Thing (Marvel Comics character)

Benjamin Grimm was an American military officer, ace pilot, and superhero of the 20th century.
==Biography ==
=== Early Life ===
====Youth====
Grimm was raised in poverty.The Fantastic Four Volume 1 #11 - Stan Lee & Jack Kirby - Marvel Comics - Published 1962 - Page 6 - Retrieved 21 April 2022
===Aviation Career===
====Second World War====
Grimm enlisted in the United States Marine Corps slightly after graduating, becoming recognised as an ace pilot, while Richards served with the O.S.S..
Grimm was enlisted by Nick Fury to fly a transport plane behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied territory and enable them to destroy a troublesome radar station. Grimm flew the plain through treacherous mountains to avoid detection by radar, and fought off two enemy fighters.Only the Swamp Survives! - Tom DeFalco & Ron Wilson - Marvel Two-in-One Volume 1 #77 - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 17 - Retrieved 19 August 2023 After landing, the group fought enemy combatants,Only the Swamp Survives! - Tom DeFalco & Ron Wilson - Marvel Two-in-One Volume 1 #77 - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 18 - Retrieved 19 August 2023Only the Swamp Survives! - Tom DeFalco & Ron Wilson - Marvel Two-in-One Volume 1 #77 - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 19 - Retrieved 19 August 2023 before rescuing partisan leader Carlos LeBlanc, who led them to the targeted facility.Only the Swamp Survives! - Tom DeFalco & Ron Wilson - Marvel Two-in-One Volume 1 #77 - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 26 - Retrieved 19 August 2023 Afterward, the group was forced to fight back to Grimm's transport plane to escape.Only the Swamp Survives! - Tom DeFalco & Ron Wilson - Marvel Two-in-One Volume 1 #77 - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 27 - Retrieved 19 August 2023 (COMIC: Only the Swamp Survives!)
In 1944, Grimm partook in a battle against the in the South Pacific.Comic Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders Volume 1 #7 - Archie Goodwin & Dick Ayers - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 1 - Retrieved 22 April 2022 After sustaining heavy damage to his plane during a dogfight, he was forced to crash land on a Japanese-occupied island. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war by infamous propagandist Colonel Sakata. Captain Simon Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders were dispatched to rescue him. (COMIC: OBJECTIVE: BEN GRIMM!)
===Test Piloting===
After the war's conclusion, Grimm successfully transitioned into a career as a test pilot.
====Experimental Flight====
Grimm was Richards' first pick to pilot his experimental ship. Richards pleaded with Grimm that he was the only suitable candidate for the job, though it was Susan Storm who managed to convince Grimm to take the job after accusing him of cowardice.The Fantastic Four - Stan Lee & Jack Kirby - The Fantastic Four Volume 1 #1 - Marvel Comics - Published 1961 - Page 9 - Retrieved 24 August 2023A Visit With the Fantastic Four - Stan Lee & Jack Kirby - The Fantastic Four Volume 1 #11 - Marvel Comics - Published 1962 - Page 7 - Retrieved 24 August 2023 (COMIC: The Fantastic Four, A Visit With the Fantastic Four)
==Weapons and Abilities==
=== Qualities===
*Willpower: Grimm possessed an indomitable will that allowed him to rise to any challenge.
**After being subjected to sadistic torture by Colonel Sakata, Grimm willed himself to overlook the pain to rise and attack Sakata and allow Captain Savage to take out the enemy officer.Comic Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders Volume 1 #7 - Archie Goodwin & Dick Ayers - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 14 - Retrieved 22 April 2022 (COMIC: OBJECTIVE: BEN GRIMM!)
**After crashing the FX-24, Grimm staggered for miles through the swamps of the Florida Everglades in excruciating pain while resisting the effects of a concussion. (COMIC: Only the Swamp Survives!)
===Skills===
*Pilotry: Grimm's skills as a WW2 flying ace were well known during the war.Marvel Two-In-One Volume 1 #77 - Tom DeFalco & Ron Wilson - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 15 - Retrieved 22 April 2022 
**Japanese airmen referred to Grimm's skills as a "demon flying ability".Comic Captain Savage and his Leatherneck Raiders Volume 1 #7 - Archie Goodwin & Dick Ayers - Marvel Comics - Published 1981 - Page 2 - Retrieved 22 April 2022 (COMIC: OBJECTIVE: BEN GRIMM!)
==Notes==
=== Behind the Scenes===
*Grimm was created by American comic book creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
*During the character's initial appearances, his depiction altered in subtle ways before reaching Kirby's preferred design.The Evolution of the Thing's Skin During Jack Kirby's Fantastic Four - Brian Cronin - 14 October 2018 - Comic Book Resources - Retrieved 21 April 2022
*Grimm's and Richards's military backstories were ignored for decades because of the sliding timescale, before they were retconned to have in fact occurred during the Sin-Cong conflict.Which Heroes Does Marvel's New Vietnam War Retcon Affect? - Brian Cronin - 24 August 2019 - Comic Book Resources - Retrieved 28 April 2022 Other experiences were retconned to have occurred to Grimm's grandfather of the same name.
==Links==
*Ben Grimm on Wikipedia
*Benjamin Grimm on the Marvel Database
==References==
Category:Humans
Category:Heroes
Category:Superheroes
Category:Murderers
Category:Athletes
Category:Pilots
Category:Flying aces
Category:Fantastic Four
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American military
Category:United States Marine Corps
Category:Astronauts
Category:Veterans of WWII
Category:New York City characters
Category:New York characters
Category:American characters
Category:Comic book characters
Category:Marvel Comics characters
Category:State University alumni
Category:Prisoners of war
Category:Science fiction heroes