Curious how Franklin Richards ended up with one of Marvel’s most powerful forces in The Fantastic Four: First Steps? The newborn wields the Power Cosmic, an energy so immense it once sustained Galactus and now fuels Franklin’s reality-shaping abilities.
Here’s how Franklin Richards inherited the Power Cosmic and what it reveals about his future in Avengers: Doomsday.
Franklin Richards’ power cosmic in Fantastic Four explained
In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Franklin Richards is born with the Power Cosmic, an unlimited energy source linked to Galactus. Reed and Sue’s exposure to cosmic radiation during conception causes Franklin to absorb this immense power while still in the womb. In the final act, Franklin uses the Power Cosmic to bring Sue Storm back to life after she dies from energy exhaustion.
Reed Richards describes the Power Cosmic as a raw form of cosmic radiation. It is more potent than the rays that originally gave the Fantastic Four their powers. In the film, Galactus targets Franklin as a potential energy source to curb his cosmic hunger. Reed and Sue consider sacrificing their child but instead use a decoy pod to lure Galactus into a space portal.
In the comics, Franklin does not possess the Power Cosmic. However, he is still one of Marvel’s most powerful mutants, capable of creating entire universes. First Steps changes this by making Franklin a vessel for Galactus’ energy. This suggests his powers could play a key role in Avengers: Doomsday.
According to Silver Surfer lore, “To wield the Power Cosmic is to be in touch with every other living thing at once” (via Fandom). Galactus traditionally grants fragments of the Power Cosmic to his Heralds, like the Silver Surfer and Shalla-Bal, enabling abilities like matter manipulation, telekinesis, and cosmic awareness. However, Franklin appears to possess the full, unfiltered form of this power.
At the film’s conclusion, Franklin revives his mother using a visible cosmic energy surge. In the post-credits scene, Doctor Doom meets Franklin. This moment suggests the Power Cosmic within the child could shape future multiversal events and spark conflicts involving Doom and Earth-616.
