Astonishing Tales #12 page 17 – Second appearance of Man-Thing
Artists: John Buscema (Penciller) , Dan Adkins (Inker)
119 Views - 20 Comments - 13 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionIn Ka-Zar’s and Dr Barbara “Bobbi” Morse’s search for Ted Sallis and his SO-2 ‘Super-Soldier’ type serum, at last, they have found their quarry. Except that they don’t realise Ted Sallis is now the Man-Thing. This was only Man-Thing’s second appearance, following Savage Tales #1 (a year earlier, in 1971).We get an interesting detail about the Bog Beast. Apparently, he has a distinctive odour – with a tang of brimstone, rather than just smelling of the bog and the vegetation of which he seems to be composed. This is still so early in the multiple tweaks to the Man-Thing’s origins that he is given a kind of satanic slant, at odds with the previous dual scientific and natural-world beginning, and the yet to fully emerge mystical, multidimensional guardian one. This issue certainly has a work-in-progress feel as the Man-Thing is gradually slotted into his proper place in the Marvel Universe. None of that matters to Ka-Zar as he springs into full jungle action, although he is concerned that Zabu’s massive paws might sink into the soft bog. And all of that is delivered through wonderful panel compositions, great expressions and deft changes of angle – as you’d expect from Big John Buscema. Lovely clean inks from Adkins too. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Kavi H 
Member Since 2018
2 - Posted on 12/3/2025
Wow, that's such an early appearance and awesome art from the team of Buscema and Adkins. Congrats on a major/signficant addition from the character's history. I like the page structure, feels very balanced with the 3 x 2 x 3 panel layout. The 3 panel sequence of Man-Thing to open the page is awesome and the 3 panel sequence of Ka-Zar trying to reign in Zabu to end the page is also great!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 12/5/2025
Kavi H wrote:
Wow, that's such an early appearance and awesome art from the team of Buscema and Adkins. Congrats on a major/signficant addition from the character's history. I like the page structure, feels very balanced with the 3 x 2 x 3 panel layout. The 3 panel sequence of Man-Thing to open the page is awesome and the 3 panel sequence of Ka-Zar trying to reign in Zabu to end the page is also great!
Thanks, Kavi. Yes, the face of Ka-Zar in the 3 panel sequence at the bottom is classic Big John.
Ron B
Member Since 2024
1 - Posted on 12/3/2025
Great page from all angles. And I love the empathy Kazar shows for his feline companion. Congrats!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/5/2025
Ron B wrote:
Great page from all angles. And I love the empathy Kazar shows for his feline companion. Congrats!
Thanks, Ron. Yes, that concern for Zabu is very touching.
John C
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 12/3/2025
It's about time someone give Peeping Tom's the respect they deserve.
Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003
2 - Posted on 12/3/2025
John C wrote:
It's about time someone give Peeping Tom's the respect they deserve.Even if they are giant man-things?
John C
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 12/3/2025
Miki Annamanthadoo wrote:
Even if they are giant man-things?
Especially if they are Giant Man-Things.
Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003
1 - Posted on 12/3/2025
That rope's not going to hold him!
An absolutely astonishing Man-Thing page!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/5/2025
Miki Annamanthadoo wrote:
That rope's not going to hold him!
An absolutely astonishing Man-Thing page!
Thanks! True - it'll hold Zabu back in the same way that the window kept Ka-Zar indoors.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 12/4/2025
Ka-Zar didn't even have the good sense to use the door like Zabu! First two panels are classic horror tropes.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 12/4/2025
Marcus Wai wrote:
Ka-Zar didn't even have the good sense to use the door like Zabu! First two panels are classic horror tropes.
Yes, but those windows don't break themselves.
Toni S
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 12/4/2025
That first panel can't be better! The whole page is so cool! Huge congrats!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/5/2025
Toni S wrote:
That first panel can't be better! The whole page is so cool! Huge congrats!
It's so interesting to see this early take on Man-Thing's look. Buscema seems to favour a lumpy look rather than a moss-covered one. But the face is all there.
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/5/2025
Toni S wrote:
That first panel can't be better! The whole page is so cool! Huge congrats!
It's so interesting to see this early take on Man-Thing's look. Buscema seems to favour a lumpy look rather than a moss-covered one. But the face is all there.
Bill Thomson
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 12/5/2025
Just LOVE this page- the best panel page in a historic comic! Saw it available many, many years ago, but hadn't seen it in more than a decade- where the heck did you find it? Such great shots and sequences of Ka-Zar and Man-Thing... and such a great example of Big John's visual storytelling MASTERY!!! Congrats on a great pick-up, Paul!
Paul Roach
Member Since 2014
Posted on 12/5/2025
Bill Thomson wrote:
Just LOVE this page- the best panel page in a historic comic! Saw it available many, many years ago, but hadn't seen it in more than a decade- where the heck did you find it? Such great shots and sequences of Ka-Zar and Man-Thing... and such a great example of Big John's visual storytelling MASTERY!!! Congrats on a great pick-up, Paul!
Thanks Bill! Hmm, that's a good question - I had to look it up. It seems that your memory is excellent - I bought it on Heritage back in Feb 2015. I still have pages that I haven't even scanned going back to the '80s, so this isn't the oldest not to have emerged for a while. I am trying to make more of a concerted effort to share them now.
Bill Thomson
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 12/5/2025
Paul Roach wrote:
Thanks Bill! Hmm, that's a good question - I had to look it up. It seems that your memory is excellent - I bought it on Heritage back in Feb 2015. I still have pages that I haven't even scanned going back to the '80s, so this isn't the oldest not to have emerged for a while. I am trying to make more of a concerted effort to share them now.
I remember a guy had all the interior pages and then they were auctioned off. Many turned up again from time to time, but never this one or the splash preceeding it... that explains it! You and I have very similar tastes in art... Looking forward to seeing more of your treasures unveiled, Paul!!!
Red Raven
Member Since 2012
1 - Posted on 12/8/2025
Magnificent page Bronze - age by the marvelous artist !!
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