Originally posted by Bentley
Awesome thread, I've always been interested in the Man-Thing but haven't got around reading his actual stuff, thanks for the thread ini!
If you want, I can give you some recommendations or hook you up with some issues, but if you are looking, anything from Adventure into Fear or v1 are the best, in terms of story and why I personally love the character. v2 he is more of a hero, having adventures with Dr. Strange and what not, and v3 is a crazy telling of his mystical/cosmic mythology, neither are as good as v1, but there are some decent stories (the art in v3 is also really interesting, sort of on the border between "abstract" and "crappy"😉.
I'll just add this, while the respect thread is, from how I interpret it, more about his physical and heroic feats or who he could beat in the vs forum, Man-Thing the character always works better when he isn't doing that type of stuff, but rather when he is dealing with human problems. When I was doing the intro, I kept wanting to go on and on about how cool the perspective of the character was (I had several other examples besides "racism"😉 but ultimately that would have been a "Respect Steve Gerber" thread, which I'm sort of kicking around in the noggin.
but yes, thank you!
Originally posted by Radical
Considering Manny has no mind, this scene is hilarious. 😄
🙂 for sure
A good Man-Thing story plays on his empathic nature, and how he understands the world, just in a way that seems nonsensical to beings such as you or I. Most of the time, it ends up being some tragic statement about alienation and loneliness, or some statement about human frailty, so it can be philosophically heavy, but it also allows for more humorous moments like this one.
lol, and yes, I think about this type of stuff WAY too much. Though, I don't think I'm reading too much into it. imho, Man-Thing is one of those rare characters that can let a comic writer sort of transcend their medium and make statements not normally associated with comics. People talk about comics as "literature" all the time, and I would without hesitation submit (at the very least, stories from) AitF and v1 for consideration in that category. tbh, there is little else I have read that comes near it in that regard specifically.
Originally posted by SuperiorTech
Nice job man.
TY!
First off, I'm a HUGE fan of these, aptly named, 'creatures of the Green'. That being said, you did an excellent job with this thread, inimalist. Well done. 👆
Despite having most of M-T's appearances 'on file', I've really never read anything beyond the first few volumes of his self-titled series, along with some miscellaneous stuff here and there -- so this thread definitely helped fill in some of those gaps.
So, first update, I'm going to just repost whole sections with the new parts in bold, this helps keep stuff together for posting in vs threads and the like
*****
Ooze
To begin, I want to show an editor's note here. Spider-Man had just done a two-foot kick into Man-Thing, and the editor (and rightly so, might I add) clearly points out that Spidey should have gone right into Man-Thing, rather than hitting him [Giant Sized Spider-Man 5]:
http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7431/giantsizespiderman0535.jpg
Man-Thing's body is such that blades, axes and swords just pass right through it:
[Adventure into Fear 19]:
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4821/fear1916.jpg
[Man-Thing v1 3]:
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/8/manthing00303.jpg
Notice here that the net simply oozes out of Man-Thing also [Incredible Hulk 198]:
http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/4616/inchulk19813.jpg
Bullets also pass harmlessly through him:
[Man-Thing v1 7]:
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/1732/manthing00716.jpg
[Web of Spider-Man Annual 4]:
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/6971/webofspidermanannual043.jpg
Even close range shotgun has no real effect [Nomad 21]:
http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/3485/nomadv221pg19lochryan.jpg
Here a cannon ball, fired from very close range, harmlessly is absorbed by Man-Thing's ooze [Man-Thing v2 8]:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5136/manthingv200817.jpg
As mentioned before, he oozes through nets:
[Man-Thing v1 7]:
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/5863/manthing00708.jpg
Or Spider-Man's adhesive webbing [Marvel Team-Up v2 4]:
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1503/marvelteamupv204spiderm.jpg
Here, even after days of exposure to sub-zero temperatures on a mountain, he is able to ooze through a cage [Man-Thing v2 3]:
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3103/manthingv200315.jpg
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/4930/manthingv200316.jpg
The ooze makes him very difficult to harm during a fight, such as we see here against:
She-Hulk [She-Hulk v1 8]:
http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/231/shehulk00813.jpg
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/2665/shehulk00814.jpg
Bug [Micronauts v1 7]:
http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/875/themicronautsspecialedi.jpg
Thing [Marvel Two-in-One v1 1]:
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/9571/marveltwoinone00117.jpg
Iron Man [Iron Man Annual 3]:
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3722/ann00328.jpg
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/239/ann00329.jpg
Shang-Chi [Master of Kung Fu 19]:
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6108/masterofkungfu01907.jpg
Cyclops [X-Men First Class v2 8]:
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/2816/xmenfirstclassv2008dizz.jpg
He can also use his ooze offensively:
Using his muck to choke out the Hulk [Incredible Hulk 197]:
http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/173/hulk19717.jpg
Forming in the shape of an alligator to trap someone [Man-Thing v4 3]:
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/8264/manthing318.jpg
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/4969/manthing319.jpg
Or oozing over people, essentially to consume them. Notice he also oozes through the windshield of the truck to attack the driver [Blaze 2]:
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/9987/blaze0217.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/367/blaze0218.jpg
http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1729/blaze0219.jpg
*****
The Man-Thing's Touch
When the Man-Thing touches someone who feels fear, he burns them.
