The Fantastic Four’s Surprising Replacement of the Thing with a Powerful Hero Stronger Than Hulk

The Fantastic Four, Marvel’s iconic team, has maintained a consistent core since their introduction in 1961. However, throughout their storied history, they have occasionally needed to bring in new members. One lesser-known replacement for the Thing was Maul, who initially outmatched Benjamin Jacob Grimm in strength, before ultimately transitioning to the DC Universe.

Maul made his temporary substitution in Fantastic Four Vol. 2 #13, a pivotal issue written by James Robinson and illustrated by Mike Wieringo. This issue marked the start of the ‘World War III’ narrative arc, which innovatively intertwined the Marvel and WildStorm comic universes, leading to collaborative hero teams.

FANTASTIC FOUR WITH MAUL REPLACING THE THING

Maul, originally a character from Jim Lee’s WildCATs, filled the void left by Ben Grimm in an alternate timeline during the ‘World War III’ crossover. This storyline involved a cataclysmic alliance between the Skrulls from Marvel and DC’s Daemonites, resulting in the few remaining heroes defending Earth from devastation.

DC’s Maul Stepping Up in World War III

New Team Composition: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Burnout, and Maul

Maul’s role within the Fantastic Four emerged during a period in the 1990s when Marvel made the surprising decision to cancel titles like Captain America, Iron Man, The Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. This led to a major relaunch orchestrated by Jim Lee’s WildStorm and Rob Liefeld’s Extreme Studios under the initiative known as ‘Heroes Reborn.’ Within this new framework, it was conveyed that the heroes had been incapacitated by the Onslaught event, only to be preserved in a pocket universe created by Franklin Richards.

Initially, the ‘Heroes Reborn’ strategy enjoyed a surge in sales; however, it soon fell out of favor with the fanbase, resulting in Marvel reintegrating its prominent heroes back into the continuity of the mainstream Marvel Universe after just a year. During this transition, each title produced a thirteenth issue that featured a crossover with WildStorm, facilitated by an attack from Galactus that warped reality itself.

Alongside Maul, the core team also consisted of Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, and Burnout from Gen 13, who took on a role akin to the deceased Johnny Storm, displaying powers that mirrored his own.

While the WildStorm heroes dealt with the formidable Damocles during the ‘Fire From Heaven’ event, both universes faced dire circumstances that led to their temporary merger. Unfortunately, this new reality was rife with conflict, as the Skrull/Daemonite alliance unleashed chaos on Earth, with Doctor Doom’s betrayal contributing to the alien control over vast portions of Europe and Asia. The remaining heroes, unaware of their dual origins, fought valiantly despite being outmatched.

Maul’s distinctive abilities allow him to drastically increase both his size and mass, resulting in exponential super-strength, which raises the question: is Maul stronger than the Thing?

Is Maul from WildCATs Stronger Than the Fantastic Four’s Thing?

Maul: A Unique Size-Changer and Strength Amplifier

As the alliance faced overwhelming odds, numerous heroes perished or went missing in the conflict, including the emergence of WildCATs’ Spartan as Captain America, filling in for the absent Steve Rogers. In this complex framework, Maul’s participation as a substitute for the Thing came as a result of the latter’s disappearance into the Negative Zone. While both characters share similar physical characteristics, Maul’s unique capacity to amplify his size points to significant differences; Maul can become vastly stronger than the Thing.

Maul’s true identity, Jeremy Stone, is a hybrid human-alien known as a Titanthrope, drawing his powers from the Kherubim, a race opposed to the Daemonites. However, this power comes at a cost: as he enlarges, Maul experiences a reduction in cognitive function. This side effect presents a tactical disadvantage, as greater size correlates with decreased intelligence, which could complicate team dynamics during critical combat situations. Furthermore, while capable of reverting to his normal human size, he becomes vulnerable without the augmented strength and durability that accompanies his larger physique.

Despite these challenges, Maul proved himself an invaluable asset, saving Reed Richards at a crucial moment and confronting formidable adversaries like the Hulk.

Even with his strengths and shortcomings, Maul’s tenure with the Fantastic Four was marked by significant heroics, particularly as the Marvel and WildStorm universes faced dire circumstances. The ‘World War III‘ storyline took bold narrative risks, including shocking character developments and unexpected plot twists, such as Sue Storm being unveiled as a Skrull infiltrator.

The Thing Acknowledged Maul as a Worthy Successor

Limited by Rights Issues, Maul’s Return to the FF Remains Unlikely

As the saga culminated, the original Captain America returned to rally surviving heroes against the Skrull/Daemonite forces. In a climactic showdown, Maul showcased his incredible strength by defeating a revived Hulk but at a fatal cost. Overexerting himself during this confrontation, Maul succumbed to a heart attack, while the Skrull masquerading as Sue Storm attacked Cap, heralding a dark chapter for the heroes.

In his final moments, Steve Rogers inspired new recruit Rick Jones to take drastic action against Doctor Doom’s portal, effectively restoring the distinct Marvel and WildStorm realities. The Fantastic Four and Avengers returned to the Marvel Universe in the miniseries Heroes Reborn: The Return, marking the conclusion of the ‘Heroes Reborn’ crossover event. Ultimately, WildStorm became part of DC Comics, leading characters like Maul to find new homes outside of Marvel.

Due to the entanglements surrounding character rights, Marvel is unlikely to acknowledge Maul’s previous affiliation with the Fantastic Four. An example of this omission occurred in Fantastic Four Vol. 6 #2, where Reed Richards summoned past team members, explicitly leaving out Maul.

reed richards gathers every member of the fantastic four ever

Despite this oversight, it’s noteworthy that Maul earned praise from the Thing. In the conclusion of ‘World War III,’ as chronicled in Captain America Vol. 2 #13, Ben Grimm acknowledged Maul’s contributions, highlighting how he safeguarded fellow team members. “You did me proud,”Ben remarked to Maul before their final assault.

The Fantastic Four traditionally does not boast an extensive roster akin to the Avengers or X-Men, making Maul’s singular presence a surprising addition from another continuity. Even so, Marvel acknowledged his worthiness and remarkable capabilities during this crossover. Fans can hope for a future where Maul’s contributions are more formally recognized, especially since the Thing himself regarded Maul as a capable successor.

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