By Bob Arnold                   Ann Shelby Smith, the new elementary school principal at Wesson Attendance Center (WAC), grew up in a coaching family, and, in a way, is following in the footsteps of her father, Glen Davis, who retired as Co-Lin’s head football coach following the 2024 season after 21 years to be succeeded by her older brother Micah.                   Smith, however, is not the same kind of coach as her father and brother, focusing on academics instead of athletics as an educator – an “instructional coach” at WAC for the past three years before moving into her latest role there after her predecessor Vanda Brister became Wesson High School principal.                   “I helped kids who needed to catch up, particularly in math and reading, to be successful students,” Smith explains in describing her coaching activity.                   Born in Florence, Alabama, where her father coached defensive backs and wide receivers for University of North Alabama football, Smith first lived in Wesson when Davis was the Co-Lin offensive coordinator in 1995-96 and returned when she entered the seventh grade at WAC in 2005 after he became the Wolves head coach following seven years as an assistant at Mississippi State at Starkville.                   Smith recalls a childhood mostly spent with her mom while her dad was either on the football field or recruiting talent for his teams.  If coaching athletes wasn’t her calling, she did enjoy playing basketball at Co-Lin and Delta State where she also earned associate and bachelor degrees in education after graduating from Wesson High School in 2010.  In 2014, she received an MA Degree in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas.                   “It wasn’t like I always dreamed of being a teacher, but I enjoy working with kids, and education became my career path,” Smith recounts. “As a teacher, I am rewarded when I see a kid in a ah-ha moment after learning something.  I also enjoy the relationships with students and other teachers.”                   Smith started her teaching career in 2015 at North Shore Elementary School in Brandon with first graders and fourth grade math students, and also taught at Brookhaven Elementary School in the 2019-2020 school term before joining Wesson Attendance Center as a second grade teacher in 2020-21 and then becoming an instructional coach, testing coordinator and specialist for students who require extra help.                 Beginning this month as the WAC elementary school principal, Smith says she’ll be responsible for making the K through sixth grades “run like a well-oiled machine,” overseeing instruction, teachers, students and discipline not unlike a head coach for a sports tean responsible for assistants, players and execution.                   While the new role will be challenging, Smith will not only be drawing on the coaching examples in her family, but perhaps more importantly, “the foundation Vanda Brister and I laid as a team over the past three years at Wesson Elementary.”                   Smith lives in Brookhaven with husband, Josh, a CPA who works in Flowood.  They have two children – Jackson, 5, who is kindergarten at WAC, and Kay, 3.   What are your hobbies? I run and work out.  I like to travel and cook, and follow sports – the Wesson Cobras, the Co-Lin Wolves, Mississippi State Bulldogs and, would you believe, the Buffalo Bills because Josh Allen won us over as fans   Are you a reader? I wouldn’t call myself an avid reader, but I’m eclectic, following recommendations of others.  I recently completed The Wound  about Vietnam War nurses.   How about music? I am a listener, particularly to country and Christian music.  Give me a ball, but not an instrument to play.   Movies, theater, television? I watch the Food Channel.  And Friday night is movie night, with the fare dictated by the kids.   If you won a lot of money in the lottery, how would you spend it? Helping the needy through community organizations, particularly through Clear Branch Baptist Church, where I am an active member   How would you change the world? Although social media has a positive impact on society and culture, we need address the negative effects.  I also want to see a cure for cancer, which affected my grandmother and father.

Special to Wesson News Copiah-Lincoln Community College has announced that JT Coward of Canton, Mississippi, will serve as the new head coach of the men’s soccer program. Coward said he is honored to take on the role and looks forward to the season ahead. He emphasized that his initial focus will be on establishing a strong foundation centered on discipline, accountability, and consistent effort. He brings a wealth of experience to the position, having spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Co-Lin. Before joining the college staff, Coward led the women’s soccer program at Germantown High School from 2019 to 2022, following two years as head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams at Starkville High School from 2017 to 2019. He also spent two years coaching with Impact Football Club from 2015 to 2017. In addition, he has served as a head coach with Mississippi Rush Soccer Club since 2019. A graduate of East Mississippi Community College with an associate of arts degree, Coward went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Mississippi State University. Co-Lin Athletic Director Bryan Nobile praised Coward’s contributions over the past three seasons, noting his success as an assistant coach and expressing confidence in his ability to lead the men’s program. Nobile said he is eager to see Coward build on the foundation that has been in place since the program’s return. Coward said success for the team will be defined not only by results on the scoreboard but also by personal growth, daily improvement, and the development of a lasting team culture.

