Fantastic Four: First Steps Sees Reed Richards Make Stupid Mistakes

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Spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps are below!

Summary

  • Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps makes questionable decisions, despite being the smartest man on Earth.
  • Reed’s plans throughout the film fall apart due to foreseeable flaws that he should have anticipated.
  • Emotional stakes influence Reed’s choices, showing a warmer side to the character in the MCU.

The Fantastic Four: Initial Journey” introduces Reed Richards, who surprisingly stumbles despite being Earth’s brightest mind. The latest incarnation of Fantastic Four provides viewers with the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s interpretation of Marvel’s founding family. Previous film adaptations have been less than impressive, but Initial Journey has managed to reverse the characters’ cinematic misfortunes, earning rave reviews and promising a successful box office run for Marvel.

In this film adaptation, audiences get to see Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing. For comic book enthusiasts, Franklin Richards, the couple’s son, makes his big screen debut. Each character embodies their comic version well, with intricate portrayals of their powers and relationships.

However, in an unexpected twist, Reed Richards, who is supposed to be Earth’s smartest mind, ends up making remarkably foolish errors in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards Is Supposed To Be The Smartest Man On Earth

In the Marvel universe, Reed Richards is frequently recognized for his exceptional intellect among Earth’s inhabitants. While other characters such as Doctor Doom, Tony Stark, and Hank Pym may possess intellects to rival Reed’s, his intelligence remains a key trait of his character, in addition to his elastic abilities. Notably, Marvel Comics introduces the Interdimensional Council of Reeds, a collective of various versions of Reed Richards, each with distinct powers that differ from the traditional canon. In the comic “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, Reed’s intelligence is underscored through numerous demonstrations, including masterminding their space travel, teleporting the world, and even preemptively arresting multiple gangs to ensure the city’s safety by baby-proofing it.

In critical situations, it’s Reed who is counted on to tackle the movie’s challenges. Johnny manages impressive feats, such as deciphering the Silver Surfer’s tongue, while Sue delivers emotional intensity in her battle to save Franklin. However, when it comes to saving the world, it’s Reed’s intellect that takes center stage, coming up with a plan that aligns well with his character. For the most part, Reed’s plan succeeds, but there are instances throughout The Fantastic Four, particularly in the climax, where his decisions might leave fans puzzled.

Fantastic Four: First Steps Sees Reed Richards Making Misguided Decisions Despite His Intelligence

As a devoted movie buff reminiscing about The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I can’t help but reflect on Reed Richards’ choices that left me scratching my head at times. One such instance was when he decided to bring Sue Storm, who was pregnant at the time, into space to confront Galactus. Now, Reed is known for his brilliance, and Sue is more than capable of holding her own, but considering her pregnancy, it felt like a risky move. Yet, this decision led to an unforgettable scene – the birth of Franklin, adding a heartwarming touch to the film’s narrative.

In the movie, Reed is trying to prevent Galactus from devastating Earth by creating a global network of towers intended for teleporting the planet to an undetectable location. However, Galactus had already alerted Earth with the Silver Surfer, indicating he was aware of our actions. When the Silver Surfer attacks and destroys the tower system, Reed and The Fantastic Four are taken aback, but it’s not surprising. Historically, planets have attempted to resist Galactus before, only to fail, suggesting that Reed’s strategy may have been impractical or insufficiently thought through.

In the final episode of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“, the team devises a plan to save Earth by transporting Galactus away using a portal tower in New York. They use Franklin, whose powers are known to Galactus even before birth, as bait to lure him to the teleportation pad. The flaw in their strategy lies in assuming that Galactus won’t notice they switched Franklin from his carrier to another location. Moreover, the plan requires Galactus to step onto a conspicuous red line on the ground, which he is expected not to do, but ultimately does, leading to his destruction. In essence, the plan isn’t completely flawed, but it relies heavily on assumptions about Galactus’s awareness and actions.

The Emotional Stakes Of Fantastic Four: First Steps Influenced Reed’s Decision-Making

The movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” portrays Reed Richards appearing to blunder, but these errors are significant given the high emotional tension that underscores his predicament. The film delves into how Reed meticulously considers all possible scenarios, including those with grim consequences that most people choose to avoid, in an effort to shield others from such hardships if he can. Furthermore, the movie highlights Reed’s struggles as a new parent while grappling with the looming threat of the world’s demise, which casts a shadow over each decision he has to make.

In the movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it is portrayed that Reed Richards grapples with emotional flaws throughout his decisions rather than always appearing as intelligent as one might expect. This version of Reed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe gives him a warmer persona, contrasting his often cold and logical demeanor. His mistakes and questionable choices seem more authentic given the high-stakes situations he finds himself in. The MCU has exciting plans for Reed Richards in future films like Avengers: Doomsday, leaving fans eager to see where Marvel’s First Family will journey after The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

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2025-07-27 21:06