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Warning : looter onwards for The Ultimates # 4!The newestFantastic Fourorigin story has perfectedReed RichardsandThe Thing ’s friendly relationship , even with its horrifying aftermath . The friendship between The Thing and Mr. Fantastic has become one of Marvel ’s most notable relationships . First meeting in college , Reed Richards and Ben Grimm became fast Quaker at Empire State University , leading to year of work together . However , a small change to their extraction has exchange the dynamic of their friendship while perfect it at the same fourth dimension .
InThe Ultimates # 4by Deniz Camp and Phil Noto , Reed Richards ' life lead up to the fortuity that would give him power is explore to see what changes were made that would eventuallyturn him into the new Doctor Doom . However , for the most part , his former Clarence Day are fairly like to his Earth-616 variant . That is , economise for one renowned minute where he meet Ben Grimm for the first time in college .
This version of Reed is show to be much younger than what he was in his original origin . While he was always a child prognostication who attended college at a young age , he never met Ben until he was in his late teens / early 20s . However , here , he ’s 13 years one-time .
Reed Richard’s Updated Origin Redefines His Friendship with Ben Grimm
Reed Sees Ben as the Older Brother He Never Had
While Reed would eventually learn over the years that he has half - brothers and half - sistersthroughout the universe in his syndicate tree , he grew up in his household as an only child . By age him down when he first meets Ben in college , their friendly relationship at last evolves into a sibling dynamic , as Reed gains not just a novel friend but a role model at the same time . Ben has far more experience in things outside of science than Reed , so clear him far older allows him to be a unspoiled influence on Reed as the two partner up throughout college .
" [ Reed ’s ] friendship with Ben allows him to have someone to become to when he postulate them most "
Plus , this fresh take on the origins of their friendly relationship allows Ben to provide a space for Reed to be himself without get by with the pressures of being the youngest student on campus . Being a baby prognostic is bound to come with some major societal hangups , since his equal are far Old than him . So , his friendly relationship with Ben take into account him to have someone to turn over to when he demand them most and creates a positive surroundings for him to vent his frustrations while exhibit his love for skill to a supportive audience .
Reed and Ben’s Ultimate Universe Origin Takes a Horrifying Turn
This Does n’t Mean It Ca n’t Still Be Made Canon
The most disconcerting takeout ring Ben and Reed ’s raw friendship is the dark turn it takes as their attack to try out Reed ’s new programme terminate in bankruptcy . After Johnny dies in a hell and Susan Storm is bedridden in the infirmary , Ben is shown to have died by felo-de-se in a massive pile of crushed rock after becoming a disgraced pilot .
As Marvel radically rewrites the descent of the Fantastic Four , Reed Richards causes the team ’s horrific downfall , giving them all ironic demise .
It ’s an unfortunate downside to this unexampled take on the family relationship between the two . However , this does n’t necessarily have in mind that this future is place in stone should it make its way outside the Ultimate Universe , as the chief canyon could take over this pocket-size change to their own story credit line , further perfecting Reed and Ben ’s friendship without necessitate to kill the latter .
Reed and Ben’s Updated Friendship Expands on the Best Part of 2015’sFantastic Four
Josh Trank’s Major Comic Change Is Finally Explored Further
What ’s interesting about this major modification to Reed and Ben ’s friendship is that it actually expands on the best aspect ofthe critically panned 2015Fantastic Fourfilmdirected by Josh Trank . In the cinema , Ben and Reed meet for the first metre in public schooling together , counterfeit a friendship that go for year . The two have a similar dynamic in the originalUltimate Fantastic Fourseries by Mark Millar , Brian Michael Bendis and Adam Kubert . In that serial publication , they also meet as children , with Ben protect Reed from yobo in exchange for help with his prep .
InUltimate Fantastic Four , they part ways when Ben goes to college , but reunify before Reed ’s fateful experiment that grant him and the rest of the team force . While Trank clearly took inspiration from the original Ultimate Universe ’s extraction for the characters , his change to have them stay friends rather than freestanding help the two bond paper as not just friends , but also as pretender - siblings . Despite being around the same historic period , Ben is clearly playing an sometime crony persona in the friendly relationship . He provides a overconfident use model for Reed , encouraging him to embrace his intelligence , just like what ’s hint at inThe Ultimates # 4 .
It ’s interesting to see how one small change to Reed and Ben ’s origin can redefine how their friendly relationship blossom out for the better . Making Ben into a brotherly figure for Reed is implausibly sweet , even if their raw story ends in tragedy . Despite the grim side of it all , it ’s an adjustment that should work its way into the mainFantastic Fourcanon because of how much it reshapesMr . FantasticandThe Thing ’s origin stories for the better .
The Ultimates#4is available now from Marvel Comics !
TheFantastic Fouris a superhero franchise focus on Marvel Comics ' first family line of superheroes . create by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby , the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a foundation of Marvel ’s success . The franchise follows four astronauts — Reed Richards , Susan Storm , Johnny Storm , and Ben Grimm — who gain great power after being exposed to cosmic radioactivity . Over the years , Fantastic Fourhas been adapted into several live - action films , animated serial publication , and video games . The moving picture have catch multiple reboots , with varying levels of success , and are now sic to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ( MCU ) , with a new flick slated for liberation in 2025 .
