Stan Lee's 20 Greatest Marvel Comics Creations
9. The Thing
In a move that would probably surprise Ben Grimm himself, The Thing gets the highest ranking out of the whole Fantastic Four.
His catchphrase ‘It’s clobberin’ time!’ is almost as iconic as Stan Lee’s own ‘Excelsior!’, and it’s this sense of humour that makes The Thing so endearing. Not just with fans, but in canon too; he’s one of the most liked heroes around.
His love affair with blind Alicia Masters is a touching twist on the idea of love at first sight. Being the only one of the Four who’s powers are permanently on, Masters offers a good angle for him to find some happiness while still struggling with his appearance.
Even away from Masters, he has some of the most complex relationships going. He’s Reed’s best friend, but ultimately blames Reed for his state. Grimm was never as smart as Richards yet he realised the danger of their mission first. However, because Reed ignored him, it’s The Thing who pays the price.
Fans of Lee’s cameo work will surely remember his appearance in The Simpsons too. In it, he uses The Thing to break Database’s Batmobile. Well, not so much broke as made it better. Brilliant.