10 Things Only Comic Fans Know About Ben

The popular Netflix show The Umbrella Academy has captured the attention of TV viewers worldwide. The first season started in February 2019, and it was successful. A year and a few months later, the second season was released. In 1989, Sir Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven kids from different mothers who had no signs of pregnancy. He raised them as siblings and trained them to be superheroes.

Ben Hargreeves, also known as Number Six (played by Justin H. Min), has been a mystery to many fans. Most viewers know that he died while on a mission and that his soul never left earth. However, there's more to his story than what the show depicted. Only comic fans knew about the truth of his ghostly form or what he was supposed to look like.

10 He Was Known As The Horror

While Sir Reginald Hargreeves, also known as The Monocle, took the kids as his own, he never intended to be an actual parent. He never bothered to give them names, but he numbered them according to their usefulness or their powers. The children's adoptive robot mother, whom they called "mom," gave them their given names. Well, except for Number Five.

In the comics, Ben Hargreeves was known as The Horror. As to why -- it was because his powers include controlling eldritch creatures. He was able to call out ghastly beings from other dimensions through a portal found in his torso.

9 His Ghostly Form Appears Different In The Comics

In the Netflix series, Ben Hargreeves appeared like a typical young man in casual wear. Sometimes, his body even looked real. The show's second season showcased a glimpse of his funeral and how his brother Klaus met his ghostly form. Knowing that the kids mostly wear their uniforms (and add a mask during missions), it's possible that Ben died in his typical clothes.

In the comics version, Ben looked very different. He had a dilapidated appearance and wore a superhero suit -- the same clothes he wore when he died.

8 He Has Green Tentacles Coming Out Of His Body

The Umbrella Academy on Netflix perfectly portrayed Ben Hargreeves' deadly powers. Apart from his sister Vanya, who can manipulate soundwaves and ignite the apocalypse, Number Six has an equally terrifying set of abilities. Fans were aware that he could control eldritch creatures, to which he can let out giant, squid-like tentacles through a portal -- which was located on his stomach.

Ben can also interact with the living, like what he did to his brother Klaus. While the show portrayed the tentacles as something blue and glowing since he's a ghost, it was actually green in the comics.

7 He Was White

In the popular Netflix series, Ben Hargreeves was an Asian male. Although, there's no doubt that Justin H. Min, the actor who played Ben on the show, did a spectacular job at portraying his character.

In the comics, however, Ben was white and had striking, white-blonde hair. On top of that, he wore a Batman-inspired costume -- complete with a cape and mask when he grew older. Diversity on the casting was probably the reason for the change. Nonetheless, The Umbrella Academy fans seemed to like the decision.

6 He Was Powerful But Naive

Ben Hargreeves was always seen in the show appearing out of nowhere to either provide conscience to Klaus or help his siblings -- like what he did at the end of season one -- when he merged his power with his brother.

In the comics, the children's adoptive father, Sir Reginald Hargreeves, noted that Number Six had an enthusiastic and naive nature that made him easily manipulated. Vanya also described her brother as easily influenced by her dad and other siblings, which led to his untimely passing.

5 He Never Wanted To Save The World

The show portrayed Ben Hargreeves as a ghost who accompanied his brother Klaus, who was known as The Seance, in various phases of his life. He was always there for his alcoholic and drug-dependent sibling. In his earlier years, fans saw Ben as an indifferent child, although the series showed too little of his past to completely understand his true nature.

In the comics, Pogo, The Monocle's trusted chimpanzee assistant, noted that Number six never had an interest in being a superhero. Although, he tried to look the part to please his father and his brother, Luther.

4 He Saved Klaus During A Mission

During the pilot episode, six of the seven children saved innocent people from a group of robbers who were trying to steal from a bank. Ben Hargreeves was tasked to eliminate the remaining men who were inside the vault. He was reluctant to unleash the monster inside him that he had to question his brothers and sister whether he had to do what he was supposed to do. Eventually, he gave in and killed all the bad men.

In the comics version, the kids were not in the bank, but they were in Paris fighting a robot zombie known as Gustav Eiffel. While battling evil, Ben saved Klaus in the battle.

3 He Was Close To Klaus Than To Any Of His Siblings

Ben Hargreeves was always seen with his brother Klaus. The reason was that the latter, known as The Seance, had the ability to see and communicate with the dead. In the funeral episode, Klaus was the only sibling to see Ben, while the others never knew he still existed until a couple of years later.

Although it may seem like a coincidence, their close-knit relationship was a necessity for each other's sanity. The comics also portrayed how close the two were. Ben also told Klaus that he possibly has more abilities that he never knew existed.

2 His Cause Of Death Remains A Mystery

The TV series showed a short glimpse of Ben Hargreeve's funeral. His siblings, adoptive parents, and the family chimpanzee gathered around his coffin right outside their house. All were mourning his death and one sibling, Luther, blamed himself for it. The mystery regarding his demise still haunts the family up until the present day.

In the comics, Ben's death remains a mystery. Even the writers, Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá haven't explained how he died. As the show progresses, it may be possible that the showrunners would delve more into his story and answer the questions that fans were dying to know.

1 He Died As An Adult

Ben Hargreeves died when he was a kid, as seen on the show. Viewers got to witness a small casket outside of the Hargreeves mansion during the last episode of season two. Ben's funeral showed how his death affected his family, as it made a big impact on their relationship with their father and each other growing up. Number six appeared to Klaus when they were kids, and it seemed like he also grew older despite being dead.

In the comics, Ben's ghostly form was of a grown man in a torn superhero suit. He was also seen as an adult during flashbacks.

NEXT: What Really Happened To Ben In The Umbrella Academy? Every Theory Explained