The Marvel Universe is full of immensely powerful mutants, especially those who make up theX-Men’s extensive roster, but the strongest of these heroes isn’t an X-Man in the traditional sense. Surprisingly enough, theFantastic Four’s Franklin Richards boasts the most latent potential of any other mutant in existence, though recent developments have called his mutant status into question.
Franklin Richards is the son of the Fantastic Four’sReed Richards and Sue Storm, and he was born inFantastic Four Annual#6 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Since his groundbreaking debut in Marvel lore, he’s developed powers that transcend those of mostOmega-level mutants.
However, despite Franklin’s overwhelming power, it’s unclear whether he actually counts as a mutant.As promising as he is, his evolution has been squandered by Marvel’s decisions to sever his connection to mutants and deprive him of his abilities. Franklin used to be a mutant, but today, his place in the world isn’t as cut-and-dry.
Franklin Richards Was Once Marvel’s Strongest Mutant, But He’s Lost His Mutant Status
Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s Son Can Create Entire Universes
When theInvisible Womangave birth to Franklin Richards, she was imbued with cosmic radiation - the same kind thatgave the Fantastic Four their powersin the first place - which resulted in her and Reed’s son becoming a mutant akin to the X-Men. He possesses psychic abilities that include telekinesis, precognition, and astral projection, and these are only the tip of the iceberg. One power at his disposal that other mutants could only dream of allows him to alter the very fabric of reality and spawn life at will. Franklin has even created his own universes, as seen when he formed the “Heroes Reborn” continuity.
I Thought X-Men Was Determined to Ruin My Favorite Mutant, And I’m So Glad I Was Wrong
As the truth behind the Krakoan comes to light, I couldn’t be happier with the direction the X-Men franchise is finally going with an underrated hero.
Franklin had a bright future ahead of him as a mutant, but that was tossed aside when his heritage was erased. During theKrakoan Era, the X-Men intended to welcome Franklin into their mutant nation due to his status as one of their own. Then, 2020’sFantastic Four#26 by Dan Slott and R.B. Silva dropped the bomb thatFranklin is not a mutant, and he had rewritten his biology to trick himself and others into believing he has an X-gene. Marvel proceeded to double down on this controversial retcon by having Franklin slowly lose his powers with each use of them, weakening him significantly.
Franklin’s Reclaimed His Powers, So He Can Still Count as a Mutant
Marvel’s Retcons Aside, Franklin Richards Has Omega-Level Potential
Although Franklin is no longer recognized as a mutant by Marvel, he can still be featured in the discussion of powerful mutants due to a recent lore update that Ryan North and Carlos Gómez have implemented in 2024’sFantastic Four#18. Here, Franklin reveals that he wipes his memories of his godlike abilities on purpose so that he can enjoy an ordinary childhood, then harnesses his power one day a year. TheX-Menshould just admit that Franklin is the strongest mutant, since it’s still part of his DNA - regardless of what retcons say - and he clearly has the Omega-level might to show for it.
