BeingCaptain Americameans standing for all that America means - and yet it looks like there’s an even more All-American hero looking to take Steve Rogers' place in a new variant cover. In a surprise to every comic fan, it seems as ifthe Thinghas squeezed into the red, white, and blue tights - and he looks better than imagined.
In a series ofMarvel variant coversfor titles coming out in the near future, the Thing ofthe Fantastic Fouris slipping into comics and stealing heroes' looks in a hilarious way. One of the best isthe Thing’s appearance on Pete Woods' variant cover forCaptain America#15(by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesús Saíz). What previously would have been just a silly joke is starting to look a little too good for its own good.
Turns out thatthere’s nothing more American than Ben Grimm, and maybe it really is an American pastime to clobber anyone who tries to deny freedom. Captain America was in need of a new catchphrase anyway.
Meet Earth’s Newest Star-Spangled Avenger: The Thing
Ben Grimm Gives Steve Rogers a Run for His Money
Created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Steve Rogers has been Captain America since his first appearance in 1941’sCaptain America Comics#1. A lot has changed since then, including massive franchise-scale events that durable heroes like only the Thing are able to stop. Slipping on the red, white, and blue isn’t the first time thatthe Thing has had a time travel adventure, but at least it makes Captain America more modern.The Thing doesn’t even need the famous shield, since his body is a shield itself.
If Captain America is the symbol of America, then this version of Captain America is the everyman hero.
Steve Rogers talks like a news anchor of yesteryear, still speaking like it’s 1941. Ben Grimm is one of the only characters who still speaks in a regional accent in Marvel Comics, one that has notably marked him as working class, even during his early, original appearances inThe Fantastic Fourby Kirby and Stan Lee. If Captain America is the symbol of America, then this version of Captain America is the everyman hero -a Captain America who loves the simple life and clobbering his enemies, that is.
The Thing Makes a Hilarious Grab at Avenger Personas
Ben Grimm Is a Little Too Heavy to Be a Webslinger
This isn’tThe Thing’s only redesignhowever, considering he also happens to grace Aaron Kuder’s variant cover forThe Amazing Spider-Man#61, which arrives the same day asCaptain America#15.As good and strong as he looked as Captain America, the Thing really isn’t pulling off this look, showing thatSpider-Man’s mode of transportation isn’t for everybody.Just becauseSpider-Man is getting a new suitdoesn’t mean his old one is up for grabs.
The Thing is better at smashing things. UnlikeCaptain America, he’s not really a born hero, and unlike Spider-Man, he’s not really light on his feet. After trying out a few costumes, it seems that Ben Grimm’s place is right where he belongs - beside his friends in the Fantastic Four and as everyone’s favorite bad-tempered hero,the Thing.
Source:Marvel
Captain America
Initially debuting in 1940, Captain America is the patriotically themed superhero who has shared the title with only a few individuals. Beginning with Steve Rogers, Captain America’s birth resulted from a frail man taking part in an experimental U.S. Army super-soldier trial, which imbued him with super-human abilities. The character is often depicted wielding a nigh unbreakable and aerodynamic shield made of vibranium that they use to defend and attack their foes.
