Benjamin Jacob Grimm, also known as the Thing, is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a founding member of the Fantastic Four. Thing was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and he first appeared in The Fantastic Four #1 (cover-dated Nov. 1961).
The character is known for his trademark rocky appearance, who possesses the ability to perform superhuman strength and had a sense of humor and famous battle cry, "it's clobberin' time!" Thing's speech patterns are loosely based on those of Jimmy Durante. Michael Bailey Smith played Ben Grimm in his human form while Carl Ciarfalio played the Thing in The Fantastic Four film from 1994, Michael Chiklis portrayed the Thing in the 2005 film Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, while Jamie Bell acted the part in Fantastic Four (2015).
In 2011, IGN ranked the Thing 18th in the "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes", and 23rd in their list of "The Top 50 Avengers" in 2012. The Thing was named Empire magazine's tenth of "The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters" in 2008.
Theme song(s): Ben Arrives (Unused Track - John Ottman)
Ikran's Fantastic 4 OC series[]
Terri first met Ben along with Reed sitting at a bench in Central Park. They'd been close friends to her, much like John Myers, as they'd shown her around the Big Apple. They were going thru bankruptcy until Victor gave them a golden opportunity as they'd head into the Von Doom space station. Ben was turned down by Sue, as she offered Johnny, to be the pilot while he rode shotgun. While outside, he was the first to be exposed to the cosmic storm, transforming him into The Thing. Babs broke her engagement, and Terri felt sorry for him, remembering how The Creature in Frankenstein was treated while they took the stairs to Reed's lab in the Baxter Building. He was the one who was rejected and impacted the most by the aftereffects, till he met the talented blind artist, Alicia. They'd been fast friends, but people were still mocking Ben.
He had a little scrimmage with Reed, declaring he won't be his bodyguard anymore, and left for Victor's lab. He was successful on changing him back, only to be vulnerable to his electric prowess! Realizing the threat, he decided to change back and fight him directly! Alone, he was no match, till Reed ordered him to rapidly freeze him using a fire hydrant after Johnny's supernova! A cruise was made in the team's honor, and he warmed up more.
He was one of the heroes that were separated, due to the aftereffects of the tainted wine from the cruise! Eventually, he reunited with the group.
He was Reed's best man in his wedding to Sue, and he was the only one to identify the comet causing the anomalies creating its own energy. He too saved Alicia as the helicopter crash by the unknown radiation, which later turned out to be the Silver Surfer. He was able to reattach the Millennium Eye, but the Surfer got away, and he was outraged Victor was hired by Gen. Hager to help the cause! He was able to activate the tectonic pulse in Germany, then was imprisoned with the group in Moscow. He bust out of their prison after Victor stole the board and was valiant though hapless against him. He offered Johnny to fuse their powers, and the Surfer destroyed Galactus, to which he didn't believe at first. He was also involved with the issue of the sinking Adriatic.
He was chosen as a co-pilot to Terri's AstroWing, though he lost against Reed. He was however involved in the mission as he created a distraction for Reptyl, though Shalla wasn't found. He soon assisted Reed as he was being ambushed by a possessed Sue, and he helped Terri trap her dark spirit in a mirror which shattered onto space rock! He was a good combatant against Emperor Kylor, till he was overmatched then saved by Norrin's Power Cosmic. He was aboard the AstroWing and he offered Reed to fuse the group's powers together before he and Norrin failed to face off Mephisto, resulting the ship to crash! He offered Terri to look for Shalla, while he assembles the ship and Johnny watches over Sue. They retrieved Shalla's soul and headed to the Magik Domain finding her discarded vessel and escaping from the black hole! The mission was successful, and he had a change of heart to the Surfer ever since.
Trivia[]
- Much like Reed and Myers, Ben became one of Ikran's favorite characters in the Fantastic 4! At one time, Terri referred to him being similar to the Creature in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as it was unfair for Babs to abandon him and break off the engagement based on his looks! The inside is what truly counts, as Alicia saw him! She was really into that couple that she even picked a fan song for them, No One by Alicia Keys!
- Ben may be chosen as one of Ikran's Video Game Geokinetics.
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