Special to Wesson News Copiah-Lincoln Community College has announced the hiring of Joe Joe Tharp of Brandon, Mississippi, as the new head coach of the women’s soccer program. Tharp expressed his enthusiasm about joining the team, noting the strong foundation established by former coach Tom Cosgrave. He said his goal is to continue building a program that produces both winning teams and a positive, welcoming atmosphere for players and supporters alike. With more than a decade of club soccer coaching experience, Tharp has worked with the Jackson Futbol Club and Mississippi Rush Soccer. A graduate of Brandon High School, he went on to play for the Hinds Community College men’s soccer team from 2014 to 2016, helping the Eagles capture a North Division title and secure a spot in the MACJC State Tournament during his freshman year. After earning his associate degree from Hinds in 2016, Tharp attended Mississippi State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in December 2019. He and his wife, Anna, are the parents of a two-year-old daughter, Lennon. Co-Lin Athletic Director Bryan Nobile said the college is excited to welcome Tharp to the program, praising his ability to connect with and mentor student-athletes. Nobile added that Tharp’s approach to team culture aligns closely with the college’s vision and will help the program build on its tradition of success. Tharp said he is grateful for the warm welcome he has received at Co-Lin and hopes to pass along that same passion and sense of community to his players for years to come.

By Misty Strieff Prine “I need God. Every day. Every moment. Every second that I breathe, I need God. I am not strong enough on my own.” – Unknown. The Lord has a way of humbling you and reminding you real quick that you need Him in every facet of your life. Don’t get complacent. We need God in every nook and cranny of our lives, whether we think we do or not. I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine a second without Him in it. He’s always been with us in the past, He’s with us this very moment, and He tells us that He goes before us to prepare a way and a place for us. He knows what the future holds for us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our shortcomings and He knows our potential. He knows we are going to “think” we can handle things on our own…and that we will epically fail when we do so. He knows we are weak on our own but are stronger with Him. This world is a tough place and we can’t face it by ourselves. We need Him to help us get through each and every day. We have to lift one another up and remind each other, like I’m doing right now as well as in prayer, to lean on His strength and not our own. He truly is our lifeline. We need to keep Him top of mind each day and live for Him. We have to put Him first in our lives. Everything else will follow suit. **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB I have fond memories of “The Bad Guys” from 2022. The opening scene was an extended “Pulp Fiction” reference, which I was not expecting to see in an animated kids’ movie. It put me in a good mood for the rest of the movie, which was standard “villains eventually learn to be good” fare, albeit with a slick style and nary an irritating Minion in sight. “The Bad Guys 2” doesn’t have the cushion of an extended reference to one of my favorite very-R-rated movies, so it has to get by on style and humor alone. It succeeds, but to a lesser degree. When we last saw Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell), Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and tarantula Ms. Webs (Awkwafina), they had renounced their heist-crew ways after defeating villainous guinea pig Professor Marmalade (Richard Ayoade) with some help from Governor Foxington (Zazie Beetz), herself a reformed master criminal. They were all set to put their smarts and skills to good use, and as is typical of sequels, we open by learning that not much came of it. In the first movie, people didn’t give The Bad Guys a chance because they were of unappealing species, so they turned to lives of crime. Now people don’t want to give them a chance because they have histories leading lives of crime. They keep screwing up job interviews, sometimes because of prejudice, sometimes out of nervousness, and sometimes because they keep applying to places they’ve robbed. They’re getting increasingly frustrated and desperate with their inability to find a legitimate place in the world – not to mention the cash flow problem. Just when they think things can’t get any worse, they find out that the local police commissioner (Alex Borstein) suspects them in string of heists that for once they aren’t perpetrating. The Bad Guys soon find themselves in the company of The Bad Girls: snow leopard Kitty Kat (Danielle Brooks), raven Doom (Natasha Lyonne), and boar Petrova (Maria Bakalova), the real perpetrators of the crimes. The Bad Girls need The Bad Guys to help pull off an eight-person (that is to say, eight animal) heist against a tech magnate (Colin Jost) who owns a giant magnet that they can use to steal all the world’s gold. The Bad Guys go along with the heist with plans of sabotaging it later, ostensibly because The Bad Girls have blackmail material on good friend Foxington (who has her own strategy for foiling the plan that involves visiting the imprisoned Marmalade, “Silence of the Lambs”-style, which I’m counting as less funny than the “Pulp Fiction” stuff from the first movie), but also possibly because they miss the Bad Guy lifestyle. Will The Bad Guys