As theMCUcontinues to grow and evolve during the new Multiverse Saga series of films and projects, one of the more highly anticipated films isThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. The film is the first entry in theMCUto feature the infamous family of superheroes, led by Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm. The heroes emerge from a space mission bombarded by energy and gaining untold power, from Reed’s elongating power to Sue’s invisibility, Ben’s super strength and rocky exterior, and Johnny’s control of fire. If their film is to be thesetup for theAvengers: Secret Warsfilm that many are hoping for, there is one Fantastic Four character that needs to be introduced in this film, and that is Owen Reece, aka Molecule Man.
The Fantastic Four villain eventually became an integral part of the Marvel universe as a whole, with his power connected to the multiversal threat of not only the Beyonder, but the race of beings known as the Beyonders or the Ivory Kings. His value and connection to some of the greater cosmic beings of the multiverse made him the prime target for Doctor Doom and his plan to “save the universe”. If theAvengers: Secret Warsstory is to form in its entirety, then Robert Downey Jr’s Doom will need the power of Molecule Man to enact his final planin the latest MCU Saga. This is whyThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsneeds to introduce Molecule Man into the MCU.
Molecule Man, EXPLAINED
Born Owen Reece, Molecule Man was once a timid and shy boy who shared a deep connection to his mother. When she passed, he became bitter, and when his frustrations at unfair wages at a nuclear plant lead him to aparticle accelerator accident, Owen gained the power to control molecules and gain a powerful cosmic grip on psionic abilities as a whole. The accident also opened up a portal between Earth and the world of The Beyonder, who would use it to view the events of Earth and study its inhabitants.
Soon after, Reece began his career as a villain,battling The Fantastic Fourafter The Watcher informed them of his presence and the threat he posed. However, Reece didn’t understand his power, believing he could only affect inorganic molecules and not organic ones. He also believed his power stemmed from a metal wand, which gave the heroes the opportunity to stop him and the Watcher to send Owen to a world where time moved by faster than Earth. Eventually, over time, he would re-emerge once more young and alive, and knowing his power was greater than he believed. Tigra convinced him to give up his life of crime, and seek psychiatric help.
However, he was sent to Battleworld by the Beyonder, where he joins Doom’s army of villains. Doom would eventually show Reece the full extent of his power, and he would use it to bring the villains back to Earth, where he attempted to live a quiet life with Volcana, the villain he fell in love with. He would go back and forth between villain and ally to the heroes over the years, until his inability to differentiate between hallucinations and reality caused him to be taken out by the Sentryon Norman Osborne’s ordersduring theDark Avengerssaga.
He would be reformed and captured by Doom afterward, who knew his power could help in stopping the beings who would eventually be discovered to be The Beyonders. Upon traveling to another world, Reece would discover he was a singularity created in every universe by the Beyonders, serving as a sort of cosmic bomb. Doom used this to haveReece absorb the Beyonder’s powers, and make him God Emperor Doom during theSecret Warsevent. In the end, he gave those powers to Reed Richards instead, who used them to remake the original multiverse and begin creating new universes as well.
Molecule Man in the MCU
Owen Reece has yet to make a formal appearance in theMCU. He has only appeared in animated form throughout the years, and so his presence thus far is lacking. Yet his importance in theMCUis vital to adaptingAvengers: Secret Wars, at least if they are to adapt it as a comic book accurate film. While liberties are always taken with MCU films and characters, Molecule Man and his role in Doom’s battle with the Beyonders, the ones orchestrating the incursions mentioned byClea inDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, are too vital to let slip by.
Bringing Molecule Man into an already jam-packed roster of villains inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsfilm makes total sense. The heroes are not meant to have an origin story film, but instead be established heroes in their world. Having a roster of villains like Mole Man, Molecule Man and Puppet Master in the background while dealing with the threat of Galactus would be a great way to introduce the character, especially if he ends up meeting or becomingtrapped by Robert Downey Jr’s Doomin an end credits reveal. His existence across the multiverse could prove to be the connection theMCUneeds to tie these films and universes together perfectly.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
