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rickklaw's review
4.0
Essential Man-Thing: Vol. 1 collects the first appearances of the lesser known of the 1970s "muck monsters." Created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the Man-Thing first appeared in Savage Tales No. 1 (May 1971). The better-known Swamp Thing, created by Conway's roommate Len Wein and Berni Wrightson, premiered one month later in DC's House of Secrets No. 92. While the friends claimed synchronicity, they were most likely influenced by their memories of earlier comic-book marsh monster the Heap, who first appeared in Air Fighters No. 3 (December 1942). The oft-reprinted Wein/Wrightson Swamp Thing tales attracted acclaim and served as the source materials, along with a popular revamp from Alan Moore, for two movies and a TV series. A dreadful 2005 Man-Thing movie went direct-to-video. Ironically, Wein scripted the second Man-Thing adventure (Astonishing Tales No. 12), which introduced the monster's most unique characteristic: Whatever knows fear burns at the Man-Thing's touch. Soon after the initial appearance, writer Steve Gerber took over Man-Thing, producing a spate of often goofy yet engaging stories centered around the empathic swamp creature with no personality of its own, who guards the Nexus of All Realities. Within this framework, Gerber littered these far-out adventures with an intriguing supporting cast – including the first appearance of Howard the Duck – exploring Seventies politics and alternative culture with humor and particular insight. In Man-Thing No. 1 – the previous tales appeared in other Marvel comics, primarily Fear – Gerber and artist Val Mayerik took us through several layers of reality on a quest for the mysterious Overmaster, who turned out to be a man in a suit toting a briefcase. This collection also contains the two issues of the most misleading comic title of all time: the distinctly unpornographic Giant-Size Man-Thing. Throw in art by cult favorite Mike Ploog and eerie covers by Frank Brunner, and Essential Man-Thing: Vol. 1 offers a wild ride through a forgotten piece of weirdness.
(Originally appeared in The Austin Chronicle, January 19, 2007.)
Link: [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A437320]
(Originally appeared in The Austin Chronicle, January 19, 2007.)
Link: [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A437320]
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