The Thing Lives for Thousands of Years. Fantastic Four #605 #comics #content #explained #explore #new #marvel #fantasticfour #mrfantastic #thething#timetravel #marvelcomics
I like the idea that Ben never becomes corrupted by his age. Through all the years he lived up until his death, Ben was just thankful to be in the moment and happy to have the memories of his friends. I think that alone was what made Reed come out of his scientific cave. He knew that Ben would be thankful for the time he had with his family for the rest of his life.
He's the Ever Loveable Thing! The only time I want to see him Evil is when its an alternate universe, a DoomBot/Skrull, or some kind of Mind Control thats temporary.
For most of that he had Franklin around (Franklin and Galactus are fated to see the end of the Universe together -- Franklin is immortal as long as the Universe itself lives). He didn't really seem to get tired of living until Franklin left to explore/defend the Universe.
@@boomgoesthesingularity4337 well banner never had a truly stable mind hence the existance of the Hulk...well hulks in the first place...acourse he becomes corrupt
Yes…. I’m 72 years old and starting to look around and appreciate all that I have. I’ve been a reader of science fiction since I was 6 and a lover of everything Marvel since I was 12. I love all of the characters and the perspectives that reading Marvel (from Lee to Ditko and Steranko) and Heinlein and all the many SF writers I was lucky enough to be exposed to. I feel lucky for all of the exposure to science and technology I’ve been exposed to. This story helps with giving me a warm look into the heart of the matter of team, family and appreciating all the world has shared with me from the 1950’s to today. I am so glad I have lived the life I’ve had. Yep, It’s Clobberin’ Time!!!
If what You wrote is ture - and I don't deny it, it's just web is full of trolls - I thank You for Your comment and hope You live long and happy life to find out more amazing sci-fi. Live long and prosper :)
We all know that the only reason why he wanted to go to the future to see what became of Ben was because he still felt guilty about being the reason why Ben was turned into the Thing. Because for those who don’t know, or don’t remember, Ben wanted Reed to postpone the flight until the cosmic storm passed, but Reed being the impatient one, said that the shuttle’s shielding would protect them, and talked Ben into taking the trip.
isn't there a what if story where Ben says no. And everybody gets horribly mutated and dies. While Ben feels guilty and just knows if he was piloting they would've been saved?
I mean it's a pretty simple math question. Aging 1 week a year means he ages 52 times slower. So every 52 years he ages 1 year, and thus every 1000 years he ages about 19-20 years. So yeah dying around the year 6000 or 4000 years in the future means he lived the equivalent of around 80 more years, which to be fair is actually quite a bit given that he wasn't born the thing so he was already an adult. But even then living to the equivalent of around 100+ years isn't that unreasonable for even a normal human, and even then if he is still technically aging once a week, that's probably a very relaxing week where he isn't stressing his body out a lot, so his body was able to last much longer than normal as his Thing form tanks all the normal stresses of life he would normally have to endure.
Heh. Yeah, I like the story. But it does seem odd that Reed opts to take a time machine he built into the future as opposed to just doing a little math.
@ Close. I see where you're getting the number. But there is technically more than 48 weeks in a year. If a month was exactly four weeks long, then it would be 28 days in length. But most months range from 30 to 31 days in length. Those extra days add up.
Před rokem+47
@@atomicgator5207 yeah makes sense, ty for the answer.
Because of his condition, Ben has a very unique perspective: For a man who has all the time in the world, he has very little time to truly appreciate the simple things, so he always tries to make the most out of it.
It's one of the rare cases where this kind of question in marvel doesn't have a insane gruesome or tragic, yet satisfying answer. How long does the thing live? Pretty long. Actually some thousands of years to come. But not sooo long that he'll spend an eternity alone or something like the hulk eventually sadly will. So long that everyone will see him as a living legend until hes maybe considered a little bit weird, which I think is fair ( I mean for them he is a literally 4000-year-old stone dude who talks about some weird food called "cheeseburgers" 🤣 ) Also he just seem to pass away peacefully at some day. I really do enjoy some happy moments like this in marvel.
@@Lynn.-_-. I think like with the Thing, Bruce Banner only gets older in his human form. "How long could Hulk live? Technically forever. Even though we've never seen it play out in the canon Earth-616, there are plenty of storylines where Hulk and Bruce are the last ones alive."
its such a beautiful story honestly, the fact that Reed takes from his experience to just enjoy the time that he has with his friend, and Ben is as loyal as they come
I think there's also an aspect of him wanting Ben to have some good memories with him. He saw that he was going to die and only leave Ben with memories, so he decided to make sure Ben had some good ones.
Reed is not a stupid man (despite what Multiverse of Madness was trying to tell us). He knows that humans, at their core, are basically just a bunch of memories. So having someone, thousands of years from now, remembering you in a positive light. That means something. Even if it was just sharing a beer and watching a boxing match.
@@GameTimeWhy Not only is MoM the worst movie in MCU history but it did such a discredit to Reed Richards that I can only assume that you are trolling here. Reed Richards, the guy who was willing to murder not only a personal friend but the saviour of the their universe because there was A CHANCE that he might turn evil. While classifying "our" Dr.Strange as the most dangerous person in existence because his universe hopping might cause an incursion, he tries to negotiate with a woman that went on a rampage through several universes already and is more than willing to kill everyone in their way because she has clearly gone mad with grief over children that didn't even exist in the first place. And how does he go about it? By telling the universe hopping, reality warping, massmurding psycho on how exactly Black Bolt can easily defeat her. Mr.Fantastic, the world's smartest man, Ladies and Gentlemen. Should have gone like this... Reed: "Wanda, I know what you are going through and we can help you with no more death involved. Black Bolt here can tell you how you can get to your children." Black Bolt whispering: "...cunt." Roll credits
ben has no clue what is going through reed's head when they are watching tv together. he just read that something was on his friends mind, and he came to bens side for solace. that little affirmation of friendship at the end is just wholesome.
