History ComicBook / TheThing

* AgeLift: Like Reed and ComicBook/DoctorDoom, Ben in the classic Marvel Universe is a middle-aged man around a decade or two Sue and Johnny's senior. Also, like Reed, both the original ''ComicBook/HeroesReborn'' and the ''Film/FantasticFour2005'' film series depict him as closer in age to them. While also closer in age to Sue and Johnny and also again like Reed, ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'' and ''Film/FantasticFour2015'' depict Ben (and Doom and the Storm siblings) as a teenager or in his early 20s.

** vol. 2 (2017 -- present)

* AgeLift: Like Reed and ComicBook/DoctorDoom, Ben in the classic Marvel Universe is a middle-aged man a around a decade or two Sue and Johnny's senior. Also, like Reed, both the original ''ComicBook/HeroesReborn'' and the ''Film/FantasticFour2005'' film series depict him as closer in age to them. While also closer in age to Sue and Johnny and also again like Reed, ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'' and ''Film/FantasticFour2015'' depict Ben (and Doom and the Storm siblings) as a teenager or in his early 20s.

* BreakoutCharacter: Even though Johnny was the first one to get a series (likely catapulting off his Golden Age counterpart), Ben is both the most popular member and the one who shows up most consistently in other books, including multiple stints on the Avengers, several solo series, and Marvel Two-In-One, a series that was essentially 100 issues of other heroes getting to team up with him.

* SmarterThanYouLook: Ben Grimm is much smarter than most folks give him credit. A college graduate and former marine, he was a test pilot and astronaut (which requires two Master's degrees or a [=PhD=] to be even considered for that kind of duty) as well as a gifted mechanic before his transformation. He might not be a scientific genius like Reed or Doctor Doom, but he more than makes up for it with the street smarts he earned growing up in a rough lower-class neighborhood. Not only is he a college graduate (a fairly common thing nowadays) but he's a graduate of the same college that Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom (''the two smartest people on the planet'') went to--probably a pretty good school. It's a trait that comes up several times in the comics when he manages to outsmart several villains who think he's an idiot. Sadly this is something that's lost in many adaptations, the live-action movie kept it in though.

** It's something of a running gag. Sometimes when it happens he actively tries to regain his powers as he feels useless and naked without them.

* AgeLift: Like Reed, Ben in the classic Marvel Universe is a middle-aged man a around a decade or two Sue's senior. Also, like Reed, both the original ''ComicBook/HeroesReborn'' and the ''Film/FantasticFour2005'' film series depict him as closer in age to Sue and Johnny. While also closer in age to Sue and Johnny and also again like Reed, ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'' and ''Film/FantasticFour2015'' depict Ben as a teenager or in his early 20s.

* AgeLift: Like Reed, Ben in the classic Marvel Universe is a middle-aged man a around a decade or two Sue's senior. Also, like Reed, both the original ''ComicBook/HeroesReborn'' and the ''Film/FantasticFour2005'' film series depict him as closer in age to Sue and Johnny. While also closer in age to Sue and Johnny and also again like Reed, ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'' and ''Film/FantasticFour2015'' depict Ben as a teenager or in early 20s.

An quintessential tough guy and AcePilot, Ben was part of an outer space expedition led by [[ComicBook/MisterFantastic Dr. Reed Richards]], alongside [[ComicBook/InvisibleWoman Susan Storm]], and [[ComicBook/HumanTorch Johnny Storm]]. A classic example of the [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] in science fiction, the group was hit by a wave of cosmic rays, resulting in Ben's skin mutating into a rock-like substance, granting him with superhuman levels of strength, stamina, and durability.

-> ''[[{{Tagline}} "IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!"]]''

** vol. 6 (2018)

* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler:In Dan Slott's run, Ben is officially married to Alicia Masters.]]

* MilitarySuperhero: An oft-overlooked in adaptations fact about Reed and Ben is that they served in the army. In the early comics, it was UsefulNotes/WorldWarII until ComicBookTime made that impossible and it spent decades dropped. In 2019, it was reinstated as part of the [[FictionalCountry Siancong]] [[GreatOffscreenWar War]].

* MilitarySuperhero: An oft-overlooked in adaptation fact about Reed and Ben is that they served in the army. In the early comics, it was UsefulNotes/WorldWarII until ComicBookTime made that impossible and it spent decades dropped. In 2019, it was reinstated as part of the [[FictionalCountry Siancong]] [[GreatOffscreenWar War]].

