The Thing is, he's Jewish

Stan Lee of Marvel (Photo by Edward Liu)

It is well known that Jews and comedy are as perfect a match as bagels, lox and cream cheese.

Less known is the relationship between Jews and comic books.  Take The Thing (please), for instance.  Described as a "founding member of the Fantastic Four" by adherents.com, this Thing "began life as Benjamin Jacob Grimm" on what appears to be New York City's Lower East Side.

Although hints were given for years that Grimm's roots were Jewish, nothing definitive had ever been stated by Marvel Comics.  It wasn't until the relatively recent issue #56 of "Fantastic Four" ("Remembrance of Things Past") that Marvel finally established Grimm's religion to be Judaism.

So what took so long?  Why the long wait?  Was The Thing trying to hide his Jewish roots?

That very question is addressed in the "Remembrance" issue.  Mr. Sheckerberg, "a pawnbroker from the old

neighborhood," asks our hero if he were somehow ashamed of his Judaism. 

With his usual eloquence, The Thing answers, "Nah, that ain't it."

Then why so shy?  It turns out that The Thing doesn't want his monstrous looks (the result of an attack by

cosmic rays during his piloting years) to be thought of as representing Judaism.  He explains:  "Figure there's enough trouble in this world without people thinkin' Jews are all monsters like me…"

Resources

http://www.adherents.com/lit/comics/Thing.html

Copyright December 1, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved