The Thing #1
The Thing #1 (cover-dated July 1983) marks the first time Ben Grimm stepped out from under the Fantastic Four's umbrella to carry a solo ongoing series — a meaningful vote of confidence in a character who had previously shared the spotlight in the team-up anthology Marvel Two-In-One for years. Its debut story, 'Lifelines,' was the first time in the character's then-22-year publication history that his childhood was explored in any sustained, narrative depth, establishing the dark Yancy Street backstory — including his older brother Dan's gang leadership and death — that subsequent writers have built upon ever since. By deliberately forgoing a conventional action-packed first issue in favor of an introspective origin told through flashback, writer John Byrne signaled that this series would treat Ben Grimm as a fully dimensional character rather than simply the team bruiser. The issue's emotional groundwork proved durable enough that elements of it were revisited and expanded in Fantastic Four #335 and Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #56, cementing 'Lifelines' as the foundational text for Ben Grimm's inner life.
In "Lifelines," The Thing returns to Yancy Street to revisit the roots of his past, reflecting on his childhood, the loss of his brother, and the early days that led to the formation of the Fantastic Four. Written by John Byrne and illustrated by Ron Wilson, with inks by Joe Sinnott and colors by Bob Sharen, this 1983 issue captures a poignant, character-driven moment in the Marvel Universe. The cover, by John Byrne, frames the story with a striking, nostalgic image of the character in his old neighborhood.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The series arose directly from the cancellation of Marvel Two-In-One, the long-running team-up title that had served as The Thing's de facto solo showcase since 1974. John Byrne, then in the midst of his celebrated run writing and drawing Fantastic Four, was tapped to write the new solo book, with Ron Wilson — who had illustrated much of Marvel Two-In-One — continuing as penciler, inked by veteran Joe Sinnott and colored by Bob Sharen; the book was edited by Al Milgrom under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter. The cover for the debut issue was drawn by Byrne himself, giving the launch an all-hands prestige quality consistent with how Marvel marketed its new ongoing titles during this period.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First issue of The Thing's first-ever solo ongoing series, which ran for 36 issues from July 1983 through June 1986.
- Cover-dated July 1983; on-sale date was March 22, 1983 (per Grand Comics Database, sourced from Amazing Heroes #22).
- Story titled 'Lifelines,' written by John Byrne; interior art by penciler Ron Wilson and inker Joe Sinnott; cover art by John Byrne.
- First appearances (in flashback, and dying within the issue) of Ben Grimm's brother Daniel 'Dan' Grimm Jr., his parents Daniel Grimm Sr. and Elsie Grimm, establishing the tragic family context that explains Ben's working-class character.
- First sustained in-print exploration of Ben Grimm's childhood, including his early membership and leadership in the Yancy Street Gang — context that retroactively explained his lifelong antagonistic bond with that gang.
- The issue recaps the Fantastic Four's cosmic-ray origin in flashback, and according to forum commentary corroborated across multiple reading-order databases, it is noted as a likely first retelling of that origin that omits any reference to World War II.
- Reprinted multiple times internationally (Spanish La Cosa #1, Italian Fantastici Quattro #24) and domestically, including The Thing Classic Vol. 1 TPB (2011), the Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus Vol. 2 (2013), and The Thing Omnibus (Marvel, 2022).
- The series replaced Marvel Two-In-One and directly preceded The Thing's role in the 1984–1985 Secret Wars event, which itself became a major plot driver for later issues of this series.
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Nova #88 (1985), The Marvel Saga the Official History of the Marvel Universe #1 (1985), La Cosa #1 (1989), Fantastici Quattro #24 (1990), The Thing Classic #1 (2011), Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus #2 (2013), The Thing Omnibus #[nn] (2022), Die Fantastischen Vier #11, Secret Wars II #35
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