In the early years of the Fantastic Four, Sue spent much of her time keeping the team together. Reed spent long hours in his laboratory; Grimm moped over his appearance; Johnny acted out like any teenager. Her power of invisibility had little use in battling super-villains such as Doctor Doom and Galactus, but her empathy and common sense prevented several breakups and defections. Even though she was best suited to act as spokesperson for the Fantastic Four, she would have encountered resistance in the early 1960s, so Richards took on that job as well. Her discontent manifested itself in an attraction to Namor[3], who returned her affections, but the relationship never matured.

She soon discovered new powers: she could turn other objects (besides herself) invisible and project and manipulate powerful force fields.[4] Although unable to perform offensively on a par with the Thing, she could defend against almost any threat.