Marvel: Strongest Versions Of The Fantastic Four

As a lifelong comic book enthusiast, I must admit that each of these Fantastic Four iterations offers a unique and compelling take on the classic team. The original version, with its visually striking renditions of The Thing and Human Torch, certainly sets the bar high for power and spectacle.

If you want to see the World’s Mightiest Heroes, you have the Avengers. If you want to see a team bound by genetic makeup, you have the X-Men. But if you want to see a superhero team that’s closest to being a real family, you have The Fantastic Four. With a genius, an invisible girl, a hot head, and a literal brick powerhouse, The Fantastic Four is one of the best superhero teams around, with just the four of them being powerful and beloved enough to compete with the far more vast Marvel hero teams as aforementioned. Here are the most powerful versions of this quartet of a team.

5 The Standard Team

The Earth 616 Originals

Marvel: Strongest Versions Of The Fantastic Four

Medium: Comics
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #1 (August 1961)

I’m a gamer here, and let me tell you about my favorite superhero team – the original lineup of the Fantastic Four! Reed Richards, with his elastic abilities, can stretch like crazy. Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman, has the power to vanish from sight whenever she wants. Then there’s Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, who can ignite into flames and fly through the air at will. Last but not least, there’s Ben Grimm, aka The Thing – he might look rough and tough, but don’t underestimate him in a fight! These extraordinary individuals make up the classic roster of the Fantastic Four.

In a family bonded by love, I, Sue, shared my life with Reed, my loving partner. My younger brother Johnny and our close friend Ben completed our tight-knit unit. However, everything changed drastically during an ill-fated space expedition. Similar to tales often found in science fiction, mysterious substances and external forces bestowed upon us extraordinary abilities, with cosmic rays being the source of our newfound powers this time around.

In essence, the Fantastic Four, living up to their name, consist of just four individuals. However, the powers they acquired in their origin story make them seem like a team much larger – almost countless – each member being an exceptional powerhouse individually. One can shape-shift into various forms, another can make herself invisible and create protective barriers, there’s also a figure who can fly and is made of fire and rock, and lastly, a strong, stony character. Together, these four prove time and again that they have the capacity to confront threats so dire that, in their absence, humanity might well have faced destruction.

4 The 2005 Live Action Team

The Fantastic Team Of The 2000s

Medium: Film
First Appearance: July 8, 2005

The 2005 and 2007 live-action Fantastic Four films, featuring Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic, Jessica Alba as the Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as the Human Torch, and Michael Chiklis as The Thing, bring a sense of nostalgia for many viewers. Opinions on these movies vary widely among audiences – while some consider them enjoyable throwbacks to not-so-distant times, others view them as low-quality productions that struggle to compete with modern superhero stories. However, one point that can be universally agreed upon is the solid portrayal of The Fantastic Four in these films.

In this rendition of The Fantastic Four’s tale, CEO Dr. Victor Von Doom from Von Doom Industries is convinced to grant Dr. Reed Richards and his pal Ben Grimm permission to utilize his space station for a unique study on cosmic radiation’s effects. This research eventually results in the team acquiring their iconic abilities, which are both impressive yet problematic, as depicted in their original origin story.

In this rendition of The Fantastic Four, Reed Richards possesses an elasticity extending far beyond one thousand feet, Sue Storm creates force fields strong enough to contain explosions, Johnny Storm can reach temperatures nearly equal to those at the sun, and Ben Grimm seems virtually indestructible. It’s not surprising that they have remained a cherished part of our culture for close to two decades.

3 The 2006 Animated Team

The World’s Greatest Heroes

Medium: Animated Series
First Appearance: September 2, 2006

It’s possible that their name is linked to the Avengers’ nickname “The World’s Mightiest Heroes,” but the team from this animated series might justifiably claim such a title, given that they exhibit some of the most spectacular displays of power that the Fantastic Four have ever shown.

In the initial episodes of the animated adaptation, The Fantastic Four demonstrates exceptional power, often squaring off against formidable opponents almost immediately after the series begins. These early installments introduce antagonists like Moleman, ruler of the Moloids, Skrulls, Ronan the Accuser, representatives from the Kree Empire, the Supreme Intelligence, the Puppet Master, Giganto, the shape-shifting Impossible Man, Annihilus, Namor the Submariner, and none other than Doctor Doom.

From a visual perspective, this adaptation of The Fantastic Four stands out as exceptionally powerful. In this rendition, The Thing is portrayed as one of the largest and strongest rock-inspired characters ever depicted on screen. Moreover, the depiction of the Human Torch in this series burns much brighter compared to most other versions.

2 The Ultimate Fantastic Four

Earth 1610s Powerful Team

Medium: Comics
First Appearance: Ultimate Fantastic Four #21 (July 2005)

In this alternate Marvel universe, the characters and events are notoriously known in Marvel history. This specific universe depicts Earth as governed by Howard Stark, encompassing the U.S., Canada, Greenland, Mexico, and parts of Central America. This unique portrayal offers a glimpse into how bizarrely different this world is compared to our own.

On this planet, our Invisible Woman, akin to Sue Storm, boasts an extraordinary intellect, with an IQ of 170 and an intelligence rating two points above the average Sue Storm. As for our Thing, he’s reminiscent of Ben Grimm, capable of transforming with radiant purple energy. However, it is Mr. Fantastic who underwent the most significant evolution in this universe.

In the year 1610 on Earth, Reed Richards, more commonly recognized as Mr. Fantastic, later transforms into the malevolent figure known as “The Maker.” This particular Reed Richards gains immortality, a state where he no longer needs sustenance like food or water, nor does he require oxygen to survive for countless years without it. Additionally, he can endure conditions in a vacuum, implying an extraordinary ability to withstand the absence of air.

1 The Fantastic Thors

The Mightiest Team

Medium: Comics
First Appearance: Siege (Vol. 2) #4 (October 2015)

This iteration of The Fantastic Four is linked to the esteemed Asgardian character, Mighty Thor, which significantly elevates its standing among other versions of the team. This connection, rather than merely the appealing sound of the title, contributes greatly to why this particular Fantastic Four is widely regarded as exceptional.

It’s well-known that the conventional editions of The Fantastic Four possess extraordinary abilities. Reed’s elasticity, Sue’s potent force fields, Johnny’s fiery energy, and Ben’s strength rivaling that of the Hulk make quite an impressive show. Now imagine if each member was granted their own version of Mjölnir. That would result in one of the most powerful superhero teams ever assembled.

In this rendition of The Fantastic Four, they earned the esteemed title of Thor Corps members, participating in the final assault on Battleworld. Their role was pivotal in safeguarding the Shield. Wielding Asgardian hammers, each member possessed powers reminiscent of Thor’s. This allowed them to simultaneously unleash the might of thunder and lightning, amplifying their existing abilities to shield the planet from harm.

2024-10-05 11:06