Warning: Spoilers for Fantastic Four #30!

TRIGGER WARNING: Mention of Suicidal Thoughts and Depression.

OG fans of the Fantastic Four will be shocked by The Thing's reaction to losing his powers. For years, Ben Grimm has struggled with the transformation caused by the Fantastic Four’s fateful outer space journey, which left him with a grueling rock-like body. While his superhuman strength was a gift, the physical toll has been a constant burden. Despite Reed Richards' repeated attempts to reverse the effects, none have succeeded, and now, with his powers gone, fans will be stunned by how Ben reacts to the loss.

...Doctor Doom takes away the very part of Ben's identity that had helped him overcome his depression...

On March 26, 2025, fans will finally see The Thing get what he's always wanted in Fantastic Four #30 by Ryan North and Cory Smith—freedom from his powers and his rocky transformation. In this highly anticipated issue, readers can check out a preview below, featuring cover art by Joshua Cassara and Dean White.

The story takes a dramatic turn when Doctor Doom escalates his long-standing feud with Mister Fantastic, using his new powers as Sorcerer Supreme to do what Reed Richards could never—cure The Thing of his rocky affliction. However, much to everyone's surprise, The Thing isn’t exactly thrilled to be human again.

The Thing's Transformation Back to Human Triggers a Deep Depression

Fantastic Four #30, Written by Ryan North, Penciled by Cory Smith, Inked by Oren Junior, Colored by Jesus Aburtov, and Lettered by VC's Joe Caramagna

Since ing The Fantastic Four, Ben Grimm's affliction has been portrayed as the greatest tragedy of his life. Many storylines focus on how his transformation into The Thing isolates him socially—not just because it's hard to blend in as a hulking mass of rocks, but because his deep insecurities push him to withdraw into himself even more. As a result, maintaining a love life—or really, any semblance of a normal life—has become nearly impossible for The Thing.

The darkest aspect of The Thing has always been the deep depression Ben suffers due to his powers. Everything he's lost because of his transformation has pushed him to the brink of suicide. In recent years, Reed's failed attempts to return Ben to his human form have only further diminished The Thing's will to live, making his existence even more unbearable. As a superhero whose powers render him virtually indestructible, he's unkillable to everyone—himself included. This unending cycle of despair has only intensified Ben's desperate desire to regain his humanity.

How The Thing Made Peace with His Insecurities About His Appearance

Being a Superhero Helped The Thing Overcome His Depression

Ironically, it is his affliction with being The Thing that helped pull Ben Grimm out of his depression. Specifically, using The Thing's rocky skin and the super strength that comes with it, Ben is able to turn the negatives of his ailment into a positive not only for himself, but for the world. The very thing that put The Thing in his depression was able to pull him out once he learned how to accept himself. One big turning point for The Thing's view of himself came in Fantastic Four #46.

Fantastic Four #46 was written by Dan Slott with art by Cafu, color by Jesus Aburtov, and lettering by VC's Joe Caramagna.

Ironically, in this issue, Johnny Storm is dealing with a similar affliction to The Thing, where Johnny can't Flame-Off, forever cursed to be the inflamed Human Torch, thanks to Doctor Doom meddling with his powers. Like Reed Richards has tried for The Thing, Mister Fantastic struggles to find a cure. Luckily for Johnny, The Overseer has a cure for The Human Torch that will allow him to go back to his human form. The cure proves to be a success, and the cure can be used on Ben just the same. However, Ben's adopted son, Jo-Venn, reminds his dad of this:

I think you were Colonel Ben Grimm, the idol of millions, one of the greatest heroes in the galaxy. And as you once told me, we should be proud of who we are.

Ben is quick to agree, itting that he wouldn't change a thing about being The Thing. This is enough to remind Ben of how much he's embraced being The Thing. The validation that he receives from his son reminds The Thing of all the good he has done with this supposed curse that he's felt has become such a detriment to his life. With time, he's recognized how saving the galaxy has helped his life more than he's deterred it. His wife, children, and The Fantastic Four have helped The Thing make peace with the drawbacks while embracing the positives.

Why Isn't The Fantastic Four's Founder Happy to Be Human Again?

Losing His Powers Strips Away Ben Grimm's Identity

Given Ben's long struggle with his rock form, one would expect that regaining his human form in Fantastic Four #30 would have him overjoyed. However, the issue reveals that becoming human has only deepened The Thing’s depression. Over the years, Ben Grimm has learned to accept who he is, largely thanks to the of Marvel's First Family and his lover, Alicia Masters. His wife, in particular, has been a hidden hero for The Fantastic Four, helping Ben find confidence and saving his life in the process. Additionally, Ben has come to appreciate his role as a superhero, recognizing the good he does in helping others as The Thing.

More recently, Ben has come to see the positive impact he's made as The Thing, which has helped to counterbalance the negative feelings he once had about his transformation. However, when Doctor Doom strips Ben of his powers, he doesn't just remove the rocks from his body—he takes away the very part of Ben's identity that had helped him overcome his depression: the essence of what made him a hero. As a result, The Thing falls back into a deeper depression, and now The Fantastic Four must find a way to help him through it.

Fantastic Four #30 will go on sale from Marvel Comics starting March 26, 2025!