The Thing is Jack Kirby: How a Marvel Legend Injected Himself into the Fantastic Four
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
The new Fantastic Four movie has everyone talking, but IGN South Africa points out the real secret identity of The Thing: he's basically Jack Kirby in orange, rocky form. It's a deep dive into how Kirby poured his life, experiences, and even his Jewish heritage into Marvel's beloved grumpy powerhouse.
Right, so everyone's buzzing about the new *Fantastic Four: First Steps* flick, and while the CGI and cosmic shenanigans are all well and good, there's a deeper layer that often gets missed: The Thing *is* basically Jack Kirby. Yeah, *that* Jack Kirby – one of the OG architects of the Marvel Universe. Credit where credit's due, this scoop comes via IGN South Africa, and they've dug into some fascinating connections.
Fair dinkum, it's not just about the rock-hard exterior, mate. It's about the grit, the working-class roots, the surprisingly soft heart hidden beneath a gruff exterior… sound familiar? Kirby, born Jacob Kurtzberg on the Lower East Side, poured a massive chunk of himself into Ben Grimm. From the Yancy Street Gang parallels to the shared Jewish heritage, the connections are more than just coincidence.
Kirby's son, Neal, nailed it when he said his dad had “the scrappiness of Leo Gorcey… the language of Damon Runyon, and the attitude of Jimmy Cagney.” Slap a cigar in The Thing’s mouth, and boom, you’ve got Kirby in orange rocky form. It's not just physical, either. Kirby admitted that The Thing's manner of speech and way of thinking were directly lifted from his own life. He wasn't being coy about it. He was literally building himself into the bricks of the Marvel Universe.
And what about the Jewish aspect? It's huge. Grimm's journey as an outsider, often feared and misunderstood, resonates with the historical Jewish experience. He even had a bar mitzvah in the comics – how's that for representation? Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds, is seen as a biblical figure in Kirby's eyes, as a sci-fi take on the wrathful, early-Old-Testament God. The Silver Surfer is his herald. Kirby was never afraid to inject his faith and cultural upbringing into the characters that we love today.
Even the new movie throws in some nods, with Ben munching on black and white cookies and a schoolteacher love interest named Rachel Rozman, a probable nod to Kirby’s wife, Roz. Is it perfect representation? Nah, not yet. But it's a start, mate. The author writing for IGN South Africa rightly points out the film takes place in an alternate universe named Earth-828, a nod to Kirby’s birthday, August 28. They've also added in moments recreating comic book covers and more; the president of Marvel Studios wanted to ensure Kirby's work was appreciated and displayed throughout the film, not just as a 'tip of the hat'.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to this: when you're diving into *Fantastic Four*, you're not just getting a superhero story; you're getting a glimpse into the soul of one of the medium's greatest creators. And that, my friends, is pretty bloody special, wouldn't you reckon?
Tags: Marvel, Fantastic Four, Jack Kirby, Comics, MCU
Original article: IGN South Africa