10 Things Everybody Gets Wrong About Reed Richards

[[{“value”:”

Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, is one of the true main characters of the Marvel Universe. Debuting in Fantastic Four #1 in 1961, the comic that launched Marvel into popularity and ushered in the Marvel Age of Comics, Mister Fantastic is one of the oldest and most iconic superheroes of all time.

Of course, things haven’t always been easy for the patriarch of Marvel’s first family, as film rights and corporate mandates have pushed the Fantastic Four out of the spotlight. The worst effect of this lack of emphasis is how public perception of Reed Richards has taken a nosedive. Ever since the controversial days of Civil War, misconceptions about Reed have lingered, preventing new fans from fully engaging.

10

Reed Richards Isn’t As Old As He Appears

More Often Than Not, Reed Richards’ White Hair Is Cosmetic

Perhaps the most iconic part of Reed Richards’ visual design is the white hair at his temples. Featured since his debut, it’s almost inseparable from Mister Fantastic’s look, akin to the Thing having more than three fingers per hand. Practically, the white hair serves as a visual shortcut to establish Reed’s age and maturity. According to supplementary Marvel material, Reed was in his 30s when he acquired his powers, and being in your 30s in the 1960s likely meant having served in World War II, an experience that could age even the most youthful. Early Fantastic Four issues even note that Reed’s hair turned white from the stress of military service.

However, as time has marched forward, the reasoning behind the white hair has changed dramatically. Some versions show Reed with white temples before the quartet’s launch into space, emphasizing the constant stress that has prematurely aged him. Other continuities, like the 2005 live-action film, portray the white hair as a result of cosmic radiation and the strain on his body. Given that Reed and Sue are only six years apart in age, and Sue is just a few years older than Johnny, who was 16 when he got his powers, it’s reasonable to assume Reed was in his early to mid-30s when the four were exposed to cosmic rays.

9

Reed Richards Is Not Above Jealousy or Anger

Mister Fantastic Is Just As Human As the Rest of Us

Interpersonal dynamics can be hard for anybody, especially fictional characters. With rare and notable exceptions, most fictional characters that inhabit a shared universe are expected to overcome their personal differences and get along. As a prime example, when Star Trek: The Next Generation entered production in the late 80s, series creator Gene Roddenberry famously decreed that the crew of the new Enterprise would not have any interpersonal conflicts. Essentially, nobody was allowed to dislike each other, which turned every character into a function of the plot. The early days of the Marvel Universe were under no such restrictions, as a Marvel character’s dislike for another could last for years afterward.

Ever since his introduction in the pages of Marvel Comics #1, Namor the Sub-Mariner has been both a longstanding member of the Marvel Mythology and entirely unlikeable to everybody he meets. Since being reintroduced to readers in the pages of The Fantastic Four comic, Namor has made it his personal mission to torment Marvel’s first family at every opportunity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Namor’s repeated attempts to “win” Susan Storm. Having been happily married for years, there is little possibility that Reed thinks Sue is going to leave him. In actuality, both of them are just tired of Namor’s continual disrespect of their marriage, constantly treating Susan like she’s a prize to be fought over and won.

8

Reed Richards Has No Bones or Organs

Cosmic Rays Permanently Changed Mister Fantastic’s Physiology

The Fantastic Four have one of the most unique origin stories in all of fiction. In keeping with their trend-setting nature, the powers and abilities of Marvel’s first family have also seemed more marvelous than most of their contemporaries. Johnny can control and manipulate fire, Ben has strength in the same conversation as the Hulk, and Susan is potentially the most powerful of them all, manipulating visible light and creating solid-air constructs. Finally, there is Reed and his so-called “stretching powers,” which have been mocked and derided by fans and readers for years. Rather than simply having the ability to stretch parts of his body, Reed Richards simply has no internal biology to speak of.

