SWAMP MONSTERS AND MUCKMEN (PART 6)

Marvel's swamp monster, Man-Thing, was the creation of Stan Lee, Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway, who developed the character. Man-Thing's first appearance was in the full-size black and white comics magazine, SAVAGE TALES #1 (May 1971) with a script by Conway and art by Gray Morrow. This story appeared about a year before DC's SWAMP THING and a second incarnation was published in ADVENTURE INTO FEAR around the same time as SWAMP THING'S first issue.

Come back later today for more monster comics!

SWAMP MONSTERS AND MUCKMEN (PART 1)

A quirky but oddly alluring sub-genre of horror comics is that of the so-called "swamp monster" or "muckman". Known also as bog monsters, slime creatures and a plethora of other monikers, these fascinating characters have proliferated through the years from a number of publishers, some being wildly successful, such as DC's SWAMP THING and Marvel's MAN-THING.

But where did this crazy concept have its origins? What dank and dismal mind came up with the idea of the swamp monster in the first place? The answer lies in -- of all places -- the pulp magazines of the 1940's. The birth of the muckmen is attributed to science-fiction author, Theodore Sturgeon. His story, "It", published (just before the outbreak of WW II to put it in a historical context) in the pulp mag, UNKNOWN (August, 1940) became the template of what was to follow some years later when the first swamp creatures emerged from the murky waters.

This is the first of a series of posts that will cover the history of swamp monsters and their kith and kin. Break out the towels -- it's about to get muddy!

FRANK BRUNNER'S 'FEAR'

Frank Brunner has been a long-time artist and illustrator and is well known for his work since the 1960s when he first started submitting fan art to the monster magazines of the times. With influences from Frank Frazetta and Berni Wrightson, Brunner's work is best suited towards fantasy and horror themes.

As an example, presented here is his original art for Marvel's ADVENTURE INTO FEAR #15 (Aug 1973), featuring everybody's favorite muck monster, Man-Thing.

"Frank Brunner Fear #15 Cover Man-Thing Original Art (Marvel, 1973). Frank Brunner's very first Man-Thing work! Here, Man-Thing takes an Adventure Into Fear in the story "From Here To Infinity!" It's a flashback tale to pre-King Kull era Atlantis. This awe-inspiring cover is a flaming masterpiece by Brunner, who signed in the image area on the left, and then again in the lower margin. Created in ink and white paint over graphite on World Color cover stock Bristol board with an image area of 10" x 15". The header, logo, and corner box are all stat paste-ups, with production tape and glue residue. The main image area is lightly toned and in otherwise Excellent condition."

MARVEL'S MAN-THING ORIGINAL ART

In the 1970s, Marvel Comics exploded with a new line of re-imagined monster characters in titles like, MONSTER OF FRANKENSTEIN, TOMB OF DRACULA and WEREWOLF BY NIGHT. They were fresh, inspired and, in this blogger's opinion, brilliant. I wouldn't miss an issue for years.

Included in the line of monster titles was, THE MAN-THING, a resurrection of a "muck-man" influenced by past swamp monsters in the comics like "The Heap". The series also produced one of the all-time, unintentional hilarious titles, GIANT-SIZE MAN-THING (!).

Featured here is a "vibrant" example of mixed-media original art by the talented Val Mayerik depicting the legendary Man-Thing.

Description of auction lot:
Val Mayerik Man-Thing Illustration Original Art (Marvel Comics, c. 1970s). Val Mayerik, the definitive illustrator of Steve Gerber's Man-Thing series, extends a menacing claw in this vibrant mixed-media painting. Watercolor, pastels, felt color markers, and white dry-brush highlights on Bristol board. Image area, 10.75" x 14.75". Excellent condition.