The Fantastic Four represents Marvel Comics’ initial superhero comic book franchise, earning them the nickname “The First Family of Marvel.” Originally, Reed Richards and his family embarked on a space journey, encountering cosmic rays that transformed them into superheroes: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and Human Torch. Yet, it’s important to note that the core team isn’t limited to these four members. Over time, various individuals have joined the Fantastic Four ranks, but only 16 can boast a membership lasting beyond a temporary crisis call. However, not every member of the Fantastic Four possesses powers as potent as others.
Exploring the primary members of the Fantastic Four, their substitute counterparts, and the instances where an entirely fresh team took over, let’s delve into the power rankings for each character that has graced the Fantastic Four roster.
16) Miss Thing
In 2012, the Fantastic Four embarked on a space exploration voyage. While their cosmic adventures continued in the primary comic series, a substitute team stayed back to safeguard Earth and oversee the wards at Future Foundation. Among these newcomers, the least powerful was Darla Deering, who went by Miss Thing. She was romantically involved with Johnny Storm and stepped in when The Human Torch failed to find a backup member in time. Despite having no superpowers, she wore ‘Thing Rings’ that provided her with an armor-like skin akin to The Thing’s. Unfortunately, this armor was destroyed on multiple occasions, leaving her without powers whenever it occurred.
15) Valeria Richards
Valeria Richards, the offspring of Reed Richards and Susan Storm, came into existence during their time in the Negative Zone. Her ‘uncle,’ Doctor Doom, managed to rescue her using both science and magic. Unlike her brother Franklin, Valeria was not born with any superhuman abilities. Yet, she had an exceptional quality that set her apart as a hero: Valeria Richards boasts a genius-level intelligence, so much so that even her father Reed Richards acknowledges her superior intellect over his own. While she lacks powers in every other aspect, she can triumph through her brains alone.
14) Ant-Man (Scott Lang)
When the Future Foundation (FF) was established to succeed the Fantastic Four and manage their operations, Reed Richards picked Scott Lang to lead the team. At first, Ant-Man wasn’t keen on this responsibility, but eventually, he consented. Despite his powers primarily enabling him to shrink in size, Ant-Man has never been known as the most powerful hero who has taken up the role of Ant-Man.
13) Medusa
Medusa has been part of the Fantastic Four on two different occasions. Initially, she temporarily replaced The Invisible Woman, Sue, during her pregnancy with Franklin. Later, when the original team was away from Earth, Medusa played a more prominent role within the group. As the Queen of the Inhumans and an Inhuman herself, she boasts significant confidence and has proven her worth in numerous battles. Despite this, it’s important to note that her powers, which allow her to manipulate her nearly indestructible hair for combat purposes, are not as potent as those possessed by other Fantastic Four members.
12) Reed Richards
Reed Richards has headed the Fantastic Four ever since they were established, earning the title of Mister Fantastic along the way. His unique ability lies in his capacity to transform his body into various shapes and forms by stretching, albeit with the caveat that the more he extends, the less potent he becomes. It’s essential to note that Reed’s power doesn’t stem from stretching; instead, it originates from his exceptional intelligence, which allows him to outsmart nearly every adversary. Unfortunately, Reed Richards’ overconfidence and occasionally hasty choices can diminish his overall strength level.
11) Spider-Man
On multiple occasions, Spider-Man has become a member of the Fantastic Four. During this tenure, they were known as the Future Foundation. Later, he was part of a new team called the New Fantastic Four, which consisted of fresh faces. Among these newcomers, Spider-Man held the least powerful position within the team, despite his incredible strength and agility that allow him to overpower most Marvel superheroes. However, even with these abilities, he is still less potent compared to ten other members of the Fantastic Four.
10) Black Panther
In a turn of events, Black Panther and Storm stepped in for Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman within the Fantastic Four team, as they temporarily stepped back from their superhero duties to tackle other important issues. Known for his formidable power, Black Panther’s mastery over Vibranium only amplifies his strength. Additionally, he possesses the legendary abilities of the Black Panther, enhancing his resilience, swiftness, and might. His extensive training and combat skills make him a force to be reckoned with against any danger. Nevertheless, when compared to the top-tier members of the Fantastic Four, there is still a slight disparity in their capabilities.
9) Wolverine
Wolverine often joined the New Fantastic Four as a supporting character, and generally possesses greater power than Spider-Man. While it’s open to interpretation whether Wolverine is more powerful, Spider-Man has demonstrated the ability to dislocate Wolverine’s jaw in combat. Nevertheless, should they engage in a direct confrontation, Wolverine stands an equal chance against Spider-Man due to his regenerative abilities and Adamantium claws, which are not commonly wielded by other Fantastic Four members.
