Future Foundation

Last updated
Future Foundation
Future Foundation 1.jpg
Textless FF #1 variant cover by Daniel Acuña
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Fantastic Four #579 (July 2010)
Created by Jonathan Hickman (writer)
Steve Epting (artist)
In-story information
Base(s) Baxter Building
Mobile
Member(s)Current members: [1]
Bentley 23
Dragon Man
Korr
Leech
Artie
Mik
Onome
Alex Power
Julie Power
Tong
Turg
Vil
Wu
Former members:
Adolf
Ahura
Ant-Man
Doctor Doom
Human Torch
Invisible Woman
Luna
Medusa
Mister Fantastic
Franklin Richards
(future)
Miss. Thing
Nathaniel Richards
She-Hulk
Valeria Richards
Valeria Richards (future)
Spider-Man
Thing

The Future Foundation is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Jonathan Hickman, the team first appeared in Fantastic Four #579 (July 2010) and stars in the series FF, written by Hickman and illustrated by Steve Epting. The Future Foundation is a philanthropic organization created by Mister Fantastic dedicated to better serve humanity's future.

Contents

Publication history

Jonathan Hickman published FF in May 2011 with various artists assisting him. The volume ran for 23 issues.

As part of Marvel NOW!, FF was relaunched with creative team of Matt Fraction and Mike Allred in November 2012 and ended with issue #16 in January 2014.

A new volume of Future Foundation was released by writer Jeremy Whitley in 2019, but was soon canceled after five issues due to low sales.

Fictional history

After becoming discouraged by how Earth's scientists view science and its applications, Mister Fantastic forms a new group dedicated to create a better future for all of humanity. Following the death of the Human Torch in "Annihilation," Mister Fantastic plans to mold the young and great minds he has gathered into a team that will form solutions to the world's problems. [2]

Zero-G (Alex Power); Dragon Man; evolved Moloids Tong, Turg, Mik, and Korr; and Bentley 23 (a clone of the Wizard) are the first recruits to the organization. [3] Artie Maddicks then joins the Future Foundation, [4] as does Leech. [5]

The organization next gains Mister Fantastic's father Nathaniel Richards [6] followed by Uhari co-heirs Vii and Wuu. Spider-Man joins the team as well at a final request from Human Torch. Mister Fantastic is disturbed to discover that his daughter and father have also invited Doctor Doom to join, following Valeria's proposition for Doctor Doom to help the Future Foundation. [7] After learning about Doctor Doom being a member of the Future Foundation, the Thing objects and attacks him, but Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman break up the fight. Later, Reed takes everyone to the Room, a classroom where the Future Foundation has sharing time and naps. One of their early projects is to create a stylish tuxedo for the Thing. [8] When Valeria asks Doctor Doom if he has a backup for restoring his memories, he reveals that Kristoff Vernard is his best man. Afterward, Mr. Fantastic, Spider-Man, Nathaniel, Valeria, and Doctor Doom head to Latveria to meet with Kristoff and request his help. Mister Fantastic sets up a brain-transfer machine to help restore Doctor Doom's memories and knowledge, which is successful. When Kristoff wants to return the throne to him, Doctor Doom states that it is not time yet because of a promise he made to Valeria. When Mister Fantastic asks what promise Doctor Doom made to Valeria, Doctor Doom states that he made a promise to help defeat Mister Fantastic. [9]

Doctor Doom decides to hold a symposium on how to finally defeat Reed Richards. The Thing and the evolved Moloids give an invitation to the High Evolutionary. Dragon Man and Alex Power give an invitation to Diablo. Upon receiving an invitation from Spider-Man, Mad Thinker is convinced to take part in the event. Bentley 23 even gives an invitation to his creator, the Wizard, along with two A.I.M. lieutenants. However, it is subsequently revealed that the 'Richards' they have been invited to defeat are actually members of the "Council of Reeds" (alternate versions of Reed who were trapped in this universe by Valeria a while back, possessing Reed's intellect while lacking his conscience). [10]

