AsThe Thingprepares to make his big screen return in the new MCUFantastic Fourmovie,Marvel has just announced a new solo comic series starring Ben Grimm, the heavy-hitter of the team. No character ismore deserving of this sort of solo success than Ben Grimm, and this new series is set to remind readers why he’s so beloved.
According to Marvel’s official announcement,The Thing– written by Tony Fleecs, with art by Leonard Kirk – will be a five-issue miniseries, and is set to debut in March of next year.
Variant Covers:
Greg Land
Ben Grimm may be the strongest member of the Fantastic Four, but once upon a time, he was just a scrawny kid from Yancy Street. When an unexpected visitor from his past sends him on a search for a missing child, the Thing must unravel the mystery even if that means becoming a wanted man!
Get ready to see the Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing versus every super-powered criminal and bounty hunter in New York City! Fleecs and Kirk give a glimpse into the history of the Thing that reminds you why Ben Grimm is the heart of the Marvel Universe… and why you don’t want to let him hear you say that!
The advanced synopsis for the series' debut issue teases a mystery about a “missing child” and tours that Ben Grimm will face off against “every super-powered criminal and bounty hunter in New York City,” stoking readers' anticipation for a high-octane solo adventure. Beyond that, readers have several months to speculate about how the comic could prepare fans for the Thing’s MCU debut.
The Thing#1 (Of 5) Releases August 11, 2025 From Marvel Comics
In Marvel’s announcement of the series, writer Tony Fleecs explains what compels him about he character.
“What I love about Ben Grimm is that he’s just a regular hardworking guy—who happens to have super powers He’s Jack Kirby. He’s not easily impressed by all of the outlandish, cosmic stuff constantly going on around him”
Fleecs couldn’t be more correct in his assessment of why the Thing matters to the Marvel Universe; Fleecs also promises that Ben will be going up against a who’s-who of Marvel supervillains, fighting enemies both famous and obscure. This series is the second Marvel work for writer Tony Fleecs after his co-writing of theVenom War: Wolverineminiseries, but he’s far from a newcomer when it comes to franchised properties, having worked for years on other books outside Marvel’s purview.
For a character so closely associated with the Fantastic Four, the Thing has had surprising solo success over the decades.
Fleecs is joined by Leonard Kirk, a classic Marvel artist who’s beenall over the Marvel Universe. As Marvel’s preview points out, Kirk isno stranger to the Fantastic Four, having drawn a large portion of writer James Robinson’s run in the mid-2010s. Together, the two form an exciting creative team. For a character so closely associated with the Fantastic Four, the Thing has had surprising solo success over the decades. The upcoming miniseries is in fact the fourth series titledThe Thing, not even counting other books likewriter/artist Steve Skroce’s recentClobberin’ Timeand various team-up books.
The Thing’s New Solo Series Could Be A Perfect Jumping On Point For MCU Fans Looking To Get Into Comics
Parlaying The Thing’s Fan-Favorite Status
There’s clearlyan audience for Thing as a solo character, even more than any other solo Fantastic Four character, and that is a product of both writers' and fans' enthusiasm for the toughest member of Marvel’s First Family. With the Fantastic Fourdebuting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe soon, there’s no better time to remind people why the Thing matters.If the MCU hopes to makethe Thingjust as beloved by general audiences as he is among comics fans, then there need to be books that MCU viewers can easily pick up immediatelyafter watching theFantastic Fourfilm.
Source:Marvel Comics
The Thing’s Maximum Power Level Finally Turned Him into Marvel’s Strongest Hero
Fantastic Four’s the Thing is a strong hero, but nowhere near the strongest until he reaches his maximum power that makes him a Hulk-level powerhouse.
The Thing (2025)#1will be available July 27, 2025 from Marvel Comics
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
