Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Fantastic Four: First StepsThe MCU’s newest team of heroes has arrived in Fantastic Four: First Steps. Debuting in a reality of their own, the newest live-action iteration of The Fantastic Four is very exciting, especially ahead of their confirmed roles in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. However, it looks as though some members of the First Family are more powerful than others.
Introduced in a reality apart from the main MCU timeline, The Fantastic Four in First Steps call Earth-828 home. Likewise, their origins are very similar to what’s been established in the original Marvel Comics. Although each member of The Fantastic Four was affected by cosmic radiation, they were all given different abilities. Here’s every member of The Fantastic Four ranked by power level (including the team’s newest fifth member).
5
Reed Richards
Mister Fantastic
As seen in Fantastic Four: First Steps, Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards can stretch and elongate his limbs and body to incredible lengths and forms, the cosmic radiation having transformed his cells with an impressive level of elasticity. Although Reed Richards can theoretically take on various forms, First Steps primarily depicts Pedro Pascal’s Mister Fantastic utilizing his powers to climb, swing, and reach out to grab objects.
At least in this first movie, we don’t really see Reed wrapping around anything, flattening his body to become a parachute, or increasing the size of his fists like we do in the comics. Nevertheless, the implication is that he can, and we may see more uses for his powers in future MCU projects. However, we do get to see how far the MCU’s Reed can stretch when Galactus himself grabs Mister Fantastic and starts to pull.
Nevertheless, Reed Richards’s greatest power arguably remains his genius as “The Smartest Man Alive”. Indeed, Reed Richards’ intelligence is on full display in First Steps as he works to protect both the world and his new son, Franklin.
4
Ben Grimm
The Thing
Ben Grimm’s The Thing is as strong as ever in Fantastic Four: First Steps, just as he is in the comics and past Fantastic Four films. Picking up cars with ease and pulling large cargo ships to shore, The Thing is an absolute powerhouse.
Possessing his signature superhuman strength, Ben Grimm is also quite durable thanks to his iconic orange rock-like skin. Two of his best moments occur near the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps and the movie’s final battle, taking out the foundations of an entire building to knock Galactus off his balance as well as being air-dropped by The Human Torch to save Reed Richards from the World Devourer.
3
Johnny Storm
The Human Torch
While he’s easily the most charismatic and coolest member of the group, Johnny Storm’s Human Torch is also one of the team’s most powerful members. Beyond Reed’s elasticity and The Thing’s strength/durability, Johnny Storm can do so much more with the power to generate and manipulate fire at will.
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Having the power to engulf his entire body in plasma-like flames, Johnny Storm can fly at high speeds with a full range of pyrokinetic abilities. As the Human Torch, Johnny can increase and decrease flame temperatures at will with the power to go full supernova, reaching temperatures rivaling the sun.
Additionally, the Human Torch can absorb fire from other sources in his nearby environment, as seen at the beginning of Fantastic Four: First Steps. He can also project fire from his body at nearby targets, as seen when he repeatedly hits Galactus with fiery blasts as the World Devourer heads for Times Square.
2
Sue Storm
The Invisible Woman
Of the main Fantastic Four, Sue Storm’s Invisible Woman is easily the most powerful member of the primary MCU team. Not only does she possess the power to make herself invisible, but she’s repeatedly shown making her family invisible along with their entire rocket ship (Excelsior-One). Likewise, Sue’s force fields are incredibly useful, allowing her to protect herself and her loved ones from incoming attacks.
That said, Sue is more than capable of going on the offensive, forming various energy constructs and even force fields inside the body (she can make someone suffer an aneurysm at will).
Sue’s control over energy fields also allows her to psionically manipulate objects, while also pushing and pulling beings as powerful as Galactus himself. Exceeding her typical limits to save her son, the ending of Fantastic Four: First Steps saw Sue Storm successfully pushing the World Devourer multiple city blocks to her husband’s last remaining teleportation device, stranding Galactus to the far reaches of the galaxy.
1
Franklin Richards
Wielding The Power Cosmic
Beyond the original Fantastic Four, Franklin Richards is by far the most powerful family member, while also being one of the most powerful beings in the entire MCU multiverse. Despite hiding his true nature from Reed’s prenatal tests, it’s confirmed by Galactus that Franklin possesses the Power Cosmic, capable of ending the World Devourer’s hunger and even succeeding him in his cursed cosmic role.
This is certainly proven when Baby Franklin resurrects his mother, bringing her back to life after she sacrificed herself to save him. Mirroring Franklin’s phenomenal cosmic and reality-warping powers in the comics, it’s going to be fascinating to see what the future holds for the young boy, especially considering Fantastic Four: First Steps’ post-credits scene where Doctor Doom was shown kidnapping young Franklin four years later.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters from Marvel Studios.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
7/10
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
- Runtime
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115 minutes
- Director
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Matt Shakman
- Writers
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Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson
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Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / The Invisible Woman
