Marvel overhauls the Fantastic Four‘s Reed Richards with an all-white costume and upgraded powers. The Fantastic Four have always had one of the most distinctive senses of style in the Marvel Universe, owing largely to the fact that they were never conceived as traditional costumed vigilantes. From their earliest appearances, Marvel’s First Family saw their uniforms as practical extensions of their status as celebrity adventurers. This philosophy is reflected in the astonishing variety of costumes the team has worn throughout its history, from their iconic blue jumpsuits to experimental uniforms, matching streetwear, white-and-black Future Foundation attire, and countless specialized outfits designed for space exploration and interdimensional travel.
In many ways, the Fantastic Four pioneered the idea that superhero fashion could be both functional and expressive. Reed Richards’ invention of unstable molecule clothing is a central factor, as the fictional material adapts to superhuman abilities and prevents costumes from being destroyed by powers that would otherwise render conventional clothing unusable. Unstable molecules have become so integral to Marvel lore that they extend beyond superhero costumes and into everyday life, which explains why Johnny Storm can ignite while wearing fashionable civilian outfits without incinerating them.
Almost everyone who becomes a member of the Fantastic Four gets their own FF uniform, including Wolverine, Spider-Man, and She-Hulk. Naturally, former members retain elements from their original costumes too.
Marvel Introduces A White-Clad Version Of The Maker
What If? Secret Wars #1; Written By Alex Paknadel; Art By CAFU And David Curiel
What If? Secret Wars introduces an alternate version of the events of Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Wars, where Earth-616’s Peter Parker finds himself trapped in Marvel’s original Ultimate Universe. These timelines are especially tragic, as Peter Parker’s body slowly degrades, and the Maker reveals it’s impossible for Spider-Man to return to his regular life. This version of the Maker is dressed in white, wielding the powers of the Beyonders to create infinite new universes and witness many of them follow the natural order, perish, and wither away.
Marvel Officially Shares First Image Of Its Next Civil War
Marvel subtly teases a new Civil War, with tensions between technological and human approaches to heroism that might sound a bit familiar.
Perhaps the most drastic Fantastic Four costume redesign arrived with the Future Foundation, whose minimalist white-and-black uniforms symbolized a new era of scientific progress. The all-white Future Foundation uniforms are known for their tragic undertones following Johnny Storm’s apparent death, as well as for Spider-Man’s stint with the Future Foundation, wearing one of the costumes, with pitch-black lenses. Meanwhile, Doctor Doom’s white cloak represents his time as God Emperor Doom during Secret Wars, one of his most destructive campaigns. White has a deep meaning in the Fantastic Four’s costume history, so it makes sense for an all-powerful Maker to adopt it into his own suit.
The Maker Continues To Cement Himself As An A-Tier Marvel Villain
The Maker Is Reinforcing His Spot Alongside Icons Like Doctor Doom And Thanos
Few Marvel villains have undergone a transformation as remarkable as the Maker, who has evolved from an intriguing alternate-universe hero into a genuine A-list multiversal antagonist. The Maker can plausibly play almost any role within the Marvel Universe, from world conqueror to a horrific monster to a political manipulator to a villain teammate, and on rare occasions, something approaching a benevolent figure. Even his smaller appearances often reinforce his complexity. While the Maker’s neutral-to-positive portrayal in What If? Secret Wars doesn’t completely redefine him, it highlights his unpredictability and his twisted philosophical ambition.
The Maker’s greatest achievement is evolving into something far more unsettling than just an evil Reed Richards. The Ultimate Universe’s Mister Fantastic became a fallen creator god, capable of preventing the emergence of dozens of heroes in a foreign universe, manipulating history with such precision that entire generations grow up in a reality engineered according to his will. Like a fallen Prometheus who steals knowledge only for himself, the Maker shapes civilization against its will out of a desire for control. On rare occasions, characters like Spider-Man can cross paths with the Maker and see a little of what remains of the former Fantastic Four leader.
Would you like to see a permanent Maker redesign?
What If…? Secret Wars #1 is now available from Marvel Comics
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