who's chopping onions in here god dammit! Watch the Thing Cry - Fantastic Four #588 Subscribe and Let me know what you'd like to see next!

Not only does this comic humanize The Thing, but it also humanizes the Hulk, and I love that

The fact that the Hulk stops Thor from hitting the Thing and gesture of understanding the Things pain is very wholesome in a way.

Spiderman being the only one to speak is perfect.

The tears shed by Thor are beyond powerful.. and the way hulk just kneels with him and holds him as he breaks down.. the hulk isn't a monster, he truly is good.

Seeing Hulk being the one pulling others from depression is remarkably fresh and i'm surprised we haven't seen more of it

Honestly having Peter be the one to talk to Franklin was perfect. He knew how close Johnny and Peter were and Peter was basically another uncle for Franklin and Val

Spider-Man really is the webbing that holds the multiverse together isn’t he

there's something so truly understanding about the way Thor and Hulk react. They know that men like them need to PHYSICALLY get their feelings out, and that they're the ones that can take it. so they literally take on his pain, while he takes it out. it's such a positive, understanding way to be a man. "I will let you best the shit out of me so you don't do it to someone else and regret it."

God, I love comics when they’re well-written

Damn. The hulk just hugging him after he starts breaking down is touching. I love when they let hulk be empathetic, especially towards others like him.

I love how perfect this captures everyone. Of course Reed would be obsessed with trying to find some way of bringing him home. Sue lost her brother, I can’t blame her for isolating in solitude. Banner of all people, knows what it’s like to just let out your anger and pain so he calls the only other friend who’d be cable of allowing that for Ben. And Peter, always looking out for the little guy and being relatable while trying his best to inspire optimism.

The fact that Hulk and Thor knew the assignment and didnt even say a word and just put they hands up. You know they are really bros, when the conversation needed no words.

Bruce and Thor going to Ben like that is immensely deep. These are two characters pretty much only seen as brutes by their peers and they themselves would also rather run off, fight something, and stay silent than confront their turmoil. But they know what it's like to be the big guy unable to relate their struggles and feelings to anybody else. A child lashes out after losing a pet, we sympathize. A single mother lashes out due to losing her job, we sympathize. A young man lashes out after leaving a relationship he's been in for a while, we sympathize. But for people like Bruce, Thor, and Ben they can't lash out, can't scream, can't unleash all that pain, because if they do the world would fear and even punish them for it. Bruce and Thor knew this and knew they can be the ones to help him when no one could help them, which acts as a moment of clarity for all of them

“We men don’t cry because we are weak, we cry because we have had to be strong for far to long….”

Spidey would be the best to talk to through any loss. Dude really blames himself and made it a mission to never let the bad guy slip away ever again…. Sometimes you just wish a fictional character was real for a moment cuz you wonder what they’d say.

This is unironically one of the most wholesome things I’ve heard in a while, just seeing the hulk comforting the thing as he’s trying to pummel him like that is wholesome

Gotta love how Hulk actually has the emotional intelligence to know when the best thing he can do is stand there and let someone unload on him until their anger is spent. He did the same thing with Spider-Man.

Well written stories like this is why superhero movies are so popular it’s sad when the mainstream media calls us toxic for wanted to see these stories told accurately on screen….. and don’t get me started on the studios who wasted our good fortune in telling these stories as of late breaks my heart

The final bit with Spider-Man made me cry

Seeing Hulk with a calm face, just standing there taking the blows. He knows what it's like when anger is the only thing you feel. He knows what it's like to lose everything and everyone. He knows what it's like to feel weak despite being the strongest. And that is why he is there for his friend. The Thing was always there first when Hulk could only smash. And now Hulk returns the favor. 😭

Seeing Thor and Ben cry really hurt. You tend to forget the most powerful beings in fiction have emotions this is what writing should be

The hulk is actually very gentle inside, people would think when he got hurt he goes ballistic, not in all cases as we can see.

Man it’s always Spidey that helps people. He’s the true moral compass of Marvel imo. Him mentioning Uncle Ben in relation to Johny is truly amazing

I read this issue while grappling with my lowest point of grief. It hurt, but truly made The Thing, Thor, Hulk and Spider-man some of my favorite heros.

The perfect execution of “show don’t tell”. You can see the sorrow sap the strength from Ben’s limbs as his punches turn to sobbing. We’ve all had a moment like that in our lives and it’s so bittersweet to see that Ben receives that love.

