Ben Grimm is one of the most beloved Marvel heroes, but the Eternals don't trust The Thing for a pretty bad reason: He looks like a Deviant in their eyes. In Marvel X #5 by Marvel Comics, it's revealed that Ikaris and the Eternals judgment onto the Fantastic Four hero because of his appearance. It confirms Grimm's worst fear that people will assume he's a monster solely based on his transformation and how he looks.
Famously, Ben Grimm was among the Marvel heroes who were transformed during a space mission leading to the creation of the Fantastic Four. While his family and crewmates received powers, as Reed Richards gained stretching powers, Sue Storm could become invisible, and Johnny Storm could engulf his body in flames, Grimm's transformation changed his physical appearance permantely. Instead of his more human appearance, Grimm became The Thing, a powerful rock-like monster. Ben struggled with his new form before eventually learning to live with it. However, the Eternals don't trust The Thing as they believe he looks too much like a Deviant.
In Marvel X #5 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger, Well-Bee, and VC's Cory Petit, an alternate Marvel Comics timeline features a world where nearly everyone on Earth has superpowers. However, Earth's Mightiest Heroes also face mutates as they fight to find a cure. When a group of heroes band together and finally catch up, Ikaris reveals many of the Eternals left Earth. However, after making a condescending remark about the planet needing heroes, human or not, The Fantastic Four's Ben Grimm asks why he's looking at him when he's mentioning non-humans, as Ikaris tells The Thing that he looks like a "Deviant."
The Thing gets frustrated, telling the heroes that he gets "no respect." But deep down, the comments about his appearance supposedly making him look like a Deviant highlight the worse fear about his transformation - that other heroes view him as a monster. The Eternals made it their life's mission to eliminate excess deviation, as Ikaris calling him a Deviant has to sting. The Thing is so much more than his rocky appearance, so learning he's not trusted because of his looks hurts him to his core.
Thankfully, The Thing is past the point of feeling sorry for himself about his rocky appearance, even if he still has to live with it every day. But, with Ikaris telling him he looks like a Deviant and that he doesn't trust him because of it, Ben Grimm was once again reminded that he will always be viewed as a monster in the eyes of some people, including his fellow heroes. Ultimately, The Thing's worst fears came true in the moment - even if the Fantastic Four hero is one of the furthest things from being a monster, despite how he looks.
