The Fantastic Four’s Best Evil Versions, Ranked

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The Fantastic Four are one of Marvel’s greatest superhero teams, as their recent Marvel Cinematic Universe debut showed to fans who didn’t already know. They’re Marvel’s First Family, the group that proved the concept of superhero teams can succeed and even thrive, and these characters have saved the world more times than anyone can count. However, much like all superheroes, there eventually comes the question of what they would be like if they were evil. Being so popular and having been around for so long, it’s only natural that the Fantastic Four would have had evil interpretations of them show up at some point, either in alternate universes or being possessed in some way. So let’s take a look at the best evil version of each of them, and rank them to see which Fantastic Four member would make the best villain.

6) Captain Johnny Storm

Although it’s common for every hero to have an evil counterpart, Johnny Storm, who is quite popular, hasn’t experienced that yet, unlike his family members. There are variations of the Fantastic Four where they’ve fought and characters posing as the Inhuman Torch, but those instances felt like loopholes. The closest we’ve come to an evil version of Johnny was introduced in “Dark Reign: Fantastic Four” #2, when Reed Richards was using his portal to peek into other dimensions, accidentally transporting the team into their alternate selves. One such counterpart was Pirate Captain Johnny Storm, a heartless pirate who sailed through the skies on a flying galleon, putting aside his usual pirate duties to act as a privateer and muscle to deter the invading Skrull army. He didn’t seem to commit any crimes, but he wreaked havoc without mercy, abandoned the Thing to die callously, and was generally boorish. While he wasn’t the compassionate, self-sacrificing Torch we’re familiar with, he also wasn’t evil enough to rank higher on this list.

5) Angrir, Breaker of Souls

During the “Fear Itself” incident, the ancient deity of dread, self-styled genuine All-Father, managed to break free from his confinement and assault Earth, instilling fear to amplify his might. He metamorphosed several heroes into grotesque iterations of themselves to advance his objectives, one such transformation being the gentle-natured Thing into Angrir, Soul Crusher. Utilizing the hammer bestowed upon him and augmented strength, he wreaked havoc, aiming to obliterate all of New York. Angrir clashed with Spider-Man and Red Hulk, leaving both battered and bruised. The only method to halt this terror was by vanquishing the serpent, liberating the Thing from his grasp. Despite being a villain, he certainly outshone everyone he pulverized into near-death. Moreover, his appearance during this phase was nothing short of magnificent, ranking among Thing’s top aesthetics.

4) Galactus Franklin

First Steps” and was particularly intense in “Fantastic Four” (2022) #32.

In a plot twist, following an unsuccessful effort to restore The Thing’s powers, Franklin and Valeria were transported back in time to a world where the Fantastic Four never existed. While Valeria returned to her present self, Franklin was sent even further back – all the way into his mother’s womb. Although he couldn’t retain his memories, Franklin’s powers were fully developed. Upon birth, Franklin already had all of his abilities, but lacked guidance on how to use them since there were no superpowered parents around.

Without the Fantastic Four to protect the world, it fell upon baby Franklin to deal with its problems. In a tragic turn of events, Franklin was able to disintegrate Galactus as a newborn. However, resolving issues instantly isn’t conducive to healthy growth, and Franklin quickly became the ruler of the world. He enforced peace by forcibly altering anyone who misbehaved, making them perpetually content. Adopting the form of Galactus, he ruled with an iron fist, exhibiting the mentality of a child. This version of Franklin was neither inherently evil but rather terribly misguided and spoiled. He was both the most terrifying and saddest child in the world, carrying the weight of the planet without anyone to guide him and no boundaries to contain him.

3) Doctor Valeria Doom

Valeria Richards, a character known for her imminent potential to turn villainous, often resembles a future antagonist. She boasts intelligence surpassing her father and has maintained a close bond with Doctor Doom, whom she considers as an uncle. The character as depicted in Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme #10 is chilling due to the escalation of their relationship. In this version, she wields power over Hell, having conquered it through a unique blend of magic and unmatched intelligence, making her the Doom of her universe. The prospect of combining Doom’s petty malevolence with Valeria, arguably the smartest individual in the Marvel Multiverse, second only to Moon Girl, is downright terrifying. Victor von Doom is a source of pure, unbridled resentment who thrives on spite and is kept in check only by his stubborn insistence that he’s the most intelligent person ever born. Giving such malice to the one person capable of supporting every boast she makes creates the ultimate, indomitable beast. This version of Valeria has seized control over Hell, which at the very least demonstrates her intellect and strength enough to depose Mephisto, a fact that should give you a clear picture of this character’s power and menace. The original character is compelling because she often grapples with giving in to her cold logic, but her moral upbringing by her parents keeps her in check. This version, however, disregards all morality, making her a truly frightening figure.

2) Malice

In a significant turn of events portrayed in Fantastic Four #280, Sue Storm adopted the identity of Malice after being manipulated by the villains Psycho-Man and Hate-Monger, causing her to transform from a loving and caring individual into a violent, hate-filled character. This transformation unleashed Sue’s repressed rage, making her one of the most formidable threats the Fantastic Four had ever encountered.

Malice’s impact on Sue is still felt today, as it marked a turning point in Sue’s character development. Prior to this incident, she was known as the Invisible Girl and was often portrayed as passive, emotional, and somewhat immature. However, after this event, Sue rechristened herself as the Invisible Woman, signifying her growth and maturity. This transformation was a long-awaited evolution, demonstrating that Sue had stepped up to become the powerful and important character she truly is.

In essence, Malice served as a catalyst for Sue’s personal growth, pushing her to confront deep-seated feelings she had suppressed. The traumatic experience left an indelible mark on Sue, shaping her into the strong, fearsome character we know today. This is why Malice holds such significance in the Fantastic Four universe.

1) The Maker

The Maker, a notable villain from Marvel comics, stands out as one of the potential darker versions of Reed Richards, otherwise known as Mr. Fantastic. Originally hailing from the Ultimate Universe, where he worked alongside the Ultimate Fantastic Four as Mister Fantastic, this version of Reed was starkly different from his compassionate counterpart in the main Marvel universe (616). The Ultimate Reed was disconnected from humanity and held himself in low regard. His life was marked by misery and poor decisions, eventually leading him to snap and transform into a supervillain.

The Maker is a monster of unprecedented proportions, causing chaos across his home universe. In the Secret Wars event, when his universe was lost, he vowed to recreate it in his own twisted image. True to his word, he remade the Ultimate Universe according to his sinister vision in Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe. However, instead of providing a catalyst for most Earth’s heroes, he manipulated their origins and covertly orchestrated them into a secret cabal to govern the world from the shadows. He divided this power among his allies and ruled over it like a mad scientist conducting an experiment.

The new Ultimate Earth has become a nightmarish fascist regime where hope is scarce, a direct result of The Maker’s malevolent design. To add to his cruelty, he tortured the world’s version of himself into becoming Doctor Doom as a twisted act of self-loathing revenge.

The Maker is insidious, manipulative, and deranged, with an intelligence that is nearly unmatched. He has cast aside all morality, using logic to serve his own desires. And those desires are always detrimental to others. The Maker is arguably the most evil version of any character in the Fantastic Four, possibly even among all Marvel heroes.

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2025-08-05 21:12