My question is regarding pure physical strength between Thing and Thor. We all know Thor is physically stronger and that he’d win in a slug fest between the two; however, just how strong would you say Thing is compared to Thor?
When comparing strength feats, Thing has absolutely nothing on Thor’s Midgard Serpent feat or his feat of cracking a Celestial’s head. However, when we take battle feats into consideration, Thing has stalemated immortal Hercules at least twice (a guy who’s stalemated Thor in a direct contest of strength), held his own against Hulk several times (someone who’s also stalemated Thor in a direct contest of strength), managed to more than hold his own against Wonder Man on multiple occasions (someone who’s fought Thor to a standstill) and even caused Thor some problems when he (Thing) was mind-controlled.
Now we often like to think on these boards that any one with at least Thor-level strength would walk over Thing in a fist fight, but that never really happens in the comics the way we say it would on these boards. So, just how much stronger than Thing is Thor really?
When two characters with disparate physical statistics, when taking into account other appearances, are made to fight in comics the characters are usually made to appear similar so as to prolong the comic to an acceptable length; especially when the lesser character has a significant fanbase.
Not when we see the whole picture on a subject. The fact is Thing is on a consistent level of strength. He had trouble picking up one of Wonderman's bar bells.
She-Hulk one arm pressed Things max see the picture. Any battle feat invovling Thing managing to hold his own against people stronger than these shows who Thing really isn't that strong. H lasts in matches because for one he will never give up and I think his durability is far better than his strength but in relaity he doesn't have the means to win any of his fights.
ITs not like he is going to stalemate these guys for very long.
All I was saying is that usually comic fights, and in particular fights between heroes, will strive to give the impression of the fight being close.
Take for example if Wonder Woman were to ever fight Thing in a comic. Despite the fact that Thing has been shown consistently at a level of strength far lower than WW, as well as pretty much every other physical attribute, writers would probably manage to make a fight out of it.
No one wants to read a comic where for example Wonder Woman decks Thing in a single panel, in fact it wouldn't even constitute a comic - it would be a panel.
When one looks at a fight between two characters, particularly two heroes, in and of itself, it will normally suggest equality. When one looks at these fights, what the characters have shown separately - with regard to both their strengths and their limitations - should be considered.
That's retty much what this whole thread is about, regarding strength hierarchy in Marvel.
Thing represents the mid-tiers like Colossus, Strong Guy, and She-Hulk and Thor represents the top-tiers like Hercules, Hulk, and Sasquatch.
I think the whole conisistency thing works in that Thing has consistently held his own against these guys, which would imply that he's not that far behind. Overall, I consider the incidnet with Wonder Man's barbell to be somewhat more inconsistent, since I can recall Thing holding his own against Simon on at least three occasions.
I think the big thing is Thing's heart durability and sometimes skill help him stay in fights.
As for how far behind Thing is for Thor the gap is huge when you compare feats and just the overall stregth exertions they have performed. Herc and Thor have shaken a planet through arm wrestling. Thing has never done anything remotely like this.
I would also liek to point out in all is matches with high-tier guys Thing defently will loose he never truely has a chance but to stalemate for a little bit. Why because he doesn't have the means to win he can't put the other guys down while the other guys can put things down.
Obviously Thor is stronger, I mean the guy is a freakin' god and Ben is just a brusier from Yancy Street
Basicly comic characters's strength levels are determined by where their powers come from, and the type of character they are.
For instance, guys like Thor, Sasquatch and Silver Surfer are going to be class 100 because their powers derrive from higher forces (Being a god, being powered by a god and the power cosmic) where guys like Thing, Colossus and She-Hulk are not as powerful because they get their powers from more down to earth forces (cosmic radiation, mutation, gamma blood transfusion). Where they are very strong, they aren't ever going to be fist fighting Thanos or anything like that
In a one on one confrontation between the two, Thor would likely only be portrayed as 2-3x stronger by the majority of writers, if even that much. However as far as the forum goes and the way we do battles and compare feats, Thor and other top level strongmen are too far above Thing to even put a number on.
KMC Community Forums
Feb 20th, 2007 08:17 AM
