The only son of wealthy physicist Nathaniel Richards and his wife, Evelyn, Reed Richards was a child prodigy with special aptitude in the areas of mathematics, physics and mechanics.  Encouraged and guided by his father, the youngster enrolled in college-level courses by 14 years of age.  At State University, he met two individuals who would come to play important roles in his life.

Assigned to a dorm room with arrogant Latverian genius Victor Von Doom (Dr. Doom I), who took an immediate dislike to him which forced Richards to request other quarters.  His new roommate was a gruff New Yorker, Benjamin Grimm (Thing II), who soon became the budding scientist's closest friend.

Years later, Richards designed and fabricated an experimental starship capable of interstellar travel.  Threatened by the U.S. government with cancellation of the partial funding of his project, he chose to make an immediate test flight with Grimm, now an Air Force pilot as the chief astronaut.  Rounding out the crew of four were Richards' fiancée and longtime sweetheart, Susan Storm (Invisible Girl), and her brother, Johnny (Human Torch II).

A freak cosmic-radiation storm changed the rocket's inhabitants granting them each unique powers.  When the rocket crashed back to Earth, Richards discovered that he was capable of manipulating any part of his body like rubber.  With his fellow explorers he founded the Fantastic Four and dubbed himself as their leader and public spokesman Mr. Fantastic.