Warning: Spoilers for Fantastic Four (2022) #21 ahead!

It’s no secret that Reed Richards is a polarizing figure in Marvel these days, having threatened to spell Earth’s doom almost as many times as he’s helped save humanity. While Reed Richards is a thorny character to like and an even pricklier person to love, this single issue of Fantastic Four (2022) showcases each and every one of Reed Richard’s heroic traits and reminds readers why he’s so fantastic.

Fantastic Four (2022) #21 starts off innocuously enough, with Reed and Alicia Masters taking a day trip into New York to retrieve some belongings from the Baxter Building and visit the Museum of Modern Art. Unfortunately, the day of their outing is the day the Blood Hunt descends, leaving the pair surrounded by swarms of vampires.

The entire struggle is a showcase of what makes Reed Richard heroic. He creatively uses his powers to fend off vampires, applies his brilliant mind to saving everyone in the museum, and constantly keeps Alicia apprised of the situation she cannot see.

Yes, Reed Richards Really Is A Hero

Marvel has made no secret of its struggle to write compelling stories for The Fantastic Four, with Reed Richards suffering the most. Marvel has leaned heavily into Reed’s penchant for pure, emotionless intellect to the extent that he is perhaps better known to modern audiences for his villainous story arcs than his heroic traits. From his time with the Council of Reeds and the Illuminati to the unforgivable deeds of his alternate-universe self, the Maker, Reed’s lack of traditional empathy leads him to be depicted as a monster time and time again.

This is not helped by Reed’s known fatal flaw: his pride. Reed’s intellect allows him to solve most issues in mere moments; this, coupled with his personal philosophy of “solve everything,” often leads him to act without considering the emotions of others. The result is a patronizing “I know best” mentality that pushes him to manipulate instead of communicate. It pays to remember that Reed’s pride was what put him, Sue, Johnny, and Ben upon the ill-fated expedition that gave them their powers, irrevocably altering their lives in ways Reed failed to predict.

Reed’s Struggle To Understand Emotion Doesn’t Make Him A Villain

Fantastic Four #21 firmly rejects the premise that Reed’s struggles with emotion condemns him as a villain. In a vulnerable moment, Reed confesses to Alicia how he has difficulty connecting to things and people on an emotive level; rather than chastise, Alicia comforts him. While Reed struggles with traditional emotions, the issue is nonetheless full of moments where he provides comfort in his own way, saving lives and – while not sugar-coating the danger – reminding Alicia about the strength of their family and the lengths they will go to keep each other safe.

Reed Richards is a complex man, and Fantastic Four #21 embraces that complexity. Instead of declaring that Reed’s cold intellect brands him a villain, the issue highlights his warmth and his strength, while acknowledging his inner struggles. Anyone who doubts Mr. Fantastic is a hero needs only to pick up this issue to be proven wrong; from clever use of his stretchy body, quick thinking, and an earnest desire to make the world better, every element that makes Reed Richards fantastic is on full display on every page.