Since his exposure to cosmic rays, Reed has had no bones, muscles, nerves, internal organs, or even blood flowing through his body. His entire physical form is a mass of malleable flesh that he has complete control over, requiring a certain degree of concentration to maintain his shape. Reed is also a shapeshifter who is able to disguise himself in various ways or transform his body parts into weapons or tools. With no true physical limitations, he can stretch in unimaginable ways, like enlarging his eyeballs to function as binoculars. To this day, writers continue to find clever new ways to showcase just how flexible Reed Richards can be.

7

Reed Richards Is a Skilled Hand-to-Hand Fighter

Mister Fantastic Has Trained Himself for Years In Martial Arts

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Reed Richards’ powers don’t always seem the most practical in a fight. But when all is said and done, very few superpowers are impressive in description alone, it’s their application that makes them memorable. Spider-Man’s most iconic ability is sticking to objects, which, in the wrong context, might seem unremarkable. However, when he uses it to climb walls or hang upside down from the ceiling, it becomes both creepy and dramatic. Similarly, it’s not just the powers Mister Fantastic has, it’s how he uses them.

As the longtime leader of The Fantastic Four, Reed has trained himself to rely on more than just his elasticity. Reed is considered one of the Marvel Universe’s leading experts in judo, with years of combat experience, and has honed his powers to the point where they are almost instinctual. His abilities might not always seem the most useful in a fight, but when combined with his extensive training and ever-growing intellect, Reed Richards is a formidable opponent.

6

Reed Richards Is a Great Big Nerd

Reed Has a Very Childlike Joy That Drives Him Forward In All Things

The Fantastic Four aren’t superheroes in the traditional sense; they’re explorers, adventurers, and scientists first and foremost. Their stories aren’t usually driven by stopping a doomsday weapon or preventing world domination but by unraveling the scientific mysteries Reed Richards uncovers. While his expertise lies in physics and aerospace engineering, having built the ship the FF flew in, his interests extend to nearly everything, including computer science, telecommunications, hologram generation, and even fashion design.

Some of the best Fantastic Four stories revolve around the team exploring a new dimension, experimenting with a new energy source, or meeting an alien species Reed has made contact with. And all of these adventures are propelled by his desire to save the world. He wants to use the incredible technology they discover to solve humanity’s problems, to literally solve everything, giving his efforts a genuine emotional core. Science becomes a doorway to the fantastical when readers step into the Baxter Building, where there’s always something new to explore.

5

Reed Richards Is a Deeply Caring Father

Being a Good Gather Is One of the Most Important Goals In Reed’s Life

Above all else, Reed Richards is a family man. His father, Nathaniel, was a well-respected scientist who raised him to value not just science but people as well. As idyllic as Reed’s childhood seemed from the outside, it wouldn’t last. When he was seven, his mother, Evelyn, died, leaving him in Nathaniel’s care. But as time passed, Nathaniel became increasingly consumed by his work, eventually disappearing from Reed’s life altogether. While Nathaniel was loving and supportive when present, he was absent, physically or emotionally, for large parts of Reed’s upbringing.

Growing up with only an idea of what a good father should be, Reed is deeply motivated to be there for his own children. There’s a real hurt child aspect to him, as he likely spent years wondering if there was something he could have said or done to make his father stay, and he never wants his own kids to feel that way. He has quite literally gone to war for them, even turning to Doctor Doom for help delivering Valeria safely. In perhaps the greatest demonstration of his fatherly love, Reed retired from The Fantastic Four after 2015’s Secret Wars, instead traveling with his wife and kids to remake the destroyed multiverse.

4

Reed Richards Has a Complicated Family History

Reed Richards’ Family Tree Is a Twisting, Complex Series of Branches

As previously mentioned, Reed’s father, Nathaniel, disappeared from his life when Reed was a teenager. Where he went has one of the most convoluted answers in superhero comics. Initially, Nathaniel joined the Brotherhood of the Shield, an ancient organization predating the more well-known spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D., and was partnered with Howard Stark. As agents of the Shield, Nathaniel and Howard worked to prevent a civil war within the Brotherhood, with the corrupt Isaac Newton and the time-traveling Leonardo da Vinci leading opposing factions. After ending the war, Nathaniel acquired time-travel technology, using it to explore the Marvel Universe for years.

