Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic has famously been the leader of theFantastic Foursince the superhero team was founded, as his proven strength and intellect seemingly made him the perfect choice Invisible Woman, Human Torch, andthe Thingfor any given mission. However, just becauseReed has historically been the leader of the Fantastic Fourthroughout most of the team’s Marvel Comics history doesn’t necessarily mean he is their best option. In fact, during one stint in Fantastic Four continuity, the Thing actually proved to be a perfect leader himself.
InFantastic Four#307 by Steve Englehart and John Buscema, Reed Richards and Sue Storm-Richards decide to take some time away from the team to raise their son, Franklin. With them gone, it was decided that Ben Grimm aka the Thing would become the newleader of the Fantastic Four, and it was also up to Ben to pick a couple of replacement members. Johnny Storm stayed with the team, which meant there were two positions available. And, Ben filled them with two powerful heroes: Sharon Ventura and Crystalia Amaquelin.
These replacement choices only helped ensure that the Thing’s tenure as the leader of the Fantastic Four was a memorable one, and it also helped cement the Thing’s status as perhaps the best leader for the team. How? Well, a few reasons. For starters, Crystalia Amaquelin is an Inhuman and a member of the Royal Family of Attilan, meaning her inclusion on the team established strong ties with the Inhumans. Plus, she’s insanely powerful, with Inhuman abilities that include elemental manipulation (water, earth, fire, and air), limited magnetic manipulation, and even the power to manipulate matter.
Then, there’s Sharon Ventura, otherwise known as Ms. Marvel upon her inclusion in the Fantastic Four. Sharon - like other ‘Ms. Marvels’ in Marvel Comics - had super strength, speed, endurance, and intelligence. And then, Sharon became even stronger when she got blasted with cosmic rays inFantastic Four#310, and underwent the same transformation as the Thing. Thisturned Ms. Marvel into She-Thing, making her even more powerful than she already was - and she wasn’t the only one.
The Thing Became Physically Stronger as the Leader of the Fantastic Four
The Thing Went Through a Secondary Mutation as the Fantastic Four’s Leader
Not only did the Thing prove himself to be a great leader of the Fantastic Four through the new recruits that he brought to the team, but he also literally became a more powerful hero during his time as the team’s leader. When Sharon Ventura got blasted with cosmic rays to become She-Thing,the Thing was hit with the same cosmic ray blast, which sparked a secondary mutation. Ben Grimm became bigger, rockier, and much stronger as a result of this secondary mutation. In fact, during this period in the Thing’s life, he actually became a challenge for the Hulk.
InFantastic Four#320, Doctor Doom learns of the Thing’s upgrade, which made Victor want to take him down immediately (plus, the Thing was already on Doom’s radar, given his position as the Fantastic Four’s new leader). So, Doctor Doom tricks the Hulk into challenging the Thing, hoping that the Green Goliath’s strength would prove too much for Grimm. However, the Thing proves both Hulk and Doom wrong by brutally defeating the Hulk in battle, thus confirming his newfound power while continuing to establish himself as the Fantastic Four’s best leader.
The Thing Also Led the Fantastic Four in the Original Ultimate Universe
Ben Grimm and Sue Storm Took Charge of the Team After Reed Richards Became the Maker
The Thing also had a stretch leading the Fantastic Four (or, what was left of the team) alongside Sue Storm inthe original Ultimate Universe of Earth-1610. After Reed Richards made his turn to villainy, and was taken down by the Thing, Invisible Woman, and Human Torch, he was obviously kicked off the team permanently (indeed, they thought he was dead). During that time, Ben and Sue formed a relationship, and continued fighting as heroes of their world until the explosive end of their universe.
Plus, Ben unlocked newfound power during that time as well, as it was revealed that his rocky ‘Thing’ exterior was something of a cocoon for his final form. When the Thing’s rocky shell finally broke, Ben regained his human form, which surged with purple energy - as if emanating cosmic radiation. This allowed the Thing to transform between his purple, human, and rocky forms at will, all while maintaining the same level of strength in each form. In other words, the Thing became more powerful when he was the leader of the Fantastic Four in the Ultimate Universe too.
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Too often, the Thing is considered as nothing more than the ‘brute’ on the Fantastic Four who is unqualified for a leadership position. But, in both the Ultimate Universe and Marvel Comics’ main continuity of Earth-616, the Thing proves that misconception wrong in spectacular fashion. The Thing led a team with powerful new members, he became physically stronger during his tenure as leader, and he confirmed that he was fit to lead the team across the multiverse. Therefore, Reed Richards might be strong, butthe Thingis really theFantastic Four’s best leader.