Genuinely the panels where hulk has a blank expression while thing beats the shit out of him only to break down are some of the most masterful comic panels I’ve seen in a while.

Wow... Never seen the Hulk express that kind of compassion before..... Good Job Hulk, Thor And Spider Man! 😌👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💪🏽

Ben to me always felt like the glue of the Fantastic 4, like even during Civil War he didn't want any part in it. He's just always seemed so tough and secure in his emotions, so seeing him reach such a low point is heartbreaking. I think The Thing's true strength comes from his love for the Fantastic 4

I needed this issue. I lost my little brother recently, And grief is an awful thing. I'm not going to trauma dump on a bunch of strangers but I think this issue may have been on of their best in years, beautiful honesty

"His name was Ben"...😢 So deep,on _so many_ levels. More of this, please

The bit with Peter and Franklin at the end ALWAYS makes me cry.

Something about the hulk holding ben, after everything, the sadness, the anger, and finally the acceptance. It the two men that have suffered the most in their lives holding another broken man. God what a gut punch of a story.

I genuinely love the moments of superhero’s genuinely being caring people, rather than just soldiers. Like when black canary therapy session with beast boy in young justice, it was her genuinely caring about a boy that was struggling.

"Until all that remains is the tears" fuck

Bro Annihilus taunting Reed with Johnny’s costume is just ice cold 🥶

It's amazing to see Thor and Hulk be themselves and work as emotional support

Damn . That's deep. The hulk let the thing rage on him just to get his feelings out. Mad respect 💪

It's hard when "It's Clobberin Time" and you can't clobber anything. You can't punch grief or sadness.

Knowing the Fantastic Four, who they are as a team. A real family, this issue hits hard.

The fact that spider-man is the one to break the silence is so fitting because he may make jokes all the time but out of all the heroes he definitely knows how to help someone with words

Hulk knows all about suffering in silence. Being the man who thinks he’s expected to just tough it out is heartbreakingly unfair… but you never really know who’s standing behind you, ready to take that burden until you’re already falling apart.

People forget as much as Johnny and Ben go at each other like cats, they're family and Ben cares more than anyone else on that team.

When something like that happens, we all need someone to vent on, I've gone through this SEVERAL times, and wished I had had someone come to me like this! I'm 67, STILL dealing with it!

The tear in thors eye gets me, after all his time alive he’d know better than any the uncontrollable anger and rage and pain you feel from losing your brothers

Glad to see Spider-Man free from the Spider-Man writers for once and being an inspiration to the whole superhero and non-superhero communities

"Because for us, fighting occupies our bodies while the minds work out the rest" -Tyr

the hulk letting the thing clobber him without retaliation here speaks in volumes to the amount of respect the thing has earned from the hulk.

I love how hulk didn’t escalate the fight or tried to fight back he just comforted his friend which really nails down who Hulk really is not a dumb brute but another being who understands anger and pain

Hulk and thor real ones for that glad thor cried with him too and spidey was the perfect person to comfort franklin he can tell him plenty of cool stories about his uncle n of course he can relate

Just seeing hulk take those hits without getting angry at Thing and just stone faced hits hard and it's solidified with Thor shedding a tear fucking beautiful moment in these comics

Comics arent just cartoons, they're a medium all can relate to if given the chance. Such a touching story.

Peter talking to Franklin was perfect and he knew Johnny greatly. But Hulk bein the one to pull everyone together is really amazing writing and gotta see more of that in the comics

Wow. The idea that Thor & Hulk (who can safely TAKE Ben's punches) go there literally to be punching bags for the Thing to safely vent his anger & pain, is such an awesome Bro move!

Bro that's crazy, the Hulk full of anger still having kindness to console his ol wrestling buddy The Thing. It's kinda touching

This is probably the sweetest way I’ve seen the Hulk portrayed. Compared to the pain of seeing a friend suffer in silence the blows don’t even compare, he can take it.

Three absolute units crying and feeling their emotions is beautiful

It’s amazing that you get a better encapsulation of who Spider-Man/ Peter is in a handful of panels than what the team who write for his book are able (or rather, mandated) to do for the past couple of years.

And see this is what makes me mad about characters deaths. They write good stories like these. Have us almost crying, to have the character simply come back two books later 😂

Hulk giving Ben a hug genuinely made me tear up a little bit.

Hulk hugging Thing after he lost a loved one was sad yet beatiful to see. The most angry one letting the thing take all of his frustration out and sympathizing with him.

😢 Ben is the self insert of Jack Kirby. A beautiful and accurate representation for such a character.

