Every superhero in theFantastic Fourplays an integral role in the team, but there’s one member whose role is more crucial than the rest. TheInvisible Womanmay not be the leader like Reed Richards, yet one story proves that Marvel’s First Family would cease to be if it weren’t for her. The Fantastic Four can’t function as a team without Sue Storm, therefore confirming that she’s the team’s most important member.
InWhat If?#42, entitled “What If Susan Richards Had Died in Childbirth?”, by Peter B. Gillis, Ron Frenz, Joe Sinnott, and Janice Chiang, an alternate storyline is revealed for the events ofFantastic Four Annual#6 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Sinnott, and Sam Rosen, in which the Invisible Woman isgiving birth to Franklin Richardsbut requires Element X from the Negative Zone to protect him from her body’s cosmic rays. Normally, the Fantastic Four retrieve it in time and Sue gives birth to Franklin with no further problems.In this timeline, however, Sue Storm dies in childbirth.
This singular death causes a ripple effect that leads to the dissolution of the Fantastic Four as readers have come to know it, with each member of the family struggling to cope. The tragic consequences of the Invisible Woman dying solidifyjust how essential she is to the Fantastic Four.
Invisible Woman’s Death Proves Her Importance to the Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four’s Heroes Are Lost Without Sue Storm In Their Ranks
With Invisible Woman gone, the rest of her Fantastic Four teammates are left to mourn her. They hold a funeral for Sue and give speeches, unveiling the impact her loss has had on each of them.The Human Torch’s grief over his sister’s fatecauses him to break down in tears before getting many words out. Meanwhile, the Thing manages to hold himself together enough to deliver a speech, and his words touch upon Sue’s value to the team:“The FF wouldn’t ever have been if it wasn’t for her.“These words ring true, as the Fantastic Four falls apart in her absence.
While Sue’s death affects every member of the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards' grief runs deepest of all.
Each Fantastic Four hero has a unique bond with the Invisible Womanthat makes her death more impactful. To Johnny, Sue is the older sister who raised him. Just as theHuman Torch is only able to reach his maximum powerwith help from Invisible Woman, Johnny has only grown into the man he is with her guidance. As for the Thing, Invisible Woman was the first person to not see him as a monster, and it’s due to her influence that he accepted himself. Still, while Sue’s death affects every member of the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards' grief runs deepest of all.
Reed Richards' Reaction to Losing Invisible Woman Reveals Her Greatest Contribution to FF Lore
Sue Storm Prevents Reed Richards from Becoming Doctor Doom
As Johnny and Ben grapple with Sue’s loss by attempting to move forward, Reed wallows in his misery. The loss of his wife leads to him feeling completely empty inside, and he sums up her importance to him as he says,“Sue was the only thing keeping me from ending up like Von Doom, a tin god with no face and no heart.“Reed being an emotionless figurein Marvel lore is a long-held misconception, but this shows that he isn’t - thanks to Sue. She keeps him human, and it takes losing her forReed Richards to become cold and calculating like Doctor Doom.
In Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe, Reed Richards actually does turn into a version of Doom after losing Sue and the rest of the Fantastic Four. To learn more, check outThe Ultimates#4 by Deniz Camp and Phil Noto, available now from Marvel Comics!
Reed Richards' love for Sue Storm leads to his downward spiral as theloss of his family breaks Mister Fantastic. Seeking to avenge her through any possible means, Reed returns to the Negative Zone to kill Annihilus.Namor, driven by his own love for Invisible Woman, and the other Fantastic Four heroes try to stop him, but Reed chooses death in the end. Even his endlessly curious mind has no interest in a world that lacks Sue Storm, and so the world loses another great hero. Thus, there wouldn’t just be no Fantastic Four without Invisible Woman;there can be no Reed Richards without her, either.
Sue Storm Is the Heart and Soul of the Fantastic Four
Invisible Woman Strengthens Marvel’s First Family in More Ways Than One
Invisible Woman is the glue that holds the Fantastic Four together, both on and off the battlefield. Her abilities reflect this, as she summons powerful force fields to protect them from dangerous threats. They’re much more vulnerable without her by their side, physically and emotionally.
Fantastic Four Already Revealed Exactly How Reed Richards & Invisible Woman’s Story Ends
The Fantastic Four are an adventurous bunch of superheroes, with Reed Richards and Sue Storm receiving a fitting end in Marvel Comics' near future.
Moreover, Sue is the reason her teammates have become better versions of themselves, from her helping the Thing accept his rocky exterior to her keeping Mister Fantastic tethered to humanity. Simply put, they wouldn’t be heroes if it weren’t for her. TheFantastic Fouronly exists in its current iconic form because of theInvisible Woman, cementing her necessity in Marvel lore.
Fantastic Four
TheFantastic Fouris a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics' first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel’s success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years,Fantastic Fourhas been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
