Imagine a character so powerful, so reality-bending, that even Thanos might tremble. That's the potential of the Molecule Man, a Marvel character the MCU has, surprisingly, left untouched... so far. With whispers of Doctor Doom's (possibly Robert Downey Jr.!) grand entrance into the MCU, particularly in projects like "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars," it's only natural to wonder if this underutilized powerhouse will finally get his due. Marvel aficionados familiar with the "Secret Wars" storylines are already bracing for the possibility of Doom bringing along an unlikely ally – or perhaps, a weapon: Owen Reece, the Molecule Man.
Now, the Molecule Man isn't exactly a household name like Doom, Magneto, or Thanos. He’s not plastered on lunchboxes or headlining every Marvel event. But here's where it gets interesting... his power set could arguably eclipse them all. He possesses the ability to control molecules – the fundamental building blocks of, well, everything. Think about it: almost everything tangible is composed of molecules! This gives him near-limitless potential to manipulate reality itself. (Fun fact: originally, the Molecule Man channeled his powers through a wand, a slightly wizard-like touch that has largely been phased out over the years.)
Rewind to 1963, and you'll find the Molecule Man's debut in "Fantastic Four" #20, courtesy of the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He was introduced as Owen Reece, an unassuming, almost invisible factory worker who was accidentally imbued with godlike powers during a nuclear accident. The story starkly contrasts his prior insignificance with the immense danger he suddenly represents. This transformation is so profound that it even compels Uatu the Watcher, a cosmic being sworn to observe without interfering, to break his sacred oath and intervene on behalf of the Fantastic Four! And this is the part most people miss: Uatu never interferes. The fact that he did speaks volumes about the scale of the threat.
Initially, the Molecule Man soundly defeats the Fantastic Four. He seems unstoppable. But Reed Richards, ever the scientific mind, discovers a critical weakness: the Molecule Man can only initially control inorganic molecules. (This issue is actually a clever, albeit subtle, science lesson for young readers, explaining the difference between organic and inorganic matter. Think of it as a superhero comic doubling as a chemistry class!). This limitation allows the Fantastic Four to exploit his vulnerability and ultimately defeat him, leading to Uatu taking him into custody.
Interestingly, Lee and Kirby never revisited the Molecule Man during their "Fantastic Four" run. He remained a relatively obscure character for quite some time. However, fate intervened in the form of the 1984 mini-series "Secret Wars." Penned by Marvel's then-Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter and brought to life by the art of Bob Zeck and Howard Layton, "Secret Wars" transported a diverse group of Earth's superheroes and villains to Battleworld, a planet created by the immensely powerful Beyonder.
The Molecule Man's connection to the Beyonder is what truly catapulted him into a significant role, culminating in Jonathan Hickman's epic "Avengers" and "New Avengers" storylines, which served as a prelude to the 2015 "Secret Wars" – a pseudo-remake of the original. The question now is: which iteration of "Secret Wars" will the MCU draw inspiration from? And, more importantly, will they find a place for the Molecule Man in their grand design? It's worth noting that the Molecule Man is a pivotal figure in every version of the Secret Wars storyline, highlighting his importance to the overall narrative.
Shortly before "Secret Wars," Jim Shooter showcased the Molecule Man as the primary antagonist in a two-part "Avengers" story (issues #215-216). This arc formally introduced the name "Owen Reece." The cover of #215 boldly declared the Molecule Man to be "infinitely powerful and totally mad," and his actions within the story lived up to the hype. Inspired by the Silver Surfer's tales of Galactus, the planet-devouring cosmic entity, he attempts to destroy Earth! This might be the reason Shooter elevated the Molecule Man, a previously minor villain, to a key player in "Secret Wars." In his previous appearances, Molecule Man had largely abandoned his megalomaniacal tendencies, and Shooter continued to portray him as a reluctant villain. On Battleworld, he even finds love with fellow super-villain Volcana, and they attempt to build a normal life together.
In Shooter's sequel, "Secret Wars II," the Molecule Man ultimately defeats the Beyonder, solidifying his status as one of the few beings capable of rivaling the godlike entity's power. Their battle is so immense that it literally shatters infinite time and space! (Seriously, check out the Al Milgrom art – it's mind-bending!).
But here's where it gets controversial... In "Fantastic Four" issue #319 ("Secret Wars 3"), writer Steve Englehart retroactively altered the Molecule Man's origin story. He introduced the idea that the accident that granted Reece his powers had created a "pinhole" into the Beyonder's home dimension, piquing the Beyonder's interest. Hickman further refined this concept for his own "Secret Wars." This raises the question: Is the Molecule Man's power a gift or a curse? Is he truly in control, or is he merely a pawn in a larger cosmic game?
Hickman's "Avengers" saga revolves around Incursions, a phenomenon where two Earths collide and destroy each other's universes. To prevent an Incursion, one of the two Earths must be destroyed before their shared timeline expires. Some forces are simply too powerful for even the Avengers to overcome, such as the inevitable heat death of the universe. Or... a whole race of Beyonders. These alien gods seek to erase everything and created the Molecule Man as a living weapon of multiversal destruction.
Doctor Doom and the Molecule Man find themselves working together to prevent the Incursions. Doom, driven by his messianic complex, understands that an emperor needs a world to rule. Their journey through time and dimensions reveals a shocking truth: the Molecule Man is the same person across every reality, a unified consciousness dispersed across multiple bodies. Some dialogue in "New Avengers" #26 suggests that this concept might have inspired the MCU's idea of dreams representing the lives of our alternate selves, as explored in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."
The multiverse is meant to be an infinitely diverse landscape of endless possibilities. Think of worlds where Doom is a hero and Reed Richards is a villain! But the Molecule Man remains constant across every universe because he was specifically engineered by the Beyonders to be a bomb. When each iteration of him detonates simultaneously, it triggers a chain reaction that destroys the entire multiverse.
Doom and the Molecule Man embark on a mission to preemptively eliminate these Molecule Men, recruiting an army of "Black Swans" from destroyed worlds to aid them. However, these Molecule Man murders trigger the Incursions, a failsafe mechanism for universal destruction programmed by the Beyonders. Consequently, Doom begins collecting Molecule Men instead, ultimately turning the Beyonders' own weapon against them. The Earth-616 Molecule Man absorbs the Beyonders' power and transfers it to Doom, who then fashions a new Battleworld and rules over it. When Doom proves unworthy of this power in "Secret Wars" #9, the Molecule Man bestows it upon Reed Richards, who, with his family, reconstructs the multiverse.
The Molecule Man declared in his initial appearance that he was "the most powerful being who ever lived." Subsequent stories have demonstrated that this seemingly boastful claim was not an exaggeration. Will the MCU embrace this potential and introduce their own Molecule Man? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: his arrival could reshape the entire landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
What do you think? Is the Molecule Man too powerful for the MCU? Should they stick to more grounded threats? And if he does appear, how faithful to the source material should they be? Let's discuss in the comments below!