succeed in stopping The Bad Girls, fail to stop them, or be brought back over to the side of Bad permanently? My biggest problem with “The Bad Guys 2” is that it’s all about The Bad Guys “stopping” The Bad Girls, instead of trying to teach them why they shouldn’t be Bad Girls. There are some late-stage debates in the course of fights about how it’s better to be respected than feared, but it’s like they’re trying to convince themselves, rather than their opponents, that they’re “better” than their new adversaries. Aside from that, the humor just isn’t as sharp as I remember from the first movie, though I might have been viewing that movie through rose-colored glasses after the opening sequence. The good news is that there’s still plenty of decent humor and still a good time to be had with these movies, even in the case of the inferior sequel. Grade: B- “The Bad Guys 2” is rated PG for action/mild violence, rude humor and language. Its running time is 104 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .

Special to Wesson News A man has turned himself in to authorities following a fatal car crash in Copiah County that sparked unrest at the scene and left multiple volunteer firefighters injured. The individual has been identified as 48-year-old Kenmantel Davis of Copiah County. According to the Copiah County Sheriff’s Office, Davis voluntarily surrendered around 1:45 p.m. on August 6. Davis is the father of 18-year-old Ken’Zavion Brown, who was killed in the early-morning crash. In connection with the events that unfolded following the incident, Davis has been charged with simple assault on a fireman, which is classified as a felony under Mississippi law. Sheriff Byron Swilley confirmed that one firefighter has filed charges related to the assault. The crash occurred on Sunday, August 3, at approximately 12:40 a.m. near the intersection of Lilly Road and Allen Road, an area reportedly known for drag racing. Officers arriving at the scene encountered a large and agitated crowd estimated to be between 200 and 300 people. As tensions grew, several first responders—specifically, four volunteer firefighters—were reportedly attacked by members of the crowd. Three of the injured firefighters were taken to Copiah County Medical Center for treatment, while the fourth declined medical assistance. Authorities believe that frustration over the response time may have contributed to the crowd’s reaction, although that remains under investigation. At this time, no names of the firefighters involved have been made public. The Copiah County Sheriff’s Department is continuing to investigate the incident.

Send responses to:  andybowman839@gmail.com You have probably been told a few times in your life to not let anyone take away your own peace. That you responsible if you are filled to the brim with good will toward all mankind - or had your fill of all mankind.  “Your happiness is in your hands, and it depends upon your own reactions to events.” Hmmm. Maybe that saying is true for the deliverers of that message, I’m in no position to judge. But there are always two sides to every pancake. Here is one side of a typical young mommy’s pancake. Her alarm clock rang at six, telling her that morning had arrived whether she’s ready or not. Immediately, dread and exhaustion returned. But then she remembered the promise she made to her pastor just yesterday in their counseling session ,  when she had confessed her depression and anxiety. She had agreed with him that she needed to start approaching her days with a positive outlook on life.  So the self-talk began. “Today’s is gonna be a great day. I am declaring here and now that I refuse to let anyone or anything change my mind and bring me down. God and I are in charge of my day, and this is gonna be a good day, dadgum it!” Stretching and yawning, she headed to the kitchen for a quick breakfast and even downed a few vitamins. (“After all, you are determined to make it a great day, aren’t you, girl?”) She then headed back to the bedroom to make the bed (great day, remember?) and threw on her clothes. Pasted on a hopeful, determined smile, ready to meet the day head-on. Then it started. Her three-year-old woke, bellowing that he is starving and wants his breakfast –  now . Her six-month-old baby girl is awakened from her every-two-hour-sleep-schedule by her older brother’s belligerent demands for food and attention, and begins her own hysterical crying, with decibel increases every seven seconds that mommy doesn’t appear crib-side. With a whining toddler hanging on to her leg, she began setting out a toddler-friendly breakfast in one arm while holding her breastfeeding baby girl with the other. Her cell phone rang, and she answered it with a quick “Speak to me!” Only to hear Aunt Linda’s Southern drawl that she “is callin’ this morning to check on my favorite niece and nephew. And tell them Auntie will be droppin’ by this mornin’ just to play - and by the way, to ask you a teeny-weensie favor.” She breathed deeply, and with an inward sigh she graciously lied and said that she would be looking forward to the visit. She laid down her phone, only to have it shrill again. This time it was the washing machine technician letting her know that he wouldn’t be able to keep his repair appointment today – “gonna have to be next Monday, sorry about that.” Her resolve to see the world through rose-colored glasses began slipping sideways into a distinct shade of dingy gray. It’s only 7:30. Go ahead. Tell that overwhelmed mommy that “You should never let people upset your peace.”

