Particularly in the Silver Age, the breakout star of Fantastic Four was the new and improved Human Torch. It only seemed natural, since Johnny Storm was meant to appeal more to teenage audiences. Between his charm and antagonistic nature, readers couldn’t get enough, and he made appearances in many titles outside the FF.
By the ‘70s, a seismic shift began to rumble across the FF. While Johnny retained much of his Silver Age celebrity, fans were moving toward the Ben Grimm camp. The Thing had such a following that Marvel’s editorial staff started seeing him as one of the company’s biggest stars. From the Bronze Age and into the 1980s, The Thing’s rocky face was seen on a variety of covers, many of which were not FF. In fact, he was given time to shine on his own when Thing left the FF and was replaced by She-Hulk.
What Marvel Studios has in store for the Ever Lovin’ Thing, only Kevin Feige knows for sure. If they play their cards right, Thing could be a fan favorite. That will put an emphasis on his non-FF adventures.
MARVEL FEATURE #11
First solo stories have become big investments in the collecting business. In 1973, the Marvel braintrust decided to test the market for Thing apart from the FF, and he starred in Marvel Feature #11. Titles like Marvel Feature, Marvel Spotlight, and Special Marvel Edition were meant specifically for that reason. Whether it was a new character or perhaps supporting characters on the rise, these sorts of comics let the editors gauge fan interest before launching into a new title.
Prices have made a dramatic jump since last year, specifically for the 9.8. From 2017 to 2020, this had been about a $400-$500 comic. Beginning in March 2021, the price made a leap to $1,299. More recently, May saw a 9.8 sell for $1,140.
MARVEL TWO-IN-ONE #1
Although Thing wouldn’t get his first series for another 10 years, he was used in other titles as well, including 1974’s Marvel Two-In-One #1. What makes this issue intriguing is that it marked the first meeting of Thing and Man-Thing. The former was a rising star in Marvel at the time, having debuted in 1971. Launching a new title with an established fan favorite in The Thing battling a hot new opponent in Man-Thing was a great combination to help sell this issue.
The highest grade sold in the past 90 days has been a 9.2, which sold for $91 on May 30. Prior to that, it had been earning closer to $150.
THE THING #1
Ben Grimm would finally get his chance in the spotlight in 1983. A decade after getting his solo break, Marvel christened Thing’s first self-titled series with The Thing #1. The series itself isn’t remarkable other than it being one of Marvel’s first stars getting his own comic.
Out of all three issues on today’s list, Thing #1 has proven to be the most popular. All the way to the near-mint copies, these are relatively budget-friendly. Even at a 9.8, it has averaged $228 for the past month.
HERE’S THE THING
Fans have embraced The Thing since Marvel’s beginnings. Between his average-Joe way of speaking or his rock aesthetic, there’s never a shortage of love for Ben Grimm. When he arrives in the MCU, I fully expect him to be a hit with both comic and mainstream viewers. However, I don’t expect his movie form to match the comics. Thor already introduced the MCU’s resident rock monster in Korg. My guess is that he will have a more unique appearance that leans toward his 1980s look.
Want more Fantastic Four Spec?
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AFFORDABLE FANTASTIC FOUR: MISTER FANTASTIC
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AFFORDABLE FANTASTIC FOUR: JOHNNY STORM
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SPOTLIGHT ON BRONZE AGE FANTASTIC FOUR