Technically mr. Fantastic also doesnt age because he's made out of rubber so he should be alongside the Thing. Where was he? Why wasnt he there for his friend?
I'd say 4000 years was a good run for Ben. Being immortal seems like a curse, but a few thousand years seems like a good legacy for the big guy. He seemed to have never changed and stayed the lovable lug he always was. I really liked the way they made his face look like a rock beard as a form of aging.
Yeah, it seems like a really good take on the "people would just get bored" thing. I don't think that's true at all, but it's a lot more believable that at some point the world would be too unrecognizable, and you could never really go back home.
This is why I love the F4 so very much. They are so much more than a team, they’re a family. That’s a huge dynamic that was missing from their films and I’ve missed it.
Well people get pissed when it changes too much. Like how Punisher is a Vietnam vet when he premiered but that would means he’s like 60. Or how like the Simpsons have to redo their origin stories every decade.
@@heydoeradio7298 Or they do a retcon like they did with Tony Stark. Instead of 'Nam, frank served in the Middle East. Not like there's a shortage of organized crime figures to wipe out his family or anything...
They do progress, in subtle ways in the background, like every hero just magically chills in whatever the current year without bringing up what should be past adventures from long past their prime ago (ie if they were in their prime in a debut in like the 90s then they should not still be in their prime like.. 30 years later lol)
@@AmericaThePridefullySimple it's because nothing matters anymore. Spider-Man regressed and isn't allowed to be married. The most important moments for beloved characters happened decades ago like Iron Man overcoming addiction. The most you can get is a variant of a classic hero. The floating timeline that tries to fit in everything is no longer feasible. People have to look at adaptations to see the evolution of a story.
Ngl...Mr. Fantastic just wanting to sit down and enjoy a beer with his buddy after seeing everything he did is one of the sweetest bro moments in comics
It's so touching seeing that thousands of years could pass, and Ben not only stayed sane but also maintained a humble mindset. Most stories with people being granted immortality or absurdly long life usually have the individual either becoming completely distanced from others, megalomaniacal, or just bitter and depressed yet Ben managed to fight off all of those afflictions with his happy memories of friends...
As a Reed fan,this always highlights the difference between 616 Reed and pretty much every other version. The ability to do something like wanting to have a beer with his friend is basically the only thing that separates the heroic Mister Fantastic from a world dominating super genius
One of the most well written and well designed comics. This emphasizes a life lesson to people and it comes across as heartfelt and needed for people to sit down, relax and enjoy those you have around. Because one day they'll be gone and all you'll have is the memories.
I like how the Ben doesn't become disillusioned or depressed due to his long lifespan but instead chooses to cherish the time he has alive and never forgets his friends
That last scene with Reed watching TV and drinking a beer with Ben could be a great way to end a future FF film. Have Reed put aside his love for scientific discovery to spend time with the people he cherishes most.
If the MCU does the F4 like the comics it's going to change the way the entire world thinks about the F4, because all previous movies were nothing like the feel of the comics. Krasinski in Multiverse of Madness is already the best representation of Reed we've had by far, it captured the serious sci-fi nature and morally ambiguous dilemmas that makes Reed especially such an interesting character, if they continue like that it's going to be amazing.
I'd highly recommend picking up Johanthan Hickmans run of Fantastic 4, which is where this story comes from. He's one of the greatest writers in the comic industry and makes these characters feel real as opposed to just run of the mill Super Heroes
During its heyday, the Fantastic Four was arguably considered the world's greatest comic magazine. I was a dedicated collector of the Fantastic Four. I believed their stories were among the most compelling of all Marvel titles. Ben Grimm the Thing was among the most popular heroes during the comic's heyday. In fact, The Thing happens to be one of my most favorite characters. Of course, the Thing wasn't the strongest, but his heart in the way Stan Lee created his character bio was 2nd to none. A lot of fans loved the Thing. Unfortunately, the character sort of got nerfed. And I agree with a lot of fans, the Fantastic Four never transitioned well to the big screen compared to characters like Spiderman and Marvel's true super-team the Avengers.
I'm glad you covered this because it's always been one of my favorite stories. I love being able to see snippets into the distant future that aren't completely destroyed or incredibly bleak, and seeing Ben get to live out an incredibly long and wholesome, but at times lonely life like this gives me a unique mix of feelings that comics don't hit on that often. I appreciate stories like this one.
I love how you tell storys, you're choice of words. The tone of voice you use. It all just comes together so well. You definetly need more views so that everyone can see how good of a story teller you are. (also your editing skills are great, and if you have an editor then tell them i there awesome.
Ben is such a wholesome character... When I saw The Thing, though I thought it was the _OTHER_ Thing from the horror genre, so I thought I was coming in for a completely different kind of story - but left equally satisfied in a totally different way.
I like this because they never really explore the lives of immortals and how they cope with losing their friends over and over and how they adjust to the ever changing world.
And the average lifespan currently of a US male is 77 years, and 77 X 52 is 4004 Advancements in medical technology could also further lengthen how long humans live for, so it could be more. So he would live for 4004 years at least
The element of this story I didn't see anyone talking about is that frankling is also there all this time with his uncle. At least they have each other through the eons.
so the thing ages 52,1429 times slower than a human and he lived for about 4000 yeas after becoming the thing when he was about 25 years old that means he reached an age of ~101 years which is quite respectable especially because unlike other humans could, they probably didn't give him any special medical treatment during that 1 week. but still weird that he des as the thing if the thing can't age and it would also be much cooler if he in his dying bed is a human.
@@Justsomeguy8985 he ages 1 week a year and there are 52,1429 weeks in a year so why is it too high. in addition the numbers you get out of that fit perfectly, 100 years i a realistic lifespan for a human and because it fits so perfectly to a nice round number like 4000 years it would make sense to choose that as his age
@@esrohm6460 52 weeks in a year. Not 52 thousand unless that should read 52.1429 instead of 52,1429 in which case I withdraw my comment. Generally a comma denotes thousands Edit: Actually my bad. Should have realised that was denoting 52.1429 because if you were denoting thousands the comma would be after the 1. My apologies.