By Misty Strieff Prine “I know I’m on the right path because things stopped being easy.” Unknown   When life gets hard, you know you’re headed in the right direction. Stepping out of your comfort zone always puts you on the right path verses staying where everything is smooth sailing. Think about your walk with Jesus for a second. When you’re living for Jesus, the enemy all but beats you down doesn’t he? This is because you are making progress and going out of your comfort zone to live for Jesus in a way that others can see that you are willing to step out in faith regardless of the consequences. So, if you are having a tough go of things right now, rest assured you are going the way you need to go. Pray for the Lord to give you a sense of direction. Life is not a walk in the park. If that was the case, everyone would be going the same direction. What’s the fun in that? Pray for wisdom and discernment to choose wisely and follow God’s plan for your life, not the world’s way. God will never lead you astray. Never. The world-every chance it gets. Be strong, soldier. God ALWAYS has your back!! **For daily devotionals, you can follow me on Facebook at The Upward Way or on Instagram at the_upward_way.

By: Kara Kimbrough Brown sugar bacon jam took this smashburger at Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar & Grill in Bay St. Louis to a new level. Make your own using the recipe provided to create the best Labor Day burgers you've ever tasted.    It’s August, which means Labor Day weekend can’t be far behind. "Summer" as we know it is officially over for those who are either in school or have children / grandchildren in attendance, but a long Labor Day weekend offers “one last chance” to host friends or simply prepare a special meal. As summer’s final holiday approaches, I'm sharing a few recipes to make Labor Day a time for relaxing, not laboring in the kitchen.       I can’t let the summer end without sharing the Best-Burger-Ever recipe I was given by a restaurant owner. To create it for your Labor Day table or cookout, combine 1-1/4 pounds of lean ground chuck, two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce and two tablespoons of grated onion in a bowl. Gently shape into large patties and place on a platter in preparation for grilling or baking in the oven.     Just before cooking, lightly sprinkle each patty with a special combination of spices: two teaspoons paprika, one teaspoon each of salt and ground black pepper, half teaspoon dark brown sugar and quarter teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder and ground cayenne pepper.    Speaking of burgers, I enjoyed a great one this summer at Cuz’s Old Town Oyster Bar & Grill in Bay St. Louis. If you haven’t dined at Cuz’s, I highly recommend stopping by the next time you’re driving down Beach Blvd. in The Bay. Everything about Cuz’s large, juicy burger was delicious (especially when paired with Cuz’s famous Swamp Fries!) but it was the “brown sugar bacon jam” topping that elevated the taste to new heights. While I don’t have the restaurant’s special recipe, I found a similar one that I’m sharing below.      Last, for some, a Labor Day cookout isn’t complete unless the grill is smoking. But since temperatures will still be close to triple digits, I’m sharing an easy barbecue chicken recipe that can be prepared indoors.          However or wherever you celebrate the end of summer, may it be filled with fun, friends, family and of course, delicious food. Easy Oven Barbecue Chicken 1 cup barbecue sauce 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts  Dash of onion powder Dash of garlic powder Cooking spray      Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Place chicken on bottom of pan, sprinkle with onion powder and garlic powder (to taste) and brush barbecue sauce over chicken. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for 5-10 more minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Brown Sugar Bacon Jam 1-pound thick sliced bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 yellow onion, diced small 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup packed brown sugar      Cook the bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is browned, but not burned or overly crispy. Scoop out the cooked bacon with a slotted spoon and drain it on a paper towel-lined plate. Cook the onions and garlic in bacon grease until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes.     Add all the bacon back to the skillet and combine with cooked onions and garlic. Add the vinegar and brown sugar to the skillet, and bring to a boil. Cook stirring and scraping up browned bits from the skillet for 2 minutes Reduce the heat to medium low, and simmer until the liquid turns syrupy; about 30 minutes. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at  kkprco@yahoo.com .

