Marvel Comics: 11 major moments comic book fans should know about (January)
By Mark Lynch
5. Ben Grimm kills Reed Richards
Comic book: Fantastic Four No. 28
Ben Grimm is one of the most honorable people in Marvel Comics. He won’t harm people if he doesn’t have to and he’s against murder. This, of course, made the scene in Fantastic Four No. 28 so shocking as a version of Ben Grimm from an alternate timeline killed his best friend Reed Richards.
Ben showed up to a timeline where a pupil-less version of him was beating Reed to death. The original Ben assumed that this was because he turned him into The Thing. The alternate reality Ben told his counterpart that, adding that Ben will be him one day and that he too will kill Reed and won’t think twice about it.
Why is this important?
There were other timelines where the other members of the Fantastic Four were killed but this one seems to be the only one that makes sense. Ben has gained so much in his life recently. His wife and adopted kids bring him more joy than he knew possible. If Reed destroys any of this, he might understandably lose it.
Reed is known for doing things that he deems necessary. Reed’s mistakes could cause the death of Ben’s loved ones – which is, you would think, the only thing that could turn Ben on Reed – especially if the person he hurt or killed is his wife Alicia.