- Written by: Tony Fleecs
- Art by: Justin Mason
- Colors by: Alex Sinclair
- Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
- Cover art by: Nick Bradshaw, Rachelle Rosenberg (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: July 30, 2025
The Thing #3, by Marvel on 7/30/25, wastes no time throwing Ben Grimm into the thick of it as a warehouse explodes, leaving him scrambling to protect Marty Flynn’s niece amidst the fiery chaos.
First Impressions
Right from the start, this issue delivers a chaotic punch, perfectly capturing the frantic energy of a superhero trying to save someone in a collapsing, burning building. The immediate danger and Ben’s protective instincts truly hit hard, making you feel every desperate moment with him.
Recap
Previously, Ben Grimm, also known as The Thing of the Fantastic Four, begrudgingly agreed to help his childhood bully, Marty Flynn, find his missing niece. After a rousing battle with Bullseye, his search led to a warehouse guarded by the gangster Hammerhead, where Marty’s niece was held. Just as Ben prepared to confront Hammerhead and his crew, the entire warehouse blew up.
Plot Analysis
The Thing #3 opens with an immediate explosion at a waterfront warehouse in Lower Manhattan, where The Thing had just confronted Hammerhead and his goons over Marty Flynn’s missing niece. Ben Grimm, caught in the blast, quickly recovers and sees Marty’s niece amidst the burning wreckage, crying for help. Bullseye, who was also involved in the previous confrontation, is nearby, seeming to suffer from the blast. Hammerhead, dazed and disoriented, orders his remaining goons to grab the girl, but Ben intervenes, ready to protect her.
As Ben shields the girl, one of Hammerhead’s men tries to tackle him, only for Ben to easily toss the thug into the East River, declaring Hammerhead’s boss is now swimming. Other goons open fire on The Thing, but their bullets are useless against his rocky hide. The niece, terrified by the gunfire, screams for them to stop, and Ben reassures her that everything will be alright. Ben then unleashes a powerful “THOOM!” that sends the remaining attackers flying into the water, silencing the gunfire.
With the immediate threat neutralized, Ben turns his attention fully to the girl, comforting her and asking if she is hurt. He introduces himself as Ben and promises to get her home. The girl reveals she knows Ben through her uncle, Marty, which surprises Ben. He frantically asks if she saw Marty when the warehouse exploded, but she is too overwhelmed to respond directly, simply wanting her uncle.
Just as Ben attempts to pick her up and get her out of the dangerous area, the Wrecking Crew arrives to re-capture the girl on behalf of the true mastermind of this caper – Kingpin. The Thing, though surprised, appears ready to continue the fight, still protecting Marty’s niece as he defeats the Wrecking Crew. However, Ben’s troubles are far from over when the next villain looking to claim the Kingpin’s bounty, Juggernaut, crashes onto the scene.
Detailed Review
Story
The narrative here is a whirlwind of action, starting with an explosion and barely slowing down. It does a solid job of continuing the established plot of Marty’s niece being in danger. The pacing is relentless, which works for an action comic, but some of the character interactions feel a bit rushed, especially given the emotional stakes. The cliffhanger ending certainly leaves you wanting more, a classic comic book move.
Art
Justin Mason’s art, coupled with Alex Sinclair’s colors, is dynamic and clean. The explosion and subsequent fight scenes are rendered with energy, making the impacts feel suitably “clobberin'”. The expressions on the characters’ faces, particularly the niece’s fear and Ben’s determined concern, are well done, conveying emotion without needing excessive words. The art truly complements the action and helps sell the chaos and urgency of the situation.
Characters
While The Thing remains the ever-lovin’ blue-eyed brawler we know, his protective instincts for Marty’s niece shine through, adding depth to his character beyond just punching villains. Marty’s niece acts as a good emotional anchor, highlighting the danger and raising the stakes for Ben. Hammerhead and Bullseye are present but mostly serve as plot devices to keep the action moving, without much character development in this particular issue.
Positives
This issue truly excels in its relentless, explosive action, immediately grabbing the reader’s attention with the warehouse blast and maintaining high energy throughout. Ben Grimm’s unwavering determination to protect Marty’s niece, even when faced with multiple threats, showcases his heroic core and makes him incredibly endearing. The artwork is sharp and expressive, bringing the chaotic fight scenes to life with clear, dynamic visuals that make every punch and explosion feel impactful. The way the art conveys emotion, especially the fear of the child and Ben’s reassurance, adds a significant layer of depth to the narrative without relying on heavy dialogue.
Negatives
The primary drawback of this issue is its somewhat abrupt ending, which leaves the reader on a cliffhanger immediately following a major action beat, without a moment to truly absorb the preceding events. While this is a common tactic in comics, it feels a bit jarring here, as if the story stops mid-sentence rather than at a natural pause point. Furthermore, some of the dialogue for the minor antagonists feels generic and does little to flesh out their motivations beyond being typical comic book goons.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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The Thing #3 barrels forward with a chaotic rescue mission that keeps Ben Grimm on his toes, proving that even a rock monster has a soft spot for kids in danger. The art is solid, delivering the expected “clobberin’ time” visuals with a good dose of emotional punch.
8/10
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