4 (1962), is one of Marvel’s earliest monster villains — a sea-dwelling leviathan once controlled by the Sub-Mariner. With Namor already introduced in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the pieces may be falling into place.
Whether the commercial’s lighthearted tone hints at a more comedic Fantastic Four or is simply clever marketing remains to be seen. Regardless, fans are applauding Marvel for the creative synergy.
Pizza, Pop Culture, and Promotion
Mega Slice Pizza, the fictional brand featured in the ad, has now launched an in-universe campaign on social media, with posts showing Giganto enjoying different pizza combos (“Deep Sea Supreme”, “Monstrous Meat”, etc.) and Fantastic Four-themed limited-edition boxes rumored to be part of a collectible rollout.
The Fantastic Four movie is set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025, and stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm.
Until then, fans can enjoy a slice of superhero fun — and maybe wonder if Giganto prefers extra anchovies.
