Summary
- Marvel needs to properly showcase Reed Richards’ elastic strength in Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- Kamala Khan’s powers were altered in the MCU, leaving Reed Richards as the only character with body-morphing abilities.
- John Krasinski’s Reed Richards barely showed off his abilities in Doctor Strange 2, so people expected him to get a better portrayal in Fantastic Four: First Step.
Marvel didn’t get every superpower right, but it finally got one right Fantastic Four: First StepsThe Marvel Universe’s “Fantastic Four” movie is under great pressure. Not only does it need to establish the status of Marvel’s first family before the release of “Fantastic Four”, Avengers: ArmageddonBut it also requires making a great movie that lives up to the characters in it. While the previous movies in the series have many fans, most audiences still feel that there hasn’t been a proper Fantastic Four adaptation yet, and Marvel Studios could be the perfect team to get the job done.
One important thing the film needed to get right was the team’s super powers. Marvel has previously perfectly brought Sue Storm’s invisibility and the Thing’s super powers to life on screen, and more recently, the studio proved it could create the right visual effects for the Human Torch with Chris Evans’ cameo in The Human Torch. Deadpool and WolverineHowever, Marvel has had two chances to capitalize on Reed Richards’ elastic powers to create a superhero, and the studio failed both times. With that in mind, Fantastic Four: First Steps Giving Marvel a chance to finally portray Reed’s powers properly.
Related: Fantastic Four: Step One Will Break the MCU’s Grim Trend
Fantastic Four: First Steps was the Marvel Family’s first appearance in the MCU, and broke with a surprisingly dark trend by the end of the film.
Reed Richard is the first resilient MCU hero after Marvel changed Ms. Marvel’s powers
In Marvel Comics, Kamala Khan possesses body-shifting abilities similar to Reed Richards. She discovered her powers after the 2013-2014 “Inhumanity” storyline ended when she discovered she had Inhuman genes. However, Marvel has significantly changed Ms. Marvel’s powers in the MCU. She is not an Inhuman, but a mutant. Her powers are unlocked after she wears her great-grandmother’s bracelet, which connects her to energies from the Noir dimension.
Kamala’s abilities include manipulating light, which she uses to fire beams or protect herself from bullets and punches. She can also use light to grow arms, giving her similar abilities to those in the comics, but with a mystical twist. Ms. Marvel’s changes could be an effort by Marvel to get away from bad CGI, but her new abilities do have more of a connection to Captain Marvel, who has become an integral part of the comics. MiracleHowever, this means that Reed Richards is now the only MCU character who can physically stretch and transform.
The MCU’s Secret Invasion also introduced a version of the Super-Skrull, who in the comics was given the powers of the Fantastic Four, but the MCU iteration took its name from other characters.
Reed Richards barely shows his flexibility in Doctor Strange 2
Reed Richards has already appeared in the Marvel Universe. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of MadnessJohn Krasinski played a variation of Mister Fantastic, fulfilling a character cast that has become a fan favorite on the internet for years. Unfortunately, Krasinski’s time as Richards was short-lived, as he was killed by Scarlet Witch along with the rest of the Illuminati. Making his fate even more tragic, Mister Fantastic barely had a chance to show off his dexterity.
During his encounter with Wanda, Reed briefly reaches out to her, just before she turns him into spaghetti. This scene doesn’t allow Reed to reach his full potential, and it’s disappointing that audiences may never get to see Krasinski’s character in a fight scene. However, Marvel has a chance to avenge Krasinski’s loss and give Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards a great moment to fully demonstrate his powers. Hopefully, Fantastic Four: First Steps is the first film to do that.