Front: L To R : Mary Murphy Brady, Dixie Thornton, Sara Lassiter, Janet Currie. Back Row: Sharon Langley, President Whittington, Melnee Frazier, Vivian Hoelich, Joy Westbrook. Not pictured: Cathy Stroud Local members of the American Legion Auxiliary brought home top honors from the 2025 American Legion Auxiliary State Convention, held July 18–21 in Natchez, Mississippi. The annual gathering brought together Auxiliary members from across the state to celebrate achievements, share ideas, and elect new officers. This year, the local unit made an impressive showing, earning multiple first-place awards and statewide recognition for their outstanding programs and service. Among the awards received: First Place in the ALA Academy Award, which included a $250 gift certificate to Flag & Emblem 100% Membership Award First Place in Education Best Juniors Program, led by Mary Murphy Brady (age 16) of Petal, Mississippi, who served as President of the Juniors Program and also as a guest speaker for the event. Mary Murphy is the granddaughter of Kim Whittington, President of the Drane-Prine Unit 79 Auxiliary. “I encourage all units to sign up their Juniors because we are the future of this organization,” said Brady. First Place Unit Scrapbook for Division I Unit of the Year – Category I First Place Historian Award “These awards are a reflection of the tireless work and passion of our members,” said a local Auxiliary President, Kim Whittington. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished this year in service to veterans, youth, and our community.” The convention also marked a moment of leadership transition and celebration as several local members were installed into key positions at the district and state levels: Sara Lassiter was installed as Dept. First Vice President Dixie Thornton was installed as Dept. Second Vice President Janet Currie was installed as District 7 President Cathy Stroud was installed as District 7 Vice President The American Legion Auxiliary, one of the nation’s leading patriotic service organizations, supports veterans, active-duty military, and their families through volunteerism, advocacy, and education. The annual convention is a time to honor service, review accomplishments, and plan for the year ahead. With these victories and new leadership roles, the local unit is looking forward to continuing its mission with renewed energy and purpose. For more information about the American Legion Auxiliary or to get involved, email kbueto@yahoo.com reach out to their Facebook page.

Wesson might be a small town, but don’t let its size fool you—some pretty big names have roots right here. From movie stars to NFL legends and influential scholars, Wesson has quietly produced a lineup of individuals who made their mark far beyond Mississippi. Here are five celebrities with surprising ties to Wesson : 🎬 Dana Andrews – Classic Hollywood Star Perhaps the most famous name on the list, Dana Andrews was raised in Wesson after his family moved there during his childhood. Born in 1909, Andrews went on to become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces in the 1940s and ’50s. Known for roles in The Best Years of Our Lives , Laura , and A Walk in the Sun , Andrews’ classic charm and acting chops made him a household name. His father served as a Baptist minister in Wesson, and the family’s presence in the community left a lasting impression. 🏈 Steve McNair – NFL Great with Co-Lin Roots While born in Mount Olive, Steve “Air” McNair had a connection to Wesson through Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Before his standout career at Alcorn State and in the NFL, McNair briefly played at Co-Lin. His legacy still inspires young athletes across the South. 🎶 Neal Coty – Hit Country Songwriter Country artist and songwriter Neal Coty, who’s written hits for stars like Blake Shelton and Craig Morgan, spent part of his upbringing in the Wesson area. His lyrics reflect the life and values of small-town Mississippi—real, honest, and heartfelt. 📖 Dr. Joseph A. Johnson Jr. – Trailblazing Theologian Born in Wesson in 1914, Dr. Joseph A. Johnson Jr. became a respected theologian and was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. He later became a bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and served as president of several religious institutions. His academic and religious leadership broke barriers and left a significant legacy in both church and civil rights history. 🎭 Charles Coleman – Stage and Screen Actor Though less known to modern audiences, Charles Coleman, who appeared on both stage and screen in the early 20th century, had early ties to the Wesson area. His performances on Broadway and in early film productions helped pave the way for future Southern actors in the performing arts. Wesson: More Than Just a Dot on the Map Whether it’s a movie screen, a football field, or a church pulpit, people with Wesson connections have stood tall on some of the biggest stages. Not bad for a town of just a few thousand. Got a local legend we should know about? Drop us a message—we might feature them next!

