Is Reed a killer?

[Fantasyartist]

I've just finished reading a Fantastic Four novel by Peter David "What Lies Between". In it there is a sequence where Reed Richards threatens to kill Psycho-Man.
I must say I am deeply shocked. Although desperate times can call for desperate measures, threats to kill- least of all from someone like Reed are surprisingly out of characters( Reed may not be conventionally religious as his wife Sue is, but he presumably holds to the belief that human life-alright we can debate whether Psycho-Man is human- but let's give him the benefit of the doubt- is or should be sacred.)- in FF#40(July 1965) Reed stops Ben from killing Dr Doom, arguing that "we're not murderers!".

Leave the killing to the likes of Wolverine or the Punisher- that's what they're there for!

Terry

 

[matthooper]

But threatening a life isn't the same as taking it. Your post, at first glance would appear he actually killed a villian. A threat is just words.

 

[Kelly]

Yeah, and the history between Sue and Psycho-man is pretty rough.....I could see Reed thinking about that and threatening him......

 

[SuperFerret]

The Fantastic Four is a family more than a superhero team, thus it's feasible that given any situation where a family member might kill someone like threats against another family member (such as the usual situation with the Psycho Man and Sue, or during the Unthinkable arc where Ben punches Dooms head around) any of the FF could become 'killers'.

Sure, superheroes don't kill, but angry husbands and fathers? I wouldn't doubt it.

 

[Kelly]

The Fantastic Four is a family more than a superhero team, thus it's feasible that given any situation where a family member might kill someone like threats against another family member (such as the usual situation with the Psycho Man and Sue, or during the Unthinkable arc where Ben punches Dooms head around) any of the FF could become 'killers'.

Sure, superheroes don't kill, but angry husbands and fathers? I wouldn't doubt it.

Very true......in the MK issues of F4, Sue pretty much took care of Psycho-man.....but yeah, I think they have all showed that they can be pushed to massive anger (enough to kill) when their family is in danger...

Sue beat the hell outta Super Skrull in an issue of the regs, she thought he had Franklin, and Franklin was just at school waiting for a ride because everyone forgot to pick him up....lol........But Sue was ready to kill....

 

[Fantasyartist]

I should have rephrased my question in retrospect-"Could Reed become a killer?". True, it was only a threat, but as threats lack any point unless they are prepared to go through with them, it was worrying enough coming from someone who previously prevented the Thing from killing Dr Doom (in FF#40)- and Doom is infinitely more of an enemy than Psycho-Man was to the FF. Once you begin to kill( as Wolverine and the Punisher have found out) it becomes progressively harder to stop!

Terry

 

[Malus]

I should have rephrased my question in retrospect-"Could Reed become a killer?". True, it was only a threat, but as threats lack any point unless they are prepared to go through with them, it was worrying enough coming from someone who previously prevented the Thing from killing Dr Doom (in FF#40)- and Doom is infinitely more of an enemy than Psycho-Man was to the FF. Once you begin to kill( as Wolverine and the Punisher have found out) it becomes progressively harder to stop!

Why am I picturing Wolverine & Punisher eating potato chips?
You're right though; every time I kill, I just can't stop thinkin' about it til I finally kill again.


Look, if Psycho-Man (or Doom or Annihilus or anyone) actually killed Sue or Franklin...or anyone in the FF family...I'd fully expect Reed to be capable of killing that villain in rage. As most husbands and fathers would. And considering Reed is seasoned in serious combat, it would probably come easier to him than to most regular folks.
And I wouldn't say Doom is "infinitely more of an enemy" to the FF than Psycho-Man. For crying out loud, Psycho-man is the one always screwin' with Sue's head; he's the one responsible for the original manifestation of her Malice persona.
Really, up until Mark Waid's "Unforgivable" (excuse me) "Unthinkable" storyline, I'd have ranked Doom as no more cruel or dangerous than Psycho-Man.
But after Doom's actions in "Unthinkable," he's definitely the lowest and nuttiest, hands down.

 

[Kelly]

Sue takes care of Psycho-man in the MK issues.......very cool arc.

 

[Fantasyartist]

Dear Albafan

I think you miss the point of my post. Granted, Reed( or any other member of the FF except maybe Sue) could kill in sheer vengeful fury as any other husband/parent might if his spouse/child was killed by another- but the question is would it be RIGHT to do so? I think not! If any of the FF's enemies must die, then let it by the decision of the courts( of course as an abolitionist I have my reservations about capital punishment anyway)!

 

[Malus]

Dear Albafan

I think you miss the point of my post. Granted, Reed( or any other member of the FF except maybe Sue) could kill in sheer vengeful fury as any other husband/parent might if his spouse/child was killed by another- but the question is would it be RIGHT to do so? I think not! If any of the FF's enemies must die, then let it by the decision of the courts( of course as an abolitionist I have my reservations about capital punishment anyway)!

If that was "the point" of your post, I don't think you got it across very well.
Yeah, if Psycho-man were to kill Sue and little Franklin, let's let THE COURTS decide how to take care of it.

You don't think Sue could pop a few skulls with expanding force bubbles if her children were endangered? I think under the right circumstances, she'd do it In a heartbeat.
(Personally I thought that's how "Unthinkable" might end, with Sue actually killing Doom; that that would be the "unthinkable" thing.)

 

[Fantasyartist]

Dear Malus

Are you saying that if Psycho-Man or some other villain( Doom perhaps) killed Franklin and/or Valeria, Reed or Sue would be justified in summarily killing them? As much as we may feel for a bereaved parent, like it or not, the law is the only thing that separates us from the mentality of the "lynch mob". If "ordinary stiffs" are made aware that they cannot "take the law into their own hands", then surely this applies infinitely more so to"super-heroes"( simply because with their powers, their capacity for taking life is infinitely greater). Besides, vigilanteism in the long run becomes as bad as the criminality it sets out to oppose( pace Mafia, Yakuza, Triads)!

Terry