Warning! Spoilers for Fantastic Four #40 by Marvel Comics
In the newest chapter of the ongoing Reckoning War saga at Marvel Comics, the death of Reed Richards is teased in a shocking fashion. In Fantastic Four #40, Richards tells Ben Grimm that after obtaining the knowledge of The Watcher, his human mind is struggling to contain all of the information - meaning it will kill him three days. But, unfortunately, Mister Fantastic admits there's nothing he can do about it, either.
Reed Richards has obtained power beyond even his incredible mind in the current Reckoning War event. After learning a group of aliens known as the Reckoning have turned The Watcher's technology gifts into advanced weapons and are arming some dangerous groups across the universe, Richards gains the power of The Watcher's knowledge of the universe. The power upgrade allows Richards to help the Earth and beyond prepare for the ongoing war. But, it turns out, the power is also killing the longtime Marvel Comics hero, and he doesn't have long to live.
In Fantastic Four #40 by Dan Slott, Rachael Stott, Jesus Aburtov, and VC's Joe Caramagna, Reed Richards uses his new knowledge of The Watchers to help architect a defense against the Badoon. Meanwhile, the hero (who acts even more methodically and colder than usual) also uses them to change the Fantastic Four costumes with his mind to make the group have a more "calming effect on the rest of the world." After traveling to Shi'Ar Space, Reed makes a shocking revelation to Ben that's he's only got days left to live - teasing his own death.
The powers Reed Richards obtained grant him the incredible knowledge of The Watchers, almost making him a god in the Marvel Universe. However, even his incredible mind can't contain the overwhelming cosmic power, as a human was never meant to be able to contain the knowledge of The Watchers. Mister Fantastic recognizes the power will help take down the Reckoning but will kill him too in the process.
Richards knows that with the great power comes dire consequences. Mister Fantastic is willing to sacrifice himself to stop the Reckoning from destroying everything and everyone he loves. Whether Reed can ultimately transfer the knowledge of The Watcher or get rid of it altogether before remains to be seen - but Richards believes it's already too late as his teased death appears inevitable. Readers will find out whether Reed Richards will survive the Reckoning War in future issues, as Fantastic Four #40 is in comic book stores now.