8) The Thing
Among the Fantastic Four team, only two other members exhibit more raw power than The Thunderous One (The Thing), and he has demonstrated his ability to hold his own in combat against both, even though they tend to emerge victorious. Despite this, it’s important to note that The Thunderous One is an inaugural member of the Fantastic Four, and his powers lie in a robust, rocky physique. While not completely impervious, he has endured significant damage, with fragments of his body being chipped away in the past. However, it takes substantial force to harm him, and The Thunderous One possesses superhuman strength that outmatches many Marvel characters, heroes or villains alike.
7) The Human Torch
At one point, The Human Torch was less powerful than The Thing, but that’s not saying much about Johnny Storm’s powers when it comes to challenging Ben Grimm. However, over the years, The Human Torch’s abilities have been significantly enhanced. Originally, he could transform into fire and shoot flames, but now, this is more like plasma generation. To top it off, he can unleash a Nova Burst capable of reaching temperatures up to 1,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit – the heat equivalent of a nuclear warhead’s pulse. With this power, he can wipe out an area as large as 900 feet in diameter.
6) She-Hulk
In the course of her professional life, She-Hulk has been a part of the Fantastic Four on two separate occasions. The first instance followed the events of the initial Secret Wars series, whereupon The Thing opted to stay on Battleworld, paving the way for She-Hulk to take his place. The second stint was alongside Ant-Man as team captain. While there may be much discussion among fans about who is more powerful between She-Hulk and The Thing, it’s worth noting that in All-Out Avengers #2 (2022), The Beyonder declared that She-Hulk possesses a strength comparable to The Hulk, albeit used wisely. Given this claim, she surpasses the might of The Thing.
5) The Invisible Woman
Over an extended period, Susan Storm was often viewed as the least formidable among the initial four members of the Fantastic Four. Her abilities included invisibility and generating protective force fields for herself and her kin. However, Sue has moved beyond being just the invisible team member. The Invisible Woman’s powers are now revealed to be significantly more lethal than many had previously realized. Sue has the capacity to penetrate individuals with her force fields, inflicting serious internal injuries upon them. While she usually restrains herself, she is capable of instantly taking a life without hesitation if such an action were desired.
4) Ghost Rider
In a new team-up, the formidable Ghost Rider was added to the Fantastic Four lineup alongside Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the Hulk (who went by Joe Fixit). To clarify, Ghost Rider is one of Marvel’s strongest characters because he is essentially a demon, bound by Mephisto as the Spirit of Vengeance to Johnny Blaze. Over time, he gained autonomy to use his powers independently.
Ghost Rider boasts superhuman strength, invulnerability, rapid regeneration from injuries, and the ability to generate Hellfire. His magical prowess allows him to traverse dimensions, manipulate souls, and wield otherworldly powers. Despite his occasional self-doubt, few can stand against Ghost Rider in terms of power.
3) Hulk
In the realm of Marvel Comics, The Hulk consistently ranks among the most formidable characters. However, during his tenure with the New Fantastic Four, he didn’t exhibit powers comparable to those he wields in his Joe Fixit form. Yet, when compared to all who have been part of the Fantastic Four, no one matches The Hulk’s raw strength. As his anger escalates, so does the might of the Hulk, with no ceiling on his overall power potential. In a fierce battle with Onslaught, the Hulk even managed to obliterate an entire universe by suppressing his Bruce Banner persona temporarily. Furthermore, Marvel has hinted that in time, the Hulk will outlive all others and remain the sole survivor on Earth.
2) Storm
After being banished from Wakanda, Storm became part of the Fantastic Four alongside Black Panther. Since then, they’ve found sanctuary at the FF’s headquarters. In place of Reed Richards and Susan Storm, Storm and Black Panther took on important roles, working with The Thing and Human Torch. Unlike Black Panther, who possesses superhuman strength and resilience, Storm is a mutant capable of manipulating all weather phenomena. As an Omega Level mutant, her abilities are believed to have no bounds. Moreover, Storm has been enhanced into a vessel for Eternity, making her potentially unbeatable in combat.
1) Franklin Richards
Amongst the Fantastic Four, it’s undeniable that Franklin Richards stands out as the most formidable, leaving no other character in his shadow. Born with cosmic abilities beyond comprehension, he has demonstrated the capacity to effortlessly annihilate and construct entire universes. His feats include crafting numerous pocket dimensions, even inventing new species within them, effectively making himself their creator or “deity.” He single-handedly saved the world following the Onslaught incident by creating a pocket dimension and subsequently rebuilding Earth. Additionally, Marvel suggests that Franklin Richards is responsible for the sliding timescale of the 616 universe, which allows for over six decades’ worth of stories without aging characters excessively due to this timeline constantly shifting.
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2025-07-17 17:13