Franklin Richards Isn’t The Only Kid That MCU Fans Should Know About

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Readers of the comic series Fantastic Four: First Steps have met Reed and Sue Richards’ son, Franklin. However, Franklin might not be the only Richards child featured in future films. The story First Steps portrays Franklin’s birth as a hugely important, universe-altering event, because of his incredible power to change reality. It’s so significant that even the powerful cosmic being Galactus wants to raise him.

He’s overlooking something crucial because his sister isn’t around. Val Richards is a relatively new character, officially appearing just before the year 2000. Despite this, she’s quickly become a fascinating addition who could really energize the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Val Richards In The Fantastic Four, Explained

In the original Marvel comics, Valeria Richards is the second child of Reed and Susan Richards. Many fans expect her to eventually appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following in her brother’s footsteps. She first appeared in Fantastic Four #15, written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Salvador Larroca, and was originally presented as a young woman who traveled from the future.

Through a series of battles across the cosmos, it was discovered that she was the daughter the Fantastic Four thought they had lost years ago. Franklin Richards, using his power to alter reality, had actually saved her and sent her to another timeline to keep her safe. Once she was returned to her proper time and age, Val quickly became an important character in the Fantastic Four’s adventures.

Although she can’t alter reality like her brother Franklin, Val inherited her father’s incredible intelligence. This often results in her being seen as innocent but also condescending, and her parents, Reed and Sue, sometimes have difficulty helping her develop a more heroic outlook.

A particularly interesting aspect of Valeria’s character is her relationship with Doctor Doom. While Doom intensely dislikes Reed Richards and the rest of the Fantastic Four, he clearly has a strong fondness for Valeria. He even went to great lengths to guarantee her safe delivery and even named her.

Stories like Secret Wars and One World Under Doom highlighted the bond between Doctor Doom and his daughter, Valeria, portraying his love for her as one of his few positive traits. Valeria is a lively and engaging character, particularly when compared to her more naive brother. Recent comic books have shown Valeria and her brother growing into teenagers, letting them take a more active role in the Fantastic Four’s adventures.

Will Val Come To The MCU?

With the Fantastic Four now officially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the chance of seeing Val Richards appear is very real. While the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t show Susan Storm pregnant, it wouldn’t be surprising if that storyline is introduced later.

This storyline could potentially be featured in the next Avengers movies, Doomsday and Secret Wars, particularly if they draw from the Secret Wars comic book series. A brief reimagining of Susan Storm as Doctor Doom’s wife in the films is possible, and the MCU’s use of the multiverse allows them to adapt her original backstory by portraying her as a version of the character from another universe.

Using time travel could be a way to revive the storytelling approach previously used without needing to involve the Kang character. However, there are some definite difficulties with including Val, as child actors often present challenges for long-term stories. Their growth and aging can disrupt the audience’s sense of believability.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe might not be ready to explore her complicated history just yet. Plus, since audiences haven’t had much time to connect with Franklin, adding another infant character could be overwhelming. Still, it’s not out of the question for the future.

The films could follow the comic book storyline where Reed and Sue Richards vanish with their children, seemingly for years. However, when they return, only months have passed from everyone else’s perspective. This would allow Franklin and Val Richards to be teenagers, making them able to take a more active role in future Marvel Cinematic Universe stories.

Val is a compelling character who’s both enjoyable and has a complicated relationship with a major potential villain in the series. Many fans expect to see her appear in a future Marvel movie, possibly a sequel to Fantastic Four: First Steps or even a large-scale film like Avengers: Secret Wars.

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2025-11-09 00:13