The Highlight Reel: A Family Instead of a Freakshow

In my previous post, you had a front row seat to the rip-roaring "Clobberin' Time" side of The Thing, the Fantastic Four's resident rock-encrusted curmudgeon.   However, there's another side to Ben Grimm you may not be quite as familiar with.

Raised as a streetwise scrapper on New York's Lower East Side, Ben Grimm's tough-guy exterior became a literal reality following his cosmic accident.  Ironically, Ben's rocky outer shell became the catalyst for a softer side to emerge, as the love of his Fantastic Four "family" and girlfriend Alicia gradually smoothed his jagged outlook.

Adding to Ben's joy was the arrival of Reed and Sue's baby boy, born in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (1968).  Soon afterward in Fantastic Four #94 (1969), the proud parents bring the baby home to the Baxter Building. Let's join them as they announce what they've decided to name their son, a special day for Ben Grimm as well as an unforgettable scene for the Highlight Reel.

(click on the panels for a larger view)

Comments

[Drew Clements]

Yeah, now this is the kind of stuff I love out of my comics: emotional, human moments that everyone can empathize with.

Good post!

[Mark Engblom]

Glad you liked it, Drew. This is the primary reason I started the Highlight Reel feature. Too often, I think there's so much snarky mockery directed toward older comics (from me included), it can give the false impression that there was nothing truly moving or awe-inspiring to be found within them. That's obviously not true, and hopefully the Highlight Reel will help make that a little more clear.