Franklin Richards is, by far, the most powerful member ofThe Fantastic Four. Mainstream movie audiences may only now be getting to know the son of Mister Fantastic and The Invisible Woman, but comic readers have knownFranklin’s incredible superpowersalmost since his on-panel debut in 1968.
For more than half a century since then, the boy hastechnically been Marvel’s strongest mutant. Watching as artists and writers find new ways to showcase his astonishing abilities has been awe-inspiring, andFranklin Richards' most influential Marvel moments of all timeare a great preview of what to expect from the Fantastic Four’s first born son.
9Franklin Richards Brought The Thing Back From The Dead
Fear Itself#5 (2011) by Matt Fraction, Stuart Immonen
Besides givingThor his best battle armor, Fear Itself saw The God of Thunder and his amazing friends contest with the Serpent trying to usurp the Asgardian throne from Odin. Several superheroes get thrust into the mix, including The Fantastic Four. The Serpent sends seven hammers to Earth to force its users to become his Heralds.
Upon finding his hammer, The Thing becomes Angrir, Breaker of Souls. He falls to his apparent death following a fight with Thor, until Franklin intervenes. In one bright flash, Franklin brings Ben Grimm back to life. At the time, Franklin promised his parents not to use his powers, but to save his godfather, he didn’t hesitate to make an exception.
8Franklin Made Galactus His Soldier, And Ordered Him To War
Fantastic Four#604 (2012) by Jonathan Hickman, Steve Epting
Much like onscreen, Galactus and Franklin Richards are intrinsically linked together in the comics, with some worlds showcasing howFranklin could one day become Galactus. However, when the fate of the multiverse is on the line as the Mad Celestials kill versions of Galactus from other universes, Franklin true calling reveals itself.
An older version of Franklin Richards emerges powerful enough to tame Galactus into becoming his own personal Herald. As such, Franklin is able to empower Galactus into finally defeating the Mad Celestials once and for all. While it’s debatable if forcing Galactus to submit to him is his most powerful feat, it’s certainly Franklin’s most notable.
7Franklin Rewrote His Genetic Code To Make Him a Mutant
Fantastic Four#26 (2020) by Dan Slott, R.B. Silva
Not long after Franklin Richards is originally introduced, it’s revealed that the boy is officially a mutant. His mutant lineage puts him in proximity to and a kinship with the X-Men over the years, with Sue and Reed being open to Franklin exploring his mutant heritage.Franklin’s mutanthood is made complicatedby a shocking reveal.
In more recent years, it has been revealed that Franklin isn’t a true mutant born as such, but it’s been retconned that he genetically altered his own DNA to become a mutant. This put a strain on his relationship with the X-Men and barred him from Krakoa during that era of time, but it shows how far his power extends if he can morph his own biology.
6Franklin Recreated The Entire Marvel Multiverse
Franklin Richards has been established to bend reality to his will. Following 2015’sSecret Wars, such a power was in high demand as several universes were destroyed in the midst of incursions, not to mention, Emperor God Doomdid some damage to his ownin trying to overtake the multiverse for himself.
To restore balance to the multiverse, Franklin uses his powers to recreate the multiverse. In the palm of his hand, Franklin is able to restore whatever destruction had been caused to the multiverse and creating entire universes. In addition, he has been similarly seen to create pocket dimensions.
5Franklin Saved Marvel’s Heroes By Creating A New Pocket Reality
Onslaught: Marvel Universe#1 (1996) by Scott Lobdell, Mark Waid, Andy Kubert, Joe Bennett
Not to be confused with the 2021 series and arc of the same name, the 1996 version of “Heroes Reborn” centers around Onslaught delivering a wave of destruction across the entire Marvel Universe. When Marvel’s three best super-teams challenge him, Onslaught seemingly kills them all in battle, if not for Franklin Richards in the knick of time.
At the last possible second, Franklin Richards preserves the trio of super-teams' lives by containing them in a pocket universe separate from the Marvel Universe. Setting the stage for “Heroes Reborn,” this gives all three teams their own universe to live in temporarily for a year that was separate from Earth-616.
4Franklin Takes Galactus' Place, For The Next Cycle of Reality
The History of the Marvel Universe(2019) by Mark Waid, Javier Rodriguez, Alvaro Lopez
Galactus is always positioned as an antagonist, but his position as a villain is a complicated one. Devouring worlds sounds scary on paper, but Galactus is necessary for the well-being and balance of the universe. Even if Galactus himself no longer exists, there must always be someone who fulfills the same role.
Galactus is not expected to live forever, and in such a predicament, he will have to be replaced. In the next cycle of reality, Franklin Richards has been canonically confirmed to be that replacement for Galactus. Ensuring such a destiny for Franklin to become the next Galactus feels like a fitting final fate given their long-standing history and connection.
3Defeated the Cormorant
Fantastic Four#25, by Dan Slott, R.B. Silva, Jesus Aburtov
The Cormorant is one of the more obscure names to come out of the Marvel Universe, but don’t mistake obscurity for weakness, as The Cormorant is a cosmic being of epic proportions. Even with the amount of power that Franklin has at his disposal, Franklin was still in danger by going up against it, especially as he wasslowly losing his powers.
Still, that doesn’t stop Franklin Richards from trying to challenge the opposition. Franklin exhausts every ounce of power trying to defeat The Cormorant. but without destroying it, Franklin does earn the being’s respect. Maybe Franklin (then thought to be an Omega-level mutant) was outmatched by something beyond Omega, but The Cormorant does flee afterward.
2Prevented the End of Reality by Changing the Track of Causality
Jonathan Hickman’s Run of The Fantastic Four
During Jonathan Hickman’sFantastic Fourrun, an older Franklin Richards travels back in time in hopes of preparing his childhood self to harness the power he would come to have. As with alltime travel stories at Marvel, there runs a risk of altering reality, but Franklin manages to change the timeline in a closed loop.
This means that instead of drastically altering the future or creating divergent realities, Franklin manages to help fulfill his and Valeria’s predestined futures by ensuring their survival despite being from the original track. Franklin uses his psionic powers unconsciously, and his mastery of time travel, to save his sister.
1Franklin Richards Brought Galactus Back From The Dead
Fantastic Four#49 (2001) by Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Marin, Jeph Loeb, Jesus Merino
Trailing back to the idea that Galactus is necessary for the universe, his death directly correlates to the universe’s certain destruction. Galacus dying gives birth to Abraxas. If Galactus exists to bring balance to the universe and ensure it’s long-term survival, Abraxas exists to bring chaos and the universe’s imminent destruction.
Franklin was able to combine his powers with that of his sister to ensure the resurrection of Galactus. Not only did this effectively lead to Abraxas' decimation, but resets reality so that Valeria (who had been expelled from reality) returns officially into continuity. The power of Franklin Richards knows no bounds, and remains an asset to The Fantastic Four.