I love this entire run. Hickman's FF is just absolute genius from start to finish. It has so many incredible moments, and this is just one of them.

This is why I love comics. Deep, meaningful stories about people that we care about. Anyone who doesnt see the value here is sorely mistaken.

These kind of character interactions are how I wish the MCU felt.

Damn this is such a good comic. Thor and Hulk letting Ben cut loose while holding back tears of loss and then hearing Peter talk about losing his uncle to little Franklin is just so heartwarming and heartbreaking things in comics

When superhero comics are written well, they're written REALLY WELL

There's something chilling seeing Hulk just taking the blows, no anger,no retaliation...... except a hug at the end

What a blessing to feel this emotional after months of not being able to cry. Beautiful story, thanks for sharing it dude

The most unspoken respect and love for a friend in comics ❤

Spidy makes others happy,

This whole storyline was one of the best things to ever happen to comics and human beings in general

Making a grown man cry: step 1

This is what the bro code is meant for. Everyone needs a safe space to be emotional.

This is why I love comics. I grew up with these guys and seeing the pain when a known character dies feels so real. I remember seeing Superman’s funeral in the 90s with all the DC heroes walking beside his casket crying, and it was so powerful, especially for a kid my age

Its amazing considering that Johnny & Ben are the ones that usually didn't get along but it just goes to show you that a teammate, like a family member, still means a lot even if they bicker all the time.

Bro i cant, thor and hulk helped the only way then knew how, shit had me literally crying 😭❤

Only some peoples know hulk is a guy not only breakdown all things in front, but a pure heart guy, he can understand and be a emotional help for who wants

Honestly I love when there's moments like this in comics where nothing has to be said to show the emotion of the characters

I find it extremely beautiful that Hulk stood still and let The Thing lash out against him again and again without reacting until he ran out of anger and then just silently embraced him at the end.

The boys really said I'll shoulder your pain. Why does shit like this make me cry man

I love how in most of the well written comics superheros super villains help eachother out even though they've been at eachothers throat before and it shows a lot of depth in the comic and growth the characters can have

You know, it’s the rivalry kind of relationship between two guys that end up suffering the greatest when one is gone…. Like the movies they were always missing around but deep down they loved each other like brothers

Whoever drew Ben at the wake looking up in pain, needs to be awarded. The pain in his red eyes, hunched over, weeping in defeat is drawn so realistic. You can tell the artist had put his soul in this panel. 😢😢😢

This is how I remember comic books. I used to hang out at the little comic book store down the street from my house and I would stumble across the most interesting and heartfelt stories. The early and mid 90’s was a special time to be a comic book fan.

I really hope we get a scene like this in the mcu one day

Man this did break my heart

Jesus fuck, that caught me off guard. Thats so wholesome and sad.

I love when comics (even manga) have silent panels like this, it really helps onvey those deep emotions without having to break that up with speech bubbles and such. Sometimes less is more

Man, the fact that the meatheads cope with fighting is so appropriate to their character. It fits and really drove home the complex feelings Ben has ^^

Moments like these that remind us these are not silly stories of characters just punching each other. There's great writing involved. These are people who we grow emotionally attached to. When they suffer; we suffer with them. For example, The Night Gwen Stacy Died made me an emotional wreck and has stuck with me to this day.

This hits close to the heart when youve lost a true friend. That hurt dont go away

I know so many ppl that are like this as well, and it's not even that they don't talk, it's that CAN'T talk. They can't find the words to accurately describe what they feel, or they feel that if they speak all they can do is scream in pain, all they can do is go to the punching bag, or grab their practice blades, sometimes words just arent enough, and that shit makes a grow man cry, watching their best friend just finally break.

Stories like this always well up tears in me😢 being a man is something that's seen as easy but it's never as easy as we want it to be

Love when comics just have absolute banger writing

hulk and thor felt them punches that thing threw and knew every ounce of emotion. it’s like the weight of his strength is terrifying to others but to them they just really see his pain eye to eye 😕 especially with them tears bro

There is so much history between the Thing and Hulk. Epic fights and, I think, a lot of mutual respect. The panels showing Hulk essentially taking a beating as a way of honoring his old friend and rival is really moving.

Man i miss when this kinda storytelling was in comics

Spider is powerfully because he supports others. He holds while others collapse but also standing up after falling stronger then ever.

The fact that there are no words or banter and these two use their bodies to let him take out his pain in a world where he otherwise wouldn’t be able to. 👌🏼 when comics are at their best