Fantastic Four Updates 2 Members’ Maximum Power, Making Them Avengers-Level

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Fantastic Four Vol. 7 #18-19! The Fantastic Four has always been Marvel Comics’ premier superhero team since their introduction, but it’s also fair to say that they haven’t always been the most powerful, especially when considering the god-tier heavy-hitters the Avengers have recruited over the years. However, all that just changed for two members of the Fantastic Four in particular, Sue and Johnny Storm, as they just pulled off a mind-blowing feat with their powers during their latest adventure – and they’ve only just scratched the surface of their potential.

In Fantastic Four Vol. 7 #18 by Ryan North and Carlos Gómez, the Fantastic Four are defending a small town from a barrage of invisible asteroids hurtling toward the Earth. While this town is the point of impact, it is far from the only place on Earth that’s in danger, as these asteroids have the potential to wipe out all life on the planet. Luckily, the Fantastic Four were there to save the day, all while Sue and Johnny flexed a new ability even they didn’t know they could do.

To stop the asteroids, Fantasic Four’s Sue and Johnny combine their powers to create a photon laser that shoots beams of coherent light, effectively making it the deadliest laser on the planet. Johnny provided the light, and Sue constructed the laser out of force-fields, while Ben and Reed strapped in and shot the asteroids out of the sky.

Invisible Woman and Human Torch Became Avengers-Level BEFORE Combining Their Powers

While seeing Sue and Johnny using their powers together to create the world’s deadliest laser, and then using it to save the planet, was thrilling, it wasn’t as telling as something that happened moments before in terms of their raw strength. Before the barrage of asteroids came down upon them, the Fantastic Four fended off just a single asteroid, one with the impact force of an atomic bomb.

To defend the world from this asteroid, Invisible Woman created two force-fields, one to slow the asteroid down, and the other to keep it from hitting the Earth. When the asteroid finally hit, it ripped through the first force-field, but the second one held. Sue admitted that she wasn’t sure if she was strong enough to stop the flaming space rock, but this moment proved to herself and to fans that she could.

Then, when the entire perimeter of the force-field was set ablaze following the impact, the Human Torch absorbed the flames and then shot them back out into space. The narration of this comic reveals that Johnny had never channeled this much energy all at once before, yet fans can clearly see that he did so with relative ease, and was ready to stand against countless more asteroids immediately afterward.

How Fending Off Asteroids Compares to Invisible Woman & Human Torch’s Previous Feats

The Human Torch: Fantastic Four Vol. 6 #41 by Dan Slott and Rachael Stott

The Human Torch has pulled off no shortage of incredible feats throughout his Marvel Comics career, though one of his most impressive (aside from taking the full-force of an atomic blast-level asteroid) was when Johnny Storm absolutely humiliated Annihilus. During the Reckoning War, Annihilus and his Annihilation Wave were threatening the planet Spyre, which was the home of Johnny’s former soul mate, Sky. So, the Human Torch flew into action, and the outcome was absolutely legendary.

The Human Torch grabbed Annihilus by his throat and slammed him into building after building on Spyre the very instant he arrived at the conflict. Johnny then ripped the Cosmic Control Rod from Annihilus’ grasp, and forced the once-great conqueror to beg him for mercy. Johnny Storm effectively took down a cosmic villain single-handedly, and more than that, he embarrassed him, which is easily one of his most impressive feats to date.

Invisible Woman: Fantastic Four Vol. 7 #19 by Ryan North and Carlos Gómez

Invisible Woman actually pulls off an incredibly impressive feat one issue after she used her force fields to stop world-ending asteroids. In Fantastic Four #19, Invisible Woman is able to actually block the reality-altering power of the Cosmic Cube, for herself and her entire family. The Cube ended up in the hands of the Trapster, who turns the world into a Film Noir, and the only way the Fantastic Four are able to undo what was done is because of Sue and her force-fields.

This accomplishment is more than just a feat of strength, like Johnny taking down Annihilus single-handedly, but an exhibition of power that verges on the level of a god. Which, interestingly enough, isn’t too far off from the reality of the situation. It’s been theorized by Reed and others that Sue’s powers are vibrational energy from the Hyperspace dimension, which is home to the Celestials. Essentially, Invisible Woman isn’t just producing force-fields from thin air, she’s channeling the energy of Marvel’s cosmic gods, and her latest feats seem to prove that theory correct.

The Fantastic Four are Becoming More Powerful Than Fans Imagined, Beginning with Invisible Woman and the Human Torch

Invisible Woman and the Human Torch saved the world in Fantastic Four #18 with their sheer strength and mastery of their abilities alone, and both have proven individually that they are forces to be reckoned with on a cosmic level. Johnny out-muscled an interdimensional conqueror wielding an artifact of cosmic power, while Sue effectively out-muscled the premier artifact of cosmic power itself. They were surprised when they proved strong enough to prevent armageddon, but Marvel Comics has shown fans that they shouldn’t have been, which is a trend that could become common in the group fairly soon.

Right now, Invisible Woman and the Human Torch are being put to the test, allowing them to flex their powers like they never have before, meaning it’s all-too possible (indeed, downright probable) that the rest of the Fantastic Four will be put through similar tests. And in the end, it will become abundantly clear that all – not just two – of the Fantastic Four are Avengers-level heroes (and perhaps even beyond).

Fantastic Four Vol. 7 #18-19 by Marvel Comics are available now.