Summary
- Spider-Man/Deadpool #32 introduces a future version of the Fantastic Four, featuring Valeria Richards, Reed Grimm, and a Vision/Venom hybrid.
- This iteration of the Fantastic Four shows the potential of these successors as the World's Greatest Heroes, each possessing unique and powerful abilities.
- While the future Fantastic Four ultimately faces defeat, their ability to hold their own against an army of Life Model Decoys showcases their strength and resilience.
As the quintessential First Family of Fantastic Four are one of the House of Ideas’ most important teams. Because of their prominence, practically every alternate Marvel timeline or far-off future features some new and interesting iteration of the World’s Greatest Heroes. And one future version of the Fantastic Four is about as dynamic as it gets.
Spider-Man/Deadpool #32 by Robbie Thompson, Scott Hepburn, Ian Herring, and VC’s Joe Sabino sees the titular duo aged into a far-away future besieged by billions of Life Model Decoys modeled after Deadpool himself. Outnumbered and outgunned, the pair head to Central Park where they awaken Reed Grimm – this generation’s absolutely massive Thing – who not only clobbers a swath of LMDeadpools, but summons the rest of the Fantastic Four: Valeria Richards’ Doctor Doom, a Vision/Venom hybrid, and a mysterious hero known as the Last Devil, a Daredevil successor wielding an Iron Fist-powered chain.
This new version of Fantastic Four is eventually overrun and forced to retreat to the Baxter Building, but the fact that they managed to hold their own for as long as they did is no small feat.
Marvel Confirms an MCU Team Are More Powerful Than the Avengers
The Avengers are usually called Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and while that may be true of the individual , they aren't Earth's Mightiest Team.
These Four Are More Than Fantastic
As the children of original Fantastic Four , Valeria Richards and Reed Grimm are natural choices to succeed their parents as the World’s Greatest Heroes, with Val’s close ties to her Uncle Doom also making her a natural successor to the Scion of Latveria. Meanwhile, a synthezoid of Vision’s power combined with a symbiote is an incredibly dangerous combination that more than deserves a spot on a roster like this. And although the Last Devil’s background may be murkier than the rest of the team, anybody with the combined skills of Daredevil and Iron Fist is clearly a worthy hero indeed.
In many ways, the Fantastic Four’s debut kick-started what would become the Marvel Universe. As such, the Four have almost always been figureheads in any universe or timeline, including dark dystopias like the Wade-infested timeline in which Spidey and Deadpool find themselves. An army of Deadpools is a formidable force indeed, and only a group as varied as the future Fantastic Four could withstand such an onslaught even if only for a few moments.
The Future’s Greatest Heroes Could Return
With this timeline ultimately erased thanks to later issues, fans have yet to see more of this version of the Fantastic Four. But in the myriad Marvel multiverse, there’s no doubt a chance that readers could once again follow the adventures of the future’s mysterious new Four. The Fantastic Four are the World’s Greatest Heroes, but with a lineup like this, their successors just may have Marvel Comics’ greatest potential.
Spider-Man/Deadpool #32 is available from Marvel Comics.