** ''Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer'' (2007)

A founding member of Marvel's first family, Ben is known to show up frequently in other comic books. Most notably, however, he has appeared in the 2005 ''Film/{{Fantastic Four|2005}}'' film (and its 2007 sequel, ''Rise of the Silver Surfer''), as portrayed by Michael Chiklis. Ben also features in the 2015 ''Film/{{Fantastic Four|2015}}'' reboot, portrayed there by Jamie Bell.

* GeniusBruiser: Although his smarts are [[CastSpeciation usually overshadowed]] by super-genius Reed, and assumptions are usually made because of his appearance, strength, and voice, he is very clever in his own right. Ben lampshades this as he assembles a cosmic ray device, musing that he's watched Reed long enough to play MadScientist himself. Furthermore, he is something of an unofficial translator for Reed whenever he goes too deep into {{Technobabble}} territory, and while he can't do a lot of what Reed does, he absolutely understands the principles behind it and can pick out the salient aspects right away. There is also the fact that Grimm was a highly qualified test pilot before he became The Thing; no mean feat brain-wise. The idea of The Thing being simultaneously physically strong, ugly, and smart was seen as revolutionary in comics.

* ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFourWorldsGreatestHeroes'' (2006 -- 2010), voiced by Christopher Jacot
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' (2009 -- 2011), voiced by Creator/BrianDobson

** ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance3TheBlackOrder'' (added in 2020)

* ''VideoGame/LEGOMarvelSuperHeroes'' (2013), voiced by Creator/RogerCraigSmith

* ''VideoGame/MarvelUlitmateAlliance3TheBlackOrder'' (added in 2020)

%%* ''VideoGame/MarvelUlitmateAlliance3TheBlackOrder'' (added in 2020)

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: Other than possibly ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, Ben is the most beloved hero in the entire Marvel superhero community. He may be scary to look at, but every civilian in the Marvel U still loves and respect Ben for his incorruptible heroism, and every single superhero worthy of the name loves, respects and supports Ben. He may not see himself as a leader, but if Ben ever needed help fighting a threat, he has [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers Mansion]], [[ComicBook/XMen Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters]], and many a powerful superhero's numbers on speed dial, and all of them would respond IMMEDIATELY.

** As Reed said once, "He has his good days and his bad." Ben will never really be at peace with his monstrous form. For every writer who gives him a break from the angst, there's one who brings it back because it's so central to his character. Mark Waid's run is a good example of the latter.

* CantStayNormal: Ben has been reverted to human form many times over the years, but for one reason or another (the cure wearing off, or Ben [[HeroicSacrifice choosing to change back to help his friends]]), he always returns to being the Thing.

* GeniusBruiser: Although his smarts are [[CastSpeciation usually overshadowed]] by super-genius Reed. Ben lampshades this as he assembles a cosmic ray device, musing that he's watched Reed long enough to play MadScientist himself. Furthermore, he is something of an unofficial translator for Reed whenever he goes too deep into {{Technobabble}} territory, and while he can't do a lot of what Reed does, he absolutely understands the principles behind it and can pick out the salient aspects right away. There is also the fact that Grimm was a highly qualified test pilot before he became The Thing; no mean feat brain-wise. The idea of The Thing being simultaneously physically strong, ugly, and smart was seen as revolutionary in comics.

** In Ben's case, while he does enjoy being the idol and helping out his friends, it does mean the everyday normal moments of his life are alot more difficult because of his powers. Presumably, it does add up over time.
* IgnoredExpert: He warned Reed about the threat of cosmic radiation, and refused to fly the ship at first.

* MonsterModesty: Despite his issues with his appearance, he wears the least of the 4 - his standard "costume" is a pair of pants / shorts. At present, he's upgraded to a SleevesAreForWimps version of the "Future Foundation" suit.

* TheNicknamer: Some of his nicknames include "Stretcho" for Reed, "Bic-head" and "Matchstick" for Johnny, "Suzie-Q" for Susan, "Jade-Jaws" for Hulk, etc.

* PowerCreep: One of the most severe cases in Marvel, actually. Originally Grimm could lift around 5 tons (which was more or less Spider-Man's maximum limit at the time, though Grimm was always tougher), but he got stronger and stronger until he could press about 90 tons. However he often displays feats of superhuman strength ''way'' beyond this theoretical limits (hauling skyscrapers, anchoring spaceships taking off from Earth) even though Marvel still swears up and down he can only do 90 tons. A future version of Ben managed to easily overpower him, stating "We keep getting stronger for the rest of our life."