@@Justsomeguy8985 In British English and other dialects, a comma is used to denote a decimal place. In American English and a few others, a period is used.
i loved this story ughhh make more comics like this give light to the bond between the charatcers and what they truly mean to each other rather than lovers but the bond of friendships.
My favorite lesson from this is that it really is better to have loved and lost than to never haved loved at all. Love can outlast entire civilizations. Regardless of how much time we spend with our loved ones, we should never take that time for granted. One day we'll blink and realize that the ones we love are gone. But them being gone doesn't mean the love is too, the love they had for you and the love you have for them can shine on for millenia if you let it
why is no body talk about this story it has so much soul and love put in to it those where the marvel comics i can bet a lot of us miss to read . this story is my official favorite i love edgy crap like the next guy but when you create something with love it shows .
i have been watching your videos for about 2 months now and i wanted to say that its been a while since enjoyed a youtuber as much as you. Your way of reading the story and simply explaying whats going on in the comics is fantastic. Keep up the great work bro
It’s small stories like this that make comics special. As Stan Lee always wanted, make them human first, humans living the lives of superheroes. Make them feel heartache, love, defeat and triumph. Make them feel, and the readers will care.
Ben grim is just humble simple man of stone. It’s hard not to like the guy despite his timeless catchphrase and unparalleled strength even though hulk puts him in dirt. End of the day though, he is us just livin in the moment while being a hero.
What about Franklin? Unlike Ben he didn't age at all and his fate is sadder because he is destined to survive all living things until the very end of the Universe but instead of dying and finally meet his family and friends in the After Life as happens with Ben he is destined to become the next Universe's Galactus.
The idea that a being such as Ben being thousands of years old, who still remembers and cherishes the friendships during his very first century living is a beautiful piece of story telling, and it may be the highest honor any friend has had in a fictional work. Reed and Franklin must have felt such raw unconditional love from Ben.
Truly an eye opener. Someday, we'll blink and a thousand years'll go by, things we eat or watch t'day will be non-existent, or different. Our grandparents are already going through it right now, and soon our parents will too.
i am of the firm belief that Ben Grimm is the only true hero in all of fiction because he literally has no reason to do the right thing no loved ones to avenge, no mistake to make right, no inspirational speech compelling him, and despite being stuck a monster and having every right to become a villian he doesn't not only that but despite being offered a permanent cure numerous times it doesn't stick because the moment shit hits the fan he beelines it for Mr Fantastics lab demanding to be changed back because the world NEEDS The Thing, thousands of other heroes who can and will willingly pick up the slack but he just can't sit back and do nothing.
I unexpectedly ended up hanging with my parents today and it felt great. With work and other things, I'd forgotten the joy of being around them, just appreciating their presence. I won't have them forever and that is something I need to make sure I never forget. Great video, amigo.
I really like how it doesn't portray Ben's life as entirely miserable-sure it sucks after a while, but it never really seems like he WANTS to die. It probably counts for something that he never... "gave up" during his one human week. The writers easily could have written him to have a longing for death after all that time, so I'm glad they didn't go that route.
I love that they took a super powered, super intelligent character and just put them through _normal life_ . Big reality check for reed when he's regarded as the brains of the operations and not as much human he is at heart. And the ending is quite nice because ben lived remembering his friends and not dying to some twisted fate like most people like to do.
I’ve always been fascinated at The Thing even before I knew about how it is possible his design was based off that of the golems in Jewish folklore. I have watched the original fantastic four movie 20 times in my life. It’s not a masterpiece but, The Thing still all these years later has such a special place in my heart. To see a complete finale given to him after thousands of years. Well, it brings a tear to my eye. Thanks for the video.
One of my favorite Superhero tropes is the implication of some of them potentially living much longer than the average human. And some being around for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Damn that’s sad and shows the things mental fortitude as well. Living that long and still encouraging others to do good and cherish the people around you. This made me respect the Thing so much more
Reed and Ben are the odd couple of the FF theirs is a friendship for life, and though sometimes they've been at odds these two have been like brothers something to treasure and remember that is without these two working together there wouldn't be the Fantastic 4, and family of heroes, and if Ben lives beyond his years as The Blue Eyed Thing and his friendship with Reed is the cornerstone in the FF that lasts till Ben Grim will walk alongside his friends in that great cosmic heaven together and that's pure honest love for his brother Reed and Johnny and Sue those fantastic four individuals who saved courtless lives and worlds and beyond a friendship a fellowship of family True Believers
The Thing is a tragically beautiful character, he didnt want his powers, he didnt want to live for 4000 or so years and see all that he loves pass him, but he does and even still he is the same good guy he always was
Had to take another look. I love your simple,yet poignant portrayal of the Reed Ben relationship. The "need to know" has been a plus And a minus for Reed since first introduced all those many years ago. Times have changed, and as much as Reed has tried,he seems to still be the absent minded professor he's always been. Ben, on the other hand, will always be the heart of the team, always ready for a battle over principle and wonders. Always ready to play "protector" to the team. I love this dynamic. Reed may be the 'big brain", of the team,but Ben is it's "moral center".. encompassing it's belief system in orange rocky cosmic powered flesh and bone. Ben wants to be human, but he knows his true calling.. to serve humanity as a deterrent to enemy combatants, And the "cons cience of team". Seeing Ben years in a might be future,one where Nathaniel Richards seems to be familiar with,(Kang, being the son of a descendant of Nathaniel,or even possibly a brother of Reed).. Watching Ben, through Reed And Nathaniel's eyes, shows us that Reed isn't as hopeless as hes shown. He's genuinely loves his friend as a true brother... and felt his demise to the core of his being. He didn't even seem surprised to see his son, Franklin Richards, with Ben during his last moments..as Franklin himself is a true immortal. Reed, not one to over look a teaching moment, promptly returned to his own time... thought about the events, and decided to follow old Ben's advice to enjoy life and it's moments. Sitting down with the present day Ben, just to Chill,drives home the entire point, and completed the process for both men. For Reed, it's spending time with his Friend, re-establishing a lost link in his life. Drinking a beer...a well placed "I'm good" is all the two needed to tell Ben that Reed was in his feelings about him. "I've missed you,too..." was the proper response from Ben,as he Johnny and Reed watch a boxing match.. I enjoy this story very much, for some particular reason.as much as I love Ron Garneys work. I appreciate you and your presentation. Thank You very much for this.
