 | This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. (October 2024) |
| Ben Tennyson | |
|---|---|
| Ben 10 character | |
 Ben Tennyson as depicted in (from left to right) Ben 10 (2005), Ben 10: Alien Force & Ben 10: Ultimate Alien, Ben 10: Omniverse, and Ben 10 (2016) | |
| First appearance | "And Then There Were 10" (2005) |
| Last appearance | "Alien X-Tinction" (2021) |
| Created by | |
| Voiced by |
|
| Portrayed by | |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Benjamin Kirby Tennyson |
| Nickname | Ben |
| Species | Human |
| Title |
|
| Affiliation |
|
| Family |
|
| Significant others |
|
| Children |
|
| Relatives |
|
| Nationality | American |
| Abilities | Skills:
Omnitrix usage grants:
|
Benjamin Kirby "Ben" Tennyson, more commonly known as Ben 10, is a fictional superhero and the titular protagonist of the Ben 10 franchise created by Man of Action and owned by Cartoon Network. The character was designed to resonate with younger audiences, incorporating elements of science fiction, superhero fiction, and the coming-of-age genre. Ben 10 has become one of Cartoon Network’s most successful franchises, with the character appearing across various media, including animated television series, feature films, video games, and merchandise. Introduced in the original series, Ben started the franchise as an ordinary 10-year-old boy on summer vacation with his family, during which he discovered the Omnitrix, a watch-like device of alien origin. It permanently latched itself onto his wrist and allowed him to transform into various alien species. Supported by his first cousin, Gwen, and paternal grandfather, Max, Ben battled an extensive rouges' gallery of villains, including primary enemies, Vilgax, Dr. Animo, and Kevin 11. Over the course of the series, Ben becomes more adept at utilizing the Omnitrix and starts to understand the weight of his responsibilities as a superhero. His character development is central to the overarching narrative of the franchise, as he learns to balance the responsibilities of a superhero with the challenges of adolescence.
In the sequel Alien Force, following the conclusion of the original series, the narrative takes a more mature turn and introduces complex storylines. Set five years after the classic series, a now 15- year-old Ben has mostly retired from superhero life but is forced to reequip the Omnitrix after his grandfather disappeared. Once again supported by Gwen and reformed enemy, Kevin Levin (formally Kevin 11), Ben and his team face off against the Highbreed, an alien race attempting to invade Earth and are victorious in preventing a full-scale invasion. Ben, while awarded greatly for his efforts, suffers a moral dilemma and clouded judgement. In addition, numerous enemies from his past resurface, including archnemesis Vilgax, who conspires with Albedo (Ben's evil doppelganger) to perform an abduction of Gwen and Kevin. To save them, Ben chooses to sacrifice the Omnitrix to and replace it with Albedo's Ultimatrix to defeat Vilgax.
In the direct sequel, Ultimate Alien, beginning a year after the events of Alien Force, a now 16-year-old Ben faces new challenges as his secret identity is publicly exposed, making him a worldwide celebrity. Still supported by Gwen and Kevin, the group enter uncharted territory with publicity, scrutiny and new alien threats in the form of Aggregor and Diagon. Ben familiarizes himself with the Ultimatrix and makes regular usage of the Evolutionary Function to evolve his aliens into their ultimate form. The alliance between Ben, Gwen, Kevin are tested through adversity as Kevin temporarily becomes evil while Ben occasionally struggles with the temptations of stardom and the growing complexities of his responsibilities as a hero. After defeating Diagon, Ben is awarded the completed Omnitrix from Azmuth.
The final continuation of the original timeline, Omniverse, introduces a dual narrative structure, featuring flashbacks to an 11-year-old Ben while focusing primarily on his adventures as a 16-year-old hero. This series seeks to retroactively bridge the gap between the original Ben 10 and Alien Force, explaining some of the inconsistencies in the storyline. The main storyline continues focusing on Ben's exploits with new Omnitrix after Ultimate Alien. He has teamed up with a new partner, Rook Blonko, after Gwen and Kevin depart for college. Together, Ben and Rook explore the hidden alien city of Undertown, confronting a mix of old and new villains. The series also delves into the concept of the multiverse, with Ben meeting alternate versions of himself and exploring different realities. Omniverse was meant to undo some story elements introduce in the franchise between 2008-2012 while bringing the franchise back to its roots
In the 2016 series, the continuity underwent a reboot, reintroducing Ben as a 10-year-old in a modernized, more contemporary setting. The reboot returns to the original concept of Ben’s summer vacation adventures with Gwen and Max, but with updated technology, new villains, and an overhauled animation style. Additionally, the series brings back classic continuity characters like Kevin Levin. Over the course of the series, Ben's Omnitrix undergoes several cosmetic changes, and he battles an extensive array of villains with help from Gwen and Max. Ultimately, he aids his future self, assists the younger Generator Rex and fights alongside alternate versions of himself to defeat the villainous Alien X who is revealed to be a corrupt future version of himself.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).