Fantastic Four: 10 Times The Thing Redefined The Word “Fantastic”
9. Battling The Champion
The Champion is one of the Elders of the Universe and considers physical combat his specialty and his gift upon all the planets that he visits. He judges a planet’s worthiness by the combative abilities of its people and has destroyed many civilizations for failing to give him a proper challenge. Champion came to Earth and challenged a number of its strongest heroes to battle.
He also disqualified quite a few, including the Hulk, believing him to be a mindless beast; Thor, for throwing Mjolnir; and Namor, for refusing to train. The Champion defeated several heroes, including Colossus of the X-Men, the Avenger Wonder Man, and Alpha Flight’s Sasquatch. But despite beating him nearly to death, Ben refused to stay down. The Thing would not give up the fight.
This impressed the Champion and he called the match a draw and offered the greatest gift he had to offer: a second chance at a later date before teleporting away. At which time, the bloody and battered Thing collapsed on the canvas.