While Spider-Man and Invisible Woman make sandwiches for the kids, Mister Fantastic, Doctor Doom, Valeria, and Nathaniel Richards meet with the supervillain geniuses and Uatu the Watcher to discuss about what to do with the Council of Reeds. [11]

During Reed's discussion with the supervillains, Invisible Woman, Spider-Man, and Alex Power go to Old Atlantis where they find Mole Man and an alternate Mister Fantastic attacking it. [12]

While the Future Foundation is dealing with the remaining Alternate Reed Richards, Black Bolt suddenly returns to the Universal Inhumans. [13] It was revealed that Black Bolt was trapped in the Fault following the events of War of Kings. Black Bolt was able to hold his own, but he was unable to escape until Lockjaw found him. After killing the minister who objected to returning to Earth's Moon, Black Bolt and the rest of the Inhuman Royal Family return to the Moon as do the other Inhumans, the Badoon, the Centaurians, the Kymellians, and the Dire Wraiths. The prophecy that ended the Inhuman experiments spoke of five brides and one king with a mighty voice. However, another prophecy comes closer to fruition which ended up being a prophecy of four cities and a war to shatter everything. [14]

Spider-Man and the Future Foundation investigate several rifts in the space-time continuum: one in the Microverse, another in the distant future, and another on present-day Earth. [15] Spider-Man and the Future Foundation arrive on a Caribbean island where the tribal natives are being attacked by zombie pirates. When Franklin Richards claims that the battle is similar to the Scooby-Doo cartoons, Invisible Woman uses her powers to discover that one of the zombie pirates is actually Mysterio in disguise. It also turns out that the tribal chief is a disguised Chameleon. Soon the rest of the Sinister Six arrive, [16] though Spider-Man comes to realize that Doctor Octopus, Electro, Rhino, and Sandman are all robots. Meanwhile, the real Doctor Octopus infiltrates the Baxter Building to look for specific technology plans. [17]

During the "Fear Itself" storyline, the Future Foundation is analyzing one of the seven hammers that fell from the sky and landed near the Baxter Building. The Thing ends up lifting it and is transformed into Angrir, Breaker of Souls. [18] Although the Thing is almost killed in battle by Thor, Franklin is able to use his powers to restore him to his original rocky form. [19]

The Future Foundation discovers that Human Torch is alive and that the insects implanted into him by Annihilus revived him. Human Torch was surprised that his teammates have formed the Future Foundation in his absence. [20]

The Future Foundation visits Africa, specifically Wakanda where Valeria meets Onome, the daughter of a Wakandan engineer. Valeria secures a spot for Onome with the Future Foundation. [21]

During the "Secret Wars" storyline, most of the Future Foundation members are loaded into Mister Fantastic's lifeboat during the final Incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610. A hull breach occurs, separating the part of the ship carrying Invisible Woman, Thing and most of the young Future Foundation where they are destroyed by the Incursion before Mister Fantastic can rescue them. [22] When the Multiverse is restored, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Valeria, Franklin, the members of Future Foundation, and Molecule Man work to restore the Multiverse one reality at a time with Molecule Man creating clones of himself as anchors. [23]

Some years later, the Future Foundation, Mister Fantastic, and Invisible Woman are confronted by the Griever at the End of All Things after Franklin's reality-warping abilities have become depleted. When Molecule Man is killed by the Griever, Mister Fantastic persuades Griever to let him summon Human Torch and Thing. Griever agrees to the condition as Mister Fantastic summons them and anyone else that has been a part of the Fantastic Four at some points in their lives, including Iceman. After Griever is defeated and retreat to her home-world, all of the expanded Fantastic Four members, and Iceman returns to their former locations. However, due to the device to transport to Earth-616 is limited since it was temporarily destroyed to prevent Griever from invading the said Earth, Dragon Man and the other staying Foundation members sacrifice their turn for the Fantastic Four and both Franklin and Valeria to return to their home-world, as the latter are needed there, with the Foundation continues their journey across the multiverse. [24]

Members

The Future Foundation consists of a combat team along with a science team, with some members being part of both groups. Other groups include a replacement group for the core members of the original Fantastic Four as well as a temporary supervillain group.