Well that was... nice? Bittersweet? It was depressing, but somehow also uplifting I recently came back from visiting family, so it might resonate with me a bit more to "spend time with loved ones and make the most of the time" i guess 😅
If Ben only ages one week a year and there are 52 weeks per year. It roughly takes Ben over half a century (or 52 years) to get one year older. He only ages 25 years older every 1300 years, if at that point he still turns human ones a year for a week. Correct me if I’m wrong, if there a problem
Bruh, it was literally explained in the video. His cosmic mutation had made him an immortal stone man, but Reed and his son created a cure of sorts, that allowed him to turn back into a normal human for one week at a time, just once each year. So lived for around 4000 thousand years, instead of living supposedly forever.
not sure if it's been rewritten or changed but it was said in john hickman's f4 run, that franklin richards and galactus will literally witness the end of this universe and the birth of the next, his abiities allow him to access a sort of "god power" but yeah he's been depowered to actually let him be used in stories but i think the consensus is he'll get older and older, learn how to continue to use his powers and he'll be immortal
@@mansagarus9226 No. Just like every other story-telling device, comics have always been about stories. If you think they have always been about politics, it's just what you see in them.
@@fortnight5677 Good god you are an absolute clown. Do you know the reason why Captain america, Superman, and the rest were created ? They had non stop political events and narratives there. Cap AND supes both fought against the Nazis while Superman’s story included the Klan, the Mutant saga reflected the civil rights era in which it was created in during the 60s. For you NOT to see any of this means you’re either blind or just don’t read comics. I mean the writers themselves say it.
![[Vowel]물고기는 물에서 살아야 해🐟🤣Fish have to live in the water #funny](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3G9MH063Cx4/mqdefault.jpg)
I like the idea that Ben never becomes corrupted by his age. Through all the years he lived up until his death, Ben was just thankful to be in the moment and happy to have the memories of his friends. I think that alone was what made Reed come out of his scientific cave. He knew that Ben would be thankful for the time he had with his family for the rest of his life.
He's the Ever Loveable Thing! The only time I want to see him Evil is when its an alternate universe, a DoomBot/Skrull, or some kind of Mind Control thats temporary.
For most of that he had Franklin around (Franklin and Galactus are fated to see the end of the Universe together -- Franklin is immortal as long as the Universe itself lives). He didn't really seem to get tired of living until Franklin left to explore/defend the Universe.
Ikr. Usually in such stories, they become corrupt VERY fast. Just LOOK at Maestro Hulk
@@boomgoesthesingularity4337 well banner never had a truly stable mind hence the existance of the Hulk...well hulks in the first place...acourse he becomes corrupt
Ben Grimm has the second greatest willpower of marvel. Right under Bruce Banner.
"I've missed you too, Stretch."
Love that line. Ben knows something's up, but instead of pressing the issue, he just chooses to enjoy the moment.
Yes…. I’m 72 years old and starting to look around and appreciate all that I have. I’ve been a reader of science fiction since I was 6 and a lover of everything Marvel since I was 12. I love all of the characters and the perspectives that reading Marvel (from Lee to Ditko and Steranko) and Heinlein and all the many SF writers I was lucky enough to be exposed to. I feel lucky for all of the exposure to science and technology I’ve been exposed to. This story helps with giving me a warm look into the heart of the matter of team, family and appreciating all the world has shared with me from the 1950’s to today. I am so glad I have lived the life I’ve had. Yep, It’s Clobberin’ Time!!!
How do you feel about being anle to read every comic for freenon the internet ?
Do you still buy them?
tell me more about those "cheeseburgers" you used to eat back then grandpa
If what You wrote is ture - and I don't deny it, it's just web is full of trolls - I thank You for Your comment and hope You live long and happy life to find out more amazing sci-fi. Live long and prosper :)
I’m 95 yrs old and I’m happy
You are one happy , grateful, kind and good old man
We all know that the only reason why he wanted to go to the future to see what became of Ben was because he still felt guilty about being the reason why Ben was turned into the Thing. Because for those who don’t know, or don’t remember, Ben wanted Reed to postpone the flight until the cosmic storm passed, but Reed being the impatient one, said that the shuttle’s shielding would protect them, and talked Ben into taking the trip.
I like how Reed realized how much Ben appreciated being with his friends more than anything else. It was pretty wholesome
isn't there a what if story where Ben says no. And everybody gets horribly mutated and dies. While Ben feels guilty and just knows if he was piloting they would've been saved?
@@bryceallen2445 Just goes to show that no matter the decision, someone was going to have to live with the consequence of their action.
I think its from marvel ruins
The Richards should have used their Time Machine to fix that mistake.
I mean it's a pretty simple math question. Aging 1 week a year means he ages 52 times slower. So every 52 years he ages 1 year, and thus every 1000 years he ages about 19-20 years. So yeah dying around the year 6000 or 4000 years in the future means he lived the equivalent of around 80 more years, which to be fair is actually quite a bit given that he wasn't born the thing so he was already an adult. But even then living to the equivalent of around 100+ years isn't that unreasonable for even a normal human, and even then if he is still technically aging once a week, that's probably a very relaxing week where he isn't stressing his body out a lot, so his body was able to last much longer than normal as his Thing form tanks all the normal stresses of life he would normally have to endure.
Another point is probably, that with time going on the life expactency around him increases through technological advancement.
Heh. Yeah, I like the story. But it does seem odd that Reed opts to take a time machine he built into the future as opposed to just doing a little math.
Isn’t it 48 times slower?
