Dr. Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character is a founding member and the leader of the Fantastic Four. Richards has a mastery of mechanical, aerospace and electrical engineering, chemistry, all levels of physics, and human and alien biology. BusinessWeek listed Mister Fantastic as one of the top ten most intelligent fictional characters in American comics. He is the inventor of the spacecraft that was bombarded by cosmic radiation on its maiden voyage, granting the Fantastic Four their powers. Richards gained the ability to stretch his body into any shape he desires.
Mister Fantastic acts as the leader and father figure of the Fantastic Four, and although his cosmic ray powers are primarily stretching abilities, his presence on the team is defined by his scientific acumen, as he is officially acknowledged as the smartest man alive within the Marvel Universe. This is particularly a point of tragedy in regards to his best friend, Ben Grimm, who he has constantly tried to turn back into his human form but who typically remains in a large, rocky form and is called the Thing. Richards is the husband of Susan Storm, father of Franklin Richards and Valeria Richards, and mentor to his brother-in-law, Johnny Storm. Mister Fantastic's archenemy is Doctor Doom, who is obsessed with proving his intellectual superiority over Reed Richards and has often manipulated events in Mister Fantastic's life, resulting in various clashes with the Fantastic Four.
The character was portrayed by actors Alex Hyde-White in the 1994 The Fantastic Four film, Ioan Gruffudd in the 2005 film Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and Miles Teller in the 2015 film Fantastic Four. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, John Krasinski portrayed a variant of Richards in the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, while Pedro Pascal portrayed the primary Richards in the 2025 film The Fantastic Four: First Steps and will reprise the role in the 2026 film Avengers: Doomsday and the 2027 film Avengers: Secret Wars.
Creation During an interview, Lee stated the inspiration behind the character's powers:
Publication history
Mister Fantastic first appeared in The Fantastic Four #1 (Nov. 1961), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He marries Sue Storm in Fantastic Four Annual #3 (July 1965).
Fictional character biography
Reed Richards is the son of Evelyn and Nathaniel Richards. Nathaniel was a scientific genius, and Reed inherited a similar level of intellect and interests. A child prodigy with special aptitude in mathematics, physics, and mechanics, Reed Richards was taking college-level courses when he was 14. He attended such prestigious universities as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Columbia University, and the fictional Empire State University. By the age of 20, he had several degrees in the sciences under his belt.
It was at Empire State University that he met Benjamin J. Grimm.The Thing #2 identifies the college that Reed and Ben met at as "Empire U," so State University has been retconned away. They now officially met at Empire State University. Reed had already begun designing a starship capable of traveling in hyperspace. Sharing his plans with his new roommate, Grimm jokingly volunteered to pilot the craft.
Also while at State U he met a brilliant fellow student, Victor Von Doom. In Richards, Doom met the first person who could match him intellectually; regarding Richards as his ultimate rival, Doom became increasingly jealous of Richards. Determined to prove he was better, Doom conducted reckless experiments which eventually scarred his face and would lead him to become Doctor Doom.
During the summer months, Reed rented a room in a boarding house owned by the aunt of Susan Storm, who was an undergraduate student at the time.Fantastic Four (vol. 4) #4 altered the origin story so that Sue is closer in age to Reed. When she is afraid that Reed is on the verge of breaking up with her, she tells him that he should "find a new undergrad" to date, implying that she is an undergraduate herself. Both Fantastic Four (vol. 4) #4 and The Thing #2 specify that Reed was attending Empire State University at the time. Susan immediately fell in love with Reed.
Moving on to Harvard, Reed earned PhDs in Physics and Electrical Engineering while working as a military scientist, all this by the age of 22. He also worked in communications for the Army and was involved in the Sin-Cong Conflict. Three years later, in his mid-20s, Reed used his inheritance, along with government funding, to finance his research. Determined to go to Mars and beyond, Richards based the fateful project in Central City. Susan Storm moved into the area, and within a short time, found herself engaged to Reed. Reed's old college roommate, Ben Grimm, now a successful test pilot and astronaut, was indeed slated to pilot the craft. When the government threatened to cut funding and cancel the project, Reed, Ben, Sue, and Sue's younger brother Johnny, agreed to sneak aboard the starship and take it up immediately. They knew they had not completed all the testing that had been planned, but Reed was confident they would be safe. Ben was initially skeptical about the unknown effects of radiation, while Reed theorized that their ship's shielding would be adequate to protect them.
