Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Ben Grimm's battle cry turns a beating into a promise and a joke: the rocky bruiser announces a time of day for violence as if it were a scheduled appointment. Wikipedia singles it out as the character's catchphrase, and it keeps coming back, most recently as the title of the 2023 Clobberin' Time miniseries. It also hints at the gentler side Kirby and Lee gave the Thing.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Fantastic FourShow the scene
Fantastic Four #22 (January 1964) is where the Marvel Database records the Thing saying 'It's clobberin' time!' for the first time. The issue opens with the team watching Reed test Sue's invisibility, interrupted by neighbours complaining about the missile they use as transport. Reed then finds an island for sale in New Jersey that could house the team's riskier experiments, and the four fly out to inspect it. It is a trap set by the Mole Man, who has lured them there for revenge and unleashes his Moloids.
Sources (2)
- Marvel Database: Fantastic Four Vol 1 22Synopsis and NotesReference checked
- Wikipedia: Thing (comics)LeadReference checked
Context reviewed
