Thing II

Ben Grimm grew up in poverty on Yancy Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side. His alcoholic father unable to hold a job, forced his older brother Daniel to resort to crime for much of the family's income as the leader of the Yancy Street Gang. Idolizing his brother, Grimm became embittered against the world when his brother died during a clash between rival gangs. Grimm would eventually succeed his brother as leader of the street gang.

With the death of his parents, Ben was remanded to live with his Aunt Alyce and Uncle Jake, who had risen from poverty to become a successful physician. First resisting his new guardians' kindness, he eventually came to return their love. Earning a football scholarship to State University, Grimm roomed with future aeronautical engineer Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), and the two became best friends.

Now an Air Force pilot Grimm was contacted years later by Richards to pilot an experimental starship capable of interstellar travel. Rounding out the crew of four were Richards' fiancée and longtime sweetheart, Susan Storm (Invisible Girl), and her brother, Johnny (Human Torch II).

A freak cosmic-radiation storm changed the rocket's inhabitants granting them each unique powers. When the rocket crashed back to Earth, Grimm mutated into a rock-hard monster, dubbed by a fearful fellow adventurer, Sue Storm, as a Thing.

Alias
Thing II
Nick Name
Benji Ever-Lovin' Blue-Eyed Thing Rock Head
Civilian ID
Benjamin Jacob "Ben" Grimm Aliases Blackbeard the Pirate Dr. Josiah Verpoorteen Grim Ben
Occupation
Adventurer Air Force Test Pilot Astronaut College Football Player Former Fighter Pilot Professional Wrestler
Legal Status
Citizen of the United States with no criminal record.
Nation or Planet of Origin
New York, New York
Group Affiliation
Fantastic Four Thunderiders United Class Wrestling Federation West Coast Avengers Yancy Street Gang
Base of Operations
Baxter Building, New York, New York
Height
6'
Weight
Ben Grimm: 225 lbs. Thing II: 500 lbs.
Eye Color
Baby Blue
Hair Color
Ben Grimm: Brown Thing II: Bald
Skin Tone
Ben Grimm: Caucasian Thing II: Stone
Known Powers
Exposure to cosmic radiation resulting in a rocky exterior and increased mass granting superhuman strength, stamina and durability. Excellent hand-to-hand combatant with military training. Above average intelligence with skills as a military aviator. Note: Ben Grimm is commonly unable to change back to human form from the Thing, but due to a series of various events in the past he has had this capability for limited amounts of time.
Accessories
Fantastic Four Comlink: Personal communications device worn on the outside of the uniform resembling the team logo. Fantastic Four Uniform: Clothing made of unstable molecules which is resistant and conforms to the abilities of members. Resources of the Fantastic Four Foundation.
Common Enemies
Abraxas Annihilus Beetle I Blastaar Celestials Diablo Dr. Doom I Frightful Four Galactus Grey Gargoyle Hate Monger Hulk II Impossible Man Klaw Mad Thinker Mole Man Molecule Man Onslaught Puppet Master Rama-Tut Red Ghost Ronan the Accuser Sandman Skrull Empire Sub-Mariner Super-Skrull Trapster Wizard
Regularly Appearing
Fantastic Four Vol. 1, 2 & 3 Fantastic Four: 1...2...3...4 Fantastic Four: First Family Fantastic Four: Foes Knights 4 Marvel Two-In-One Strange Tales Vol. 1 & 2 The Thing Vol. 1 & 2
First Appearance
Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #1 (Nov. 1961)
Creator
Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
Origin
Ben Grimm grew up in poverty on Yancy Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side. His alcoholic father unable to hold a job, forced his older brother Daniel to resort to crime for much of the family's income as the leader of the Yancy Street Gang. Idolizing his brother, Grimm became embittered against the world when his brother died during a clash between rival gangs. Grimm would eventually succeed his brother as leader of the street gang. With the death of his parents, Ben was remanded to live with his Aunt Alyce and Uncle Jake, who had risen from poverty to become a successful physician. First resisting his new guardians' kindness, he eventually came to return their love. Earning a football scholarship to State University, Grimm roomed with future aeronautical engineer Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), and the two became best friends. Now an Air Force pilot Grimm was contacted years later by Richards to pilot an experimental starship capable of interstellar travel. Rounding out the crew of four were Richards' fiancée and longtime sweetheart, Susan Storm (Invisible Girl), and her brother, Johnny (Human Torch II). A freak cosmic-radiation storm changed the rocket's inhabitants granting them each unique powers. When the rocket crashed back to Earth, Grimm mutated into a rock-hard monster, dubbed by a fearful fellow adventurer, Sue Storm, as a Thing.