| Comments: Growing up in a rough neighborhood on New York City's Lower East Side, Benjamin Grimm relied on street smarts and had little need for school studies. However, his tough street-scrapper upbringing translated into success on the football field and gave him the chance to attend Empire State University on a full scholarship. It was there that he would meet his lifelong friend, Reed Richards. When Reed shared his dream of building a space rocket, Ben joked that he'd love to be the one to fly it. As fate would have it, Ben eventually became an Air Force test pilot. and Reed built that rocket ship. Along with Reed's girlfriend Sue and her brother Johnny, Ben and Reed took the rocket into space, where they encountered a cosmic storm. The ship and its four passengers were pelted by cosmic rays, and learning that the rays had given each of them superhuman abilities, they dubbed themselves The Fantastic Four! Ben's skin became thick and orange, and he was granted super strength and near invulnerability. Ashamed of his disfigurement, he chose the superhero name, The Thing. With his trademark orange rocky hide, The Thing is easily one of Marvel comics most recognizable and beloved characters - a rough and rocky, wisecracking hero with a heart of gold. |