By: Bob Garver Poster credit IMDB The “First Steps” part of the title of the new “Fantastic Four” movie is misleading. We don’t see the superhero quartet take their first steps, not as changed individuals and not as a team. The movie takes place four years after a space anomaly altered the DNA of astronauts Reed “Mister Fantastic” Richards (Pedro Pascal), Ben “Thing” Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Johnny “Human Torch” Storm (Joseph Quinn) and his sister, Sue “Invisible Woman” Storm (Vanessa Kirby). Fortunately, the alterations turned out to be mostly positive, and the team uses their newfound gifts to better the planet of Earth-828. The team certainly uses their powers for the greater good, but they don’t rely on them as much as you’d think. Richards is such an outstanding intellectual that he barely ever calls upon his ability to stretch. Sue uses her diplomatic talents to broker a peace deal that has nothing to do with her (admittedly poorly-defined) force-field powers. Johnny tries to prove his worth to the others by tackling problems without relying on his fire powers. Ben is more than happy to lend his rock-body to issues that require physical force, but he’s just as happy to live as normally as he can. The team is certainly good for fighting off the occasional supervillain, but they also motivate the inhabitants of Earth-828 to do good with their own lives so they don’t need to rely on superheroes. Of course, sometimes the world needs the Fantastic Four at their most Fantastic. As couple Reed and Sue are preparing to welcome a baby, extraterrestrial being Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner), later known as the Silver Surfer, arrives on Earth-828. She’s there to herald the impending arrival of planet-eating giant Galactus (Ralph Ineson). Nice of her to give everyone a chance say goodbye to their loved ones, though I don’t see why Galactus needs a herald to give away the element of surprise. The Four won’t stand for their entire world to be eaten, so they go on a space mission to try to reason with the hungry humongoid. He’s willing to cut a deal: he’ll spare the planet in exchange for Reed and Sue’s baby, which may have an all-powerful combination of his parents’ powers. The team refuses to hand over the baby, of course, but that does leave them with the residual problem of Earth being doomed. Can the Fantastic Four save their world from a villain the size of a skyscraper? Do the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its Disney overseers want to keep making money off of these characters? Story-wise, there’s not much new here, other than maybe how little action there is for a superhero movie. There’s a chase scene midway through the movie, and a typical-of-the-MCU battle involving a big glow-y thing at the end, but other than that we see little more than quick bursts and highlights. The Four actually try to stop Galactus by calling upon help from civilians on a global scale. I seriously doubt that enough people on our Earth would be willing to chip in and make these sacrifices, but remember, this movie doesn’t take place on Earth, it takes place in a parallel universe on Earth-828. The appeal of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” doesn’t lie in the likeable-but-familiar heroes, it lies in the setting of Earth-828. The world looks like what people in the 1960’s thought the world would look like in 2025. Technology has advanced and there are things like flying cars, but style and decoration have retained what I would call a retro aesthetic. Yes, there’s even an agreeably-chirpy, charmingly-cumbersome robot servant in the team’s headquarters. It’s the most memorable MCU setting since Wakanda, and it might even have that one beat. I can see why the Fantastic Four want to work so hard to save this world. Earth-828 elevates this otherwise-middling MCU entry into the best installment in years. Grade: B “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is rated PG for action/violence and some language. Its running time is 115 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at  rrg251@nyu.edu .