@ Close. I see where you're getting the number. But there is technically more than 48 weeks in a year. If a month was exactly four weeks long, then it would be 28 days in length. But most months range from 30 to 31 days in length. Those extra days add up.
@@atomicgator5207 yeah makes sense, ty for the answer.
Because of his condition, Ben has a very unique perspective: For a man who has all the time in the world, he has very little time to truly appreciate the simple things, so he always tries to make the most out of it.
Yeah, he got off to a rocky start but it all worked out
It's one of the rare cases where this kind of question in marvel doesn't have a insane gruesome or tragic, yet satisfying answer.
How long does the thing live? Pretty long. Actually some thousands of years to come. But not sooo long that he'll spend an eternity alone or something like the hulk eventually sadly will.
So long that everyone will see him as a living legend until hes maybe considered a little bit weird, which I think is fair ( I mean for them he is a literally 4000-year-old stone dude who talks about some weird food called "cheeseburgers" 🤣 )
Also he just seem to pass away peacefully at some day. I really do enjoy some happy moments like this in marvel.
What do you mean? Cheeseburgers not existing is absolutely horrid
The worst future
Hulk is immortal? Isn't banner mortal? How does that work exactly 🤔
@@Lynn.-_-.
I think like with the Thing, Bruce Banner only gets older in his human form.
"How long could Hulk live?
Technically forever. Even though we've never seen it play out in the canon Earth-616, there are plenty of storylines where Hulk and Bruce are the last ones alive."
@@Fabboi_unl So what if Bruce dies of old age? Like if Bruce gets old he just permanently turns into Hulk?
@@Lynn.-_-. I think so. That or bruces mind fades away of old age. Im not to sure myself. Heard of that in another video :) didnt read it myself 🤙
its such a beautiful story honestly, the fact that Reed takes from his experience to just enjoy the time that he has with his friend, and Ben is as loyal as they come
I think there's also an aspect of him wanting Ben to have some good memories with him. He saw that he was going to die and only leave Ben with memories, so he decided to make sure Ben had some good ones.
spiderman needs the writers of this story lol
Reed is not a stupid man (despite what Multiverse of Madness was trying to tell us). He knows that humans, at their core, are basically just a bunch of memories. So having someone, thousands of years from now, remembering you in a positive light. That means something. Even if it was just sharing a beer and watching a boxing match.
Mcu Reed was a joke.
@@Kira22558 he got spaghettied.
@@jaythewolf7216 with style .
MoM Reed was good. What do you mean?
@@GameTimeWhy Not only is MoM the worst movie in MCU history but it did such a discredit to Reed Richards that I can only assume that you are trolling here.
Reed Richards, the guy who was willing to murder not only a personal friend but the saviour of the their universe because there was A CHANCE that he might turn evil.
While classifying "our" Dr.Strange as the most dangerous person in existence because his universe hopping might cause an incursion, he tries to negotiate with a woman that went on a rampage through several universes already and is more than willing to kill everyone in their way because she has clearly gone mad with grief over children that didn't even exist in the first place.
And how does he go about it? By telling the universe hopping, reality warping, massmurding psycho on how exactly Black Bolt can easily defeat her.
Mr.Fantastic, the world's smartest man, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Should have gone like this...
Reed: "Wanda, I know what you are going through and we can help you with no more death involved. Black Bolt here can tell you how you can get to your children."
Black Bolt whispering: "...cunt."
Roll credits
ben has no clue what is going through reed's head when they are watching tv together. he just read that something was on his friends mind, and he came to bens side for solace. that little affirmation of friendship at the end is just wholesome.
It makes me one to kiss someone
@@nohlanfisherman5185😘
Man I love stories like this. You may not know some characters, but you can still jump right in and have the story resonate.
This type of writing doesn't exist for Marvel anymore...
@@Christophielsadly
@@Christophiel yeah...
I will never get tire of stretchy boy and rock-man friendship
Technically mr. Fantastic also doesnt age because he's made out of rubber so he should be alongside the Thing.
Where was he? Why wasnt he there for his friend?
@@youtubestudiosucks978 maybe he got killed?
@@youtubestudiosucks978 Depend because rubber do biodegrade over time but at a snail paste. So Reed age really slowly while The Thing is immortal.
@@youtubestudiosucks978 He's not literally made out of rubber.
@@bable6314 he has rubber-like properties so he doesnt have to worry about wearing a condom.
How did he get kids if he's a walking rubber?
I'd say 4000 years was a good run for Ben. Being immortal seems like a curse, but a few thousand years seems like a good legacy for the big guy. He seemed to have never changed and stayed the lovable lug he always was.
I really liked the way they made his face look like a rock beard as a form of aging.
Yeah, it seems like a really good take on the "people would just get bored" thing. I don't think that's true at all, but it's a lot more believable that at some point the world would be too unrecognizable, and you could never really go back home.
@@colbyboucher6391 exactly.
Lets goooo this is the best comic book channel, no corny background music, no phony narrating, just good story telling, your the man mullet man
Comic pop is pretty good
Comicsexplained and dopespill comics are the best wym? Lol
@@death-nh3gd dopespill is fine, comicsexplained is phony as hell
Alex Lennon is great if you want Spiderman stuff
@@death-nh3gd comic sex plained ?
I liked this story pretty well, it's a neat question with a satisfying answer
This is why I love the F4 so very much. They are so much more than a team, they’re a family. That’s a huge dynamic that was missing from their films and I’ve missed it.
Hopefully they’re done justice in the mcu*fingers crossed*
@@Lharris94 I think Pixar's "The Incredibles" already delivered a great F4 interpretation.
@@BrokenCurtain yeah true that but the sequel was such a let down imo.
@@Lharris94you said the dreaded letters......."MCU"
@@kevynhansyn2902 you right…and adam driver is not who I would have chosen for reed….
I wish the marvel would let time progress naturally in their stories, it’s Been 70 years now with the same stories and no change
Well people get pissed when it changes too much. Like how Punisher is a Vietnam vet when he premiered but that would means he’s like 60.
