Ben Grimm is a miracle of character design. Jack Kirby basically looked at a pile of orange rocks and saw a soul. But for toy companies, that rocky exterior is a total nightmare. Honestly, if you look at the history of The Thing Marvel figure releases over the last forty years, you’re looking at a saga of trial, error, and some truly questionable paint jobs.
It’s about the texture. You can’t just paint a guy orange and call it a day.
Early efforts were, well, they were something. In the mid-90s, Toy Biz gave us figures that looked more like lumpy Cheetos than the muscle of the Fantastic Four. They lacked the "craggy" depth. Then came the era of legends. Collectors started demanding more than just five points of articulation. They wanted a Ben Grimm that could actually hold a "clobberin’ time" pose without falling over or looking like a plastic brick.
The Evolution of the Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing
Why is it so hard to make a good version of this guy? Size.
If you make him too small, he looks like a mascot. Too big, and he doesn’t fit on the shelf with Reed and Sue. Hasbro finally cracked the code with their Marvel Legends Walgreens exclusive a few years back. That specific The Thing Marvel figure changed the game. They used a wash—a dark paint that settles into the cracks of the rocks—to give him that weathered, Yancy Street grit. It wasn't just flat orange plastic anymore. It looked like mineral. It looked heavy.
Then you have the high-end market. Companies like Mezco Toyz and Mondo are playing a different game entirely. Mezco’s One:12 Collective version features a "seamless" body in some iterations, or at least hidden joints, which is wild when you think about the engineering required to make rock-skin look like it’s bending.
Scale and the Scale-Problem
Scale is the dirty little secret of toy collecting.
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In the comics, Ben’s height fluctuates depending on the artist. Sometimes he’s a massive 7-foot behemoth; other times he’s barely taller than Johnny Storm, just wider. When you’re buying a The Thing Marvel figure, you have to decide which "era" you’re representing. Do you want the Kirby-esque squat powerhouse? Or the modern, towering tank?
Diamond Select Toys usually goes for the "bigger is better" approach. Their Marvel Select Thing is a beast. He’s heavy. If you dropped him on your toe, you’d know it. But he’s technically out of scale with standard 6-inch lines. He towers over them. Some collectors love that. They want Ben to look like he could eat a Sentinel for breakfast. Others find it distracting. It’s a vibe check, basically.
What to Look for Before Dropping Cash
Don't just buy the first orange guy you see on eBay. You’ll regret it.
The secondary market for Fantastic Four figures is notoriously volatile. Because the team goes in and out of the spotlight—usually tied to whether a movie is currently failing or succeeding—prices swing wildly. Right now, with the MCU finally bringing the First Family home, everyone wants a piece of the action.
Check the head sculpts. This is non-negotiable. Ben Grimm is the heart of the Marvel Universe because of his expressions. A "statue-faced" figure is a failure. You want a figure that comes with swappable heads—one determined, one grinning, maybe one looking a bit melancholy. That’s the range of the character. If the figure only looks like he’s screaming, it gets old on the shelf pretty fast.
Also, look at the "boots." Or lack thereof.
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In the early days, Ben wore those blue wrestling-style boots. Later, he went barefoot. Some figures come with both options or are specific to one era. If you’re a purist for the 1960s look, those blue boots are essential. If you like the modern "hulk-ish" look, you want the bare rocky feet with the massive toes.
The Articulation Trap
More joints isn't always better.
On a character like Spider-Man, you want sixty points of articulation so he can do a handstand on a needle. On a The Thing Marvel figure, too many joints can actually ruin the aesthetic. If you see huge gaps in the "rocks" at the elbows and knees, it breaks the illusion. You want "hidden" articulation.
- Ball-jointed torso: Necessary for that hunched, powerful stance.
- Ankle pivot: Essential. Without it, his massive feet won't sit flat on the ground.
- Swappable hands: He needs fists for clobberin' and "open" hands for holding things (or Reed).
The Rare Grails You Probably Won't Find Cheaply
Let's talk about the Toy Biz "Face-Off" pack or the ancient Box Sets.
If you find a 2005-era Fantastic Four box set in a thrift store, buy it. Don't think. Just buy. Those older Toy Biz figures had a certain charm, even if the technology wasn't as crisp. There’s a "first appearance" version of Ben that looks much more "lumpy" and "alien," based on the very first issues of FF #1. It’s ugly. It’s weird. It’s magnificent.
Modern collectors often hunt for the "Dragon Man" wave or the more recent retro-carded figures. The retro-carded The Thing Marvel figure uses a brighter, almost neon orange. It’s a love-it-or-hate-it situation. It looks like a comic book jumped off the page, but it can look a bit "toy-ish" next to more realistic MCU figures.
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Customizing Your Thing
Sometimes the factory paint just sucks. It happens.
Many serious collectors perform a "black wash" on their Thing figures immediately after unboxing. You take some watered-down black acrylic paint, slather it over the figure, and then quickly wipe it off the surface. The black stays in the deep grooves between the rocks. Suddenly, the detail pops. You can see every crack and crevice. It’s a ten-minute job that makes a $25 figure look like a $200 statue.
Just be careful with the eyes. Ben’s blue eyes are his most important feature. If you get black paint in those, he loses his humanity. And that’s the whole point of Ben Grimm, right? He’s the monster who’s more human than anyone.
Actionable Steps for the Serious Collector
If you're looking to add a The Thing Marvel figure to your shelf today, follow this hierarchy of needs to ensure you don't end up with "buyer's remorse" or a counterfeit:
- Verify the scale first. If you collect Marvel Legends (6-inch), stick with Hasbro. If you collect 7-inch "Select" style, go with Diamond Select. Mixing them usually results in Ben looking either like a giant or a toddler.
- Inspect the "joints" for paint rub. On orange figures, the plastic is often molded in color, but "washes" can rub off at the joints. Check the armpits and knees for ugly plastic shavings or discoloration.
- Prioritize the Walgreens Exclusive (if you can find it). It remains the "gold standard" for the modern comic-book look. It’s often faked on sites like AliExpress, so look for the "Marvel" and "Hasbro" stamps on the bottom of the feet.
- Check for "Clobberin' Hands." Never buy a Thing figure that only has open palms. Ben is a brawler. He needs fists. If the box doesn't include them, keep moving.
- Look for the "Belt" detail. Depending on the version, his Fantastic Four belt might be painted on or a separate plastic piece. Separate pieces look better but can slide around and look goofy in photos.
Ben Grimm has been carrying the weight of the Marvel Universe on his rocky shoulders since 1961. Finding a figure that captures that weight—both the physical and the emotional—is the goal. Don't settle for a lumpy orange doll. Get the one that looks like it's about to tell you a story about the old neighborhood before punching a Skrull through a brick wall.