The Fantastic Four have been at the forefront of saving the world since the 1960s, but their long tenure as heroes may do the team a disservice. With their wide range of powers and talents, they'd make a compelling group of nearly unstoppable villains, too. One Marvel redesign proves exactly that, as the Fantastic Four hang up their good deeds and transform into the Frightful Four.

In Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #25, written by Fred Van Lente, with art by Cory Hamscher, the Doctor Doom (known as Doc Iron) protected Earth.

Although the Four still gained their abilities from cosmic rays during a failed mission to space, Reed Richards turned to revenge, rather than heroics upon their return to the planet, and the Frightful Four were officially created.

Marvel's "Frightful Four" "What-If" Showcases How Diabolical The Fantastic Four Could Be

Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #25; Written By Fred Van Lente; Art By Cory Hamscher; Color By Lee Loughridge; Lettering By Dave Sharpe

Rather than adopting the familiar personas of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Thing, and Human Torch, the Frightful Four go a more sinister route. With Reed Richards convinced that their mission to space and his research were sabotaged, he gives into his paranoia and becomes Mr. Devious, out to punish humanity for his own failure. The others follow suit by crafting Monsterman, the Unstoppable Woman, and the Human Pyre to his quest, effectively turning themselves into Reed's "henchmen" according to Doc Iron. Though it isn't the first universe where Reed Richards has gone bad, this time he has company.

The Frightful Four also have more to offer than a name change. Their usual blue uniforms have been traded for a sleek black look, seen on both Reed Richards and Ben Grimm. Mr. Devious is, of course, still a genius, and the team of baddies benefits from his inventions just like the Fantastic Four. Sue is able to hide her heat signature with specialized thermal lining and Monsterman has an incredibly designed "exo-skeleton" to combat Doc Iron's gravity projector. The Human Pyre doesn't get any specific upgrades mentioned, but that's likely only because Johnny's stay in the timeline was incredibly brief.

Mister Fantastic Is Capable If Steering The Fantastic Four In Terrible Directions

Reed Richards Defines The Team's Destiny

Given Reed Richards' horrendous turn as the Maker, it's been made abundantly clear that he's capable of causing incredible damage. Johnny saw a glimpse of yet another timeline marred by Reed's bruised ego and having the Frightful Four behind him may mean that particular iteration of the character is capable of even more destruction. Their time was too brief to know for certain, but if the team made it into the main timeline, the whole world would suffer for it. The Fantastic Four is one of Marvel's premiere superhero teams, but their alternate versions, known as the villainous Frightful Four, showed their darkest sides.

Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #25 is available now from Marvel Comics.