Franklin Richards Arrives: Marvel’s Most Powerful Baby Debuts in Fantastic Four: First Steps

Marvel just made a quiet but universe-altering move in Fantastic Four: First Steps — and it didn’t involve a villain, a multiverse collapse, or even a surprise cameo. It was a baby. And not just any baby.

Franklin Richards, son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, has officially entered the MCU.

Director Matt Shakman confirmed the decision wasn’t just for emotional weight — it was about launching Marvel’s next cosmic phase with subtlety and long-term vision.

“Franklin’s not just a kid. He’s a future force of the universe,” Shakman told Entertainment Weekly.

Who Is Franklin Richards? A Mutant Powerhouse in Diapers

Longtime comic fans know Franklin isn’t your average child character. He’s one of the most overpowered beings Marvel has ever created. In the comics, he’s classified as an omega-level mutant who can:

• Warp reality on a universal scale

• Create pocket dimensions

• Manipulate time and matter

• Rival cosmic entities like Galactus and the Celestials

Now that version of Franklin has been introduced on-screen — and even as a baby, his presence has already caused subtle dimensional glitches in the film’s plot.

An Emotional Reset for Marvel

First Steps marks a tonal shift. Instead of going bigger, Marvel goes deeper. The story focuses on Reed and Sue struggling to raise a child whose powers they can’t begin to control.

According to Collider’s early reaction, the movie “leans into parental fear rather than superhero spectacle — a smart move that gives the franchise a fresh emotional anchor.”

One scene reportedly shows Sue breaking down after Franklin accidentally bends space-time during a tantrum. It's not about destruction — it's about the quiet terror of parenting someone who might become a god or a weapon.

What This Means for the MCU’s Future

Franklin’s debut sets up several big possibilities:

• Secret Wars may pivot around his powers as a multiversal reset tool

• The mutant storyline can now evolve naturally — Franklin is one of the first to appear onscreen post-Kang

• Young Avengers, Future Foundation, or even a cosmic reboot could stem from his arc

He’s more than a baby — he’s Marvel’s narrative bridge to whatever comes after the chaos of Kang.

This move is bold because it’s understated. It shows Marvel may finally be ready to think long-term again, not just build toward the next punchline.

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Final Takeaway: The MCU’s Most Important Character Is Still in a Crib

Franklin Richards might not speak a word in Fantastic Four: First Steps, but his impact on the MCU could be enormous.

Instead of giving us another CGI-driven finale, Marvel just introduced a god-level character through quiet storytelling — a subtle, smart pivot that could pay off for years.

If this is the start of Marvel’s emotional era, count me in.

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