The Origins of the Fantastic Four's Powers

Wondering how the Fantastic Four acquired their powers? Surprisingly, there is no single answer, due to years of retcons. As the MCU prepares for the relaunch of the Fantastic Four, they have two major options to choose from. This will bring Marvel's first family back to the big screen.

The Fantastic Four are more than just beloved superheroes; they are a legendary property. Their debut in 1961 marked the beginning of the Marvel Age of Superheroes and the Marvel Way of storytelling. Before the casting is announced and the film begins, here's a quick guide to catch you up on the origins of the Fantastic Four.

How the Fantastic Four got their powers in Marvel Comics

In Fantastic Four #1, Reed Richards is portrayed as a scientist and engineer working on an experimental rocket called the Marvel-1. Facing a potential loss of funding, Reed decides to take the rocket on an unauthorized test flight, with his close friend Ben Grimm as the pilot. Joining them on the journey are Reed's girlfriend, Sue Storm, and her younger brother, Johnny.

Marvel Comics tells the tale of a scientist, his closest companion, his girlfriend, and her young sibling as they venture into outer space and transform into superheroes.

However, their journey takes a disastrous turn. Despite being equipped to handle radiation, the cosmic radiation in the atmosphere exceeds Reed's expectations. As a result, all four individuals are bombarded by a cosmic radiation storm and are subsequently hurled back to Earth.

After landing, the four of them discover that they have been altered by the radiation. Reed gains the ability to stretch his body, Sue can become invisible, Johnny gains the ability to ignite himself, and Ben transforms into a rock-like creature.

Although they may not fit the traditional definition of superheroes, the four commit to using their newfound abilities to help humanity, ultimately becoming known as the Fantastic Four.

How the Ultimate Fantastic Four got their powers

The Earth-1610 iteration first appeared in Ultimate Fantastic Four #1 and acquired their abilities through a cosmic mishap, but the Ultimate portrayal of the characters leans more towards body horror rather than traditional adventure.

In Ultimate Fantastic Four, a young Reed Richards inadvertently discovers a parallel dimension called the N-Zone, capturing the interest of a military project overseen by renowned scientist Franklin Storm and General Thaddeus Ross.

Reed and his peers, Ben Grimm, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Victor Van Damme, work together to create a machine that can enter the N-Zone. However, Van Damme secretly alters the device's settings, convinced that only he can accurately calculate the necessary parameters.

In the world of Earth-1610 in Marvel Comics, a journey to the N-Zone results in the emergence of a new Fantastic Four.

However, the machine malfunctions, and the five individuals are forever changed upon their return to Earth, their physical forms mutated by the N-Zone. Reed now possesses a body made entirely of elastic material, Sue gains the ability to turn invisible, Johnny's body has the power to emit flames, and Ben's body becomes covered in rock-like formations.

The characters' new iterations became increasingly disturbing. Reed discovers he has no organs, with a black hole in place of his stomach, Johnny's skin sheds periodically, and Ben is found to be cocooned. But they all pale in comparison to Van Damme, who returns with a mechanized appearance, goat-like feet, and the ability to spit acid. The Fantastic Four reluctantly became adventurers and heroes, but are never as beloved or respected as their 616 counterparts. The situation worsens when Reed becomes the evil Maker, driving a permanent wedge between the quartet. Ultimately, all but The Maker are lost when the universe implodes in Secret Wars.

How the Fantastic Four got their powers in the movies

The 2005 Fox film, Fantastic Four, draws inspiration from the comics in many ways. The characters acquire their powers from cosmic radiation, and in this adaptation, Victor Von Doom also undergoes a transformation alongside them. The Four in the movie are associated with the four elements and face off against Doctor Doom, who gains a metal skin and electricity powers.

The reception of DisneyFilm's attempts at adapting the Fantastic Four has been overwhelmingly mixed.

In contrast, the 2015 Fantastic Four reboot takes more inspiration from the Ultimate Comics version. In this version, the four heroes and Von Doom find themselves on Planet Zero, a new take on the Negative Zone, through a Quantum Gate. An explosion at the gate changes Reed, Ben, Sue, and Johnny, granting them superpowers. Meanwhile, Von Doom is left behind and comes back with new abilities.

The upcoming MCU release of a new Fantastic Four brings us to the present era. The origin of the FF in the MCU is still unknown, and it's possible that it may not even be revealed, similar to Spider-Man. The details will likely be unveiled when the film hits theaters in 2025. Stay tuned to Dexerto for more FF and comic book news.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up reading comic books and watching superhero movies, and the Fantastic Four has always been one of my favorite teams. I love the classic origin story of the team, where they are exposed to cosmic radiation and gain superpowers. It's a simple but effective story that has stood the test of time.

I'm also intrigued by the Ultimate Fantastic Four's origin story, which is a bit more complex and disturbing. In this version, the team is exposed to a different type of radiation that gives them more extreme and dangerous powers. I think this origin story is a good example of how Marvel is willing to take risks and experiment with its characters.