Man-Thing #4
Writer: R.L.
Stine
Art Team: German Peralta, Rachelle Rosenberg
Marvel
Comics
Release Date:
May 31, 2017
Cover Price:
$3.99
Man-Thing’s Mind Screw (Chicks Will Do That)
Man-Thing is
back for the fourth time with its penultimate issue. Previously we spent some
time witnessing Man-Thing investigate the disappearance of Oldfather which lead
him to the Nexus of all Realities. Although issue three was the weakest of the
series so far, mostly because it spent so much time recapping the previous two,
I still looked forward to how things would conclude. I’m sure issue four will lead us down a path
involving a shitload of crazy so me being me I’ll sign my name to that and see
where it leads. Let’s jump in here and
see what we have shall we.
Man-Thing #4
starts off with our hero in a precarious positon having difficulty controlling
his powers alternating between his human state and Man-Thing, confronted by
Oldfather begin threatened with death, helpless to do anything. After some strange threats from Evil Queen Irena
she decides it best to keep her two prisoners captive awhile longer, she needs
to torture Oldfather first a clean death is much to ‘nice’ after all. Queen Irena’s reasoning for anything is
really a troubling issue for this titles both here in this act and at future points
in this book.
We progress
to Man-Thing as a human confronted suddenly by his past lover, Lily-Ann, who he
tried to save earlier in the series from a giant Python in his Man-Thing form
but failed. After a brief exchange Lily turns into the giant Python that took
her away and eats Ted easily stating how the Pythons will now take possession
of the swamp. After spending just a few panels
in the belly of the beast Man-Thing busts out of the snake as it explodes
across the page of our comic …. GROSS!
Man-Thing
then travel out of his cell through a whole the snake body made coming face to
face quickly with Queen Irena who offers to send Man-Thing home if he will just
talk with a dude called “the Eye”. Suspecting foul play, but having no other
choice, Man-Thing plays along and is quickly hypnotized by the Eye and
transported elsewhere.
Our issues
events lead to our cliffhanger which reveals a now completely hypnotized
Man-Thing back in the place this issue started.
Our hero is under full control of Queen Irena after being placed under the
Eye’s spell and he’s being told he will be sent home if he kills Oldfather, who
is on his hands and knees in front of Man-Thing, present with a sword.
Overall
after an intriguing start to this series it has taken a turn for the worse and
devolved into a series of action that just happen with little to no build up or
reasoning. I’m not sure if there are editorial
problems with the title because it has released on a strange schedule or if R.
L. Stine is just getting used to a comic format but there’s not much to recommend
here in the pages of the last two issues right now. While a few jokes hit the mark the title just
feels completely random in tone and direction right now. The art is solid
throughout and the artist does a good job of transitioning from one crazy
situation to another but unless you’re a hardcore Man-Thing fan you have
probably checked out of this title by now.
Bits and Pieces
With story
beast that feel completely random and a character that’s becoming difficult to
root for I’m not sure what crowd this book is aiming to please. While not wholly
unenjoyable there is not enough I find to like that make me recommended this to
others.
5.5/10
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