The Thing No More!

 

There's little doubt that the saga of Ben Grimm's existence as the tragic Thing added a great deal of character development to the Fantastic Four book--a recurring plotline that by necessity of its continuance could not depend on the brilliance of Reed Richards to free his best friend from his misshapen fate of being trapped in the craggy, rock-hued form that was both the bane of his existence and an asset to his teammates. Nevertheless, the book's early issues would become replete with Reed's attempts to return Ben to his human form, efforts which seemed appropriate given Ben's penchant for shifting into a depressive mood without warning that may have served as a reminder to Reed and the others that he alone was the victim of their aborted space flight--a moping state where he would bemoan his condition, in addition to having feelings of guilt about his relationship with the blind Alicia Masters who, in a curious twist, maintained a deep and growing affection for Ben Grimm (or, perhaps more to the point, the Thing).

As for Reed, his failures to cure Ben are a matter of record; yet in looking back at these past instances as the PPC does today, it's astonishing to see how many missteps were made, how often his trial-and-error approach would result in unforeseen developments, some of which at times almost cost his teammates their lives while also causing Ben unnecessary trauma. Naturally, Reed had the best of intentions, while perhaps also carrying some guilt himself regarding his choosing to go forward with their rocket flight in spite of Ben's warning that their ship had not been adequately prepared against radiation exposure. Yet as meticulous as he's been seen in working on other projects, the "test runs" and procedures he conducted on a live subject--on his friend--reflected undue haste on the part of a scientist whose modus operandi might otherwise have been methodical, and cautious.

Observations which perhaps deserve further debate, given the subject at hand. At any rate, what you'll be seeing here is a little bit of history involving scenes which for two or three decades provided the Thing with a great deal of depth that quickly took him from a state of bitterness and anger to that of a vivid, complicated character which some (including myself) came to consider to be the heart and soul of the Fantastic Four. Which seems fitting, considering that the dramatic words from which this post takes its title, and which might otherwise have indicated hope for restoring to Ben Grimm his humanity, were sentiments which would invariably prove to be premature:

For our purposes here, omitted are those instances where Reed was left out of the mix--i.e., scenes where the Thing inexplicably reverted to his human form only to accommodate the circumstances of the story. A few examples being:

So let's get to it, shall we? (We don't want to keep Reed waiting, heaven forbid.)

ATTEMPT #1
FANTASTIC FOUR #8 - November, 1962

One of the few instances where Reed was proceeding by the book--taking his time, following procedure, conducting tests in the lab, checking and rechecking his results, and keeping mum until he could be sure his solution had every chance of succeeding. In fact, the story begins by showing how Reed had taken great pains to keep the details of his work from Ben, who, unfortunately, happens upon the lab and ends up feeling he's the only one of the team being kept in the dark about whatever's going on there.

Storming out, he ends up becoming a pawn of the Puppet Master, who has decided to disguise his daughter, Alicia, as Sue and send her with Ben to the Baxter Building, where it doesn't take much prodding from the Puppet Master to spur the furious Ben against Reed and the Torch. During the fight, however, he crashes into the very chemical which Reed had been conducting his tests on, and the accident provides Reed with the bad news regarding its efficacy.

After looking over this scene again today, seven years after I first wrote of it in detail, it occurs to me that the reason why Alicia has always felt as she does toward the Thing as opposed to Ben in his human state is that it was the Thing whose face she had "met" with her hands while he was under the influence of her father at their apartment--in her words, a man full of gentleness as well as strength, and someone tragic yet sensitive, the man who had now proven his kindness and whom she "recognizes" here once the potion wears off with a mixture of relief and fondness. If that's the case, it seems it comes down to a simple matter of association (not that I know squat about psychiatry), though the nature of her feelings would continue to perplex Ben and the other members of the FF over time.

ATTEMPT #2
FANTASTIC FOUR #11 - February, 1963

Here, during A Visit With The Fantastic Four, it feels appropriate that the story would demonstrate to the fans the fact that Reed is continually trying to devise a cure for Ben--but in terms of getting Ben's hopes up, it seems deplorable behavior on Reed's part. (How about making it less of a "Surprise!" moment and instead giving Ben a more informed idea of the experimental nature of the serum, Reed? Would you walk in and give a hospital patient a shot in the arm before telling them what you were doing, why you were doing it, and that it may or may not be effective in helping them?)

ATTEMPT #3
FANTASTIC FOUR #16 - July, 1963

Five months/issues later, Reed is just as eager to have Ben drop everything (in this case, literally) and hold still for another attempt, regardless of his objections--while Alicia is the most demonstrable yet about just who she's fallen in love with, a palpable admission that even Ben acknowledges as the way things exist (no pun intended) in their relationship.

ATTEMPT #4
FANTASTIC FOUR #17 - August, 1963

In the next issue, Alicia is taken hostage by Dr. Doom--and her rescue depends on Reed hurriedly building on his previous potion (I'm presuming) so that the Thing doesn't trip Doom's defenses. Notably, and understandably, Ben is all too eager to take the chance of the potion losing its potency before he's reached Doom--while it's also a credit to his friendship with Reed to see the amount of faith Ben has placed in him.

ATTEMPT #5
FANTASTIC FOUR #25 - April, 1964

Prior to the Thing's knock-down drag-out with the Hulk, Reed attempts to administer another formula, this time with absolute certainty that it will work permanently--but Ben is adamant in his refusal, citing Alicia's feelings in the matter. What's surprising here is Reed's reaction, since he was present in the room when Alicia previously made the nature of her feelings toward the Thing clear.

