Malice Unveiled: Exploring the Powers & Origin of Invisible Woman’s Alternate Persona

With the recent addition of Sue Storm as a playable character in the Marvel Rivals video game, fans have reignited their interest in her dark alter ego, Malice. Following a traumatic confrontation with one of her foes, Sue Storm’s psyche fragmented, giving rise to a menacing persona that shattered her moral restraints. This unleashed Malice, who, free from the constraints of ethics, could now reign free in power and dominance.

Although often overshadowed by her male team members, the Invisible Woman possesses extraordinary abilities that arguably make her the most formidable member of the Fantastic Four. Reed Richards hypothesizes that her powers are derived from vibrational energy that emanates from the higher dimensions inhabited by the Celestials.

Malice stands over the defeated Fantastic Four.

Throughout her journey, Sue has always exercised caution, afraid to fully explore the vastness of her powers. However, in Fantastic Four #280, penned by John Byrne and Jerry Ordway, Sue’s most detrimental emotions coalesced into Malice, releasing a version of herself that embraced her dark capabilities without reservation.

Malice: The Manifestation of Sue Storm’s Inner Rage

During a tumultuous period marked by rampant concerns over mutant uprisings, military threats, and geopolitical instability, public sentiment became increasingly hostile. Following the destruction of the Baxter Building, trust in the Fantastic Four plummeted, even as Sue’s protective efforts aimed to quell the chaos.

As tensions flared into violence, orchestrated by the antagonist Psycho-Man and his shape-shifting accomplice Hate-Monger III, the city erupted into riots fueled by manipulated rage. During this mayhem, She-Hulk confronted the newly empowered Malice, unaware it was Sue in disguise. With an unstoppable barrage of energy attacks, Malice showcased her devastating force, reshaping the battlefield.”}}

The Confrontation: Malice vs. Sue Storm

In a moment of deceptive victory, Malice believed she had vanquished She-Hulk before unmasking to revel in her true identity as Sue Storm. It became evident that her obsessive goal was to eliminate Reed Richards. By exploiting Sue’s buried animosities and insecurities, Hate-Monger transformed her into a nearly unbeatable adversary, releasing her full cosmic potential. The self-imposed restrictions that Sue had maintained were obliterated, allowing her powers to surge unrestrained.

Despite having the chance to vanquish Psycho-Man, Sue self-identified as the Invisible Woman, grappling with the terror of Malice’s ever-present influence within her.

New York City lay in ruins as Malice retaliated against former allies, her lethal wrath nearly claiming Johnny’s life. However, Reed, tapping into Sue’s suppressed revulsion towards him, momentarily destabilized her hate, leading to her rediscovery of self. This pivotal moment allowed Sue to redirect her fury towards Psycho-Man and Hate-Monger, reaffirming her identity while fearing the remnants of Malice that still resided within.

Sue Storm’s Triumph Over Her Dark Side

Sue and Franklin use Malice to defeat an evil Reed Richards.

Sue’s intuition proved correct as Malice persisted in her psyche, compelling her and Reed to take a step back from their superhero duties and prioritize their well-being. This self-imposed hiatus was interrupted when they encountered the Infinity Stones, leading to a resurgence of Malice’s influence during the Infinity War. When Galactus initiated a cerebral scan, encroaching on Sue’s subconscious, the dormant Malice reemerged, and they faced off. Sue ultimately emerged victorious, reclaiming control over her darker self once more.

Although Malice no longer posed an immediate danger, her essence continued to spark conflict within Sue. In a remarkable twist, an alternate Reed Richards attempted to destroy Earth-616, prompting Sue to collaborate with a future version of Franklin Richards, summoning Malice with heroic intent. Franklin ultimately absorbed Malice into his psyche, allowing Sue to detach herself from the burden of her darkest reflection, liberating her from the weight of unmanageable hate.

Malice May Be Defeated, But Her Power Endures

The Invisible Woman’s Strength Beyond Hatred

Comic book art: Sue Storm makes a force field in the foreground while the rest of the Fantastic Four are pictured fighting in the background.

What commenced as a three-part narrative aimed at deepening Susan Storm’s character development morphed into a multi-layered saga exploring the internal struggles of the strongest member of the Fantastic Four. While Sue has consistently demonstrated poise amidst chaos—unlike Reed, Johnny, and Ben—Malice represented the unfiltered version of Sue, liberated from personal burdens and societal restraints. This balance of self-control is critical for Sue, as it not only governs her emotional responses but also regulates her immense powers.

Characters familiar with the hyperspace dimension from which Sue draws her abilities speculate that she might, at her core, possess the divinely potent capacity to create or destroy. While Malice was a manifestation of Sue’s subconscious desire to channel these abilities, that aptitude does not vanish with her alter ego. Today, Malice remains a vivid reminder of the extraordinary cosmic potential Susan Storm can achieve if she fully embraces her inherent strength.

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