This burn is extremely powerful, able to OHKO normal humans [Punisher v4 11]:
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/5921/punisher11011.jpg
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2388/punisher11012.jpg
or super-humans, like the Lizard [Web of Spider-Man v2 6]:
http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/1610/webofspiderman0015.jpg
Or it can quickly reduce its target to ashes:
[Hulk 7]:
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/9160/36680437.jpg
The victim here is Glob, a very durable villain, and he is incinerated entirely by Man-Thing's touch [Incredible Hulk 389]:
http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3027/incrediblehulk38921.jpg
The burn is so powerful, it is able to harm characters with very high durability:
The Thing [Marvel Two-in-One v1 77]:
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/674/marveltwoinone07721.jpg
King Hyperion [Thunderbolts 153]:
http://img576.imageshack.us/img576/8192/thunderbolts153024.jpg
The burning can create huge flames:
[Marvel Fanfare 36]:
http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/1926/marvelfanfare3625.jpg
[Marvel Comics Presents v2 12]:
http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7998/marvelcomicspresents012.jpg
[Master of Kung-Fu 19]:
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/1417/masterofkungfu0192122.jpg
[Marvel Zombies 4 4]:
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5759/page019.jpg
http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/1937/page020.jpg
And can spread from the point of contact through the whole body:
Man-Thing grabs this man by the arm, his whole body burns [Man-Thing v1 7]:
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/6408/manthing00711.jpg
Here Man-Thing grabs his victim by the leg, and the whole body burns [Punisher v4 13]:
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2339/punisher013030.jpg
If Man-Thing is made to feel fear, he will consume himself with flame, but even then he is resilient, as seen here against D'Spayre [Uncanny X-Men 144]:
http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/8505/uncanny14419.jpg
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/285/uncanny14420.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1062/uncanny14421.jpg
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/2796/uncanny14422.jpg
Man-Thing's touch can also be used to plant seed [Man-Thing v4 3]:
http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/2406/manthing321.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4328/manthing322.jpg
Purge demons [Adventure into Fear 13]:
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/1927/adventureintofear01315.jpg
Burn away plant and lizard DNA from Spider-Man [Spider-Man: Fear Itself]:
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/2282/spiderman031.jpg
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/9705/spiderman032.jpg
Here his touch transmits knowledge telepathically [X-Force v1 100]:
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/1238/xforcev110036rougher.jpg
The Man-Thing is also able to rescue individuals trapped within alternate reality versions of themselves:
Jean Grey [X-Men First Class v2 8]:
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2816/xmenfirstclassv2008dizz.jpg
Iceman [X-Men First Class v2 8]:
http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/2816/xmenfirstclassv2008dizz.jpg
Mystic Powers
Man-Thing is one of the typical go-to guys when writers want to show something major has happened in the Marvel Universe. This indicates that he is one of the most important mystical entities on Earth:
[Avengers v1 118]:
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8783/avengers11810b.jpg
[Doctor Strange v2 61]:
http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/5708/drstrangesorcerersupre6.jpg
[Ghost Rider v3 32]:
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3013/ghostrider032page017.jpg
[Iron Man v1 275]:
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/4871/ironman275p24.jpg
He is able to see magic energies that normal humans are unaware of [Adventure into Fear 11]:
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/7360/fear1104.jpg
http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/9120/fear1105.jpg
[Marvel Team-Up 68]:
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9718/marvelteamup06808.jpg
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/8092/marvelteamup06809.jpg
He is able to sense Professor Xavier's psychic presence [X-Men First Class v2 8]:
http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/2816/xmenfirstclassv2008dizz.jpg
He has a mystical connection to the Nexus of all Realities, and knows when it is in danger [Blaze 2]:
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4180/blaze0223.jpg
He also intuitively knows who he needs to protect [Generation X 25]:
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/4273/generationx25p20.jpg
As explained here, his mystical connection to the Nexus allows him to travel between dimensions and to locations within those dimensions [Thunderbolts 144]:
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5354/thunderbolts144018.jpg
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/2160/thunderbolts144019.jpg
