During the Silver Age, fans were introduced to popular characters such as Barry Allen’s Flash, Oliver Queen’s Green Arrow, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern and many more. Leading the charge for Marvel Comics into the Silver Age was the Fantastic Four. Perhaps the most commanding figure of Marvel’s First Family was Ben Grimm, but just how much do you know about him?

Created by the dynamic duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Benjamin Jacob “Ben” Grimm made his debut appearance in The Fantastic Four #1 in 1961. Born and raised in New York City, Grimm endured a early life of poverty and hardship that caused him to develop a hard exterior. Following the death of his older brother and his parents, Grimm goes to live with his Uncle Jake. Although he briefly leads the Yancy Street gang, Grimm eventually gets his life together and earns a full scholarship to Empire State University. It is here that he first meets his future life-long friend, teenage genius Reed Richards, and eventual enemy Victor von Doom. 

While in school, Richards describes his plan of building a rocket to explore the space around Mars. In what would become a life-altering moment, Grimm jokingly makes a promise to Richards to fly that rocket when the time comes. Years later, with the spaceship now completed, Richards reminds Grimm of his promise. Together with Sue and Johnny Storm, the quartet fly into the upper atmosphere of Earth and the Van Allen Belts. After being struck by a cosmic ray storm and exposed to intense levels of radiation, they crash land back on Earth. Much to their surprise, they each learn they have developed fantastic superhuman abilities. But while Richards develops the ability to stretch his body to incredible lengths, Sue Storm can turn invisible, and Johnny Storm can generate flames, Grimm is left transformed into a monstrous rock-like being. 

For quite some time, Grimm was very unhappy and often suffered depression over his transformation. He blamed Richards for his newfound condition and requested him to develop a cure, some of which were temporarily successful. Despite his rocky beginnings, Grimm comes to accept his mutation and regains some of his original sense of humor. During this time, Grimm enjoyed an on-again, off-again relationship with blind sculptor Alicia Masters. As the Thing, Grimm developed his trademark battle cry, “It’s clobberin’ time!” In addition to the Fantastic Four, the Thing has also served with Future Foundation, UCWF, West Coast Avengers, Thunderiders, New Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Now, nearly six decades after their first introduction, Marvel’s First Family is back and better than ever. Marvel recently brought the Fantastic Four comics back to the shelves, and in December 2018, fans will finally see the wedding between Grimm and his long-time love, Masters. This highly anticipated wedding hits comic shops on December 26 in Fantastic Four #5.