Profile

Real Name: Benjamin Jacob “Ben” Grimm
AKA: Angrir, Aunt Petunia’s favorite nephew, B, Bashful Benjy, Benjamin J. Grimm, Benny, Big Orange Stephen Hawking, Blackbeard the Pirate, Butch, Brick Man, Commander Benjamin J. Grimm, Count Crag, Dr. Josiah Verpoorteen, El Morrito, The Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing, Grim Ben, Grimm Reaper, Immortal Thing, Orange Slice, Rock-Man, Rocky Grimm, Uncle Ben, Uncle Benjy
Family: Benjamin Grimm (paternal grandfather, presumed deceased); Mary Grimm (paternal grandmother, presumed deceased); unnamed maternal grandmother (deceased); Petunia Grimm (aunt by marriage); Sophie Grimm (paternal aunt, deceased); Alyce Grimm (paternal aunt and former legal guardian, deceased); Jake Grimm (paternal uncle and former legal guardian); Daniel Grimm (father, deceased); Elsie Grimm (mother, deceased); Daniel Grimm Jr (brother, deceased);unnamed cousin; Alicia Masters (wife); Jo-Venn (adopted son); N’Kalla (adopted daughter); Franklin Richards (godson); Carnage (former symbiote); Grimm Family (relatives)
Base of Operation: 4 Yancy Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York Formerly; Moon Girl’s Secret Laboratory, Public School 20 Anna Silver, Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York, New York, The Mount, Nevada; S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, C.I.T.T., Baxter Building, Manhattan, New York City, New York; Pier 4; Antarctic lab; Four Freedoms Plaza; Avengers Compound, Los Angeles, California
Identity: Public
Citizenship: American
Martial Status: Married
Occupation: Adventurer; former construction worker, security guard, astronaut, test pilot, college football player, student, wrestler
Education: College graduate (State University), U.S. Air Force pilot training, NASA astronaut training
Gender: Male
Height: 6′ (1.83 m)
Weight: 500 lbs (226.8 kg)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: No hair at all (formally brown)
Unusual Feature: Body is covered with an orange, flexible, rock-like hide; No apparent neck; Only four fingers (including the thumb) on each hand and four toes on each foot. The increase in the volume of his fingers has not decreased his manual dexterity. His skin is apparently susceptible to “drying” or what in a normal human being would be called the loss of skin oil, for his skin can be “chipped” under certain circumstances. The Thing has no outer ear structure.
Origin: Body is covered with an orange, flexible, rock-like hide; No apparent neck; Only four fingers (including the thumb) on each hand and four toes on each foot. The increase in the volume of his fingers has not decreased his manual dexterity. His skin is apparently susceptible to “drying” or what in a normal human being would be called the loss of skin oil, for his skin can be “chipped” under certain circumstances. The Thing has no outer ear structure.
Universe: Marvel Prime Universe (Earth-616)

He may be a big orange rock monster with a gruff exterior, but no one shows more inner strength and kindness then Ben Grimm. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Fantastic Four #1, Stan’s image for the Thing ‘s personality was very different then what he would become. He had tried to make Ben more of a sneaky character, in love with Sue and constantly trying to betray Reed for turning him into the Thing and vying for her affections. But that all changed when Stan introduced Alicia Master and love blossomed for Ben. The Thing quickly grew into the big softy we know and love today, making him one of the most beloved characters in Marvel’s history.

Of course Ben will always be a member of the Fantastic Four, but he has joined other teams like the Avengers (being the first one of the F4 core members to do so), the Defenders, Guardians of the Galaxy and others, as well as some solo adventures.

As for toys, being one of Marvel biggest characters (despite the Fox shit), he has had a good number of figures. Unfortunately none of them have really capture the character perfectly. That all changed when Hasbro released the Walgreen’s exclusive Thing figure, which won many awards even from this site.

Have

First Appearance

Recommend Figure: Toybiz Marvel Legends Series 11 First Appearance Thing

Background:
- Thing as he first appeared. This is him during his initial run of the book but was changed as the comic went on. According to Reed, Ben was still mutating into his classic form. In real life, Jack Kirby was testing his designs and eventually settled on the classic form.
Why you need it for your collection?:
- I say you can skip this as it is not a great figure and as you can see in the images doesn’t represent that artwork at all. The only reason to get this in mint is for the Pogo bike it came with.
Does it need a remake?:
- Yes but only if they decide to make the other 3 as well.

Classic

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Walgreens Exclusive Marvel Legends The Thing

Background:
- This is the form that many people know The Thing as. Not really one to wear a shirt and pants, he worn the blue shorts version of the classic F4 costumes. The other costumes are basically based on this.
Why you need it for your collection?:
- Toybiz did a version of this in their second Series of ML. Compare to today that is really a bad figure. Hasbro are finally released a version and it looks fantastic (no pun intend). Highly recommend that version rather then any of the earlier version.
Does it need a remake?:
- No the one Hasbro are releasing is perfect as is.

Negative Zone

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends Fantastic Four Retro Wave – Thing

Background:
- Like the rest of the team, after they went on a extended trip to the Negative Zone, his costume was made into a negative version of it that he wore for a while in the real world.
Why you need it for your collection?:
- If you want to complete the team in their Negative Zone outfits, you can get this.
Does it need a remake?:
- No.

Fresh Start

Recommend Figure: Hasbro Marvel Legends Fantastic Four ? Wave Thing

Background:
- After Marvel cancelled the book to insure there was no advertising for Fox’s second attempt at the team, they relaunched the book in a story called Fresh Start. Reed and Sue return from their creating new universes, the team gain got new costumes.
Why you need it for your collection?:
- If you wanted a powered down Johnny that matches the rest of the team, then this is the one to get. It doesn’t match the Walgreen’s version but it does match the rest of this wave’s F4 figures.
Does it need a remake?:
- No.

Needs

Below you will find a gallery of suits that still need to be made. I have included what I think are the possibilities of them being made. Note that these are my personal opinions and not fact. Please let me know if I have missed anything.