We all have a family. I welcome discussions of Family – when the discussion between family of origin and choice or discussed some people get worked up. In my case, family of choice is important. Living so far away from my origins it is better to call upon those I choose to call family. Especially when I need immediate help. I love when they call upon me as part of their family. It only strengthens our family bonds. My family of choice is huge and welcoming.

Family

“Reed, we’re a family. Yes, we’re a team too…but we’re a family first.” - Susan Storm Richards*

One of the most popular superhero team is the Fantastic Four. But for the Invisible Woman, Susan Storm Richards it is much more than a team it is her family. To Sue her family is the most important thing in the whole world. Yes she has great friends but it is her family that gives her strength and comfort. Yes, Reed, Franklin, and Valeria are her immediate family, but being an accepting person she has invited Johnny Storm (her brother), Ben Grimm, and Alicia Masters as members of her family. She has created for herself a special family large enough to encompass many people close to her heart. Being a superhero does not mean your immune to family.

To some of us a family, father mother child, is the most important thing. But what about those of us who are not lucky enough to have close ties to a family of origin? For whatever reason some of us don’t have a family, we may be disavowed from our family or we may be far away from our family. This does not mean we do not have strong family ties – it just means we have a family of choice. We are all given the opportunity to create our own family. We leave our family of origin to go out and start a new family or we may choose to accept the dearest of friends into our lives and choose to call them brother or sister. Being accepting of others and giving of ourselves only strengthens the family we all carry deep within.

Invisible Woman

First Appearance: Fantastic Four #1, 1961

Creators: Stan Lee (plot), and Jack Kirby (art)

* “Be it Ever So Humble…” Fantastic Four #2, Feb. 1998