Or how like the Simpsons have to redo their origin stories every decade.
@@AmericaThePridefullySimple ok but we need an old man punisher story, one last guns blazing with an old frank
@@heydoeradio7298 Or they do a retcon like they did with Tony Stark. Instead of 'Nam, frank served in the Middle East. Not like there's a shortage of organized crime figures to wipe out his family or anything...
They do progress, in subtle ways in the background, like every hero just magically chills in whatever the current year without bringing up what should be past adventures from long past their prime ago (ie if they were in their prime in a debut in like the 90s then they should not still be in their prime like.. 30 years later lol)
@@AmericaThePridefullySimple it's because nothing matters anymore. Spider-Man regressed and isn't allowed to be married. The most important moments for beloved characters happened decades ago like Iron Man overcoming addiction. The most you can get is a variant of a classic hero. The floating timeline that tries to fit in everything is no longer feasible. People have to look at adaptations to see the evolution of a story.
Ngl...Mr. Fantastic just wanting to sit down and enjoy a beer with his buddy after seeing everything he did is one of the sweetest bro moments in comics
this is why ben is my favorite hero, no matter ow old he is he's still a good guy
You could say he has had a grim outlook here and there.
@@FearlesSLaughteR1 STOP IT!!!! GET OUT NOW!!!!
Even in his last years.
It's so touching seeing that thousands of years could pass, and Ben not only stayed sane but also maintained a humble mindset.
Most stories with people being granted immortality or absurdly long life usually have the individual either becoming completely distanced from others, megalomaniacal, or just bitter and depressed yet Ben managed to fight off all of those afflictions with his happy memories of friends...
That and probably having the Future Foundation, or at least other people who probably consider him at least somewhat interesting to talk to
@@argokarrus2731 that is true. Having people to talk to helps a lot, especially if they look up to you
That is simple, no one has more heart than the Thing, no matter how much time passes he still had heart to spare.
This actually made me tear up. This is such a good comic.
Ben is one of those guys I always feel for and want good things for. He has a cool concept, and he is a nice guy... criminally underrated.
As a Reed fan,this always highlights the difference between 616 Reed and pretty much every other version. The ability to do something like wanting to have a beer with his friend is basically the only thing that separates the heroic Mister Fantastic from a world dominating super genius
One of the most well written and well designed comics. This emphasizes a life lesson to people and it comes across as heartfelt and needed for people to sit down, relax and enjoy those you have around. Because one day they'll be gone and all you'll have is the memories.
I like how the Ben doesn't become disillusioned or depressed due to his long lifespan but instead chooses to cherish the time he has alive and never forgets his friends
That last scene with Reed watching TV and drinking a beer with Ben could be a great way to end a future FF film. Have Reed put aside his love for scientific discovery to spend time with the people he cherishes most.
Never been a huge Fantastic Four fan, but this channel's changing my mind
there so underrated and the MCU did theme dirty even before the MCU
but then the MCU cant make up his mind about the mandarin
If the MCU does the F4 like the comics it's going to change the way the entire world thinks about the F4, because all previous movies were nothing like the feel of the comics. Krasinski in Multiverse of Madness is already the best representation of Reed we've had by far, it captured the serious sci-fi nature and morally ambiguous dilemmas that makes Reed especially such an interesting character, if they continue like that it's going to be amazing.
I'd highly recommend picking up Johanthan Hickmans run of Fantastic 4, which is where this story comes from. He's one of the greatest writers in the comic industry and makes these characters feel real as opposed to just run of the mill Super Heroes
They've always been my favorite superhero team since I was a kid and til' the day I die, they always will...
During its heyday, the Fantastic Four was arguably considered the world's greatest comic magazine. I was a dedicated collector of the Fantastic Four. I believed their stories were among the most compelling of all Marvel titles. Ben Grimm the Thing was among the most popular heroes during the comic's heyday. In fact, The Thing happens to be one of my most favorite characters. Of course, the Thing wasn't the strongest, but his heart in the way Stan Lee created his character bio was 2nd to none. A lot of fans loved the Thing. Unfortunately, the character sort of got nerfed. And I agree with a lot of fans, the Fantastic Four never transitioned well to the big screen compared to characters like Spiderman and Marvel's true super-team the Avengers.
I'm glad you covered this because it's always been one of my favorite stories. I love being able to see snippets into the distant future that aren't completely destroyed or incredibly bleak, and seeing Ben get to live out an incredibly long and wholesome, but at times lonely life like this gives me a unique mix of feelings that comics don't hit on that often. I appreciate stories like this one.
It's sad yet fitting... It makes me admire him 😌
I love how you tell storys, you're choice of words. The tone of voice you use. It all just comes together so well. You definetly need more views so that everyone can see how good of a story teller you are. (also your editing skills are great, and if you have an editor then tell them i there awesome.
Damn, this is surprisingly wholesome.
I like how thousands of years has passed and he still remembers cheeseburgers
Ofc never gonna forget a good burger and fries
@@danieljones0078 nothing can beat the taste of Cheeseburgers and cheese fries
Ben is such a wholesome character...
When I saw The Thing, though I thought it was the _OTHER_ Thing from the horror genre, so I thought I was coming in for a completely different kind of story - but left equally satisfied in a totally different way.
A True backbone of the group.
I like this because they never really explore the lives of immortals and how they cope with losing their friends over and over and how they adjust to the ever changing world.
It’ll take about 52 years for the Thing to age one year.
And the average lifespan currently of a US male is 77 years, and 77 X 52 is 4004
Advancements in medical technology could also further lengthen how long humans live for, so it could be more.
So he would live for 4004 years at least
Ben never became jaded or insane from seeing so much. His will and character are something else.
I have been holding my feelings for a long time and I think this story made me crack. I am writing this as slow tears fall to my cheeks.
Ben Grim is such an amazing charachter. Unique among unique individuals in more ways than one. ❤
The element of this story I didn't see anyone talking about is that frankling is also there all this time with his uncle. At least they have each other through the eons.
