Dave Davenport (dogspunk)

#MCM Ben Grimm

Added 2025-08-11 17:00:13 +0000 UTC

The Thing has always been my favorite superhero and the rare occasion that he reverts to human is always a treat, because just look at this man. This drawing pays homage to Ron Wilson, who drew the Thing consistently from 1975-1986 in the character’s own books (apart from the Fantastic Four book). Wilson did a great job of mixing Kirby, Buckler, Buscema, Perez, and Byrne together and making it his own style. This particular look of Ben’s was after the first Secret Wars, when he stayed behind on the Beyonder’s “battle world” because he could change back and forth between being the Thing and being his human self at will there. He was unshaven and started wearing a tank top that would continue after he came back to Earth and became a pro-wrestler, and off and on from then forward. He called himself Rocky Grimm, Space Ranger while adventuring solo in space. One of my first oil paintings was of the Thing from this era, lost to time. I may have a slide of it somewhere, but idk, that was 40 years ago 😳

I really wanted to do Ben as one of the Marvel stickers from a few summers ago, but it didn’t work out as the Thing in his human visage was just too obscure, even for me. But it works here perfectly!