Nathaniel Richards is the father of Reed Richards who would later become the famous superhero, Mr. Fantastic, and Evelyn Richards, his loving wife. He lived happily with his family, noting his son's intellect at a young age and trying his best to encourage it along with his wife. Unfortunately around the time Reed was 7 years old, his mother had passed away.

Nathaniel, always the scientist was secretly developing a machine that would allow him to travel through different dimensions. By the time Reed hit adulthood, his father disappeared (presumed dead) and Nathaniel left him all his fortune so his son could fulfill his dream.

In reality, however, Nathaniel had traveled to a different dimension which was mixed in with cowboys and fantasy, and he stayed there upon meeting and falling in love with the daughter of the leader of the place. The daughter while beautiful, manipulated him and used Nathaniel's inventions for her own gain, the people of that dimension thinking Nathaniel was the cruel warlord. In time the truth would come to light, with the appearance of his son and the rest of the Fantastic Four. It was found out that it was hi wife who was the cruel tyrant, manipulating Nathaniel's love for her and ultimately going too far.

Reed and the rest of the team eventually leave leaving Nathaniel behind. But he would not be forgotten so easily.

Years later Nathaniel once again appears in the lives of the FF, but this time with more dire consequences. He had come from the future where he learnt that his grandson would set off a chain of events and came back to his sons life to take the boy away. With the help of Agatha the plan was successful and Nathaniel took his grandson to the future where he trained him as best he could alongside his aunt, Huntara.

It is believed that Nathaniel is the father of Kang the Conqueror, which if it's true would make Kang half-brother to Mr. Fantastic.