A friendly inquiry

[bjornwilde]

Okay so as of the last mini series in the Ultimate Universe, that being the trilogy known as Ultimate Doomsday (Ult. Enemy, Mystery and Doom), Ben no longer has his rocky hide. Instead he can turn his powers on and off and when they are engaged, he glows with a purple energy but what exactly does that mean as far as what his powers can do now?

Marvel.com's entry is less than helpful (I honestly don't think this has been updated for years).

Marvel.wiki.com is a little more helpful but still vague (and sorely in need of an edit for grammar and spelling.):

As a result of undergoing a body-wide secondary methamorphosis in his rocky form. Ben doesn't possess his rocky body anymore, and, instead, he possesses the ability to transform his body into a purple glowing form that possess the same powers as the Thing with some additional abilities that haven't yet been explored.
He demostrated the abilities to pass through the force fields.

And that's about all that's been said that I can find. All other sites I've seen either have worse than Marvel.com or seem to be a copy and paste from the Marvel wiki.

On page Ben is still super strong and invulnerable but looking at a few panels that demonstrate odd affects of his new body, I am left scratching my head.

In the first case, I present this (which happens to be the first time he's using his new powers in a fight):

Now what is happening here? Is it just a distortion from the kinetic energy of two super strong individuals clashing? If so why is the distortion a disc and not a sphere?

Next are the two panels showing Ben passing through Sue's force field. I'd be happy to describe the previous panels to establish Sue's mental state here but it is a spoiler so I'll wait for someone to ask. Love the Kirby crackle here.
Big scans so part 01 and part 02.

And finally one that might be a flight of fancy on my part. Right before this all the good guys are in that building that's exploding, note the purple streak leaving the building. Right after, everyone is in the Hudson and Sue makes force field bubbles with tubes to the surface for air.


Okay this is probably a force field of Sue's that Ben is in with himself all purple and glowy but I can't help wonder if he isn't flying here and pulling everyone else with him. Note the shape of the force field at the end of the streak. To me it looks human shaped and not a bubble or sphere.

So anyone have any idea what Ben's new powers are? My first guess was that he is now basically the Ultimate Wonder Man as Simon has been drawn purple and glowing before and in fact in current canon is again. Only thing is that will ir might explain how Ben was able to pass through Sue's force field (being composed of ionic energy when his powers are active) it does not explain the weird disc distortion in the first image.

Or maybe Ben's new powers are like Armor's and he's basically creating a force field around himself when he powers up. Might explain the distortion disc and his ability to pass through her force field.

Or maybe it's both?

Or maybe I'm thinking too much about this and need to stop.

Anyone want to venture an opinion?

In other news the solicit for Marvel comics in November is out and with the following descriptor for Fantastic Four #600, I'm tempted to see if someone else wants to take the reigns for 616 Ben Grimm:
THIS IS IT! The 50th anniversary issue of the Fantastic Four! This month we begin the 5-part conclusion to the story that began over 30 issues ago.

I love Ben (obviously) and I like the shake-ups and such that Hickman has brought to the comic but damn, after 30 issues you haven't finished the story and want another five to do it? I've been waiting for this story to finish to bring Ben back as from what I've been able to figure out it occurs before Fear Itself. This would push Ben not being back until next year? Bah. Why did I paint myself into the canon corner?

But in Ultimate news, looks like Ben and Sue are going to be involved with the new Ultimate series! At least if the cover for Ultimates #4 is to be believed. Okay so that's a who's who of the Ulitmate universe cover but I can dream. It actually makes sense for Ben to be involved with the Ulitmates seeing as he's active military and the Ultimates are closely associated with SHIELD and the military.