He does so here to assist Xavier in finding the X-Men, who are lost in different dimensions [X-Men First Class v2 8]:
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/2816/xmenfirstclassv2008dizz.jpg
This power is exploited by Hank Pym, and allows Man-Thing to teleport their entire team [Thunderbolts 145]:
http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/7213/thunderbolts135015.jpg
Even into other dimensions [Thunderbolts 150]:
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/7779/thunderbolts150016.jpg
He is able to activate this power himself [Thunderbolts 154]:
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/4185/tbolts1540020.jpg
In fact, Man-Thing is able to reach across dimensions to help people, indicating that he is not only able to travel between dimensions, but has some awareness of what is occurring within them [X-Men First Class v2 8]:
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/2816/xmenfirstclassv2008dizz.jpg
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/2816/xmenfirstclassv2008dizz.jpg
Man-Thing's ability to teleport through his connection to the Nexus of All Realities is so powerful that is easily breaks through Satana's magic defences, a feat Doctor Strange had failed at [Thunderbolts 155]:
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/2914/thunderbolts155007.jpg
This connection to the Nexus further allows him to display other realities and futures to others [X-Men First Class Finals 3]:
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/1825/xmfcfinals03page021.jpg
*****
[Thunderbolts 155]
Originally posted by KingD19
If I stop being lazy I'll put up scans later, but in the newest Thunderbolts. Our dear Man-Thing effortlessly bypassed a multitude of magical wards meant to keep out Stephen Strange in his prime.
ha, beat you to it 😛
but thanks, really 🙂 keep an eye out for stuff and post, post, post!
Originally posted by Galan007
First off, I'm a HUGE fan of these, aptly named, 'creatures of the Green'. That being said, you did an excellent job with this thread, inimalist. Well done. 👆Despite having most of M-T's appearances 'on file', I've really never read anything beyond the first few volumes of his self-titled series, along with some miscellaneous stuff here and there -- so this thread definitely helped fill in some of those gaps.
thanks! ya, I'm also really into "green creatures". Hell, getting into man-thing made me appreciate characters like Poison Ivy and Plantman more 🙂
The first few volumes are where its at, or the Marvel Comics Presents stories, but glad this helps!
ya, it was enjoyable. I should probably find those scans, but iirc, the daydreamers were more a figment of Franklin's imagination weren't they? I don't think they count as cannon. again, iirc, but Manny starts talking by the end, doesn't he?
but ya, wicked series 🙂 they should have done more with him as Franklin's protector
Alright, I wanted to get this updated with some new stuff before Frightful Four comes out, and hopefully it is amazing 😄😄😄😄
Anyways, the first of a couple upcoming updates here will be:
Daydreamers
[Daydreamers 2]
A lot of the stuff that happened in Daydreamers may be questionable as to whether it is in continuity or not. As is explained below, Franklin Richards was using his powers through Man-Thing to alter the Nexus of All Realities, causing considerable harm to Man-Thing, but also creating a universe which essentially was his own mind. Thus, the only real feats I'm going to post are those which are not out of character, and in fact, this update is small anyways (Daydreamers was only 3 issues).
Franklin's connection to Man-Thing and the Nexus explained [Daydreamers 3]:
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6839/day3p18.jpg
Teleportation
Man-Thing is able to sense and rescue Howard the Duck from another dimension (Man-Thing saves Howard from a different dimension, bringing Howard to him) [Daydreamers 1]:
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/34/day1p04.jpg
He is also able to navigate through the Nexus [Daydreamers 1]:
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/7938/day1p08.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1452/day1p09.jpg
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/408/day1p14.jpg
Even in a weakened state, he can teleport a group of people through dimensions [Daydreamers 2]:
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8049/day2p20.jpg
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7893/day2p21.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/5776/day2p22.jpg
Ooze
We see that Man-Thing's plant-like composition makes him essentially immune to physical damage, stopping a charging man on horseback in his tracks [Daydreamers 1]:
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/9199/day1p22.jpg
Here an ally uses Man-Thing's ooze to hold back a crowd of people [Daydreamers 3]:
http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/7568/day3p03.jpg
[Daydreamers 3]
Like I said, just a short update here, but I figured the fact that Franklin is interfering with Manny gives enough of a reason to separate these feats from the rest, even though it is well within what Man-Thing has been shown to be capable of.
