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If Magic: The Gathering has you stumped, you’re in good company: the Fantastic Four’s Reed Richards struggles with the rules, too

Even one of the finest minds in Marvel Comics, Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, feels lost while playing Magic: The Gathering with his son, Franklin

An image of Mister Fantastic on the cover of Fantastic Four #516 — Image credit: Marvel Comics

News by Jules Chin Greene, Staff Writer

Published on Tue Sep 02 2025

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We've seen Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four solve impossible problems within the pages of Marvel Comics. So it goes without saying that we'd expect Mister Fantastic himself to be great at a game of strategy and numbers like Magic: The Gathering, right? Well, you're in for a surprise.

As Magic: The Gathering game designer Mark Rosewater reminded fans on his Tumblr, Reed Richards canonically struggles with the rules of Magic: The Gathering while playing a game with his son, Franklin, in Fantastic Four #64 by Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo, Karl Kesel, and Paul Mounts. About the scene, Rosewater wrote, "I have a fond memory of a Fantastic Four comic where Reed Richard[s], one of the smartest people in the world, is playing Magic with his son Franklin and is having trouble following along." Rosewater cited it as one of his favorite moments in pop culture where Magic: The Gathering was referenced. You can take a look at the panels down below.

Panels from Fantastic Four #64 — Image credit: Marvel Comics

Of course, it's no surprise that writer Mark Waid came up with a scene where Reed Richards felt incredibly relatable to just about anyone who has dared to venture into the rules of Magic: The Gathering. I have a complex relationship of my own with Reed Richards (I like him, because he often makes it difficult to like him), and I appreciate that he's felt just as lost as I have while throwing down. Superheroes: they're just like us.

Anyways, Wizards of the Coast, we're curious to see if you'll ever bring the Fantastic Four to a Universes Beyond set.

Whether you are a Commander player, a regular at your local game shop's FNM event, or simply love collecting Magic: The Gathering cards, you've landed in the right place. From Universes Beyond to the furthest reaches of the Magic Multiverse, we've got you covered here at Popverse.

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Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.