The Fantastic Four: First Steps Needs to Introduce Molecule Man

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Needs to Introduce Molecule Man

As a long-time Marvel enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over comics, I can confidently say that introducing Molecule Man in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is not just a good idea, it’s a necessity for the MCU. This character holds the keys to some of the most intriguing cosmic mysteries and has a history entwined with some of the universe’s greatest threats – including the Beyonders.


In the expanding and transforming universe of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s upcoming Multiverse Saga, the much-awaited movie is titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“. This film marks the debut of the iconic superhero family within the MCU, consisting of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm. The quartet experiences a space voyage that exposes them to energy, granting them extraordinary abilities such as Reed’s elongation power, Sue’s invisibility, Ben’s super strength and stone-like skin, and Johnny’s fire control. If the film is indeed setting up for the anticipated “Avengers: Secret Wars” movie, it is essential to introduce one Fantastic Four character in this film – Owen Reece, who is also known as Molecule Man.

The Fantastic Four villain eventually became an integral part of the Marvel universe as a whole, with his power connected to the multiversal threat of not only the Beyonder, but the race of beings known as the Beyonders or the Ivory Kings. His value and connection to some of the greater cosmic beings of the multiverse made him the prime target for Doctor Doom and his plan to “save the universe”. If the Avengers: Secret Wars story is to form in its entirety, then Robert Downey Jr’s Doom will need the power of Molecule Man to enact his final plan in the latest MCU Saga. This is why The Fantastic Four: First Steps needs to introduce Molecule Man into the MCU.

Molecule Man, EXPLAINED

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Needs to Introduce Molecule Man

Born Owen Reece, Molecule Man was once a timid and shy boy who shared a deep connection to his mother. When she passed, he became bitter, and when his frustrations at unfair wages at a nuclear plant lead him to a particle accelerator accident, Owen gained the power to control molecules and gain a powerful cosmic grip on psionic abilities as a whole. The accident also opened up a portal between Earth and the world of The Beyonder, who would use it to view the events of Earth and study its inhabitants.

Shortly after, Reece embarked on his villainous journey, clashing with The Fantastic Four following The Watcher’s warning about his dangerous intentions. However, Reece was unaware of the extent of his powers, thinking he could only influence non-living matter and not organic substances. He also mistakenly believed that a metal staff granted him these abilities. This misunderstanding allowed the heroes to thwart him, while The Watcher dispatched Owen to a realm where time flowed faster than on Earth. Later, Reece would resurface again, younger and still alive, realizing his powers were more potent than he initially thought. Tigra eventually persuaded him to abandon his criminal ways and seek psychological help instead.

Nevertheless, Reece was transported to Battleworld at the hands of the Beyonder, where he became part of Doom’s band of malevolent forces. Later, Doom demonstrated his full might to Reece, and he used it to return the villains to Earth. His desire was to lead a peaceful life with Volcana, the villain he had grown fond of. Over time, Reece shifted between being an adversary and an ally to the heroes. Eventually, his inability to discern reality from hallucinations led to his demise at the hands of the Sentry, following orders given by Norman Osborne during the Dark Avengers narrative.

Later on, Doom would capture and transform He into a powerful entity, knowing that his abilities could aid in combating The Beyonders, beings whose true identity he would later uncover. Upon venturing to another dimension, Reece learned he was a singularity crafted by the Beyonders across all universes, essentially functioning as a cosmic explosive device. Doom exploited this to make Reece absorb the Beyonder’s powers, eventually elevating him to God Emperor Doom during the Secret Wars. However, in the climactic moments, he transferred those powers to Reed Richards, who then reshaped the initial multiverse and started creating new universes as well.

Molecule Man in the MCU

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Needs to Introduce Molecule Man

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Owen Reece, also known as Molecule Man, has not yet been introduced in live-action. Instead, he’s only shown up in animated form over time. As a result, his impact on the MCU so far is minimal, but crucial for an accurate adaptation of “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Although changes are common in MCU films and characters, the role of Molecule Man, particularly in Doom’s fight against the Beyonders, who were hinted at by Clea in “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” is too significant to overlook.

As a fan, it feels spot-on to incorporate Molecule Man into the already bustling lineup of adversaries in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The heroes are supposed to be fully-fledged figures in their universe, rather than starting from scratch with an origin story. Having a roster that includes characters like Mole Man, Molecule Man, and Puppet Master, while battling the threat of Galactus, would offer an intriguing way to introduce the character. If he somehow crosses paths or gets trapped by Robert Downey Jr’s Doom in a post-credits scene, it would create an exciting twist. Moreover, his presence across different dimensions could be the key that binds these films and universes together seamlessly within the MCU.

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2024-09-07 21:04