The Fantastic Four franchise often downplays the body horror potential of Ben Grimm’s transformation into the Thing. The hero is as well known for one-liners and punchlines as he is for throwing punches. Yet those stories where the Thing has had to reckon with the gravity of his transformation are often among his best in Marvel Comics lore.
Only seldom has Marvel fully embraced the nightmare-fuel reality of Grimm’s superheroic form. The character has had to come to terms with his inhuman appearance over the years, but the full implications of his metamorphosis are usually left to the reader’s imagination.
It’s fair to say, the next great Thing story from Marvel Comics. will likely seek to change that.
After 60+ Years, Marvel Still Hasn’t Fully Embraced The Thing’s Body Horror Potential
Ben Grimm’s Tragic Nature Has Been Overcome By His Sense Of Humor
Marvel’s Hulk and Thing were introduced within six months of each other, and each are distinct variations on the same theme. Hulk is an overt take on “Doctor Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde,” a man who turns into a monster. Fantastic Four’s Thing, meanwhile, is the mind of a hero stuck in a monstrous-looking body.
While Marvel has increasingly committed to exploring the body horror implications of the Hulk’s transformation, it still tends to shy away from doing this with the Thing. There are a few notable exceptions, but largely, the Thing’s physicality is de-emphasized in favor of his personality. That is, on one hand, a testament to the Thing’s status as one of Marvel’s charming characters.
On the other hand, it’s a bit of a missed opportunity. Stories where Ben Grimm has to reconcile with being the Thing used to be more prominent in Marvel Comics, and they led to some of the hero’s most memorable moments. Over time, though, the tragic potential of the Thing’s story has taken a back seat to his comedic qualities.
The Fantastic Four’s Powers Are At Their Most Real When They’re At Their Most Horrifying
The Thing And Marvel’s First Family Are Actually Nightmare-Fuel
There is an underrated body horror quality to many of Marvel’s classic characters, when you stop and think about it. The Fantastic Four alone have a man who has been turned into living stone, one who can burst into flames at will, and one who can distort himself into entirely inhuman shapes. Even Invisible Woman’s powers have unexpected complications.
Various stories throughout the team’s 60+ year history have touched on these horror implications, but there is still so much more to be done with the frightening potential of these character concepts. The Thing and the rest of The Fantastic Four are still waiting for their most disturbing “realistic” story yet.
- First Film
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The Fantastic Four
- First Episode Air Date
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September 9, 1967
