Warning: Contains spoilers for Fantastic Four #31!!
Marvel Comics has just given Fantastic Four, but as dynamic of an innovation as it might have been, fans shouldn't expect to ever see it adapted into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, if for no other reason than the logistical difficulties it would cause.
Fantastic Four #31, written by Ryan North, with art by Cory Smith, finds the team racing to fix what Doctor Doom broke with his Sorcerer Supreme abilities. By turning The Thing into a powerless, normal human, Doom effectively struck at the heart of the team.
As they search for the exact cosmic rays to restore Ben's rocky exterior, they encounter a series of bizarre timelines, including a world where Wolverine nabs Mister Fantastic's ultra-stretching ability to accompany his adamantium claws. The implications of Logan being able to stretch and manipulate his adamantium make it one of his coolest upgrades yet.
Wolverine Gets Mister Fantastic's Stretching Powers In One Strange Corner Of The Marvel Multiverse
Fantastic Four #31; Written By Ryan North; Art By Cory Smith; Color By Jesus Aburtov; Lettering By Joe Caramagna
Plenty of heroes have ed the Marvel Multiverse's branching timelines. There are some worlds where Reed, Ben, Sue, and Johnny aren't in the equation at all, and that's precisely where Wolverine factors into Fantastic Four #31. While it appears that Beast has replaced the Thing, Hulk is Human Torch's stand-in, and Thor is the Invisible Woman's equivalent, Logan manages to get bombarded with Mister Fantastic's particular dose of cosmic rays and subsequent powers.
The cosmic rays gave him the same sort of control over adamantium-laced bones, meaning Logan essentially has a liquid version of one of the universe's strongest materials literally at his fingertips.
Although the Fantstic Four only glimpsed this timeline, Wolverine's claws are stretching and moving freely, meaning that the uncanny ability to manipulate and extend his body isn't limited by the adamantium covering his skeleton. The cosmic rays gave him the same sort of control over adamantium-laced bones, meaning Logan essentially has a liquid version of one of the universe's strongest materials literally at his fingertips. Since Reed is able to retract and solidify his body again at will, it stands to reason that Logan could do the same, maximizing the abilities' usefulness in combat. Essentially, the deadliest mutant just got more deadly.
Brief As Its Appearance Was, Wolverine’s New Upgrade is One Of His Best Yet
A New World Of Possibilities
This is hardly the first time Wolverine's claws have been changed; he's had plenty of different claw-based powers during his tenure. His claws were not adamantium, originally, and began as bony extensions of his skeleton. Weapon-X experimentation led to his infamous adamantium skeleton, which of course will always be his most notable change, but he's also had super-heated claws and a recently all-gold Adamantine upgrade. Being hit with cosmic rays is certainly one of the most intriguing changes to date, however, as it would theoretically make the most use of his claws, his adamantium, and his healing factor.
Wolverine’s MCU Return Could Do Something More Daring Than Deadpool Ever Imagined
Wolverine has cut and slashed his way through several films already, but the perfect Logan story is waiting in the wings, and it isn't about Deadpool.
With Mister Fantastic's powers, Logan isn't limited to keeping his claws at three deadly sharp points. Given how far Reed can stretch, Logan could attack from the other side of a battlefield, making him equally lethal at a distance. There's nothing to suggest the adamantium would lose any of its resilience or effectiveness, either. Moreover, the combination of Wolverine's healing factor with the stretching ability means that, not only can he heal from nearly any injury or wound, but he'd be less likely to sustain them in the first place, and could act as a shield for others as well.
Don't Get Excited, Wolverine As Mister Fantastic Will Never Make It Into The MCU
But He Still Deserves Another Appearance
Wolverine-turned-Mister Fantastic is too convoluted to make it to an MCU audience, and perhaps too difficult to capture on screen, but it would be interesting to see him in further comic action. The upgrade absolutely has the potential to make that particular Logan one of the most versatile in the character's storied history, even if it's difficult to imagine him staying part of a fully functional team with the other three heroes who ed him. By becoming the Fantastic Four's new Mister Fantastic, Wolverine received one of his coolest upgrades yet, and it deserves much more attention.
Fantastic Four #31 is available now from Marvel Comics.
