With the theatrical release of Fantastic Four's resident genius, he possesses an extraordinary mind that has aided the hero community on numerous occasions, yet he's often considered heartless due to his perceived absence of empathy. Contrary to popular belief, Mister Fantastic does care for others, even if he scarcely shows it.

The Fantastic Four are heroes in every sense of the word, but Reed Richards sticks out among their ranks as someone who prefers logical deduction to being driven by emotions. This mindset lends itself to misinterpretation from fans and critiques about him not valuing his family as much as he should, as well as suggestions that he would be better off as a villain.

The myth that Reed Richards is more villainous than heroic needs to be debunked, and if the MCU aims to introduce him to a wider audience, then it should understand the truth about the Fantastic Four's leader.

Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards Can Be Too Logical For His Own Good, Fueling Criticism

Mister Fantastic Prioritizes His Mind Over His Heart, With Disastrous Results

Reed Richards' cruel demeanor can be traced back to his very first appearance in 1961's Fantastic Four #1 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This issue chronicles the transformation into the Thing, a seemingly unfazed Reed declares that he will call himself "Mister Fantastic".

Time and time again, Reed has been called out for failing to take others into when making choices founded on logic alone, such as when he takes a controversial stance in the Civil War event or makes otherwise questionable choices for the greater good. For example, in Fantastic Four #25 by Ryan North and Carlos Gómez, Reed decides to eliminate an alternate world in order to restore his own, which Johnny points out would destroy innocent lives. Mister Fantastic is undoubtedly a hero, yet his frequent lack of empathy causes fans to perceive him as a villain. However, Reed Richards is far from villainous.

Mister Fantastic Does Care, But He Hides It Beneath His Cold Exterior

Reed Richards May Make Morally Ambiguous Choices, But He Has A Heart

Despite past actions indicating that Reed Richards is more cruel than his fellow Fantastic Four , he isn't as emotionally closed-off as some might suggest. Although Reed does tend to hide his feelings beneath his calculated facade, at his core, he has one of the biggest hearts in the Marvel Universe. In Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo's Fantastic Four #60, his role in the Fantastic Four's origin gets explored more deeply. He openly acknowledges that his selfishness ruined his family's lives, but he then reveals that taking the name of Mister Fantastic and propping them up as heroes is his way of atoning.

Reed Richards experiences guilt for his actions, thereby conveying that he isn't heartless after all. Another instance of remorse for one of his logical choices can be found in Ryan North and Iban Coello's Fantastic Four #4, when Ben Grimm criticizes Reed for sending their children forward in time in a misguided effort to save their lives. He accuses Reed of not caring, but when he experiences a flashback of their dispute that heightens their emotional reactions, he sees Mister Fantastic break down in tears over what he's done. Reed Richards doesn't merely feel guilt for hurting others, but he himself is affected by the loss.

Interested in keeping up with the current Fantastic Four series? The first four volumes of Fantastic Four by Ryan North are available now in paperback from Marvel Comics!

Contrary to fan perceptions, Reed does love his family, even if he doesn't typically show it in a traditional fashion. Fantastic Four #48 by David Pepose and Juann Cabal demonstrates the affection he harbors for them, as he shuts himself from his family to "out-think" the Judgment Day catastrophe. Reed ultimately realizes that he would rather spend the little time he may have left with them rather than alone, so he turns his back on the bigger picture to focus on what truly matters to him: Sue Storm and their two children, Franklin and Valeria.

Reed Richards Opposes His Darker Variants, Proving He Differs From Them

From the Maker to the Council of Reeds, Mister Fantastic Doesn't Stoop to Their Level

Earth-616's Reed Richards is capable of stepping away from his work to be present for his loved ones, which is a skill that a majority of his variants lack. In Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham's Fantastic Four #572, Reed abandons Sue and his kids to spend as much time as possible with the Council of Reeds - all of whom are versions of him from across the multiverse - in an attempt to "solve everything". However, he learns later on that these Reed variants have abandoned their home lives to pursue this cause. Instead of following suit, the main continuity's Reed Richards returns home and puts his family first.

Variants of Reed Richards are closer to what fans often envision him to be, whereas the real deal sets himself apart from their selfish quests for knowledge above all else.

Variants of Reed Richards are closer to what fans often envision him to be, whereas the real deal sets himself apart from their selfish quests for knowledge above all else. The Ultimate Universe's Reed, known as the Maker, embodies everything that Reed would never allow himself to become in Marvel's prime universe. In this continuity, Reed succumbs to his inner darkness due to his circumstances being more bleak than his original counterpart's. He becomes the Maker and seeks to control his universe by erasing superheroes from existence. Other Reeds take his logical outlook to the furthest extreme, highlighting how heroic the main Reed Richards is in comparison.

The MCU Can Fix Reed Richards’ Image by Exploring His Heroic Side

Reed Richards Should Be More Caring in Fantastic Four: First Steps

Through Fantastic Four: First Steps, the MCU can rehabilitate Reed Richards' reputation by drawing from his more flattering portrayals. The comics have depicted him as a more sincere figure than the common consensus would leave people to believe, so a movie would be the perfect platform to elevate him as a proper hero rather than a cold logician. The best takes on Reed Richards emphasize his family's importance to him, as well as his remorse about turning them into the Fantastic Four. To help audiences understand Reed Richards, the movie must allow him to care openly about the Fantastic Four and thus dispel the myths about his heartlessness.