As announced by Marvel, Fantastic Four #30 – written by Ryan North with art by Cory Smith – teases the "Fantastic Three," as Ben Grimm is depicted reverting to his human form. With Ben struggling to deal with the loss of his identity as the Thing at the worst possible time, he and Alicia Masters will take the spotlight while Reed, Sue, and Johnny continue to fight Doom.

FANTASTIC FOUR #30 (2025)
Release Date:	March 26, 2025
Writers:	Ryan North
Artists:	Cory Smith
Cover Artist:	Joshua Cassara
FANTASTIC THREE! After Ben Grimm has suffered a terrible (and very public) defeat at the hands of Doom, he’s left lost, adrift – and more vulnerable than he has been in years. And when a trip to New York goes wrong and his fate suddenly turns from bad to worse, Ben has never been more vulnerable – and soon takes a shocking shortcut he won’t be able to undo! This is one Thing and Alicia story you won’t soon forget!

While the One World Under Doom event sees the legendary supervillain completely dominating the Marvel Universe, his attack on The Thing is a jaw-dropping development that promises major consequences for the series.

Clobberin’ Time Is Over: The Thing Loses His Powers, Turning The Fantastic Four Into A Trio During Doom’s Takeover

Fantastic Four #30 – Written By Ryan North; Art By Cory Smith; Main Cover By Joshua Cassara; Variant Cover by Rod Reis

Doom’s actions against the Thing could also be seen as a sign of respect from the villain, but Marvel seems to be teasing that this is a truly brutal and sad defeat for the gruff but lovable hero. The Thing has both been reverted to his human form and taken time off from the Fantastic Four before, but his loss when Emperor Doom takes over the Marvel Universe makes things more complicated. When Ben’s needed most to defend the world against the villain he and his team know best, his sudden powerlessness puts everyone but Doom at a major disadvantage.

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Though Ben Grimm struggled with his rocky form in many previous Fantastic Four comics, the contemporary iteration of the character has totally embraced his status as the Thing, meaning there’s really no upside to his human form returning. Since the initial description even teases that he’ll take a “shocking shortcut,” there’s no telling what lengths Ben will go to be less vulnerable in the fight against Doom. With his loving wife – an honorary member of the team herself – Alicia, the Thing will be forced to find a new way to his family, as his brute strength is taken from him.

One World Under Doom’s Shocking Fantastic Four Development Highlights Ben Grimm’s Importance In The Marvel Universe

The Thing Has A Busy Year Ahead

Ahead of their debut in the MCU in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, both the team and a new solo comic book series, The Thing. Though he will be suffering a remarkable defeat in the pages of Fantastic Four, the devastation his de-powering causes will further emphasize how integral The Thing is to both his team and the Marvel Universe at large.

With his classic orange rocks in a pile around Ben Grimm’s human body on Joshua Cassara’s cover for Fantastic Four #30, the iconic character experiences a major setback just as his biggest threat gains more power. With Grimm unexpectedly taken off the board, it remains to be seen how his three fellow heroes will fare as a trio during the villain’s takeover. The Thing’s defeat at the hands of Doctor Doom is set to have major consequences for the Fantastic Four, and the fallout could be truly groundbreaking for Marvel lore.

Source: Marvel

Fantastic Four #30 will be available March 26, 2025 from Marvel Comics.

Fantastic Four

Created by

Stan Lee, Jack Kirby

First Film

The Fantastic Four

Latest Film

Fantastic Four

Films

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

First TV Show

The Fantastic Four

First Episode Air Date

September 9, 1967

The Fantastic Four is a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics' first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel's success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years, Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.

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