In superhero comics, most characters' parents follow familiar tropes. These looming figures either face a tragic end or come from a sinister background, leaving little room for nuance on either side.

Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four, however, has a parent with a long and fascinating history: his father, Nathaniel Richards.

As a brilliant and well-respected scientist, Dr. Nathaniel Richards served as a guiding force for his son's prodigious intellect. Even after Reed's mother died, Nathaniel frequently encouraged the young boy's fascination with science, exploration and discovery. Nathaniel's paternal guidance would be cut short, however, when the scientist was approached by the mysterious "Brotherhood of the Shield."

This early incarnation of S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited Dr. Richards, as well as Tony Stark's father, Howard. Together, the two scientists became renowned agents of the shield. During this time, Nathaniel and Howard discovered the superhuman named Leonid, recruiting him to protect and save the world.

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When Leonid encountered the long-missing Leonardo da Vinci, a founder of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nathaniel was caught in a war between da Vinci and Isaac Newton, whose authority was threatened by da Vinci. In the midst of this civil war, Richards was present during the death of a quantum-powered superhuman. This extraordinary event propelled Richards through time.

Richards then found himself in the distant future, faced with an array of his counterparts from parallel universes. The meeting of these counterparts was disrupted, however, by the arrival of the time-traveling villain Immortus. Nathaniel and his counterparts were told to kill each other, leaving only one survivor, or Immortus would kill them all.

This deadly ultimatum sent Richards on the run, traveling through time to escape his parallel universe counterparts. Eventually, Nathaniel ended up on a desolate Earth, left virtually beyond repair when the moon was destroyed. Meeting the remaining humans on this planet, Nathaniel established himself as a ruler, alongside his new wife Cassandra.

Unfortunately, Cassandra became power-hungry, using technology to rule like a tyrant over the remaining humans. In a turn of good fortune, the Fantastic Four arrived to defeat Cassandra, briefly reuniting Nathaniel with his son. Ultimately, however, Nathaniel stayed behind to rebuild this world. Later on, Nathaniel would occasionally return to the present-day Earth, aiding the FF in their battles and even teaching Sue Storm to master her powers.

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Following the apparent death of Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, Nathaniel returned to the present to help Reed jumpstart the Future Foundation. Nathaniel contributed his knowledge of the future and the technology at his disposal to the formation of this group of altruistic geniuses, devoted to making a brighter future.

When the Earth was confronted by a group of Mad Celestials and a massive Kree armada, Nathaniel worked with the children of the FF to find a solution. Together, Nathaniel and the FF recruited the tyrannical Dr. Doom for assistance and attempted to recreate an interdimensional portal called "the bridge" to save the world.

Ultimately, however, the day was saved by the arrival of Reed's children, Franklin and Valeria, from the future. Trained by Nathaniel, Franklin and Valeria came to the present under their grandfather's instructions. The adult Franklin used his mutant powers to control Galactus, using his power to destroy the Mad Celestials, thanks to Nathaniel's guidance. Afterward, Nathaniel briefly stayed with his family in the present day, before once again moving along through time.

If not for Nathaniel Richards' love for discovery and devotion to his family, Reed Richards wouldn't be the Mister Fantastic who fans know and love today.

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