The Thingis the undisputed powerhouse for the Fantastic Four, with his cosmic-ray abilities placing him in a strength bracket similar to Colossus and The Hulk. Ben Grimm is one-of-a-kind, but a series of stellar variant covers reimagines other Marvel heroes in his place - with the Thing’s strength and durability alongside their powers. The combination of the Thing andBlack Panther’sVibranium suit elevates both powersets to unbelievable levels.
Marvel recently revealeda series of jaw-dropping variant covers depictingseveral Marvel heroesas the Thing, with Paco Medina’s variant cover forAvengers#20 honoring bothBlack Pantherandthe Fantastic Four’srocky strongman.
T’Challa is prepared to do some clobberin' of his own in Wakanda’s prized Vibranium suit as Medina’s cover stretches Black Panther’s costume to capacity,combining the iconic superhero look with the Thing’s boulder-like physique.It’s a far cry from Ben Grimm’s Fantastic Four uniforms, but the unique combination would make that version of the Thing practically unstoppable. Bombarding Wakanda’s protector with cosmic rays would accentuate Black Panther’s already significant power.
Black Panther Morphs Into One of His Strongest Forms as The Thing
Avengers#20 Variant Cover by Paco Medina Combines the Two Heroes
Ben Grimm’s journey into spacewith Reed Richardsand the Storm siblings changed his life forever. While the entire team received powers from the cosmic rays, Ben’s future was truly altered, as his normal skin changed into his iconic orange, boulder-like covering. It robbed him of his ability to fit into normal society again, though the rays also granted him incredible superhuman strength, strength, and durability.
Medina’s variant cover takes that combination and puts it all in a nigh-indestructible Vibranium suit, andpairing Black Panther’s already incredible talents with The Thing’s strength and endurancemakes an indomitable combination.
New She-Hulk Combines the Thing’s Rock Skin and Hulk’s Gamma Powers
A new variant cover blends Fantastic Four’s Thing and She-Hulk, in an awesome redesign that captures the brawling spirit of both iconic characters.
Along with being their powerhouse,Grimm is often the heart of the Fantastic Four team, and the dynamic of the group would be forever changed if someone like T’Challa had taken his place. On the surface, the two are radically different, with Ben being a down-to-earth New Yorker and the Wakandan king offering a more noble, collected demeanor, but both certainly know how to handle themselves in a fight. Should Medina’sBlack Panther/ the Thing combined form ever grace something beyond a variant cover, the Fantastic Four would have a mighty ally clothed in top-tier Wakandan technology.
Black Panther’s Transformation Is a Compelling Tribute to Ben Grimm
Dazzler#3 Variant Cover by Ario Anindito
With the upcoming Fantastic Four film release and ongoing comic series by writer Ryan North, the Thing deserves a little extra attention - whether it’s Black Panther taking on the role in Wakanda’s prized Vibranium armor or Dazzler transforming the Thing’s rocky skin into glimmering disco ball pieces for Ario Anindito’sDazzler#3 variant cover.The Thinghas been the heart and soul of the Fantastic Four for decades and has earned a piece of the spotlight.Black Panther’stransformation for theAvengers#20 variant cover is an intriguing tribute to both characters and a combination that elevates their already impressive attributes.
Fantastic Four
TheFantastic Fouris a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics' first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel’s success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years,Fantastic Fourhas been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
