There were comics during the Bronze Age that you just won't see in any other era. Usually they were the kind where you wondered what kind of acid-trip the writer (or artist, for that matter) might be on. From reality-bending alternate universes, to barbarians made out of peanut butter (that fought Muck-Monsters), to scantily-clad sorceresses and whacked out wizards, to a talking, smoking Duck...this one had it all.
Steve Gerber was king when it came to writing these kinds of wild, trippy stories. And nine issues into his Man-Thing run, he created one of the best in Adventure Into Fear #19. The story begins as Man-Thing finds himself in a world outside of reality, where American soldiers are in war against savage barbarians, and old biplanes fight against futuristic spaceships while a giant, golden castle floats overhead.
A sorceress descends from the castle. It is Jennifer Kale, a woman who previously had shared a psychic-bond with the Man-Thing but now embodies the spirit of an ancient sorceress named Zhered-Na. She beckons for the Man-Thing to follow her, but earns the attention of an angry Barbarian named Korrek that believes she is a thieving witch and wants to kill her.
But it is all just a dream! Or was it? Jennifer wakes up screaming as her grandfather Joshua attempts to console her...sort of.
Jennifer's brother Andrew can't sleep because of the screaming and helps himself to some peanut butter. Note that it's "Carlin Peanut Butter" which I bet is a homage to comedian George Carlin (a classic Carlinism: "If peanut butter cookies are made out of peanut butter, then what are Girl Scout cookies made of?")
And then something crazy yet spectacular occurs as the greatest Barbarian to ever emerge out of a jar of Peanut Butter appears. It's Korrek! And he has returned to kill Jennifer!
Jennifer narrowly avoids the mystical fire of Korrek's blade as she screams for help, which summons Joshua and Andrew. A delusional Korrek mistakes them for wizards, and jumps out the window!
Before anyone can blink, a real wizard appears...it's Dakimh the Enchanter! He explains that these strange events are happening because the universe has become discombobulated by a dimensional imbalance...all caused because a construction crew wants to drain the Man-Thing's swamp to build, of all things evil, an airport. Look closely in the third panel below...it's the first ever appearance of Howard the Duck!
Dakimh would like Jennifer to become his apprentice in hopes that she can help restore balance to the alternate dimensions, and off they go to try and save the world. Meanwhile, Korrek starts to lose it as he gets lost in the swamp.
The Man-Thing appears, and Korrek recognizes the beast from their earlier encounter and attacks!
But Korrek's onslaught against Man-Thing is all for naught as his sword of mystical fire simply does no damage to the creature. Giving up, Korrek is ready to die...but not before another strange creature enters the fray: it's Howard the Duck!
Through Howard, Korrek learns that their dimensions have become imbalanced and they must work together to find a way back to their own worlds. Suddenly they hear screams in the swamp and follow them to the airport construction site, only to find an army of hideous demons!
The story abruptly ends as a horde encloses upon the Man-Thing, or as Gerber describes it: "Cosmic Butchers craving Murkish Flesh!"
This comic has since become a one-sided affair from readers, who either love it or hate it. Those that dislike it tend to write it off as a pointless and confusing mess that had little to do with the Man-Thing, while never settling on just exactly who the protagonist was. Others simply did not like Val Mayerik's artwork.
Another problem was that, since this was Man-Thing's last appearance in Fear, the story would be continued in Man-Thing #1. So if you happened to pick up the first issue of Man-Thing without having read Gerber's stuff in Fear...you would be left thoroughly confused, without a doubt.
But I love this issue, and it was the story that solidified me as a fan for Steve Gerber's work. After Man-Thing #1, the group of Man-Thing, Jennifer Kale, Howard the Duck, Korrek and Dakimh would meet again in Giant Sized Man-Thing #3 and then again in Man-Thing #22, which was the last issue of the first series. They would later meet once again in Howard the Duck #22-23. Jennifer Kale would go on to be known as a cousin to Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch (the Ghost Riders) and became a founding member of the Legion of Night.
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