Hello everybody, welcome to another installment of Bronze and Beyond! This time around, we'll switch gears slightly, and take a look at a book that is also just as crazy as The Defenders, but a solo book. I've been reading a lot of Man-Thing lately, and it's absolutely fascinating. Steve Gerber wrote some insane stories that really throw you for a loop. In a good way, of course! Created by Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, and Gray Morrow, this misunderstood, heap of swamp muck, has a very limited vocabulary, but no limit in the heart department! He saves damsels and ducks, to babies and buxom beauties! 
The highlights are definitely the Gerber and Ploog issues, so I'll focus on them after we see the origins of this beast! Initially in the titles Savage Tales, Astonishing Tales, and Fear, he would get his own monthly ongoing title in January of 1974. It lasted twenty-two issues before getting axed, but then resurfaced in 1979 for another eleven issues. Gerber was behind the majority of the issues, and along with artists like Ploog, Buscema, Adams, and covers by Frank Brunner, they made this series a winner! Lets get down to business! 

In the beginning, scientist Ted Sallis, and his partner/lover, Ellen Brandt, were on the verge of recreating the Super-Soldier Serum. Deep in the swamps of the Florida Everglades, they worked tirelessly to perfect this formula. One night, as they were on the verge of success, he was betrayed by Ellen. She was apparently in league with A.I.M., and they wanted that serum. Two goons tried to apprehend him, but he broke free, and jumped in his car. As he sped away, he injected himself with the formula, and crashed into the swamp. The effects of the formula, coulped with the mysterious properties of the swamp, led to an unexpected result. As his body twisted and contorted, Sallis lost consciousness, and when he awakened, he was no longer himself. He arose fro the swamp as a green behemoth composed of the surrounding materials. A being now of little intelligence, but incrediblwe brute strength, the Man-Thing was born.
He immediately ran into the two goons and Brandt, and slew both men. As Ellen lay sobbing, terrified to even look up, Man-Thing placed his hands upon her evil face. He discovered that when in the presence of evil, he emits a sort of chemical that burns his enemies. Ellen's face was horribly disfigured from this encounter (more on her later). 

Manny's first adventure was an encounter with the jungle lord, Ka-Zar. You see, Ka-Zar was brought to Florida by Bobbi Morse, to help with the investigation of a missing scientist, named Ted Sallis. Bobbi, Ka-Zar, Zabu, and Dr. Paul Allen, then head by helicopter to the deepest part of the swamp, where Sallis was last seen. Man eating alligators, A.I.M. agents, and everything in-between await the group of hereos, but also, the misunderstood muck monster, Man-Thing!

The issues are beautifully illustrated by Big John Buscema, and Rich Buckler, and believe me when I say, you'll be impressed. The inital story was drawn by the uber talented Gray Morrow, and anyone that knows his work, is certainly a fan of great artwork. This initial meeting between Ka-Zar and Manny was quite an odd pairing, but one that resonates with the readers, panel after panel. 

Well, that's it for now, but be back next time, as we'll delve deeper into the swamps of Florida, to reveal more adventures of the inexplicable, Man-Thing!