Ben Hanscom

Template:It Character Ben Hanscom was a member of The Losers' Club. He had a

crush on Beverly Marsh in 1958. Beverly, however, was in love with Bill Denbrough even in 1958. In 1985 after they defeated It for the final time, Beverly and Ben entered a relationship together. He was also friends with Bill Denbrough, Richie Tozier, Stan Uris, Eddie Kaspbrak and Mike Hanlon.

1958

As a child, Ben was a brilliant, sensitve, caring, and shy individual. He developed an intense crush on one his classmates, Beverly Marsh. Being an overweight individual, Ben was often a frequent victim of Henry Bowers, who usually referred to him as "Fatboy" or "Fatfuck". His first encounter with It was in January of 1958 while crossing the canal on his way home from school. Pennywise appears down the canal and offers Ben a balloon, which floats--against the howling wind--in Ben's direction. Even at eleven, Ben has the mind of an engineer, and is distracted wondering about the ability of the balloon to float against the wind. When he regains his senses, he finds that the clown has almost reached him, and has transformed into a mummy. The town whistle blows, distracting both parties, and Ben is able to break his paralysis and run home. In the movie, It appears to Ben not as Pennywise, but as Ben's father, who was killed in the Korean War.

The Barrens

While taking an exam on the last week of school, Henry attempted to persuade Ben into allowing him to copy his test paper. Ben refused. Henry eventually failed, and was forced to take summer school. On the last day of school, Ben attempted to rush back home, only to be spotted and ambushed by Henry and his two buddies, Victor Criss and Belch Huggins. The three bullies eventually begin taunt Ben, however, to Victor and Belch's shock, Henry pulls a knife out and begins carving his name into Ben's stomach. Before Henry can finish, Ben is able to kick Henry in the crotch. He then takes cover in the Barrens, hiding in one of the sewer pipes. While hiding there, Ben dreams about his close encounter with It earlier that year. After Henry, Victor, and Belch leave, he befriends two other boys, Bill Denbrough and Eddie Kaspbrak. He helps the two of them rebuild their Dam, which was destroyed by Henry and his buddies earlier.

The House On Neibolt Street (Novel only)

When Bill and Richie told the other Losers about the time when they went to the house on 29 Neibolt Street and they encountered It in the form of Pennywise and a werewolf, the losers head over to the house near the train yards. They head inside and are attacked by It in the form of the werewolf. It focuses on Bill and corners him on the wall. Just as It is about to kill Bill, Ben stands in front of Bill and attacks It. It savagely slashes Ben's abdomen, knocking him into the bathtub. Beverly uses the moment to shoot It with the silver slugs. It swears vengeance on the Losers before disappearing back into the sewers.

1985

Returning to Derry

On May 29, 1985, Ben received a phone call from his old friend, Mike Hanlon (who was the only Loser to stay behind Derry), telling him, that the killings are happening again and that It may have awoken from its slumber. Mike asks him to return to Derry, as he fears, that It may still well be alive. Ben reluctantly agrees to return to Derry and overcome his trauma and fears.

(Novel only:) Shortly after the phone call, Ben heads down to a local bar, where he drinks himself to death to relieve some of his worries and fears. Before departing, he lends a couple of silver coins to the bartender (the same coins he used to fight It in 1958 at the House on Neibolt Street).

Departing Derry (Beverly)

Ben and Beverly leave Derry together and head west. One week later they are married and just weeks later Beverly is pregnant.

APPEARANCES:

• IT

• 11/22/63 (mentioned)