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Gary Richards (Earth-1610) and Reed Richards (Earth-1610) from Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol 1 1 001

Gary abusing his son Reed

Gary Richards was the abusive father of Reed Richards. Almost immediately, the Richards suspected that there was something special about Reed, who displayed his curiosity from the day he was born. As a child, Reed demonstrated remarkable intelligence, well ahead of that of his peers. While other children engaged in sports or played games, Reed devoted himself to the sciences. Gary often found Reed cannibalizing household appliances in an effort to create something never before seen by man - an act that often earned Reed his father's ire.

Gary had very little knowledge of science and showed little respect to his own son because Reed never developed as an athlete. He praised Reed's athletic friend Ben Grimm as the son he wished he had, and nicknamed Ben the "Grimm Reaper." When Reed was accepted into the Baxter Building think tank, Gary was relieved to be rid Reed and gladly accepted the money that would be sent to him. He rarely saw Reed thereafter.[1]

Reed Richards (Earth-1610) and Gary Richards (Earth-1610) from Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol 1 42 001

Gary later came back into his son's life when Gary's daughter Enid was kidnapped by Diablo. Gary was very distraught over his daughter's disappearance, and had called Reed for help.[2] After Enid was rescued, Gary and his wife came to the Baxter Building to see their daughter, who was being quarantined for any signs of sickness while in the 15th century. He was not very receptive when meeting Reed, as he learned that Diablo only kidnapped Enid because of seeing her brother. Gary blamed his son for having involved his family.[3]

After the events of Ultimatum, Gary was not surprised to see Reed, who had left the Fantastic Four and came back to live with his family again.[4] Gary died when his son Reed detonated his parents home, with Gary and his children present.[5]

Notes

  • On Earth-616, Reed's father was named Nathaniel, while in Ultimate continuity, he was named Gary. Unlike Nathaniel, Gary had no knowledge in science.
    • Nathaniel-616 allegedly became the last Nathaniel Richards after Nikola Tesla's quantum core gave all his counterparts time travelling abilities and then Immortus had them hunt each other in the Great Hunt.[6] Gary evidently was not affected by this.

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