The Future Foundation

Current members

  • Alex Power
  • Julie Power
  • Leech
  • Artie
  • Bentley-23 - A clone of the Wizard
  • Dragon Man
  • Onome - The daughter of one of Wakanda's greatest engineers
  • Vil - The female co-heir to the Uhari throne
  • Wu - The male co-heir to the Uhari throne
  • Mik - An evolved Moloid who identifies itself as a male
  • Korr - An evolved Moloid who identified itself as a male
  • Turg - An evolved Moloid who identified itself as a male
  • Tong - An evolved Moloid who formerly identified itself as a male and now identifies itself as a female

Former members

Council of Doom

The following supervillain geniuses were recruited by Mister Fantastic and Doctor Doom to deal with the alternate Mister Fantastics:

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

In Ultimate Marvel's Ultimate Comics: The Ultimates , the Maker (Reed Richards as a villain) sets up an experiment inside a dome to force people to evolve or become extinct. His test subjects are wearing a variation of the Future Foundation costume, and Reed welcomes them "to tomorrow". [25] It would later be revealed that these people were grown in a lab, with no contact with the outside world. Known as "The Children of Tomorrow", they would launch an attack on the super-team Excalibur including Captain Britain and come across Thor. They wished to capture these superhumans but were very unsatisfied until they examined Thor and found a link connecting him and Yggdrasil. Realizing that the Asgardians could harm them, they would follow the link and launch a massive attack on Asgard, eventually killing all the other gods except Thor. [26]

In the wake of the Cataclysm crossover, a new Future Foundation title was launched, starring Susan Storm, Falcon, Iron Man, Machine Man (Danny Ketch), and Phil Coulson. The book was written by Joshua Hale Fialkov and drawn by Mario Guevra. [27]

Secret Wars (2015)

During the Secret Wars storyline, there is a group called the Foundation that is based on the Future Foundation where they operate at the Foundation's Department of Science in the Battleworld domain of Doomstadt. The Foundation consists of Valeria Richards, Dragon Man, Bentley-32, Minister Alex Powers, Psycho-Man, a variation of Nostradamus, and Night Machine (a variation of Nikola Tesla). [28]

In other media

Film

In the 2015 Fantastic Four film, the team briefly wear white outfits that were potentially inspired by the Future Foundation uniforms. [29]

Video games

Collected editions

TitleMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
FF by Jonathan Hickman - Vol. 1: TomorrowFF #1-5September 7, 2011 978-0785151449
FF by Jonathan Hickman - Vol. 2: Three KingsFF #6-11February 8, 2012 978-0785157694
FF by Jonathan Hickman - Vol 3: All Hope Lies in DoomFF #12-16July 11, 2012 978-0785163121
FF by Jonathan Hickman - Vol. 4: The Roommate ExperimentFF #17-23December 5, 2012 978-0785163145
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 2FF #1-5, Fantastic Four #579-588September 10, 2019 978-1302919634
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 3FF #6-16, Fantastic Four #600-604December 1, 2020 978-1302926687
Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 4FF #17-23, Fantastic Four #605-611, 605.1August 2, 2022 978-1302933586
Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Vol. 1FF #1-5, Dark Reign: Fantastic Four #1-5, Fantastic Four #570-588, material from Dark Reign: The CabalOctober 15, 2013 978-1302932404
Fantastic Four By Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Vol. 2FF #6-23, Fantastic Four #600-611, 605.1November 25, 2014 978-1302933845
Fantastic Four Vol. 1: New Departures, New ArrivalsFF (vol. 2) #1-3, Fantastic Four (vol. 4) #1-3, material from Marvel Point One #1April 16, 2013 978-0785166597
FF Vol. 1: Fantastic FauxFF (vol. 2) #4-8July 30, 2013 978-0785166634
FF Vol. 2: Family FreakoutFF (vol. 2) #9-16March 25, 2014 978-0785166641
Fantastic Four by Matt Fraction OmnibusFF (vol. 2) #1-16, Fantastic Four (vol. 4) #1-16, 5AU, material from Marvel Point One #1February 17, 2015 978-0785191100
Future FoundationFuture Foundation #1-5, material from Fantastic Four (vol. 6) #12February 18, 2020 978-1302920982

