While Artie Maddicks is held captive in the shadows of the Dark Hunter, Franklin Richards, Leech, Tana Nile, Howard the Duck and the Man-Thing try to evade mobs of Howard's adoring fans on Duckworld. Reluctantly, Howard agrees to lead the group to his parents' home.
Meanwhile, the Dark Hunter reveals his true nature to Artie, who agrees to aid the shadowy form.
On Duckworld, the crew meets Howard's family and his father explains Howard is a celebrity thanks to video transmissions of his adventures, captured by a Dr. Richards, and sold as entertainment. Howard, however, tells the rest that this sitcom-based family is not his, while a distressed Franklin causes Leech and Man-Thing to vanish. Thinking this Dr. Richards may have answers, Howard and Tana Nile seek him out.
When they arrive with Franklin, they find two-dimensional replicas of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, and the boy happily walks off with them while Howard and Tana Nile now find themselves in the company of the Dark Hunter. The shadowy being explains to all that he is the manifestation of Franklin's fear, grief and denial, and that the worlds they have visited, as well as the Man-Thing's unprecedented abilities of speech and teleportation, were all products of the boy's unconscious, created through his mutant powers. They confront Franklin who tries to resist, but finally accepts that his parents are gone.
With Franklin's negative emotions released, the sextet find themselves in the Florida swamp that is the Man-Thing's home.
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