Warning: Spoilers for Fantastic Four #48 ahead!Reed Richards is perhaps one of Marvel’s most flawed heroes, with a vast intellect that at times brings out the worst of his narcissism and condescension. Now, Marvel has revealed another of Mister Fantastic’s flaws: sheer, petty jealousy. A supervillain’s attack on the Baxter Building reveals just how petulant Reed can be in expressing his disdain for his longtime rival in both life and love, Namor the Sub-Mariner.
Reed and Namor have had a tumultuous history, largely based on their competition for the love of Sue Storm. Although Namor initially expressed his affection for Sue through a series of attempted abductions, Sue has reciprocated his advances during times when she has felt neglected by the Fantastic Four. Even after marrying Reed, his controlling tendencies prompted Sue to divorce him and join Namor in Atlantis. Although she and Mister Fantastic eventually reconciled, it is easy to see why relations between him and Namor remain tense.
Fast-forwarding to the present, Fantastic Four #48 by David Pepose, Juan Cabal, and Jesus Aburtov sees the Baxter Building under assault from Oubliette, the protégé of Dr. Midas. Oubliette has taken advantage of the Progenitor Celestial’s judgment of Earth (as depicted in the Judgment Day event) to separate the Fantastic Four in an attempt to steal Reed Richard’s brain. Driven to the brink, Oubliette demands that Sue give her the password to Reed’s vault, lest she start killing hostages. However, when Sue utters what is ostensibly the password – “Imperius Rex“– the Baxter Building’s superhuman defense systems activate with extreme prejudice, taking out Oubliette’s forces and freeing the hostages.
Imperius Wrecks
“Imperius Rex” is, of course, Namor’s infamous catchphrase. The implications of this are hilariously petty: since Reed Richards designed the Baxter Building’s defense systems, this means that Reed designed one of his most dangerous weapons to trigger if Sue spoke Namor’s motto. By this logic, it would not be too far off to guess that the defense system’s voiceprint is keyed to Namor as well. In other words, Reed set up the Baxter Building to go on a full offensive should Namor arrive to court Sue again.
Neither Namor nor Reed’s track records are all that spotless when it comes to wooing Sue. Sue has had to put up with frequent neglect and manipulation with Reed going behind her back or over her head; Namor, on the other hand, has pursued her with violence and frequently places her on a pedestal. But whether or not Namor is a better match for Sue, he remains the only antagonist the Fantastic Four have faced to earn such a truly petty response from Reed himself. Reed Richards may have a cold respect for Doctor Doom – but he has nothing but disdain for Namor the Sub-Mariner.
Fantastic Four #48 is now available from Marvel Comics.