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantastic Four</span> Comic book superhero team

The Fantastic Four is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in The Fantastic Four #1, helping usher in a new level of realism in the medium. It was the first superhero team created by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and editor/co-scripter Stan Lee, and through this title the "Marvel method" style of production came into prominence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Doom</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Doctor Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Fantastic Four #5. In his comic book appearances, Doctor Doom is the monarch of the fictional European country of Latveria whose goal is to bring order to humanity through world conquest. He serves as the archenemy of Mister Fantastic and the Fantastic Four, though he has also come into conflict with other superheroes in the Marvel Universe, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, the Black Panther, the X-Men, and the Avengers. While usually portrayed as a villain, Doom has also been an antihero at times, working with heroes if their goals align and only if it benefits him. Doctor Doom was ranked #4 by Wizard on its list of the 101 Greatest Villains of All Time and #3 on IGN's list of the Top 100 Comic Book Villains of All Time. In a later article, IGN would declare Doom as Marvel's greatest villain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thing (comics)</span> Comic book superhero

The Thing is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a founding member of the Fantastic Four. The Thing was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and he first appeared in The Fantastic Four #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mister Fantastic</span> Marvel Comics superhero

Mister Fantastic is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character is a founding member and the leader of the Fantastic Four. Richards has a mastery of mechanical, aerospace and electrical engineering, chemistry, all levels of physics, and human and alien biology. BusinessWeek listed Mister Fantastic as one of the top ten most intelligent fictional characters in American comics. He is the inventor of the spacecraft that was bombarded by cosmic radiation on its maiden voyage, granting the Fantastic Four their powers. Richards gained the ability to stretch his body into any shape he desires.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human Torch</span> Fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics

The Human Torch is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a founding member of the Fantastic Four. He is writer Stan Lee's and artist Jack Kirby's reinvention of a similar, previous character, the android Human Torch of the same name and powers who was created in 1939 by writer-artist Carl Burgos for Marvel Comics' predecessor company, Timely Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invisible Woman</span> Fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics

The Invisible Woman is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Fantastic Four #1. Susan Storm is a founding member of the Fantastic Four and was the first female superhero created by Marvel during the Silver Age of Comic Books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin Richards (character)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Franklin Benjamin Richards is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a supporting character in Fantastic Four. He has been portrayed as a child and as a novice superhero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frightful Four</span> Group of fictional characters in Marvel Comics

The Frightful Four are a group of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They serve as the antithesis to the Fantastic Four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantastic Five</span> Fictional comic book team

Fantastic Five is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books which were published by Marvel Comics. The team exists in the MC2 Universe, an alternate future to the Marvel Universe. A continuation of the Fantastic Four, the team was initially composed of the Human Torch, his wife Ms. Fantastic/Lyja, the Thing, Big Brain, and Psi-Lord.

<i>Ultimate Fantastic Four</i> Comic book series

Ultimate Fantastic Four is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Fantastic Four comic book franchise as part of the Ultimate Marvel imprint. The Ultimate Fantastic Four team exists alongside other revamped Marvel characters in Ultimate Marvel titles including Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, and The Ultimates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizard (Marvel Comics)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

The Wizard, also known as the Wingless Wizard, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared as an enemy for the Human Torch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valeria Richards</span> Fictional character

Valeria Meghan Richards, originally von Doom, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is the daughter of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman and goddaughter of Doctor Victor von Doom. She is the younger sister of Franklin Richards. Valeria made her first appearance under the code name Marvel Girl and is currently using the name Brainstorm.

