Marvel Fans Think MTG Cards Just Revealed a Huge Franklin Richards Twist for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’

Marvel fans are buzzing after a new Magic: The Gathering crossover set appeared to quietly label Franklin Richards as a mutant, a detail that could have major implications for Avengers: Doomsday.

The information comes from the upcoming Marvel Super Heroes expansion, which is set for release on June 26, with early access starting on June 19, according to Magic: The Gathering promotional materials and Marvel Comics history.

Franklin Richards, the son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm from the Fantastic Four, has long been one of Marvel’s most powerful and complicated characters. In the new card set, Franklin is directly described as a mutant, a classification that immediately sparked speculation about how he might be used in the Marvel Cinematic Universe moving forward, especially in Avengers: Doomsday, which is expected to bring together Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four characters in a major crossover event.

In Marvel Comics, Franklin’s status has shifted over time. He first appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #6 in 1963 and was originally not shown to have clear mutant abilities. Later stories, including Uncanny X-Men #141–142, suggested that Franklin was a mutant in alternate future timelines. Fantastic Four #238 further reinforced that idea, firmly placing him within mutant lore for years.

However, more recent comics complicated that identity. In Fantastic Four #26 (2022), Charles Xavier tells Franklin that he is not truly a mutant, but instead a “cosmic mutate,” meaning his reality-warping abilities come from cosmic radiation rather than an X-gene. That storyline redefined him as someone who only appears to be a mutant because of the nature of his powers.

The Magic: The Gathering card seems to lean back toward the mutant interpretation, ignoring the more recent comic retcon. That has led fans to wonder if Marvel Studios is preparing to simplify or reframe Franklin’s origin for the MCU, possibly aligning him more closely with the mutant storyline that will connect to the upcoming X-Men integration.

Franklin’s potential mutant status would place him alongside only a small group of confirmed MCU mutants so far, including Ms. Marvel and Namor. If Avengers: Doomsday follows this direction, it could significantly expand the importance of mutants within the main Earth-616 timeline.

Avengers: Doomsday is already shaping up to be one of Marvel’s biggest crossover films. Reports suggest that multiple legacy X-Men actors will appear alongside the Avengers and Fantastic Four, with Doctor Doom positioned as the central threat. Franklin’s powers are believed to be a key factor in Doom’s plans, with speculation that his reality-warping abilities could be used to reshape or control the multiverse.

Some reports also suggest that Marvel may use Franklin as a narrative bridge between different superhero teams. If mutants take an active role in the story, characters like Professor X and Magneto could become interested in him due to his immense potential power.

At this stage, Marvel has not confirmed how Franklin Richards will officially be classified in the MCU. Still, the Magic: The Gathering labeling has added fuel to ongoing theories that Avengers: Doomsday may be preparing to fully embrace him as a mutant, which could reshape how the character fits into Marvel’s expanding multiverse story.

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