| “ | So? I'm smarter than my dad. | „ |
| ~ Valeria to Moon Girl. |
| “ | I asked myself... "What would Uncle Doom do?" | „ |
| ~ Valeria Richards. |
Valeria Richards, known as the Invisible Marvel and Brainstorm, is the second offspring of Dr. Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, and Susan Storm, who goes by the moniker of the Invisible Woman, both prominent members of the renowned Fantastic Four superhero team.
She was created by Rafael Marin and Tom Grummett, and first appeared in Fantastic Four #254 in May of 1983.
History[]
Child / Youth[]
Valeria Richards, the second child of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, has a hard origin story. Her conception in the Negative Zone resulted in a traumatic birth due to exposure to cosmic radiation. The situation became dire as the unborn Valeria began emitting dangerous radiation, endangering both her mother and herself. Despite the intervention of fellow scientists and radiation experts like Bruce Banner, Michael Morbius, Walter Langkowski, and Otto Octavius, it seemed that Valeria was stillborn.
However, an unexpected twist occurred. Franklin Richards, her older brother, deeply mourned the loss of his unborn sister. Guided by Omniversal Guardian Roma, he secretly harnessed his vast psionic abilities to transport her to an alternate reality, ultimately saving her life.
Began her journey as an unborn child within her mother's womb. After Franklin's cosmic powers were depleted in a battle to save all reality, Valeria's development was halted. She posed a significant threat to her mother's life due to bursts of radiation. With Mr. Fantastic captured by the Hidden Ones, the Human Torch sought help from the unlikely source of Dr. Doom. Doom's combination of science and sorcery safely delivered the baby, and he named her Valeria, after a past love. Yet, Doom had ulterior motives and made Valeria his familiar, allowing him to see through her eyes and use her for spell casting.
As time passed, Doom's malevolent actions became evident. He sacrificed Valeria's namesake for greater magical power and taunted his foes through her. The Fantastic Four confronted Doom in Latveria, but he easily overcame them and took Valeria with him. Eventually, with the aid of Doctor Strange, Reed managed to turn the tables and rescue his children.
The safety of Franklin and Valeria was questioned due to super-villain attacks on the Baxter Building. Child Welfare initially intervened, leading Reed and Sue to consider giving up their children. However, the plan was abandoned after the safe-house meant for the kids was destroyed, leaving the family in the care of the Fantastic Four.
Valeria's intelligence later experienced a significant leap, matching her father's. She initially kept her abilities a secret but later embraced her newfound nature, even working alongside her father in his laboratory.
Skills[]
- Super-Genius Intelligence: Valeria, the sole member of her Fantastic family without superpowers, possesses an extraordinary level of intelligence due to the cosmic mutation passed down from her parents. Even as a toddler, her intellectual prowess shines, solving a Rubik's Cube, and her father believes she'll be playing chess by the age of two. Valeria herself claims to surpass her father, Mr. Fantastic, in intelligence.
Personality[]
Valeria is exceptional, even within her extraordinary family. She inherited her father Reed Richards' brilliant mind and is considered one of the sharpest intellects in the Marvel Universe. Initially, Valeria chose to conceal her intelligence to prevent her father, mother, and brother from feeling inadequate. However, as time passed, she decided to embrace her identity as a child prodigy and now works alongside her father, mother, and uncles, assisting with the technological apparatus of the Fantastic Four.
Valeria often exhibits a higher level of maturity than her older brother, offering him advanced lessons. Like typical siblings, they have their fair share of arguments and engage in normal teenage behavior, including crushes and heartbreaks. Valeria can be presumptuous at times and occasionally boasts about surpassing her father.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Similar to her father, Reed Richards, being known as the "smartest man in the world," Valeria has declared herself the "smartest girl in the world." However, this title has been challenged by Moon Girl, the only person to have ever solved the Banner BOX. When the two met, Moon Girl informed Valeria of this accomplishment and claimed to be smarter than Reed. Valeria, unimpressed, countered that she is also smarter than her father. The competition for the title of the world's smartest continues between these two brilliant young minds.
- Ranked 2nd on CBR.com's "Marvel: 10 Smartest Female Characters" list.
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