The Mad Thinker is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is portrayed to be an evil genius specializing in robotics. He is sometimes referred to just as "The Thinker".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H.E.R.B.I.E.</span> Comics character

H.E.R.B.I.E. is a fictional robot appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was initially conceived for The New Fantastic Four and integrated into the comics continuity shortly afterwards. The character is usually depicted as an ally of the Fantastic Four.

<i>Ultimate Power</i>

Ultimate Power is a nine-issue comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics.

<i>Fantastic Four 2099</i>

Fantastic Four 2099 was a comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the Fantastic Four in the alternate future of Marvel 2099 (Earth-928). It ran for eight issues in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristoff Vernard</span> Fictional character in Marvel Comics

Kristoff Vernard is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The adoptive son of Victor von Doom and biological son of Nathaniel Richards, and direct ancestor of Kang the Conqueror/Rama-Tut/Immortus/Scarlet Centurion/Iron Lad, he has been involved mainly with the Fantastic Four, as an enemy, ally, and even short-term member.

<i>Ultimate Requiem</i> Series of comic books

Ultimate Requiem is a series of comic books published by Marvel Comics. It takes place in the Ultimate Universe following the events of Ultimatum. The X-Men and Fantastic Four stories were published as one shots, while the Spider-Man story was published as a two-issue with the name Ultimatum: Spider-Man Requiem #1 and #2 limited series. The books serve as an epilogue to each of the Ultimate Universe's three core titles, which were all canceled. The issues in the series are the last ones published as Ultimate Marvel comic books before the imprint was relaunched as Ultimate Comics.

<i>Fantastic Four</i> (comic book) Comic book series

Fantastic Four is the name of several comic book titles featuring the team the Fantastic Four and published by Marvel Comics, beginning with the original Fantastic Four comic book series which debuted in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secret Wars (2015 comic book)</span> Storyline by Marvel Comics

"Secret Wars" is a 2015–16 comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics. It recalls the 1984–1985 miniseries of the same name. Released on May 6, 2015, the storyline includes a core Secret Wars miniseries, written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by Esad Ribić, which picks up from where the "Time Runs Out" storyline running in The Avengers and New Avengers ended. The event also served as a conclusion to the Fantastic Four after Marvel decided to cancel the title due to a film rights dispute with 20th Century Fox.

References

  1. Future Foundation vol. 1 (2019) #1
  2. Hickman, Jonathan. Fantastic Four #579 (July 2010), Marvel Comics
  3. Fantastic Four #580
  4. Fantastic Four #585
  5. Fantastic Four #586
  6. Fantastic Four #588
  7. FF #1
  8. Fantastic Four #579
  9. FF #2
  10. FF #3
  11. FF #4
  12. FF #5
  13. FF #6
  14. FF #7
  15. Amazing Spider-Man #658
  16. Amazing Spider-Man #659
  17. Amazing Spider-Man #660
  18. Fear Itself #3 (2011)
  19. Fear Itself #5 (2011)
  20. Fantastic Four #600
  21. FF #19
  22. Secret Wars #1. Marvel Comics.
  23. Secret Wars #9. Marvel Comics.
  24. Fantastic Four Vol. 6 #2 - #4 (2018). Marvel Comics.
  25. Ultimate Fallout #4, Page 23
  26. Ultimate Comics: Ultimates 02 (2011)
  27. "ULTIMATE FF: Fialkov Charts Future of Marvel's Ultimate Universe" . Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  28. Secret Wars #4
  29. Brown, Michael (January 17, 2015). "Fantastic Four Trailer: Detailed Breakdown". Comic Book.com.