Marvel Undermines Its Own Trans Representation With Pointless 'Joke'
Warning: spoilers for Fantastic Four #45 ahead!
Marvel's treatment of Franklin Richards (of the Fantastic Four) is an excellent showcase of how the publisher struggles with trans representation. Although recent entries in the MCU such as Ms. Marvel speak to a growing understanding of how to handle diversity, for every step forward the comics seem to take a half-step back. This has been particularly prevalent in the Fantastic Four, and how an offhand joke comes across as incredibly damaging for the interpretation of a character.
The son of Sue Storm and Reed Richards, Franklin is one of the most powerful members of the Marvel Universe, shown to be capable of manipulating reality and even creating universes from a very young age. In X-Men/Fantastic Four by Chip Zdarsky and Terry Dodson, it’s revealed that Reed Richards' son’s powers evolved from an X-gene, making him a mutant. Many fans interpreted Franklin's struggle as an allegory for being trans, based on the numerous parallels seen throughout the series. However, Franklin's mutant status was retconned in Fantastic Four #26 by Dan Slott, R.B. Silva, and Jesus Aburtov, when it was revealed that Franklin had subconsciously used his powers to make himself seem to be a mutant instead.
Related: X-Men/Fantastic Four: How Franklin Richards Saved Kitty Pryde
Now, in Fantastic Four #45 by Dan Slott, Farid Karami, and Jesus Aburtov, the issue of Franklin's mutant status and trans allegory appears to be touched upon again. Having sheltered from Ruin of the Reckoning inside Thought-Space, Valeria cannot convince Franklin to leave with her as doing so would require him to abandon the godlike powers (that make him the most powerful member of the Fantastic Four) conferred upon him in
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