The
four core individuals traditionally associated with the Fantastic Four,
who gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a
scientific mission to outer space, are: Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards),
a scientific genius and the leader of the group, who can stretch his
body into incredible lengths and shapes; the Invisible Woman (Susan
"Sue" Storm), Reed's wife, who can render herself and others invisible
and project powerful force fields; the Human Torch (Johnny Storm),
Sue's younger brother, who can generate flames, surround himself with
them and fly; and the monstrous Thing (Ben Grimm), their grumpy but
benevolent friend, who possesses superhuman strength and endurance due
to the nature of his stone-like flesh.
Mister
Fantastic
(Reed Richards), a scientific genius, can stretch, twist and re-shape
his body to inhuman proportions. Mr. Fantastic serves as the father
figure of the group, and is "appropriately pragmatic, authoritative,
and dull". Richards blames himself for the failed space mission,
particularly because of how the event transformed pilot Ben Grimm.
Invisible
Woman
(Susan Storm), Reed Richards' girlfriend (and eventual wife) has the
ability to bend and manipulate light to render herself and others
invisible. She later develops the ability to generate force fields,
which she uses for a variety of defensive and offensive effects.
The Human
Torch
(Johnny Storm), Sue Storm's younger brother, possesses the ability to
control fire, allowing him to project fire from his body, as well as
the power to fly. This character was loosely based on a Human Torch
character published by Marvel's predecessor Timely Comics in the 1940s,
an android that could ignite itself. Lee said that when he
conceptualized the character, "I thought it was a shame that we didn't
have The Human Torch anymore, and this was a good chance to bring him
back". Unlike the teen sidekicks that preceded him, the Human Torch in
the early stories was "a typical adolescent – brash,
rebellious,
and affectionately obnoxious".
The Thing
(Ben
Grimm), Reed Richards' college roommate and best friend, has been
transformed into a monstrous, craggy humanoid with orange, rock-like
skin and super-strength. The Thing is often filled with anger,
self-loathing and self-pity over his new existence. He serves as "an
uncle figure, a longterm friend of the family with a gruff Brooklyn
manner, short temper, and caustic sense of humor". In the original
synopsis Lee gave to Kirby, The Thing was intended as "the heavy", but
over the years the character has become "the most lovable group member:
honest, direct and free of pretension".
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