10 Worst Things That Ever Happened To The Thing
The Ever Lovin' Blue-Eyed Thing can't ever seem to catch a break, can he?
Since the 1930s, most superheroes were depicted as perfect, almost god-like beings. Not only did comic book characters never fail to save the day, they usually came across as calm, collected, and easygoing.
So, when Jack Kirby and Stan Lee kickstarted the Marvel Age of Comics, they differentiated themselves from others in the superhero genre by making their characters flawed people who dealt with their own personal issues.
Their first creation under the Marvel banner, the Fantastic Four, exemplified this philosophy since the superteam were constantly bickering with each other and complaining about their own problems.
And if any member of Marvel's First Family encapsulates this concept, it's Ben Grimm, better known as the Thing. Despite the fact he's clobbered every supervillain under the sun and saved the universe countless times, Ben detests his appearance and can't help feeling like a monster.
Even though he tries to stay positive, things always seem rocky for the Thing.
Whether it was the time his lover left him, he missed his honeymoon, or he was framed for murder, tragedy seems to follow the Ever Lovin' Blue-Eyed character everywhere he goes...
10. He Became The Thing - Fantastic Four #1 (1961)
One of the worst moments in the Thing's life was becoming... well... the Thing.
Many years ago, Ben Grimm's best friend, Reed Richards, asked him, Susan Storm and Johnny Storm to join him on a space mission. Even though Reed reassured him the flight was safe, Ben urged him to research the matter further before doing anything rash. After Reed promised him nothing would go wrong, Ben reluctantly agreed to pilot the spacecraft.
Unfortunately, Ben's concerns were completely justified. As soon as they left Earth's atmosphere, their vessel was bombarded with cosmic rays. When their ship landed, each of the four crew members learned they were endowed with incredible powers. Reed Richards gained super-elasticity, Sue Storm could turn invisible, and Johnny Storm could ignite his body at will.
Sadly, Ben drew the short straw since the cosmic radiation calcified his body in stone. Although he was gifted with astounding strength, it came with the cost of looking like a monster, which left him feeling lonely and depressed.
Because Reed's best efforts to reverse Ben's disfigurement have been met with constant failure, it seems Ben is doomed to maintain his rocky appearance for the rest of his life.