Franklin Richards Explained: The Marvel Kid More Powerful Than Galactus

Ever thought about what life would be like if your parents were superheroes? That is Franking Richards’ reality! Franklin Richards is the son of Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic) and Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman) who are members of the Fantastic Four, Marvel’s First Family. In addition to being a child of the First Family, Franklin Richards is considered one of the strongest beings in the Marvel Universe, ranking above many cosmic beings, as well.

Franklin is interesting because he does not just belong with a group of “super-kids.” Franklin exists because of cosmic happenstance, a mixture of mutated genes and unstable energy merged to form a child with God-like abilities. The real question fans often wonder is why Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, views Franklin as an equal instead of a meal?

The Son of Marvel’s First Family

Franklin Benjamin Richards made his debut in Fantastic Four Annual #6 back in 1968. From the start, he was different. Unlike most mutants, whose abilities emerge during adolescence, Franklin’s powers began showing up while he was still in diapers. His father even had to design psychic inhibitors to keep those powers in check, fearing they could unintentionally tear apart the fabric of reality.

At various points, Reed Richards went so far as to suppress Franklin’s abilities altogether, trying to give his son a chance at something resembling a normal childhood. For a while, Franklin even lived that dream—fighting alongside other young heroes in the Power Pack under the codename “Tattletale.” This tug-of-war between cosmic responsibility and the desire for a simple life is part of what makes Franklin one of the most layered and relatable characters in Marvel Comics.

Powers and Abilities: Beyond Omega Level

When fans mention the “power” of Franklin Richards, it is almost an understatement. People have viewed him as beyond Omega-Level, but his primary ability is reality warping or to literally warp any reality whatsoever. Put plainly, he doesn’t just break laws of physics; he rewrites them altogether. 

Some impressive feats include:   

• The ability to create a Pocket Universe. At a young age, he created an entire alternate reality to protect the Avengers and the rest of his family while the Onslaught was taking place.  
• Battled Celestials: Franklin has faced off against Celestials (beings older than time) and has defeated them, even destroyed them.   
• Resurrected the Dead: He brought back many of the people he loved who died, including his sister Valeria … and even Galactus. 

Along with the reality manipulation of his powers, Franklin also has insane psionic abilities, including telepathy, telekinesis, and future vision in the form of prophetic dreams. In short he is a cosmic event existing in the body of a boy.

Franklin Richards and Galactus: A Strange Bond

This takes us back to Galactus. The Devourer of Worlds truly frightens many species, across multiple galaxies. But with the exception of a few moments, Galactus’s dealings with him (Franklin Richards) are polar opposite. Instead of being food, Galactus regards Franklin as an equal, and at times, he even serves him.

One of the most famous tales features a future-version of Franklin Richards reviving Galactus following his defeat at the hands of the Mad Celestials. It is here that Galactus shakes the marvel hierarchy by becoming Franklin’s herald; this is not fear as one might think—it is recognition. He saw Franklin Richards not as food for him to destroy; rather a cosmic equivalent–his destructive energy is a mirror of Franklin Richards creative energy.

In some versions of Marvel continuity, Galactus has acknowledged that one day Franklin could be Galactus’s replacement. It is not fear that drives Franklin Richards, but respect; respect that Franklin Richards is not just some powerful mutant, but possibly the most significant being in the multiverse.

Final Thoughts

Franklin Richards is more than a new child of Reed and Sue Richards – he is the embodiment of mutantkind at its best, a limitless force in the form of a child. His saga consists of childhood cheerfulness coupled with an unthinkable cosmos burden, making Franklin Richards one of Marvel’s best characters.

And Galactus? The acknowledgement of Franklin as a peer, from the Devourer of Worlds, says it all. Franklin is not just another hero, he is a creator, a destroyer, and likely the most quietly influential influence in the Marvel multiverse.