Alternative Versions of Mister Fantastic - Ultimate Marvel

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel Universe, Reed Richards is brought closer to the stereotypical scientist; he is as brilliant as his original counterpart (with an IQ of 267), but he is somewhat awkward, younger, and wears glasses. He comes from an abusive family. His father Gary shows no regard for him and views his accomplishments with contempt. His mother is more warm toward him but is constantly trying to maintain peace between the two. His middle name is also given as Nathaniel. He becomes part of a "think tank" with other advanced youths, their headquarters being the Baxter Building. He is mentored by Professor Storm and meets Johnny and Sue Storm. As in the normal universe, Ultimate Reed Richards is romantically involved with Sue Storm. Ben Grimm is his only friend and protector.

In issues 21 through 23 of Ultimate Fantastic Four, Reed Richards is able to establish a link to what readers believed was the normal Marvel Universe, communicating with a projection of the original Reed Richards via a special device. When he attempts to travel to the alternate universe, however, he arrives in a world infested by zombies, including a zombified Fantastic Four. Ultimate Reed Richard's conversations with the false projection of his regular counterpart suggest that in the Ultimate universe, Mr. Fantastic is less skilled and has much less experience than the Zombie Mr. Fantastic, if the false projection is to be believed.

While it is still questionable as to whether or not the intelligence of the Mister Fantastic of the Mainstream Marvel Universe (Earth-616) was affected by the Cosmic Rays, this version of Mister Fantastic definitely experiences an increase in his intellect from the accident that empowered him, making his "mind as flexible as his body," and "getting smarter every day", and has shown a reduced need for sleep due to the hyper-efficient workings of his brain.

According to Ultimate Fantastic Four #7, Ultimate Reed's body has been radically transformed, and his only internal organ is a "bacterial stack" that generates energy (presumably from air) to fuel his body. This obviates the need to explain, for example, how his circulatory system can pump his blood when his body is stretched the length of a football field; he simply has none. Lacking a digestive system, he has no need to eat or drink. Similarly, because he has no lungs, Ultimate Reed does not need to breathe in any conventional human sense and can survive in environments lacking oxygen; however, during his time in the N-Zone, where the atmosphere is essentially acid, he is unable to breathe the air there, suggesting that he still requires air to a certain degree.

The Ultimate Mr. Fantastic does have a limit to the length he can stretch to. In Ultimate Fantastic Four #44 he is able to catch a falling Carol Danvers after she is dropped by the Silver Surfer, and upon setting her down, he admits that it hurt him to stretch that far.

After the events of Ultimatum, the Ultimate Fantastic Four decided to disband and Reed and Sue break up. In Ultimate Enemy, he is shown to be living with his parents again before an explosion seemingly kills them.

In Ultimate Mystery, Richards has been assumed dead by Carol Danvers and Nick Fury. At the end of the series, Susan Storm and Rick Jones discover that Reed Richards is alive and apparently in alliance with the attacking aliens.

Ultimate Doom sees Richards confronted by the remaining members of the Fantastic Four, as well as Spider-Man, Mahr Vehl, and the Ultimates. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Reed Richards' world view has changed, and he has become something more like an Ultimate Kang the Conqueror.

In Ultimate Fallout #4, Richards is revealed to have survived his defeat and is shown trapped in the Negative Zone. He soon escapes and makes his way back to his world, where he vows to win back his friends by saving the planet.

In Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates, Reed Richards is revealed to be the creator of The City and the Children of Tomorrow, a race of genetically engineered supermen whom have gone on to consume and conquer Asgard, two hundred square miles of European landscape, and oppose S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Ultimates. The main villain of the series, Reed has come back from the distant future - having been unable to age due to his powers - and the top of his head has been deformed and burned for unexplained reasons. It is not until he reveals his face to Thor that the Ultimates know his true identity.