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Reed Richards has been bolstered as one of the most brilliant minds in all the Marvel Universe, but honestly, I think there are far more brilliant superheroes who have proven their intellect, namely Professor Xavier of the X-Men. Mister Fantastic of The Fantastic Four has always been shown to have an edge over the mutant telepath, but Charles Xavier just proved his mind is far superior by tricking Reid Richards into setting him free from his high-tech prison.
Uncanny X-Men #11 – written by Gail Simone with art by Javier Garrón – shows Charles Xavier escaping his cell in Graymalkin prison, evading his former X-Men students and other superheroes alike. In X-Men #35 by Gerry Duggan, both Tony Stark and Reid Richards put their genius minds together to design a high-tech jail strong enough to hold Professor X, despite their attempt to detain Professor X, it wasn’t enough.
It’s revealed that Chares Xavier was able to mentally influence Stark and Reed Richards into leaving a loophole in any system they create to detain Professor Xavier, foreshadowing how he escapes.
Reed Richards Has Been Overthrown as Marvel’s Top Genius
Mister Fantastic and Tony Stark Have Been Outdone by Charles Xavier as the Smartest Heroes
Uncanny X-Men #11 (2025)
Release Date:
March 5, 2025
Writer:
Gail Simone
Artist:
Javier Garrón
Cover Artist:
David Marquez
X-MANHUNT PART ONE! At the end of the Orchis War, Charles Xavier surrendered himself to the authorities and allowed himself to be imprisoned in Graymalkin Prison! But now something has spurred him into action, into escaping his incarceration and embarking on a mad scramble across the nation! What has caused Professor X to go on the run? And will his assorted pupils move to protect him, recapture him or kill him? The answer, of course, is all of the above. In this opening chapter, Rogue and her team of X-Men are forced to ally with their worst enemy in order to betray their most trusted friend!
It’s not lost on me that Reed Richards is an incredible genius, considering he has over 18 doctorates and an IQ of 267, but I think both Charles Xavier’s intellect and superpowered abilities are often overlooked when considering Marvel’s smartest superhumans. Like Reed, Xavier is a genius who holds multiple doctorates and is well-versed in science and genetics, on top of that, he is a high-level telepath. While Xavier’s intelligence isn’t as widely regarded as Reed Richards, Xavier still has his advanced mutant abilities that put his mind above Mister Fantastic.
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Professor Xavier’s telepathic powers are a testament to his intelligence as they allow him to achieve feats beyond the normal human mind such as telepathic learning, mind control, and astral projection. Unlike Reed, Charles can quickly absorb and transfer information instantly with his mutant powers, making him an instant expert in anything. One of Charles’ abilities that I believe gives him the advantage is his ability to manipulate the mind, asit’s his memory manipulation he uses to trick Tony Stark and Reed Richards into freeing him.
Mister Fantastic Is Smart, But Is Revealed To Have One Weakness: Telepaths
Reed Richards Cannot Outsmart a Telepath Like Charles Xavier
It is beyond rare for someone to out-smart one of Reed Richards or Stark’s inventions, but Charles Xavier managed to outwit both super geniuses, a feat practically unheard of until now. Not only did Charles Xavier mentally influence Stark and Richard, Xavier also influenced the mind of every supergenius on earth, declaring “If you make a cage for Charles Xavier, you will leave a loophole.” Professor X’s previous action may be controversial, but I’d consider this moment proof that powerful telepaths like Xavier will always overpower super-intelligence like Reed Richards.
With his powers, Charles has the capacity to intake vastly more information than Reed.
Reed Richards may be vastly more knowledgeable compared to Charles Xavier however, it’s apparent he has a weakness to telepaths, and Xavier, at one point, was one of the most powerful telepaths on Earth. With his powers, Charles has the capacity to intake vastly more information than Reed and I think if it came to it,Charles could easily overpower Reed with his telepathy. Charles can not only learn at an accelerated rate, but he can also input hidden suggestions into Reed Richards’ mind that, as it’s been shown, Reed will follow through with.
I’m Certain Charles Xavier Could Outsmart Reed Richard Whenever He Wants To
Professor X Has Already Outsmarted Both Mister Fantastic and Iron Man
Xavier outsmarted Reed Richards and Tony Stark twice, once when he first escaped using his astral form and a second time during the X-Manhunt crossover. Reed may be considered the smartest man on Earth but when it comes to high-level telepaths, he can’t compete, especially when telepaths like Professor Xavier can control what he knows and how he acts. Charles Xaviers’ abilities and intelligence are consistently overlooked when there are omega-level telepaths like Jean Grey and twelfth-level intellects like Reid Richards, but I’m confident Professor X could outsmart Reed Richard every time their minds go head-to-head.
Source: Marvel.com
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics’ first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel’s success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years, Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
“}]] Reed Richards is no longer Marvel’s smartest hero. Read More