Man-Thing #1

While guarding the Nexus of All Realties, Marvel’s resident muck-man encounters an overeager duck from Duckworld, and Korrek the Barbarian! Will this unlikely trio be able to save the time stream from the likes of Thog the Nether-Spawn?

Man-Thing’s own magazine was ultimately produced in an overwhelming response the character’s popularity. In Marvel’s own words (from Astonishing Tales #13, August 1972, Astonishing Mails), “Special Announcement to Man-Thing Maniacs! We at the bullpen were so pleased with the literary and artistic accomplishments of Roy Thomas, Len Wein, John Buscema, Neal Adams, and Rich Buckler on our unique Creature-From-The-Swamp in these past couple of issues that we promptly decided to place Man-Thing in a series of his (its?) own. So naturally, we’re returning the creature’s original storytellers from Savage Tales #1, scripter Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, to weave again their magic yarns. Where, you ask? Even we aren’t sure—but it’ll definitely be in one of our present feature-less monster mags, Fear, Where Monsters Dwell, or Monsters on the Prowl. Watch for it!” Eventually, Marvel decided to feature Man-Thing in October 1972 with Fear #10. The new series with Man-Thing ran for ten consecutive issues and was so popular that Man-Thing finally was given his own magazine.

In a strange scheduling snafu, the story for Man-Thing #1 was a continuation of a story from Adventures Into Fear #19. As the fearless Marvel bullpen explains, “Jump right in—the swamp is fine! To those of you who have followed the career of our macabre murk-dweller from his initial appearance in Savage Tales #1, on through his guest-starring role in Ka-Zar, and into his own strip in Adventures Into Fear (#10-19), our sincere thanks—for making Man-Thing one of Marvel’s surprise sensations of the ‘seventies. And to newcomers in the audience—welcome! You’ve bought yourself a twenty-cent ticket into a world of fear and fantasy, mystery and whimsy, outworld terror and human foibles…. Before we move to your letters on Fear #16, a word of semi-apology…. The decision to award the Man-Thing his own magazine was a sudden one, and it came after Steve Gerber had plotted the two-parter which concludes in this issue. We would’ve liked to have begun this new magazine with a brand-new storyline. But…schedules will be schedules. Hope you understand.” (from Man-Thing #1, January 1974, Mail-Things)

Man-Thing’s first issue opens in a Florida swamp where construction equipment is poised to destroy our hero. The equipment is being operated by mysterious creatures and demons from another world. Joining this strange array of characters is Howard the Duck and Korrek (a barbarian prince from another world). Slimly monsters try to sink their fangs into the Man-Thing’s flesh while Korrek swings his mighty sword to defend the mysterious swamp creature. Meanwhile, Howard the Duck grabs a gun and begins shooting at the demons who are intent on the Man-Thing’s destruction. When the battle looks lost, the Man-Thing strikes back, beating the demons senseless. Into this scene of chaos Dakimh the Enchanter appears, sending the demons into oblivion and bringing an end to the raging battle.

Dakimh explains to the unlikely trio (Man-Thing, Howard the Duck, and Korrek), that they are presently in the “nexus of all realities” and that their help is needed to save the cosmos. It is discovered that each of the three characters has something valuable to contribute to Dakimn’s plan to save the universe. They are transported to his fortified castle and the plan is under way.

In another realm of reality, the Overmaster (a powerful but evil leader) has assembled a vast of array of entities from all planes of reality and existence. The purpose for this assembly is to achieve a state of godhood and secure the Overmaster’s position as “lord of all reality.” A human sacrifice is about to be offered when Daredevil and Black Widow suddenly appear in this strange world and try to stop the madness. But the madness continues as the young woman dissolves into another realm before their very eyes. This “other realm” is none other than the castle to Dakimh! The young woman who was about to be sacrificed is needed as a member of Dakimh’s crusade to stop the Overmaster from becoming the lord of all reality.

Dakimh explains that all reality has been disrupted and needs to be restored to a proper balance before it’s too late. A mysterious journey ensues where the band of five travels through spheres of existence which will ultimately end in the congress of realties. In route to this congress of realities, Dakimh and his traveling companions must stop at a place called "Therea," a paradise of sorts. In Therea lies a palace, which has stood for centuries, awaiting the weary travelers. But as they enter the palace they are met by the evil Overmaster, who reveals his identity. The Overmaster is the Nether Spawn, who is set on taking over the universe and all known reality.

A terrible battle commences. The Nether Spawn orders his cohorts to destroy the palace of Therea which will secure his ultimate quest for godhood. Man-Thing takes the lead in stopping the Nether Spawn, fighting persons from other time periods. Man-Thing’s ultimate weapon is found in the heart of every entity he faces—fear, “for whatever knows fear, burns at the Man-Thing’s touch.” After defeating several adversaries, Man-Thing takes on the Nether Spawn himself. Man-Thing grabs and holds the Nether Spawn by the arms as anger mixed with fear begins to fill the enemy’s heart. When fear becomes the predominant emotion, the Nether Spawn begins to burn in the Man-Thing’s grip. The burning continues until the Nether Spawn breaks free throwing himself out of his opponent’s grip and into a body of water surrounding the palace. This seals the final doom of the Nether Spawn, who emerges as a gray, withered core of his former being. The Nether Spawn is defeated by the Man-Thing and the hordes of beings who followed him are returned to their own realities to resume their normal lives.

As a sort of epilogue, the true gods of Therea are revealed to the young woman whom Dakimh saved from sacrifice and she is shocked to learn their true identities. In the final panel of the story, the Man-Thing has been returned to his swamp to await the next chapter of his life.