Phase 4 of the MCU is around the corner and it’s time to consider the fact that Reed Richards is Iron Man’s true replacement, not Spider-Man. While Spider-Man: Far From Home Iron Man did leave his most powerful tech in Spidey’s hands; an act that may have set the stage for the young hero to take his place as a leader in the Avengers.
Nonetheless, while the MCU’s Peter Parker has struggled to get out of Tony Stark’s shadow, this doesn’t mean he’s not capable of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
A more likely scenario is Spidey was, from the start, the red herring in the race to replace Iron Man in the MCU. The reality is the MCU’s true Iron Man replacement has yet to make his debut. The Fantastic Four are coming to the MCU and Reed Richards can fill the void left by Tony’s death. Upon examining what Reed brings to the table, it becomes obvious he will be a character Marvel relies heavily on. Though it remains uncertain when Mr. Fantastic and the rest of the Fantastic Four will officially the MCU, their growing importance will be inevitable.
The most obvious parallel to make between Reed Richards and Tony Stark is their intelligence and engineering talent. Actually, in Marvel comics, Reed is regarded as the smarter of the two with a Ph.D. in basically every form of science known to humankind. The extent of Reed’s super-intelligence may surprise those who only associate his character with his famous elasticity. Having a hero with this level of engineering prowess and intellect in the MCU will be important moving forward as the Avengers continue to face intergalactic threats and need someone who understands increasingly advanced Wakandan tech in the MCU. It’s unlikely Professor Hulk and Spider-Man would be able to do it on their own.
Reed’s parallels to Iron Man don’t end at intelligence; they actually extend into less thought of Iron Man characteristics such as his penchant for fame. Iron Man reveled in his celebrity status as the first public superhero in the MCU and Mr. Fantastic is no stranger to stardom as a member of Marvel’s First Family. This celebrity aspect is incredibly important in how it relates to the Avengers’ public status. The MCU has illustrated time and time again the importance of public perception, and with Iron Man gone, the Avengers need leaders unafraid of the limelight who can maintain public relations.
Moreover, Reed Richards brings with him a new cast of characters that will shape the future of the MCU. Iron Man may have introduced the world to the MCU audiences know today, but Mr. Fantastic will introduce audiences to a new MCU. This emerging MCU will almost certainly see the arrival of Galactus, an intergalactic threat historically associated with the Fantastic Four. Reed will likely run point leading up to Galactus’ arrival and the ensuing battle, assuming Tony’s place at the center of the conflict. Undoubtedly, Reed Richards will be integral to all aspects of the MCU’s Phase Four as Iron Man’s true replacement both structurally and narratively.
