Database: Roster: Thing

Benjamin Jacob Grimm

Ben was born in the Lower East Side of New York City. His father, Daniel Grimm, was drunk more often than not and usually unemployed. Most of his family's income came from his older brother, Dan Jr., his Yancy Street Gang's illegal pursuits. Ben took on membership in the gang after Dan Jr. was killed in a gang war when Ben was eight. He eventually became the gang's leader and followed into his brother's footsteps until his parents died.

Still a minor, Ben was placed in his Uncle Jake and Aunt Petunia's care. They tried, and eventually succeeded, in getting Ben to straighten up his act. Ben became a high school football star and received an athletic scholarship at Empire State University, where he met his best friend Reed Richards. Ben joined the Air Force after graduation and became one of their best test pilots.

Reed eventually called Ben up on a old promise, to pilot his new expeimental rocket. The cosmic rays that bombarded him during that space flight turned him into the Thing. He now possesses incredible strength and a rocky, orange hide that is nearly impervious to damage.

Shortly after Ben's initial transformation, he fell in love with the blind sculptress, Alicia Masters. The two dated for many years, but Ben never felt he could could marry her in his Thing form. Over the years, he has occasionally reverted to his human form, only to change back once again to the Thing. While he was at the Beyonder's Secret Wars, Ben gained the ability to revert to his human form at will and stayed for some time after the other heroes returned home. During that time, Johnny Storm and Alicia fell in love and got married shortly after Ben's return. It was only later they discovered that the real Alicia Masters had been abuducted by the Skrulls and replaced with a spy. The Fantastic Four rescued the real Alicia Masters, but Ben's torch for her has not yet been rekindled.

Ben's Chronology