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As theFantastic Fourapproach their MCU debut , fans could be forgiven for thinking thatReed Richards ' Mister Fantastic is Marvel ’s ultimate stretching superhuman . However , there ’s another ' Mister Fantastic ' in the Marvel Universe who takes Reed ’s powers and gain them even more extreme - a mutant hero who is often underrated , even by Marvel itself .
Flatman Is the Mutant Answer to Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards
The Flat Hero Is Halfway Between Superhero and Body Horror
debut in John Byrne’sWest Coast Avengers # 46 , Flatman is a mutant hoagie whose body is in a permanent hyper - malleable country . He possesses the same powers as Reed Richards , able to adulterate and reshape his trunk , extend it to many time its rude height and duration . However , the hero - who goes by the name ' Val Ventura ' - also has additional power . Flatman has enhanced force and durability , and his body is so flat that when he turn sideways , he becomes invisible to the naked middle - a power that echo Reed Richards ' married woman Susan Storm , aka the unseeable Woman . Unlike Reed Richards , Flatman does n’t naturally bring back to a default human state of matter . He isalwaysflat and elongate , adding a body repugnance aspect to his powers - especially because he can only be perceived from certain slant .
Flatman is one of Marvel ’s few gay superheroes , with theDeadpool Corps : Rank and Foulcharacter encyclopedia state that"Flatman is an expert in astrophysics , knowledgeable in time locomotion theories , an experienced poker and TV game player , and loves to knit . “He has also developed his own fight flair called"Origami - Fu . "
Marvel has revealed the true meaning behind Reed Richards ' " Mister Fantastic " codename , and it highlights the dark of Marvel ’s First Family .
Flatman is a longtime member of a team that has gone bymanynames , from the Great Lakes Avengers to the Great Lakes Champions to the Great Lakes X - gentleman . Often address as an awkward reconsideration , the team have some really knock-down members , and have saved the entire universe in the past . Indeed , with Marvel ’s greatest healing divisor and the Thanos - tucker out Squirrel Girl , it ’s arguable thatthe GLA are on the Q.T. Marvel ’s most powerful team . Before becoming a superhero , Flatman used his mutant powers to mold as a Reed Richards imitator , and to this day wears a cleared rip - off of the Fantastic Four submarine sandwich ’s costume , with a large ' F ' in place of his numeral logotype .
Marvel ’s GLX - Mas Special includes a Flatman ' action mechanism figure ' which can be edit out of the comedian . He has"infinite points of articulation"and comes over with a speech balloon stating,“I’m not Mister Fantastic ! "
Reed Richards Is Still Marvel’s SMARTEST Stretching Hero
Mister Fantastic’s Genius Is a Big Part of His Hero Persona
While Flatman seemingly has all Reed Richards ' superpower , Mister Fantastic has done far more for Earth due to his genius intellect . This aspect of Reed allows him to use his powers in incredibly versatile way that Flatman might not think of , as well as helping to enhance his family ’s power and invent advanced gadgets . Reed is Marvel ’s smartest man alive , to the point thatmany story treat his major power as something of an afterthought- especially becuase he can automatically recreate any number of superhuman abilities at will .
While Flatman will never be as famous or well-thought-of as Reed Richards , he ’s still an telling reference , and a curio for Marvel fans who may not bang there ’s a mutation with Mister Fantastic ’s power . Whilethe Great Lakes Avengersmay be tragus - amusing characters , they ’ve still kill major villains like Maelstrom , who would otherwise have destroyed the planet , and it would be a mistake to cogitate of Flatman and his ally as just a jest … even if they ’re not quiteReed Richardsand theFantastic Four .
Summary
The Fantastic Four is a superhero enfranchisement centre on Marvel Comics ' first family of superheroes . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby , the squad made its comical book debut in 1961 and promptly became a base of Marvel ’s winner . The franchise follow four cosmonaut — Reed Richards , Susan Storm , Johnny Storm , and Ben Grimm — who gain great power after being exposed to cosmic radiation therapy . Over the year , Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live - action films , animate serial publication , and video secret plan . The films have see multiple reboots , with vary levels of winner , and are now determine to be desegregate into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) , with a young film slat for expiration in 2025 .
