A new trailer forThe Fantastic Four: First Stepshas been released, and with it comes confirmation that the most powerful mutant in Marvel Comics is en route to theMCU. Mutants in Marvel Comics are superpowered individuals born with a genetic mutation granting them their powers. This contrasts with other heroes like Captain America and Captain Marvel, whose powers are imbued by external forces.The MCU’s contingent of mutantswas bolstered byDeadpool & Wolverine, but Earth-616 specifically still boasts a short supply, with Ms. Marvel and Namor being among the few natives of the MCU’s main timeline.
So far, newly introduced mutants are mostly confined to alternate universes, with the vast majority being housed in Deadpool’s Earth-10005.TheAvengers: Doomsdaycast announcementadditionally hints that the X-Men, the foremost mutant team in Marvel Comics, will be housed in an alternate universe. Until now, it was unclear whetherThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is also confirmed to take place in yet another alternate universe, would introduce even more mutants.
To be clear, the Fantastic Four are not mutants themselves.The new trailer forThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsseems to confirm that the titular team will earn their powers in a comic-accurate manner: by being exposed to cosmic rays while on a space mission. Nevertheless, one story beat in particular confirms that it will not only bolster the MCU’s mutant ranks but set up the arrival of its most powerful mutant yet.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Trailer Confirms Sue Storm Is Pregnant
Sue’s Pregnancy Will Be A Significant Part Of The Story
The new trailer forThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsreveals plenty of new information aboutthe upcoming MCU movie. These include afirst look at Shalla-Bal(Julia Garner), this universe’s Silver Surfer, and Reed Richards' (Pedro Pascal) powers in action. Nevertheless,the long-suspected revelation that Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is pregnant is perhaps the most consequential development.
Reed’s apparent trepidation suggests that this is their first child.
This is revealed during a scene in which Reed and Sue arrive late to dinner, whichthe previousThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsteaserestablished as a sacrosanct routine. In the first teaser, Reed asserts, “We make a point to do family dinner every week. Sunday at 7, on the dot, no matter what.” After Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) accuses them of being late,Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) intuits that Sue is pregnant. In the next scene, Sue assures Reed, “We can do this. Nothing’s going to change.”
Reed’s apparent trepidation suggests that this is their first child. In Marvel Comics, Sue and Reed have two children, Franklin and Valeria Richards, with Franklin being their firstborn. AssumingThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswill remain true to the comics,this all but confirms that Franklin Richards is soon to be introduced to the MCU, significantly shifting the hierarchy of power in the franchise.
Who Is Franklin Richards And How Powerful Is He In Marvel Comics
Franklin Richards Is One Of Marvel’s Most Powerful Characters
Sue and Reed Richards name their firstborn, Franklin, after Sue’s father, who sacrificed his life to save his children.Franklin Richards is an Omega-level mutant(the most powerful order of mutants) who boasts powers of reality manipulation, which manifests in myriad ways. Franklin’s most impressive feats of power in Marvel Comics include:
Marvel Comics recently introduced a relatively controversial retcon for Franklin Richards, revealing that he gave himself an artificial X-Gene instead of naturally being a mutant. Given its tendency to adapt more classic versions of its characters, it is unclear whether Marvel Studios will adapt this change into the MCU or stick with his mutant origins.
As this collection of achievements would suggest,Franklin’s powers are second only tothe most powerful cosmic entities in MarvelComics. Even the likes of the MCU’s Loki, who currently holds the timelines of the multiverse together with his bare hands, might be outshone by a mutant capable of creating entire multiverses from scratch. It is unclear whether other reality manipulators like the Scarlet Witch would see her powers dwarfed by Franklin Richards, but the young mutant’s introduction certainly throws into question the comparative power level of the MCU’s Doctor Doom.
How Franklin Richards Could Be Introduced To The MCU
Franklin Richards Be A Newborn In The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Although Sue Storm is pregnant inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps,it is still unclear whether she will give birth in the same movie. It looks likeThe Fantastic Four: First Stepswill feature time jumps, as Sue appears to be further along in her pregnancy when meeting Shalla-Bal compared to when her pregnancy is revealed. Still, it would make sense for Franklin Richards to be introduced as a newborn, if at all, inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, as a young Franklin Richards threatens to upsetthe power balance of the MCUunless God Emperor Doom is introduced first.
It is likely, therefore, thata young Franklin Richards with the ability to create universes will be introduced much later thanThe Fantastic Four: First Steps,so that significant stakes are still in place duringAvengers: Doomsday. In Marvel Comics, Franklin creates a new Multiverse at the end of the “Secret Wars” run of comics, whichAvengers: Secret Warsmay directly adapt. This would require a significant time jump so that Franklin can age up, perhaps suggesting thatAvengers: DoomsdayorAvengers: Secret Warswill feature a time jump similar to the one seen inAvengers: Endgame.
