7 Most Exciting Times the Fantastic Four Traveled Through the Multiverse

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The Marvel Comics’ debut creation, The Fantastic Four, was never just your typical superheroes. Instead, they embarked on exciting journeys as pioneers, daring to venture into uncharted territories of outer space. Their extraordinary adventure began in the pages of Fantastic Four Volume 1, Issue 1, where Reed Richards led a team into space despite knowing the potential risks. An encounter with a cosmic storm gifted each member with incredible powers. From that day forward, Reed has consistently pushed boundaries, braving the perilous Negative Zone and employing the Forever Gate to traverse various dimensions.

A glimpse into the most extraordinary voyages of the Fantastic Four across multiple realities – from space expeditions seeking new worlds to an instance where they ventured into Heaven with the mission of rescuing a lost soul.

In this version, I have aimed to keep the essence of the original text while using simpler language and a more engaging tone.

7) First Negative Zone trip (FF #51)

The preferred gateway for interdimensional journeys by the Fantastic Four is the portal to the Negative Zone. Unlike our Earth, which has positively charged matter, the Negative Zone boasts a negative charge, resulting in numerous extraordinary mutations and species. The first introduction of the Negative Zone in Marvel Comics was in Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #51, marking a significant event within the “This Man… This Monster!” storyline. Although the tale of a man pretending to be The Thing is what primarily made this issue noteworthy, it also underscored the peril associated with the Negative Zone.

6) Planet Kral IV (FF #90-94)

The three-issue series “Kral IV” unfolded an alternate world reminiscent of 1920s gangster America, inhabited solely by The Thing, who had been enslaved by the ruling class after being captured by them. This world was actually a Skrull creation, where Ben Grimm had been kidnapped. It was Reed Richards who discovered its location in space, enabling the team to embark on a mission to infiltrate this alternate Earth and free Ben. Later, Kral IV resurfaced during the “Empyre” storyline as one of the planets destroyed by the Cotati.

5) Interdimensional Council of Reeds (FF #570)

In a stunning revelation, Reed Richards unveiled a gateway enabling him to traverse various multiverses. Upon his exploration, he found that he wasn’t the solitary one with this ability. During one such journey, he encountered an assembly called the Interdimensional Council of Reeds – first glimpsed in Fantastic Four #570 (2009). They were tasked with safeguarding the multiverse and would go to any lengths to ensure its preservation. However, Reed discovered that their vigilance came at a steep price: the loss of their families. Unwilling to bear such a sacrifice, he closed the portal. Yet, other versions of himself penetrated the barrier and wreaked havoc on Earth-616.

4) Solving Invisible Woman’s Death (FF #17)

In the early adventures of the Fantastic Four, they embarked on a journey through time in Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #19, encountering Rama-Tut, an earlier incarnation of Kang. This historic event rippled through the multiverse and was later referenced in Ryan North’s storyline in Fantastic Four Vol. 7 #17. During this storyline, the team stumbled upon Invisible Woman’s bones during an evacuation and followed a trail back to the past, uncovering a mystery that took them tens of thousands of years back in time. When Reed and Sue delved into the past to investigate, they discovered Rama-Tut landing on Earth, even acknowledging the iconic tale penned by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby many decades ago. This standalone issue featured a surprising twist ending, showcasing North’s exceptional storytelling abilities.

3) Hereafter

In an unexpected twist in the comic book series ‘Fantastic Four’ volume 1, issues #509-511, our superhero team journeyed to realms beyond the multiverse, including a surprising destination – Heaven. Previously, they had battled Doctor Doom who had taken control of The Thing’s body. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Reed Richards was forced to end Ben Grimm’s life to stop Doom. This tragic loss sent Reed on an obsessive quest to bring Ben back to life. He devised a portal that transported him and the team to Heaven in search of a resurrection for their friend. Their first challenge was helping Ben let go of his self-blame, followed by a conversation with the divine itself, appearing as FF co-creator Jack Kirby. While the plot may have been slightly outlandish, it offered a heartfelt story with a poignant resolution.

2) Marvel Two-In-One

For a number of years, Marvel Comics phased out the Fantastic Four and many X-Men following the event known as Secret Wars, a strategy intended to diminish the value of these properties during their legal struggle with Fox to reclaim ownership rights. When the corporation opted to revive the FF, they initiated it by featuring The Thing and Johnny Storm in the restored Marvel 2-In-One series. By placing the two individuals with the least scientific knowledge into the multiverse and helping them navigate back home, they created an intriguing narrative. This captivating storyline unfolded over 10 issues before Reed and Sue (who were entirely removed from the dimension following Secret Wars) were discovered, enabling them to reunite their family on Earth-616.

1) Traveling Through Franklin’s Pocket Universes

Franklin Richards is one of Marvel Comics’ most powerful characters, with few others even remotely close. As a child, he started crafting pocket universes, populating them with unique races that didn’t exist until he imagined them mentally. When Dan Slott took over writing Fantastic Four, the team was sent into space to discover the worlds Franklin had created. They found these worlds teemed with creative and inventive societies, all made by Franklin. However, they also encountered The Griever at the End of All Things, who wanted to obliterate all of Franklin’s worlds and him for daring to create universes and civilizations in the first place.

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2025-07-28 16:12