a re-try (minus interruptions this time)
2:57 p.m. on 2004-01-30
I wasn't very close to my uncle (he wasn't easy to be close to), but we did have some nice moments. When I expressed curiosity about my Uncle Fred's logic puzzle books, he gave them to me. The two of us created a nickname for the moon, which was "Moon Albert". I forgot why we came up with that name, but there was a year where my uncle thought I had forgotten about our special term. Unfortunately, my Uncle Fred isn't alive. :( I miss him.
Part of Ben Grimm's gruffness comes from his growing up. His older brother Dan used to be a member of the Yancy Street Gang, but died during a gang rumble. Ben wasn't happy about this. Later on in life, he became a member of the YSG. When his parents died, Ben lived with his Uncle Jake and his wife. (I forget her name.) A football scholarship allowed Ben Grimm to meet Reed Richards at college. The two became best friends.
When Reed first mentioned wanting to build his own rocket, Ben said he'd fly it. At the time though, he was only joking. He later became a test pilot, and Reed mentioned his dream again, this time actually having the rocket. I think Ben said "yes" again, but when he learned about cosmic rays in space, Ben panicked. He no longer wanted to do the piloting, thinking there wasn't enough shielding. Sue called him a coward, which made Ben change his mind. (He still had his worries.)
Note: This is going by the very first origin story. In some other origin stories, Sue doesn't call Ben a coward.
Reed Richards thought things would be fine, but he was wrong. Ben was right about there not being enough shielding. Everyone gained powers (instead of dying), but Ben Grimm suffered more than the others. Reed, Sue, and Johnny can have "normal" lives if they wanted to. They looked human. Ben gained super strength, while at the same time undergoing a drastic transformation. He started out having a lumpyish look to him. (I prefer the more familiar "rocky" look, since it's easier on the eyes, and also 'cause it was the version I was first introduced to.) Everything changed physically, except for his eyes, which stayed blue. Skin color became orange.
"I ain't Ben anymore - I'm what Susan called me - The Thing!! -FF no. 1 vol. 1
Blah! Wish he hadn't had denied who he was. I can't help but think that the above line is the reason why Ben's teammates were reluctant to call him by his first name at first. I also disagree with what he said. Ben's appearance may have changed one fateful day, but his mind didn't become altered too. Just 'cause he may not be recognizable as "Ben Grimm", doesn't mean that's no longer his name.
The Fantastic Four don't have secret identities, something I like. I don't think I would like it much if I only had the four monikers available to me. The lack of secret identities makes everyone seem more realistic. They talk like real people, act like real people. The FF isn't just a team, it's a family.
Ben had a lot of adjusting to do, as a member of the Fantastic Four. He wasn't always the lovable character I'm familiar with. It's understandable though, since who likes being viewed as a monster all the time?(Not everybody fears Ben, but there's usually somebody who is scared when they first seem him.) I like his loyalty to friends and family. I enjoy Ben's sense of humor. If he were a complainer 24/7, I probably wouldn't like him. He has a variety of emotions, and his face is very expressive. People consider The Thing to be an iconic character in the Marvel Universe. Ben Grimm will always be my fave. FFer. He's the most human out of everybody in the team, and has the vote of being "most popular FFer".
Enough blabbering for now. Wish I could find better words to express what's going on in my mind. Talk to you all later.
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