*****
K'ad-Mon
[Peter Parker Spider-Man Annual 1999]
So, this is the much more confusing part of the Man-Thing mythology. K'ad-Mon was introduced in Man-Thing v3, which was quickly canceled due to poor sales. The story continued in Strange Tales, only to be cut after 2 issues. In fact, the story was only ever finished in a Marvel Handbook. I will be honest, while there are parts of the v3/Strange Tales story I enjoyed, I don't think it adds a lot to the character as a whole, and it does seem like they are moving away from this interpretation of Manny. That being said, there are interesting parts, and it is a High Herald (at least) Man-Thing incarnation 😉!
The Mythos
It essentially breaks down like this, the creator of the universe wanted to “know” itself, so created parts of its consciousness as beings known as “fallen stars”. K'ad-mon was the “male” ideal, Adam if you will, and was tasked with guarding this reality, and “burdened with the truth” of knowing it is only an illusion of the creator. However, as time past within the illusion, K'ad-Mon's male heir, called the “Man of Lineage”, became more and more lost in the dream, until we get to Ted Sallis, who not only was lost in dream reality, he was so lost he was a scientist, dedicated to studying the dream. Because this Man of Lineage was no longer defending the Nexus, destiny took its course, and caused Sallis to become the Man-Thing in a terrible way, as a form of penance.
Like I said, some interesting stuff there, some stuff I don't think adds much at all. Here is a quick explanation of what I just said from the series [Strange Tales v4 2]:
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7043/strangetalesstarring222.jpg
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/4715/strangetalesstarring223.jpg
And the Handbook that has the complete story [TOHOTMU: Marvel Knights]:
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4122/tohotmumarvelknights200.jpg
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4122/tohotmumarvelknights200.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4122/tohotmumarvelknights200.jpg
[Man-Thing v3 7]
Powers
K'ad-Mon had a series of powers in addition to those that came with possessing the body of Man-Thing:
Flight [Man-Thing v3 3]:
http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5575/manthingv3321.jpg
Also the ability to carry other characters with him [Peter Parker Spider-Man Annual 1999]:
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/9910/ppsm1999p20.jpg
He has incredible teleportation powers, here traveling to the realm of ancient Altantean gods [Man-Thing v3 7]:
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/5484/manthingv3712.jpg
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/459/manthingv3715.jpg
K'ad-Mon can encase people in black diamond, which drains their energy [Strange Tales v4 1]:
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/3412/strangetalesstarring116.jpg
He is able to summon the Book of Life, a book detailing the creation of the universe [Strange Tales v4 2]:
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/6520/strangetalesstarring216.jpg
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/2229/strangetalesstarring217.jpg
K'ad-Mon also shows different powers through his touch, here able to return memories to Spider-Man [Peter Parker Spider-Man Annual 1999]:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9910/ppsm1999p20.jpg
Here he is able to cure a malady that had been causing Namor to be unable to breathe under water [Man-Thing v3 7]:
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/349/manthingv3713.jpg
Sallis is able to draw the power of the Nexus into Man-Thing using the Staff of the Creator, an item that allows him to tap into K'ad-Mon's powers [Peter Parker Spider-Man Annual 1999]:
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/8291/ppsm1999p36.jpg
Fights
vs Silver Surfer [Strange Tales v4 1]:
http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7637/strangetalesstarring117.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5772/strangetalesstarring118.jpg
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6654/strangetalesstarring119.jpg
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/7200/strangetalesstarring120.jpg
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/6246/strangetalesstarring121.jpg
http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/3271/strangetalesstarring122.jpg
http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/3369/strangetalesstarring123.jpg
It could be interpreted as a win for K'ad-Mon, but at worst it is a stalemate, against a full out Silver Surfer. However, if you read the text, it seems like K'ad-Mon was really just distracting him.
vs Atlantean God
Round 1 [Man-Thing v3 7]:
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9126/manthingv3720.jpg
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9582/manthingv3721.jpg
http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/9585/manthingv3722.jpg
K'ad-Mon is transformed back into Sallis, maybe not being as powerful as an Atlantean God in their own realm.
Round 2 [Man-Thing v3 8]:
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/4893/manthingv380708.jpg
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/883/manthingv3809.jpg
http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/8116/manthingv381011.jpg
However, Sallis is able to locate the Staff of the Creator and teleport himself and his allies to Atlantis before it was destroyed. Not a win by any means, but it does show the power of the Staff and K'ad-Mon.
[Man-Thing v3 4]
*****
So, I'm still hoping to get another update done before Frightful Four, but there are some issues I need to look up and all that jazz.