It was on Reed's initiative that the fateful mission which had Susan Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm accompanying him into space took place. When their ship passed through the Van Allen belt they found their cockpit bombarded with nearly lethal doses of cosmic radiation. Reed had neglected to account for the abnormal radiation levels in the belt's atmosphere. The cosmic rays wreaked havoc on the starship's insufficient shielding and they were forced to return to Earth immediately. When they crash-landed they found that their bodies were changed dramatically. Reed's body was elastic and he could reshape any portion of his body at will. At his suggestion, they decided to use their new abilities to serve mankind as the Fantastic Four. Reed was chosen to lead the group, under the name "Mr. Fantastic".Fantastic Four #1
This history has been changed over the years to keep it current. In the original comics, Richards was a veteran of World War II who had served behind enemy lines in occupied France, and the goal of his space mission was a crewed space flight to the Moon before the Communists were able to. This was later changed to getting there before the Chinese Communists and to explore the interstellar areas of the red planet and beyond. Also, Reed originally states that he and Sue "were kids together" and that Sue was the "girl next door" who Reed left behind to go fight in the war.Fantastic Four #11 This origin story was, many years later, altered so that Sue was thirteen years old when she first met Reed, who was in his early twenties, at her Aunt Marygay's boardinghouse.Fantastic Four #291 Current official Marvel canon has since altered this origin story by combining elements of both—it eliminated the large age gap but maintained that Reed and Sue did not meet until their late teens at Aunt Marygay's boardinghouse.Fantastic Four (vol. 4) #4 The change in age was an editorial decision made in 2013 as Reed developing, several years later, a romantic interest in a girl he first met when she was thirteen years old was deemed inappropriate.
Leadership of the Fantastic Four As leader of the Fantastic Four, Mr. Fantastic creates numerous exotic devices and vehicles for the team to use such as clothing made of 'unstable molecules' so that it can be used with their powers safely. Furthermore, he often leads the team into daring expeditions such as into the Negative Zone in addition to opposing evil. Also, he has felt personally responsible for Ben Grimm's transformation and has labored off and on to reverse it permanently.
Under his guidance, the team became a prominent group of superheroes and participated in numerous missions to protect Earth. Reed is known for his scientific and technological expertise and has developed multiple inventions for the team. Patents and royalties from his inventions have also provided funding for the group.
However, there are drawbacks to his association with the team. Chief among them is the team's violent encounters with Doctor Doom, who believes that Reed was responsible for the accident that scarred him. Doom has never forgiven Reed and has sworn revenge.
Subplots and story arcs After many adventures as the Fantastic Four, Reed marries Sue.Fantastic Four Annual #3 Before long Reed and Sue had a baby, Franklin; the team battled Annihilus right before Franklin's birth.Fantastic Four Annual #6 Reed also saved Galactus's life during the course of his adventures.Fantastic Four #243 Reed is tried by the Shi'ar for saving Galactus's life, but the charges are dropped when Eternity briefly grants all those attending the trial a moment of 'cosmic awareness' that allows them to understand that Galactus is necessary for the continued well-being of the universe.Fantastic Four #262 Some time later, Reed and Sue retired from the Fantastic Four and temporarily join the Avengers.Fantastic Four #304The Avengers #300–305Fantastic Four #326
Mister Fantastic and Doctor Doom are transported to the distant past of another planet by Hyperstorm, Reed's grandchild from an alternate future. During their absence, the Fantastic Four recruit Scott Lang as a scientific advisor.Fantastic Four #392 Some time later, Galactus defeats Hyperstorm, allowing Doom and Mister Fantastic to return to the present day.Fantastic Four #414
Pro-Registration
In Marvel's "Civil War" miniseries and crossover event, Reed Richards is one of the leading figures, along with Iron Man, on the side which is in favor of the Superhuman Registration Act. He speculates that this will lead to conflict with his wife, which came true in issue #4 of the miniseries when Ragnarok, a clone of Thor created by Reed and Tony Stark, kills Goliath and nearly kills all the rest of the Secret Avengers until Sue Storm steps in and saves them. Soon after, Sue leaves Reed, along with Johnny, to join the Secret Avengers in hopes that it would drive Reed to end the conflict quickly.Civil War #4
In the final battle of the war, Reed is shot by Taskmaster while protecting Sue. With Reed on the brink of death, a furious Sue crushes Taskmaster with a telekinetic field. Reed survives, however, and Sue returns to him in the aftermath of the battle, having been granted amnesty. Seeking to repair the damage done to their marriage as a result of the war, Sue and Reed take time off from the Fantastic Four, but ask Storm and the Black Panther to take their places in the meantime.Fantastic Four #543
World War Hulk
In the storyline World War Hulk, the Hulk returns to Earth after being exiled into space by Mister Fantastic and the Illuminati. Mister Fantastic, among other heroes, are captured and implanted with "obedience disks" to suppress their powers. The Hulk orders Iron Man and Mr. Fantastic to face off in battle.World War Hulk #4 However, the Hulk spares their lives, showing them that he proved his point to the world. They survived the encounter by Hulk's mercy and the timely intervention of Sentry.World War Hulk #5.
Secret Invasion