Thing (Marvel Comics)

Publication history

The Thing was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, first appearing in The Fantastic Four #1 (Nov. 1961). Kirby modeled the character after himself, while Thing's speech patterns were loosely based on Jimmy Durante. In addition to appearing in the Fantastic Four, the Thing starred in Marvel Two-in-One, Strange Tales (with the Human Torch), and two eponymous solo series, as well as numerous miniseries and one-shots. He joined the Human Torch in Strange Tales #124 (1964), replacing the backup Doctor Strange stories; the duo's humorous chemistry was intended to liven the comic.

They were replaced in #135 (1965) by Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. After a 1973 try-out in Marvel Feature, the Thing starred in the long-running Marvel Two-in-One, teaming up with various Marvel characters. The series was cancelled after 100 issues and seven Annuals to make way for a solo series. That first solo series ran for 36 issues, written initially by John Byrne and later by Mike Carlin, with art by Ron Wilson and later Paul Neary. It explored Ben Grimm's childhood on Yancy Street and his foray into professional wrestling, and featured a major storyline from Marvel's Secret Wars where the Thing remained on Battleworld, able to return to human form at will.

Fictional character biography

His older brother Daniel, whom he idolized, was killed in a street gang fight when Ben was eight. After his parents died, Ben was raised by his Uncle Jake, who married a much younger woman named Petunia. Ben eventually led the Yancy Street gang. Excelling in football, he earned a scholarship to Empire State University, where he met Reed Richards and future enemy Victor von Doom. Richards described his dream of building a space rocket to explore Mars, and Grimm jokingly agreed to pilot it. Over the decades, his life story was modified; earlier accounts had Grimm earning advanced engineering degrees, serving as a Marine Corps test pilot during World War II, and later becoming a NASA astronaut before any crewed ship had escaped Earth's gravity.

In other media

The Thing has appeared in numerous animated series. He was voiced by Paul Frees in Fantastic Four (1967), Ted Cassidy in The New Fantastic Four (1978), and Chuck McCann in Fantastic Four (1994) and The Incredible Hulk episode "Fantastic Fortitude". In Fred and Barney Meet the Thing, Benjy Grimm was voiced by Wayne Morton and the Thing by Joe Baker. Patrick Pinney voiced him in Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Brian Dobson in Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, Dave Boat in The Super Hero Squad Show, Ultimate Spider-Man, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., and Avengers Assemble, Fred Tatasciore in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Andy Milder in Spidey and His Amazing Friends, and Roger Craig Smith in Lego Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition.

In live action, Michael Bailey Smith and Carl Ciarfalio portrayed the human and mutated forms in the unreleased The Fantastic Four (1994). Michael Chiklis played the Thing in Fantastic Four (2005) and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Jamie Bell portrayed him in the 2015 reboot. Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) and will reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).