In Marvel Comics, Valeria Richards is the daughter of Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) and the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm Richards), husband and wife and two members of the superhero team the Fantastic Four. She is the younger sister of Franklin Richards (though because of time travel she has sometimes been older than her brother). Valeria made her first appearance under the name Valeria Von Doom and the code name Marvel Girl.

History

Valeria Von Doom first appeared during the run of Chris Claremont and Salvador Larroca on Fantastic Four. She was apparently from the future, and apparently the daughter of Doctor Doom (Victor Von Doom) and the Invisible Woman. This was, unsurprisingly, very disturbing to the Fantastic Four. It was unknown how Doctor Doom and the Invisible Woman would come together in the future, and how Mister Fantastic would be removed from the picture. Fans speculated many theories. Among them was that Valeria Von Doom was actually the daughter of Mister Fantastic but wrongly believed that she was the daughter of Doctor Doom, or that Valeria Von Doom did not exist at all but was a creation of her brother Franklin Richards, who had superpowers allowing him to manipulate physical reality.

However Chris Claremont intended to resolve the storyline, he never got the chance. Carlos Pacheco took over Fantastic Four and retconned Valeria Von Doom out of existence and into the Invisible Woman's womb as the unborn daughter of Mister Fantastic.

The cosmic rays that gave the Fantastic Four their superpowers also made the delivery of this baby extremely difficult, and because Mister Fantastic was caught up solving a world-threatening crisis, the Invisible Woman had no choice but to call upon Victor Von Doom for help, as detailed in Fantastic Four #483 (June 2002). Doctor Doom was qualified to deliver the baby because of his vast intelligence and his mystical capabilities, and he successfully delivered the baby through a difficult birth.

As the price for his help, Doctor Doom insisted that he be allowed to name the child. He did so, naming her Valeria after a woman he had loved in the past (ironically, Doctor Doom would also eventually be the murderer of this woman). Unknown to the Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom also placed a spell on Valeria, making her his familiar spirit, as revealed in the Unthinkable story arc, Fantastic Four #496-502 (May-September 2003) by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo. The Fantastic Four were eventually able to free Valeria from Doom's control.

Superpowers and abilities

As Marvel Girl, Valeria Von Doom exhibited several superpowers, though the exact extent of her abilities is unknown. She was able to transform into an armored form, with the design of the armor somewhat derivative of Doctor Doom's. She inherited the ability of her mother to project force fields, though she never displayed the ability to turn invisible. She also seemed to have enhanced strength and durability, being able to punch strongly enough to knock beings with superstrength down and survive punches by beings with superstrength, though it is possible that her apparent strength and durability was actually simply subtle application of her force fields and the defense provided by her armor. In addition, Valeria Von Doom showed an intelligence and aptitude for invention and technology rivaling that of Doctor Doom or Mister Fantastic.

As Valeria Richards, Valeria is only a child. In Fantastic Four #492 (January 2003), she was tested for superpowers by her father, Mister Fantastic, and found to have no superhuman abilities. It is also not known whether she is a genius like her previous incarnation, Valeria Von Doom, or her father, Mister Fantastic. However, as she is only a child, it is possible that she may manifest superhuman abilities in the future.