Reed Richards and His Innovative Armor
Reed Richards — Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four — is widely considered one of the smartest characters in Marvel’s universe. In the Empyre crossover by Al Ewing, Dan Slott, and Valerio Schiti, Reed actually constructs his own version of Iron Man armor, labeled Mister Fantastic’s Armor, complete with the team’s blue color and chest insignia.
Design and Features of the Armor
The suit resembles a conventional Iron Man design but with distinctive Fantastic Four features. It can stretch in concert with Reed’s elastic powers while adding rigid, armored protection. During Empyre the armor also contained an array of weapons and devices that Reed could deploy on the spot.
Reasons for Not Wearing the Armor Regularly
That performance prompted fans to ask a straightforward question: why doesn’t Reed wear this suit all the time? The practical answer is that he doesn’t need it. Reed’s natural elasticity and intellect, combined with his teammates’ complementary abilities, provide protection and versatility that make permanent armor redundant.
Technical and Lore Considerations
There’s also a technical ex...