Name: The Thing
Alias: Ben Grimm
Affiliation: Fantastic Four, West Coast Avengers (for like a minute!)
Bio: This pile of orange rocks – long beloved by minority readers – recently revealed himself to be Jewish. We dare you to check and see if he’s circumcised.
Strength: Imagine a giant brick wall coming at you like a freight train. Oh, and also the giant brick wall’s angry ‘cause it broke up with its girlfriend. And also you’re drunk (or else you wouldn’t be imagining such things!).
Weakness: Mirrors. Hot girls who think he’s a freak. Potential lung cancer (all that cigar smoke CAN’T be good for you). People who correct his grammar. That dude from The Shield coming around constantly to do research on him for the Fantastic Four movies.
Exemplary Jewish Value: Loyalty. Also, Ben Grimm is a remnant of a bygone era, the Lower East Side of Manhattan (in the early part of the 20th century), with its thousands of Jews living in close quarters. Fantastic Four co-creator Jack Kirby grew up in the Lower East Side, and he doubtless knew a lot of guys like Ben Grimm. In fact, he probably WAS one of those guys.
Real World Organizational Match: Birthright Israel- A massive organization bent on reconnecting Jewish adults with their roots. Ben would have been an ideal contender…if he could fit on the El Al planes.
Biblical Validation: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. " (Psalm 118:22)
Fantastic Four #51: Ben grimm the Monster
Fantastic Four # 274: The Thing’s trademark catch phrase
Fantastic Four # 310