Since becoming the Marvel Universe’s resident time traveler, Nathaniel has visited nearly every timeline known to fans, often fathering children along the way and leaving dozens of them scattered across history. This has fueled long-standing speculation that Kang the Conqueror, born Nathaniel Richards, might be either Reed’s actual father or one of Nathaniel’s many offspring who simply shares his name. Doctor Doom has also asserted that Rama-Tut, the first Kang variant ever encountered, is his descendant—a claim Kang himself has often agreed with. Most recently, in Dan Slott’s Fantastic Four run, Reed discovered he has a long-lost sister, Professor Joanna Jeffers.

3

Reed Richards Believes In the Power of Teamwork

As the Leader of the FF, Reed Understands When It’s Time to Call In Outside Help

Given his years as leader of The Fantastic Four, it’s no surprise that Reed Richards understands the value of teamwork. Not only does he have a team and family he can always rely on, but he also regularly calls on friends for outside assistance. Despite being widely recognized as the smartest person in the Marvel Universe, Reed readily admits when another scientist is better suited to a particular problem. As a physicist, he knows that Hank Pym is the better choice for a chemical perspective or that Tony Stark is the go-to expert for engineering challenges.

Recognizing that some threats are too big for even the most powerful heroes to handle alone, Reed once joined the Illuminati, a secret council of superheroes made up of key leaders who shared information and strategies. The group played a role in the Kree-Skrull War, the rediscovery of Sentry, and the failed attempt to prevent the Secret Invasion, but they’re perhaps best known for trying to stop the universe-ending incursions of Time Runs Out. While the idea of beloved heroes working in secret is unsettling, fans remain fascinated by the Illuminati and eagerly await their next appearance, especially if it involves the patriarch of Marvel’s first family.

2

Reed Richards Is a Devoted Husband

The First Marriage in Marvel Is Still Going Strong, Even Decades Later

Reed Richards and Susan Storm share one of the most iconic relationships in comic book history. Years before the dramatic romance of Peter Parker and Mary Jane, and decades before Superman and Lois Lane tied the knot, Reed and Sue were showing comics readers what a loving and committed relationship could look like. Their journey hasn’t always been easy, with ups and downs traced throughout Marvel’s history, but they’ve never wavered in their commitment to their family or each other. Unlike many other comic book couples, their marriage has never been annulled, retconned, or ended in divorce.

While they weren’t always romantically involved, with early Fantastic Four stories highlighting the tension of their budding relationship, it was Sue’s repeated encounters with Namor the Sub-Mariner that ultimately opened her heart to the truth. Namor saw her as an object, a prize to be won, rather than a partner to be valued. Reed, despite often getting lost in science, sees her for who she is and loves her for it. Their relationship isn’t perfect or without struggles, but their love and dedication have helped them weather every challenge, from the coming of Galactus to the end of time itself.

1

Reed Richards Cares a Great Deal About Everybody

Though He Might Not Have Internal Organs, Reed’s Heart Beats for Everyone on the Planet

If anything defines Reed Richards more than his intellect, it’s his guilt. He never set out to be the smartest man in the world, but once people started calling him that, he felt an unrelenting pressure to live up to the expectation, both as a leader and as the scientific genius the world believes him to be. Even when faced with an entirely new scenario, where the slightest misstep could mean extinction, Reed is expected to remain calm, collected, and have all the answers. That pressure, the need to always be right, has weighed on him since The Fantastic Four’s very first adventure.

Reed bears the deepest scars from his team’s exposure to cosmic rays because, in his mind, it was his hubris that put them in danger in the first place. The inadequate shielding, their transformations; Reed sees that day as his greatest sin, and everything since, especially every villain attack, as his responsibility. From Susan’s pregnancy complications to Johnny’s struggles in the real world to Ben’s permanent mutation, Reed views it all as his fault, driving his relentless pursuit to cure them and make amends for what he sees as past failures. In his own words, he hopes beyond hope that one day he can be forgiven for taking away the Four’s normal lives forever.

“}]] Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, is a key member of The Fantastic Four, but he’s frequently misunderstood.  Read More