Also, as we'll see, this wouldn't be the last time when a cure for Ben would precede a major battle with the Hulk.

ATTEMPT #6
FANTASTIC FOUR #32 - November, 1964

Seven months later, Reed makes his most elaborate attempt yet at a cure for Ben, shifting away from chemistry and taking a completely different approach. As for possible after-effects, he unfortunately still depends on a wait-and-see period of observation, though it's apparent he was aware of what might happen as we see that the repercussions have progressed to include brain damage--and as a bonus, Alicia is traumatized, as well.

ATTEMPT #7
FANTASTIC FOUR #68 - November, 1967

Three years later to the month, Reed finally realizes that consultation with another scientist on the matter of Ben's condition would be prudent--and so he returns to a chemical approach (though oddly enough it seems entirely new to him) and contacts Dr. Santini, a chemist who's developed a substance which will undo the effects of cosmic radiation. Only this time, Ben has switched gears and believes his cure is crucial in his relationship with Alicia.

But what no one realizes is that the Thinker has intercepted Santini and replaced him in order to strike back at the Fantastic Four--and when the procedure begins, the Thing's condition is indeed what "Santini" expected.

The resulting battle--with the Thing, and with the Thinker--nearly proves fatal for the entire team, though in the end Ben is returned to his previous state of mind. As for Santini, a raid on the Thinker's lab by Reed and the Torch sees to his rescue, but it goes without saying that his storyline is dropped like a hot plate once the dust settles.

ATTEMPT #8
FANTASTIC FOUR #78 - September, 1968

This two-part story places a cure for Ben front and center, making sure to give the reader every expectation of success--and though Ben's initial reaction to Reed's news is priceless (and perhaps reflects yours and mine by this point), and Reed is still uncertain of the result despite his confident tone, the procedure certainly gives every indication of having succeeded with flying colors. (In order to lead in to the greater issue of the choice Ben is faced with making.)

Yet the Wizard picks that moment to launch his attack, one that quickly swings in his favor with only Reed and the Torch at this point in time able to offer a response. The outcome is a near thing--but with the Wizard defeated, Ben comes to realize that his cure came with a strict proviso.

It's the Wizard who inadvertently makes it possible for Ben deciding to become the Thing again (the method involved being dubious, to say the least). As for the one-way ticket which this cure stipulated, even in 1968 we were learning to never say never when it comes to comic books.

ATTEMPT #9
FANTASTIC FOUR #107 - February, 1971

It turns out to be a rare chemical ingredient in the blood of Johnny's girlfriend, Crystal, which gives Reed renewed hope of providing a cure for his friend--and before you know it, Ben is once again awaiting a switch being thrown that will decide his fate as either the Thing, or as Ben Grimm. Yet in this case, it happily turns out to be both.

Sure, I know what you're thinking: With this new twist to the cure, Alicia gets to have her cake and eat it too in regard to her relationship with Ben/the Thing. Regrettably, however, the treatment produces disastrous side effects, with Ben's personality radically shifting to rash and violent behavior. Following a fierce battle with the Hulk, those effects had run their course--but surprisingly, Ben decides to abandon any further changes to his human form.

ATTEMPT #10
MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #50 - April, 1979

One treatment that was off the books, so to speak, was revealed in another book a little over eight years later--a treatment that was never attempted, at least by Reed.

For what it's worth, the formula was indeed successful--but due to the circumstances, its relevance to the man who was mulling it over in Reed's lab would prove to be moot.

ATTEMPT #11
FANTASTIC FOUR #238 - January, 1982

Having reached our last attempt to cover from the FF's Volume 1 run, artist/writer John Byrne gives a nod to most if not all of the prior elements we've been witness to over the years--the after-effects, the built-up hopes, Reed's eagerness and confidence, and the complications involving Alicia Masters, the last of which would prove pivotal in the success or failure of the cure. To be fair, that factor was a base which Reed couldn't really cover in this new procedure, or, as we've seen, in any of them (with the exception, indirectly, of Attempt #9)--and as for Alicia, just look how she (and Reed, for that matter) brushes aside her previous protestations (made in Attempt #3) when Ben confronts her directly on the subject.

As for seeing the last of the Thing--well, given Reed's track record on this matter, we might want to start paying more attention to Sue's apprehension in future treatment attempts.

It would be a number of issues later until Byrne, in a separate crisis involving Franklin Richards which returns the Thing to his previous state, establishes that it's Ben himself who has subconsciously been responsible for the failures we've seen throughout this compilation.

HONORABLE MENTION:
FANTASTIC FOUR #326 - May, 1989

A lot can change in seven years, and that proves accurate in Ben's case where a more accidental cure results from a battle with the Frightful Four--one that presumably succeeds since Alicia is now married to Johnny Storm and her feelings toward the Thing are no longer a factor in his return to a human state.

It would be the longest time Ben would remain as himself, until for the sake of Sharon Ventura he decides to revert again to the Thing--a period in time which would also coincide with the shocking return of the true Alicia Masters.

All of which effectively if not technically closes the book on the tragic aspect of Ben Grimm's existence as the Thing, ground that's been sufficiently covered prior to the 1990s and makes way for new chapters of the character's life to be opened and explored in the years to come.