10 Things Marvel Wants You To Forget About The Thing

5. He Was Once Killed By Reed Richards

Given the Four's image as Marvel's most wholesome family, the fact that Reed Richards actually killed the Thing probably won't sit well with everyone.

During Mark Waid's run on Fantastic Four, the team head to Latveria and take down Doctor Doom once and for all. The dictator dies, and Reed, in all his apparent wisdom, decides to run the place himself. Growing more unhinged by the day and inviting controversy at a global scale, Reed accidentally releases Doom's spirit from Hell and proceeds to track it down. Unfortunately for Reed - and Ben - Doom possesses the Thing, forcing a split-second decision from the team leader where he kills Ben to vanquish Victor, supposedly once and for all.

Obviously this moment came during one of the team's low points, but Ben's death felt bizarre then and still does now. Given Reed's actions in Civil War (which took place just a few years after this storyline), it's clear that the family have their issues like any other. Just, y'know, with the added caveat of energy-based death.

Ben soon returned thanks to some science-based shenanigans, but as far as periods go, this has to be one of the family's worst.