Impressive how marvel characters can tell such wholesome stories when they're not occupied with the current thing.
so the thing ages 52,1429 times slower than a human and he lived for about 4000 yeas after becoming the thing when he was about 25 years old that means he reached an age of ~101 years which is quite respectable especially because unlike other humans could, they probably didn't give him any special medical treatment during that 1 week. but still weird that he des as the thing if the thing can't age and it would also be much cooler if he in his dying bed is a human.
May want to check your math chief...52,1429 is way too high.
@@Justsomeguy8985 he ages 1 week a year and there are 52,1429 weeks in a year so why is it too high. in addition the numbers you get out of that fit perfectly, 100 years i a realistic lifespan for a human and because it fits so perfectly to a nice round number like 4000 years it would make sense to choose that as his age
@@esrohm6460 52 weeks in a year. Not 52 thousand unless that should read 52.1429 instead of 52,1429 in which case I withdraw my comment. Generally a comma denotes thousands
Edit: Actually my bad. Should have realised that was denoting 52.1429 because if you were denoting thousands the comma would be after the 1. My apologies.
@@Justsomeguy8985 i forgot, its the weird comma dot difference in languages for me you put a comma for decimal and a point for the thousand dividers
@@Justsomeguy8985 In British English and other dialects, a comma is used to denote a decimal place. In American English and a few others, a period is used.
i loved this story ughhh make more comics like this give light to the bond between the charatcers and what they truly mean to each other rather than lovers but the bond of friendships.
My favorite lesson from this is that it really is better to have loved and lost than to never haved loved at all. Love can outlast entire civilizations. Regardless of how much time we spend with our loved ones, we should never take that time for granted. One day we'll blink and realize that the ones we love are gone. But them being gone doesn't mean the love is too, the love they had for you and the love you have for them can shine on for millenia if you let it
This is great content! Love all the Thing coverage. He is one of the greatest Marvel characters of all time.
Glad to know even in his last days, he was happy.
why is no body talk about this story it has so much soul and love put in to it
those where the marvel comics i can bet a lot of us miss to read .
this story is my official favorite
i love edgy crap like the next guy but when you create something with love it shows .
i have been watching your videos for about 2 months now and i wanted to say that its been a while since enjoyed a youtuber as much as you. Your way of reading the story and simply explaying whats going on in the comics is fantastic. Keep up the great work bro
It’s small stories like this that make comics special. As Stan Lee always wanted, make them human first, humans living the lives of superheroes. Make them feel heartache, love, defeat and triumph. Make them feel, and the readers will care.
Ben grim is just humble simple man of stone. It’s hard not to like the guy despite his timeless catchphrase and unparalleled strength even though hulk puts him in dirt. End of the day though, he is us just livin in the moment while being a hero.
Appreciate you sharing it. This
was beautiful. I'm glad I learned something about the thing
Made me tear up man. Would have done the same if I saw my best friend in the future die of old age.
after how long 5k years when people eat jelly
god what a hell hole
What about Franklin? Unlike Ben he didn't age at all and his fate is sadder because he is destined to survive all living things until the very end of the Universe but instead of dying and finally meet his family and friends in the After Life as happens with Ben he is destined to become the next Universe's Galactus.
The idea that a being such as Ben being thousands of years old, who still remembers and cherishes the friendships during his very first century living is a beautiful piece of story telling, and it may be the highest honor any friend has had in a fictional work. Reed and Franklin must have felt such raw unconditional love from Ben.
Truly an eye opener.
Someday, we'll blink and a thousand years'll go by, things we eat or watch t'day will be non-existent, or different.
Our grandparents are already going through it right now, and soon our parents will too.
bro the way u narrated the story it almost bought tears in my eyes
Thank you for sharing this, Amazing
i am of the firm belief that Ben Grimm is the only true hero in all of fiction because he literally has no reason to do the right thing no loved ones to avenge, no mistake to make right, no inspirational speech compelling him, and despite being stuck a monster and having every right to become a villian he doesn't not only that but despite being offered a permanent cure numerous times it doesn't stick because the moment shit hits the fan he beelines it for Mr Fantastics lab demanding to be changed back because the world NEEDS The Thing, thousands of other heroes who can and will willingly pick up the slack but he just can't sit back and do nothing.
I fucking love Jonathan Hickman's F4 run.
dude this was awesome!!! thank you for sharing
Following over this one. Keep'em coming, man 👊
Love Your Comic Book Videos!❤❤❤
ben look over and saying he missed reed was very heartfelt and wholesome.
Thank you. I appreciate this story, and the work you put into the video.
I unexpectedly ended up hanging with my parents today and it felt great. With work and other things, I'd forgotten the joy of being around them, just appreciating their presence. I won't have them forever and that is something I need to make sure I never forget. Great video, amigo.
It's always cool when one of your favorite stories isn't the ones where titans are clashing, but instead more human ones.
I really like how it doesn't portray Ben's life as entirely miserable-sure it sucks after a while, but it never really seems like he WANTS to die. It probably counts for something that he never... "gave up" during his one human week. The writers easily could have written him to have a longing for death after all that time, so I'm glad they didn't go that route.
Your narrative voice is awesome. It had me enthralled..
This was awesome. Thank you.
"At least I got you guys" - The Thing
I love that they took a super powered, super intelligent character and just put them through _normal life_ . Big reality check for reed when he's regarded as the brains of the operations and not as much human he is at heart. And the ending is quite nice because ben lived remembering his friends and not dying to some twisted fate like most people like to do.
That's good writing. Thanks for the video.
I’ve always been fascinated at The Thing even before I knew about how it is possible his design was based off that of the golems in Jewish folklore. I have watched the original fantastic four movie 20 times in my life. It’s not a masterpiece but, The Thing still all these years later has such a special place in my heart. To see a complete finale given to him after thousands of years. Well, it brings a tear to my eye. Thanks for the video.
