Marvel RivalsSeason 1 is here, and it introduces Reed and Susan Richards of the Fantastic Four as playable characters.MarvelRivalsplayers worldwide, myself included, are already falling in love with Marvel’s First Family’s founding couple. However, Mister Fantastic is attracting a cult following amongstOne Piecefans.
Across social media, Marvel Rivals players can’t stop comparing Mister Fantastic toOne Piece‘s eternally optimistic protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy. As a Marvel Comics andOne Piecefan, I can’t help but agree with them.
Marvel Rivals players can’t get enough of Reed D. Richards
If you’re even distantly familiar with the Fantastic Four orOne Piece, you may have already seen these two elastic boys placed side-by-side for comparison on forums and blogs. Both characters are famous for having bodies made of rubber, and some circles of comics and anime fans have compared and contrasted the two years beforeMarvel Rivalsor it’s runaway success were even glimmers in NetEase Games’ eyes.
However, within hours of Mister Fantastic’s initial reveal trailer going live, people began noticing an uncanny parallel between Reed and Luffy that cut deeper than their surface-level similarities. Most of Reed’s signature abilities see him inflate into an oversized version of himself, complete with puffed-up arms and fists that would make his rocky-skinned best friend, Ben “The Thing” Grimm, jealous.
With his beefed-up compressed body and mammoth limbs,Marvel Rivals‘ Mister Fantastic spends quite a lot of time looking like Luffy’s Gear 4 form. If you aren’t familiar withOne Piece, this is the fourth version of the enhanced form Luffy takeswhen he uses his Devil Fruit powers to strengthen his body.
Mister Fantastic’s pseudo-Gear 4 form is quickly becoming a meme amongMarvel Rivals‘ player base. Many fans are flexing their artistic talent by sharing some outstanding fan art of “Reed D. Richards” on social media. Some are simple drawings that play up the joke, but others are full-on comics presenting Reed as the protagonist of a Shonen anime I want to read more about.
silly idea after seeing how Reed Richards is basically Luffy in#MarvelRivalspic.twitter.com/gQ6KpMNR6w
I’ve been reading Marvel comics andOne Piecefor years, and I’m honestly jealous I missed the similarities between Marvel’s stretchiest genius and the Straw Hat Pirates’ indomitable captain. Now that I’ve seen it, playing Mister Fantastic inMarvel Rivalshas gotten even more fun.
