Sharon Ventura

Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Template:Infobox comics character Sharon Ventura, also known as She-Thing, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has used the pseudonym Ms. Marvel and has served as a member of the Fantastic Four and the female wrestlers known as the Grapplers.

Publication history

Template:Expand section Created by Mike Carlin and Ron Wilson, the character first appeared in Thing #27 (September 1985).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Fictional character biography

File:SheThing.jpg

Sharon Ventura (as the She-Thing) battles the Fantastic Four. From Fantastic Four #379.

Sharon Ventura met Thing at the time when he was involved with the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation (UCWF).<ref>The Thing #27. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Inspired by him, she signed up for the Power Broker's program in order to have her strength augmented and join the UCWF.<ref name=Year>Template:Cite book</ref> The Power Broker (actually Curtiss Jackson), employed Dr. Karl Malus to create super-powered wrestlers for his competitions. Sharon was unaware of the criminal activities of Jackson or Malus. While boosting their subjects' strength, the pair addicted the subjects to a drug, ensuring their obedience. It has been implied that she was raped while a prisoner of Malus, which caused her to temporarily develop an intense hatred and distrust of men. Sharon managed to break free before Malus administered the drug. She adopted the costume which UCWF minder Ann Fraley (Auntie Freeze) had arranged for her, taking the name Ms. Marvel. Alongside the Thing, she battled the Grapplers and the UCWF wrestlers.<ref>The Thing #35. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> She then battled the She-Hulk.<ref>The Thing #36. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

Later, Sharon was used by the Power Broker to determine if the augmentation could be reversed.<ref>Captain America #330. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Alongside Captain America, she battled the Power Broker.<ref>Captain America #331. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

Sharon later joined the Fantastic Four, and alongside the Fantastic Four she battled Diablo.<ref>Fantastic Four #306-307. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Shortly after joining the Fantastic Four, Sharon was mutated by cosmic rays and took on strength and appearance similar to that of Ben Grimm, a.k.a. the Thing.<ref>Fantastic Four #310 (Jan. 1988). Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Although she never officially retired her Ms. Marvel moniker, she became more popularly known as the She-Thing and it is by this name she is most known to comic book fans.<ref name=Year/> She later first encountered Aron the Rogue Watcher, and battled the She-Hulk. With She-Hulk, She-Thing battled Dragon Man.<ref>Fantastic Four #321. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> With the Fantastic Four and Frightful Four, she was captured by Aron. They escaped and defeated their clones.<ref>Fantastic Four #328-333. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Sharon later battled the Hulk.<ref>Fantastic Four #35. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> She-Thing was offered the chance to be human again by Doctor Doom while a then-powerless Ben Grimm chose to use one of Reed Richards' machines to revert to the Thing to save She-Thing.<ref>Fantastic Four #350. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Alongside the Fantastic Four, she battled the Time Variance Authority. She-Thing left the Fantastic Four soon after and began working for Doctor Doom. Sharon claimed to be doing this so that Doom would cure Ben as he had her.<ref>Fantastic Four #352-354. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> She was sent by Doctor Doom to spy on the Fantastic Four, where she first met Alicia Masters.<ref>Fantastic Four #365-367. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> With Mister Fantastic and the Thing, she was captured by Aron, but rescued by the Molecule Man and Doctor Doom.<ref>Fantastic Four #371-373. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Alongside the Fantastic Four, she battled the Secret Defenders.<ref>Fantastic Four #374. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Alongside the Fantastic Four, Lyja, and the Inhumans, she battled Doctor Doom.<ref>Fantastic Four #375. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> When she refused to betray her friends in the Fantastic Four to Doctor Doom, Doom spitefully mutated her into a much more monstrous form.<ref>Fantastic Four #378</ref> After a bout of insanity, she briefly joined the Frightful Four and battered Sue Storm Richards to within inches of her life.<ref>Fantastic Four Unlimited #5. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

Years later, She-Thing had a guest appearance in Marvel Knights 4 #21 (2005), a spinoff of the main Fantastic Four book. The appearance established that she was indeed alive and well in the Marvel Universe and her attire implied she was still residing with Wingfoot. Her absence was poked fun at, as she stated that she could not believe anybody still had her number.

Sharon Ventura was later seen again in her She-Thing form.<ref>Fantastic Four #543 (March 2007). Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

During the 2008 "Secret Invasion" storyline, a Skrull impersonating Sharon's "She-Thing" persona is killed by the Skrull Kill Krew.<ref>Avengers: The Initiative #16. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> The real Sharon is recovered alive from a downed Skrull ship after the final battle of the invasion.<ref>Avengers: The Initiative #19. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> Sharon attends a support group meeting with the others who were replaced by Skrulls.<ref>Avengers: The Initiative #20. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

Sharon has since been revealed as a prisoner in the Raft, with evidence suggesting that she is part of a plot to destabilize the Fantastic Four.<ref>Fantastic Four vol. 5 #9. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

Following the 2015 "Secret Wars" storyline, Ventura has returned to her original human appearance, and has been seen wrestling in her original outfit.<ref>Sam Wilson: Captain America #15. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

Powers and abilities

As Ms. Marvel, Sharon had superhuman strength and endurance, thanks to augmentation of her physical attributes by Dr. Karl Malus on behalf of the Power Broker. The mutagenic effect due to exposure to cosmic radiation that turned her into the She-Thing later greatly increased her physical attributes, especially her durability.

Sharon is highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat, and skilled at various martial arts, including tae kwon do and American boxing. She is also an expert stuntwoman, scuba diver, skydiver, motorcyclist, mountain climber, skier, lion tamer, and wrestler. She attended a military academy until she was expelled.

As part of Ben Grimm's Fantastic Four, she demonstrated her intelligence by solving complicated situations with her intuition and cunning.<ref>Fantastic Four #310, 324. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref> She stated that she was always the top student in school.<ref>Fantastic Four #307. Marvel Comics (New York).</ref>

In other media

Video games

• Sharon Ventura's Ms. Marvel appearance appears as an alternate costume for Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.<ref>Marvel ultimatealliance Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

External links

• Sharon Ventura at Marvel.com