One of my favorite Superhero tropes is the implication of some of them potentially living much longer than the average human. And some being around for hundreds if not thousands of years.
This was one of your best loved it
Damn that’s sad and shows the things mental fortitude as well. Living that long and still encouraging others to do good and cherish the people around you. This made me respect the Thing so much more
Just when I think the F4 aren’t already a very loving family, then this video!? Just makes me love Ben all the more!!
Reed and Ben are the odd couple of the FF theirs is a friendship for life, and though sometimes they've been at odds these two have been like brothers something to treasure and remember that is without these two working together there wouldn't be the Fantastic 4, and family of heroes, and if Ben lives beyond his years as The Blue Eyed Thing and his friendship with Reed is the cornerstone in the FF that lasts till Ben Grim will walk alongside his friends in that great cosmic heaven together and that's pure honest love for his brother Reed and Johnny and Sue those fantastic four individuals who saved courtless lives and worlds and beyond a friendship a fellowship of family
True Believers
The Thing is a tragically beautiful character, he didnt want his powers, he didnt want to live for 4000 or so years and see all that he loves pass him, but he does and even still he is the same good guy he always was
And fighting for a better tomorrow for mankind.
Had to take another look.
I love your simple,yet poignant portrayal of the Reed Ben relationship.
The "need to know" has been a plus And a minus for Reed since first introduced all those many years ago.
Times have changed, and as much as Reed has tried,he seems to still be the absent minded professor he's always been.
Ben, on the other hand, will always be the heart of the team, always ready for a battle over principle and wonders.
Always ready to play "protector" to the team.
I love this dynamic.
Reed may be the 'big brain", of the team,but Ben is it's "moral center".. encompassing it's belief system in orange rocky cosmic powered flesh and bone.
Ben wants to be human, but he knows his true calling.. to serve humanity as a deterrent to enemy combatants, And the "cons cience of team".
Seeing Ben years in a might be future,one where Nathaniel Richards seems to be familiar with,(Kang, being the son of a descendant of Nathaniel,or even possibly a brother of Reed).. Watching Ben, through Reed And Nathaniel's eyes, shows us that Reed isn't as hopeless as hes shown.
He's genuinely loves his friend as a true brother... and felt his demise to the core of his being.
He didn't even seem surprised to see his son, Franklin Richards, with Ben during his last moments..as Franklin himself is a true immortal.
Reed, not one to over look a teaching moment, promptly returned to his own time... thought about the events, and decided to follow old Ben's advice to enjoy life and it's moments.
Sitting down with the present day Ben, just to Chill,drives home the entire point, and completed the process for both men.
For Reed, it's spending time with his Friend, re-establishing a lost link in his life.
Drinking a beer...a well placed "I'm good" is all the two needed to tell Ben that Reed was in his feelings about him.
"I've missed you,too..." was the proper response from Ben,as he Johnny and Reed watch a boxing match..
I enjoy this story very much, for some particular reason.as much as I love Ron Garneys work.
I appreciate you and your presentation.
Thank You very much for this.
Honestly made me tear up a bit in the end there
your narration was excellent. thank you
Nice short. Thank you
Hickman's Fantastic 4 is just the best. I love it so much.
To me, my galactus!
@@illwill1991 resurrecting galactus to be his personal herald has gotta be the biggest dick move in nearly all of marvel
Well that was... nice? Bittersweet?
It was depressing, but somehow also uplifting
I recently came back from visiting family, so it might resonate with me a bit more to "spend time with loved ones and make the most of the time" i guess 😅
Great interesting story. Thanks for the good narration.
You've got an intriguing perspective and made such a pleasant video! Thank you!
If Ben only ages one week a year and there are 52 weeks per year. It roughly takes Ben over half a century (or 52 years) to get one year older. He only ages 25 years older every 1300 years, if at that point he still turns human ones a year for a week.
Correct me if I’m wrong, if there a problem
math checks out. (I failed math class however)
Oh cool,
So is franklin immortal or something because how's is he still alive 4000 years later
Bruh, it was literally explained in the video. His cosmic mutation had made him an immortal stone man, but Reed and his son created a cure of sorts, that allowed him to turn back into a normal human for one week at a time, just once each year. So lived for around 4000 thousand years, instead of living supposedly forever.
Pretty sure he's like some kinda god like being. Wiki says he's currently depowered but before he was able to recreate the universe and all that jazz.
not sure if it's been rewritten or changed but it was said in john hickman's f4 run, that franklin richards and galactus will literally witness the end of this universe and the birth of the next, his abiities allow him to access a sort of "god power" but yeah he's been depowered to actually let him be used in stories but i think the consensus is he'll get older and older, learn how to continue to use his powers and he'll be immortal
amazing man.. keep it going,, nice voice and vibes on reading ...
THIS is the type of thoughtful writing the MCU needs going forward. Good video, thanks.
Honestly can’t blame Ben. I’ll take a big juice greasy cheeseburger over processed jelly any day
These are the comic book stories I really like. No world ending scenarios, heroes going crazy, or political pandering. Just a story of a family.
Comics have always been about politics
@@mansagarus9226 No.
Just like every other story-telling device, comics have always been about stories. If you think they have always been about politics, it's just what you see in them.
@@fortnight5677 Good god you are an absolute clown. Do you know the reason why Captain america, Superman, and the rest were created ? They had non stop political events and narratives there. Cap AND supes both fought against the Nazis while Superman’s story included the Klan, the Mutant saga reflected the civil rights era in which it was created in during the 60s. For you NOT to see any of this means you’re either blind or just don’t read comics. I mean the writers themselves say it.
That was a nice heartwarming story man. I've had a rough day so this was good
Thank you for sharing this man. I enjoy this group and didn't know about this part of their story.
Dope work. I like the summary and analysis.
i loved this, thank you so much
Wow That was deep. I felt in this one. Thank you for making this
This story is heartwarming and bittersweet. Awesome video!
I watched a couple of your others vids and you got my sub after this one 👍🏼
I enjoyed this. Thank u.