The Fantastic Fourare known as “Marvel’s First Family,” but over the years, some readers have taken issue with the arrogance it would take fora character like Reed Richardsto call himself “Mister Fantastic,” while labeling someone like Ben Grimm “the Thing.” However, it turns out thatthese names had a very specific purpose, and that reason is truly heartbreaking.
Fantastic Four#60 – written by Mark Waid, with art by Mike Wieringo – Mister Fantastic explained the hidden reason behind the Fantastic Four’s codenames. In the issue, Mister Fantastic tells the story ofhow the Fantastic Four was created, and he reveals that he harbors a deep reservoir of guilt over it.
It was Reed Richards who pushed his family to take that space voyage that resulted in them getting their superpowers. In a lot of people’s opinions, it turned Ben Grimm into a monster, and Reed Richard’s knew there was only one way to save his family from the world.
One Classic Fantastic Four Story Explained Why Reed Richards Is “Mister Fantastic,” While Ben Grimm Is “The Thing”
Fantastic Four#60 – Written By Mark Waid; Art By Mike Wieringo, Karl Kesel, Paul Mounts, Richard Starkings & Albert Deschesne
As Reed Richards explained in 2002’sFantastic Four#60, Mister Fantastic realized that while humanity might hate mutants, theylove celebrities, so he immediately put his focus on making the Fantastic Four a household name. He commissioned toys and merchandise, andhe intentionally chose marketable names, like Mister Fantastic.It was a brilliant move, and one that Reed made specifically to try and make amends for ruining his friends' lives. Ben Grimm will never have a normal life again, neither will Johnny Storm, and Reed thought this would be the best way to protect and support them.
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It is no secret that the Marvel Universe isn’t necessarily kind to superpowered beings. There are tons of stories where humanity rises up and wipes out everyone who has powers. This ire is often directed at factions like the X-Men, but thegeneral public has also been distrustful of Spider-Man. It would be very easy for humanity to lump the Fantastic Four into the same group as mutants and despise and fear them just as much. Thankfully, Reed Richards is thesmartest person in the Marvel Universe, and quickly came up with a solution for this.
All Reed Richards Has Ever Wanted As A Character Has Been Redemption For Creating The Fantastic Four
But He Doesn’t Really Need It
Reed Richards could never give his family back their normal civilian life, buthe could give them a new life, a life of fame and fortune where nearly everyone loves them. It might never fix what Reed did to Ben Grimm, but it’s the best he could do. While people might look at the name ofthe Fantastic Four, or the name Mister Fantasticand think that these were chosen purely out of ego, that couldn’t be further from the truth. All Reed Richards ever wanted was to redeem himself for how he ruined his family’s life.
What truly makes the reasoning behind the Fantastic Four’s codenames so tragic, ultimately, is that Reed Richards created them to chase a redemption that he doesn’t even need.
Guilt is a very difficult thing to deal with, even for the world’s smartest man. Both Johnny and Sue seem perfectly content with their new lives, having fun using their powers to save the world, and their physical appearance isn’t even affected. While Ben Grimm suffered the most due to his appearance, he still managed to start up a loving relationship and seems perfectly content in his life. What truly makes the reasoning behindthe Fantastic Four’scodenames so tragic, ultimately, is that Reed Richards created them to chase a redemption that he doesn’t even need.
