THE THING'S TRANSFORMATIONS
Unlike the other members of the Fantastic Four, Ben "The Thing" Grimm cannot turn off his super-power—but that doesn't mean he never changed over the years. From his original human form to his rocky exterior and beyond, here are all of the Thing's most notable transformations so far.
Here's the Thing
In Fantastic Four (1961) #1
In his debut, Ben Grimm pilots Reed Richards' experimental rocket through a storm of cosmic rays, triggering his first transformation into the rocky super hero known as the Thing.
In Fantastic Four (1961) #51
Ben temporarily reverts to his human form when a scientist named Ricardo Jones steals his powers and poses as the Thing, but this temporary reprieve doesn't last long.
In Fantastic Four (1961) #167
During a slugfest between Thing and Hulk, the Jade Giant drains the Ben's powers, temporarily reducing him to his original human form.
In Fantastic Four (1961) #238
During one of his many attempts to make Ben look human again, Reed briefly leaves Ben in a state in between his human and rocky forms.
In Fantastic Four (1961) #245
Reed makes a startling discovery about the nature of Ben's powers, but decides to keep that information to himself.
In Secret Wars (1984) #1
During SECRET WARS, Ben is delighted to discover he can transform at will, but Reed continues to keep his discovery to himself.
In Thing (1983) #23
Ben discovers Reed's secret, leading to a shake-up for the Fantastic Four as a team.
In Fantastic Four (1961) #309
A second trip through cosmic rays gives Ben an even more jagged and pointed exterior, while transforming his then-girlfriend Sharon Ventura into a Thing-like being herself.
In Fantastic Four (1961) #326
Ben takes a tumble into a device that drains his powers during a fight with the Frightful Four, but he makes a difficult decision for Sharon.
In Fantastic Four (1998) #584
As one of their first projects, the Future Foundation—the Fantastic Four's young brain trust—finds a cure for Ben's condition, allowing him to become human again for one week every year. However, his first outing with the cure arrives at a critical time for the team, with devastating consequences.
In Fear Itself (2010) #1
Riddled with guilt over a friend's death, Ben finds himself vulnerable to dark magic that transforms him into Angrir, Breaker of Souls, during an Asgardian attack.
In One World Under Doom (2025) #2
After Doom takes over Earth as its Sorcerer Supreme, the Fantastic Four confront their longtime nemesis, only for Doom to bestow his "mercy" upon Ben.
In Fantastic Four (1998) #605
Ben does not age in his rocky form; he only ages during his one week a year as a regular human. In this issue, Reed follows Ben's life thousands of years into the future, where he encounters an aged version of the Thing near the end of his long, natural life.