10 Greatest Jack Kirby Characters

The Thing - Benjamin Grimm - is Jack Kirby's best designed character. He has a monstrous exterior - one that's hard and somewhat inhuman - but yet is easily most best and complex character on the Fantastic Four. He's quiet and reserved until his temper gets the best of him, but it's the big heart of The Thing that made him the breakout character for Marvel's First Family.

While Kirby had originally intended Ben Grimm to have more a scaly exterior, the rocky husk quickly became iconic. His appearance made him feel like an outsider, constantly feeling like he could never live a normal life. He's a sympathetic character that's visually dynamic - everything you could want from comics.

The Thing shares some similarities to Kirby himself from his Jewish heritage to his regular cigar smoking habit. More than any other character Kirby was open about pouring some of his own personality into Ben Grimm, helping to make him the lovable character he remains today.

In that sense, then, he's the most authentic Kirby creation out there.

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What's your favourite Kirby creation? Let us know in the comments below!