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Marvel ’s first superhero family , theFantastic Four , collectively has one of the universe ’s most interesting power sets . While fire , invisibility , rocky pelt , and snap may seem straight - forward on the surface , the possibility behind their specific powers has shifted and changed in the decades since their introduction . There is a dewy-eyed reason each member got their particular abilities , however , and it boils down to one thing : Mister Fantastic .
InFantastic Four#532 by J. Michael Straczynski and Mike McKone , Richards revisitsthe Fantastic Four’sinitial encounter with cosmic ray , but this time he has the benefit of seeing them through a new lens . Cosmic energy did not choose power for the would - be cosmonaut at random . rather , the power was filtered through Reed ’s mind and his percept of each of them .
Human Torch , Invisible Woman , and the Thing wereshaped by what Mister Fantastic conceive to be their most significant timber and temperaments . The cosmic ray gave shapeto Reed Richards ' perception , and the squad ’s powers go along to meditate that rendition .
Mister Fantastic Shaped the Fantastic Four’s Powers
Fantastic Four#532by J. Michael Straczynski, Mike McKone, Paul Mounts, and Randy Gentle
meter travelling allowedReed Richardsto re - feel the second they were take up by cosmic rays , revealing that his thought about Ben , Sue , and Johnny forthwith influenced their superpowers . Sue ’s subdued nature as a child translate into her power of invisibleness ; Johnny ’s raging temper became his flame abilities ; and Ben ’s soft soul hem in by a laborious exterior became the blueprint for the rocky form he has fight so long to accept . These qualities are only small facet of the grapheme as a whole , but they were firm enough in Reed ’s mind to translate directly into the index that the cosmic rays add .
With more prison term with each of them , Reed ’s sensing may have been exchange enough to lead in dissimilar major power , potentially making the timing of their encounter a crucial factor in gaining those accurate results .
give that the Fantastic Four ’s initial showdown with the cosmic rays pass off so long ago , as they ’ve now been Marvel ’s premier superhero family for half their life , it ’s potential that Mister Fantastic ’s assessment of his teammates would have exchange if their flight took place later in their life . While he was already close protagonist with Ben Grimm and pursuing Sue , Johnny was a more unknown quantity . With more time with each of them , his sensing may have been changed enough to result in different king , potentially making the timing of their skirmish a crucial factor in win the precise results that fans have add up to make love .
AsMister Fantastic makes his grand breakthrough , he admits thathe had always take over that there was a greater intelligence behind their power . While there ’s a sure degree of capriciousness to the cosmic light beam themselves , the conditions for the exact outcome that the Fantastic Four encounter were incredibly exact . see that Reed himself was the " intelligence " he always distrust fill in a economic value no one else could have guessed .
The Fantastic Four Are Tied to the Elements
Reed’s Influence Is Only Part of the Puzzle
Yet Reed ’s influence on the import their powers form is hardly the only explanation Marvel has provided over the year . For obvious aesthetical reasons , one of the longest - standing theories is thateach Fantastic Four member representsa canonic chemical element . Mister Fantastic symbolizes weewee , the Invisible Woman is air , Human Torch is fire , and the matter is earth . This notion is shored up by comics likeTimeslip#1 and Earth-1610 ’s universe of discourse , where that realism ’s translation of Reed Richards conjecture that their magnate line up with the elements . Visually , and because there are four member specifically , it ’s a popular theory .
Timeslip Collection # 1 , published in 1998 , sport an alternative Fantastic Four origin by author Dan Jurgens and artist Brett Breeding .
With that sound out , it ’s never been explicitly stated that the elemental theory is the Sojourner Truth . The particular Reed Richards who propose it went on to become the villainous Maker character , and the Fantastic Four of his universe suffer greatly , so any truth to his possibility was never prove . In Marvel ’s chief persistence , Earth-616,nothing concrete suggests that the Fantastic Four are think of to present the four elements , but there ’s always a possibility that they played a use . Even an inkling of the idea could have help inform Reed ’s thought process , thus influencing the agency that the team ’s powers manifested .
The Fantastic Four’s Origin Is Linked to an Ancient Being
The Most Mystical Explanation Yet
Alongside Reed ’s liaison and a potential elemental connection , the Fantastic Four have also been linked to a “ primeval incarnation ” within the Marvel Universe . InDefenders#4 by Al Ewing and Javier Rodriguez , Dr. Strange present the concept of the Four - Are - One , an “ archetypal being ” that hinges upon the One - Is - Four join to Bruce Bannerand the Hulk ’s root . While the One - Is - Four is a single being with four different font , representing the different Hulks house within Banner , the Four - Are - One is the opposite : one force split into four , which concur perfectly with Ben , Johnny , Sue , and Reed each becoming a slice .
The Four - Are - One and One - Is - Four are mirroring , contrasting force play in the humankind that Dr. Strange encounters , propose that where one survive , the other must always be found . In routine , that seems to guarantee thatwhere the Hulk exist , some iteration of the Fantastic Four would also fall out . The Hulk ’s account with the Fantastic Four , and specifically with Reed , makes this theory seem plausible , tying them together in some foundational , cosmic way . However , even if the Four - Are - One is taken as a true origin , it does n’t explain the specific powers they gain , so the hypothesis still work in co-occurrence with Reed ’s influence .
The Truth Behind the Fantastic Four Is More Complex Than Fans Might Expect
No Single Answer Is the “Real” Truth
The existent result behind the Fantastic Four ’s powers is likely foundsomewhere in the middle of all the winding and link theories . While their encounter with the cosmic rays ab initio seemed random , there was actually very small left up to luck . Reed ’s clip travel adventure made him realize how much mastery he unknowingly had over their original encounter with the ray , consequently set up any sound reflection securely in his hand . He chose not to pursue any recreation efforts . The mind that his personal assessment of his mate helped form their gifts makes it strange to consider them being used another elbow room .
As the Fantastic Four ’s recent appearing on the big screen feeler , Marvel Comics is giving fan of the squad one more thing to get activated about .
With so much history under their belt , the Sojourner Truth behind the Fantastic Four spans an endless turn of opening - from massive , cosmological explanations to the opinion of a single man task with returning Libra to the universe . On a idealistic plate , the team may be the four branches of an ancient being or opt representatives of the elements themselves . If narrow down down to something smaller and personal , a unmarried man ’s perception of each of them publish their destiny . disregarding of the “ why ” behind their powers , theFantastic Four’spowers continue to expand and aid in their heroic adventure .
wild Four#532is useable now from Marvel Comics .
TheFantastic Fouris a superhero enfranchisement centered on Marvel Comics ' first family of superheroes . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby , the team made its comical book debut in 1961 and quickly became a basis of Marvel ’s succeeder . The dealership come four spaceman — Reed Richards , Susan Storm , Johnny Storm , and Ben Grimm — who attain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation . Over the years , Fantastic Fourhas been adapt into several live - natural process plastic film , animated serial publication , and television game . The films have see multiple reboots , with varying degree of success , and are now rig to be integrate into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) , with a new film slat for handout in 2025 .
Summary
The Fantastic Four is a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics ' first family unit of superheroes . create by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby , the team made its comic book entry in 1961 and apace became a cornerstone of Marvel ’s winner . The franchise follows four astronauts — Reed Richards , Susan Storm , Johnny Storm , and Ben Grimm — who gain superpower after being exposed to cosmic radiation sickness . Over the years , Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live - action moving picture , reanimate series , and video games . The films have seen multiple reboots , with alter level of succeeder , and are now localize to be mix into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) , with a new film slate for release in 2025 .