* ProperlyParanoid: Ben was vocally worried about the cosmic rays that would empower the team, which was one reason he didn't want to fly it up to begin with. That he wound up completely right due to becoming a RockMonster has come up as an issue between him and Reed.

* VitriolicBestBuds: With Johnny. They spend most of their time either sniping and snarking at each other, planning increasingly elaborate practical jokes on each other, or lambasting each other with creatively brutal threats about what they'll do to the other (which are hardly ever followed through) after said practical jokes. They are, of course, practically inseparable.

* HairTriggerTemper: Could be considered his FatalFlaw; every time he gets angry he gets physical. His anger at the Beyonder led him to lash out and the result ended the superhero community in an Alternate Universe.
* HappilyMarried: [[spoiler:In Dan Slott's run, Ben is officially married to Alicia Masters]].

* PoweredArmor: At one point, Ben was turned back into a human and lost his powers as the Thing. Since he still wanted to help the rest of the team out, Reed constructed an ComicBook/{{Iron Man}}-like suit of armor for him that resembles his rocky Thing form. The suit allowed Ben to simulate the strength and durability he had when he was the actual Thing, albeit not quite on the same level.

* [[PapaWolf Uncle Wolf]]: Again, the Richards children, who are his godchildren. Messing with them is a good way to get your face turned into goo by a large, rocky, orange fist.

* MarkOfShame: During the 90s, the Thing hid his face behind a silver helmet after a battle between the Fantastic Four and the "All-New" Fantastic Four (Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine and Ghost Rider assembled as Dr. Strange's latest iteration of the Secret Defenders) lead to Wolverine taking a huge hunk of Ben's face with his adamantium claws. Thankfully, the scar healed over time, but Ben was quite horrified by it.

* ''ComicBook/MarvelTwoInOne'' vol. 2 (2017 -- present)

[[folder: Notable Comic Books]]

[[folder: Film]]

[[folder: Animation]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

-> ''[[{{Tagline}} "IT'S COBBERIN' TIME!"]]''

* ''Film/{{Fantastic Four|2005}}'' (2005), portrayed by Michael Chiklis

* ''Film/{{Fantastic Four|2015}}'' (2015), portrayed by Jamie Bell

* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Fantastic Four|1967}}'' (1967), voiced by Paul Frees
* ''WesternAnimation/FantasticFour'' (1994 -- 1996), voiced by Chuck McCann

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'' (2009 -- 2011), voiced by Brian Dobson
* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' (2010 -- 2013), voiced by Fred Tatasciore
* ''WesternAnimation/HulkAndTheAgentsOfSmash'' (2013 -- 2015), voiced by Dave Boat

* ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance'' (2006), voiced by Gregg Berger
** ''Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2'' (2009), voiced by Fred Tatasciore

* HundredPercentAdorationRating: Other than possibly ComicBook/CaptainAmerica, Ben is the most beloved hero in the entire Marvel superhero community. He may be scary to look at, but every civilian in the Marvel U still loves and respect Ben for his incorruptible heroism, and every single superhero worthy of the name loves, respects and supports Ben. He may not see himself as a leader, but if Ben ever needed help fighting a threat, he has [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Avengers Mansion]], [[ComicBook/XMen Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters]], and many a powerful superhero's number on speed dial, and all of them would respond IMMEDIATELY.

* BlessedWithSuck: While most of the Fantastic Four embraces their powers, the Thing genuinely believes that his superpower is a curse, and who can blame him? Even though he possesses super strength and near invulnerability, it doesn't change the fact that he's been turned into a hideous rock monster that scares the shit out of anybody who sees him, and destroys his chances of living a normal life. He was also forced to quit his job as a test pilot because he was too big and heavy to fit in a plane. Oh yeah, and did we mention that he was turned into a ''hideous rock monster''?

* SmarterThanYouLook: Ben Grimm is much smarter than most folks gives him credit. A college graduate and former marine, he was a test pilot and astronaut (which requires two Master's degrees or a [=PhD=] to be even considered for that kind of duty) as well as gifted mechanic before his transformation. He might not be a scientific genius like Reed or Doctor Doom, but he more than makes up for it with the street smarts he earned growing up in a rough lower-class neighborhood. Not only is he a college graduate (a fairly common thing nowadays) but he's a graduate of the same college that Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom (''the two smartest people on the planet'') went to--probably a pretty good school. It's a trait that comes up several times in the comics when he manages to outsmart several villains who think he's an idiot. Sadly this is something that's lost in many adaptations, the live-action movie kept it in though.