The Thing

When pilot Ben Grimm flew his friend Reed Richards and two others on an unauthorized rocket mission through a belt of cosmic rays, the radiation transformed his body into a superhumanly strong creature with orange, rock-like hide — making him the Thing, the most powerful member of the newly formed Fantastic Four.

Few characters in Marvel history carry the sheer emotional and visual weight of The Thing — the rocky-hided heart of the Fantastic Four, debuting in the Silver Age landmark Fantastic Four #5 in 1962, courtesy of the legendary duo Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Over 64 years and more than 2,100 catalog appearances, this blue-eyed idol of millions has proven himself one of comics' most enduring figures, anchoring not only Fantastic Four but an entire solo anthology in Marvel Two-in-One and turning up across titles like The Amazing Spider-Man — a testament to how much the Marvel Universe genuinely loves having him around. He keeps extraordinary company, sharing adventures with Reed Richards, Susan Storm Richards, and Johnny Storm, the family that defines Marvel's First Family. With 119 key issues to his name, The Thing isn't just a cornerstone of Silver Age collecting — he's a reminder that the most compelling characters are the ones who carry real humanity beneath the surface.