- "Man-Thing! It's the Man-Thing! I don't get it! We weren't bothering him -- we weren't doing much of anything -- why'd he attack us?!"
- ―Jaxon
| "Death-Knell" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The Man-Thing | |
| Title: | "Death-Knell" |
| Volume: | 2 |
| Number: | 4 |
| Cover price: | .40 |
| Cover date: | May, 1980 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Jim Shooter |
| Writers: | Chris Claremont |
| Pencilers: | Don Perlin |
| Inkers: | Bob Wiacek |
| Cover artists: | Bob Wiacek |
| Cover inker: | Bob Wiacek |
| Colorists: | Sean |
| Letterers: | Costanza |
| Editors: | Denny O'Neil |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Man-Thing #3 |
| Next: | Man-Thing #5 |
"Death-Knell" is the fourth issue of the second Man-Thing ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Chris Claremont with artwork by Don Perlin and inks by Bob Wiacek. It was colored by Barry Grossman and lettered by John Costanza. The story was edited by Denny O'Neil. This issue shipped with a May, 1980 cover date and carries a cover price of .40 cents per copy.
"Death-Knell"[]
Man-Thing and Elaine Simpson.
The Man-Thing is clinging to the bottom of a helicopter piloted by Conrad Shurz and Billy Ellenshaw - henchmen employed by Roger Grafton. Though they try to navigate the peaks of the Himalayas, the weight of the Man-Thing's body begins pulling them down. In the Man-Thing's other arm is Elaine Simpson. As she awakens, she begins to panic, which triggers the Man-Thing's empathic powers, thus causing her to burn at his touch. Reacting blindly, Elaine wrestles herself free of the Man-Thing's grasp and begins to plummet to her doom. The Man-Thing's frozen left hand, which had been holding onto the helicopter, snaps off, and he too begins to fall.
Doctor Strange vs. Azrael.
Meanwhile in Paris, France, Doctor Stephen Strange - Master of the Mystic Arts is the midst of a losing battle against Julian Phyffe, aka Azrael. Azrael's power is to siphon life energy from any creature, causing it to age rapidly. As Strange continues to age rapidly, he calls upon the Hosts of Hoggoth, which manifests as a giant metal fist that comes down from the sky and pins Azrael to the ground. The fist eventually dissipates and Strange tries to contain Azrael with the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. This seems to do the trick, and Strange calls upon the Sacred Seraphim to restore himself to full health. With Azrael banished, Strange collects the Cloak of Levitation and the Eye of Agamotto and arranges for travel to Florida.
Stephen Strange puts the whammy on John Daltry.
Doctor Strange and his companion Madeleine St. Germaine arrive in Citrusville and go to the office of Sheriff John Daltry. Strange asks him about the spate of recent disappearances that he had read about, but Dalton resists cooperating with Strange, until Stephen uses magic to make him more agreeable. Daltry reveals that out of the eighteen reported missing people, nine of them have since turned up dead. Doctor Strange knows that Baron Mordo requires victims in order to perform a ritual that will open the Chaos Gates. He deduces that all of the abductees are people who are mystically attuned. Dalton mentions that the first family hit by the kidnapper(s) was the Kale family, which included cult leader Joshua Kale, and his children, Jennifer and Andy. Daltry further tells strange to reach out to Jennifer's ex-boyfriend, Jaxon as a guide. Strange thanks Daltry for his cooperation and leaves.
Manny goes nuts!
Madeleine and Stephen meet up with Jaxon, who takes them across the Okealachobee River in his airboat to the Kale residence. As they approach the shore, Elaine Simpson comes running out of the house frantically waving her arms, warning them to turn back. From out of nowhere, the Man-Thing bursts through the brackish water, destroying Jaxon's boat, and sending its occupants flying. Strange takes to the air and tries to use the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak to bind the Man-Thing. Somehow, the Man-Thing instinctively knows the counter-spell and is able to shake them off. The Man-Thing proves to be uncharacteristically agile and swats Strange out of the sky. It soon becomes clear that some invisible hand is guiding the Man-Thing's actions.
Doc's about to get his butt whooped.
Madeleine spots Baron Mordo standing triumphantly on the shoreline. Realizing that he is the architect of these events, she takes up a rifle and fires at him, but it is merely an astral image of the true Baron. Upon seeing Mordo, Strange tries to divert his attack, but the Man-Thing won't let up that easily. He downs him a fallen tree, forcing Strange to concentrate his offensive abilities to take the Man-Thing down. The Man-Thing collapses, but the swamp water only serves in revitalizing him and he grabs Doctor Strange, slamming him down into the water. He presses down upon strange, drowning him, and Stephen feels the symbol of the ankh upon his brow, indicating that he is in mortal danger. As Strange slips into unconsciousness, Baron Mordo takes control of Madeleine and leads her away.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange
- Elaine Simpson
- John Daltry (1st appearance)
- Madeleine St. Germaine
Villains
- Azrael, Julian Phyffe
- Baron Mordo, Karl Mordo
- Billy Ellenshaw
- Conrad Shurz
- Corey (Behind the scenes only)
Minor characters
- Alfeo Spinosa (In flashback only)
- Colette Joubert (In flashback only)
- Dakimh the Enchanter (Referenced only)
- Howard the Duck (Referenced only)
- Jennifer Kale (Referenced only)
- Roger Grafton (Referenced only)
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
-
- Seine River (In flashback only)
Items
- Ankh
- Cloak of Levitation
- Eye of Agamotto
- Orb of Agamotto (Referenced only)
- Rifle
Vehicles
Powers
-
- Entropy control (In flashback only)
- Flight
- Hosts of Hoggoth
- Life energy absorption
- Magic blast
- Mind control
- Rings of Raggadorr
- Shield of the Seraphim (In flashback only)
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- The character of Ted Sallis, aka the Man-Thing was created by writers Roy Thomas & Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow. He first appeared in the third story in Savage Tales #1 in May, 1971. Most of the early Man-Thing stories following his inaugural appearance were written by Steve Gerber.
- This issue carries the approval stamp of the Comics Code Authority.
- This issue is UPC barcode number 7148602317 05.
- This issue is job number LF-37.
- The tagline to this issue is "Mordo and Man-Thing... a choice of doom for Dr. Strange".
- Colorist Barry Grossman is credited as just "Sean" in this issue.
- Letterer John Costanza is credited as just "Costanza" in this issue.
- This issue is reprinted in black and white in Essential Man-Thing, Volume 2, released in August, 2008 and in Essential Dr. Strange, Volume 4, released in June, 2009. It is reprinted in color in the Man-Thing Omnibus hardcover collection in October, 2012 and in the Marvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange, Volume 8 hardcover collection released in May, 2017.
- Madeleine St. Germaine refers to herself as Madeleine De St. Germaine in this issue.
- The events of this issue continue from Man-Thing, Volume 2 #3 and Doctor Strange, Volume 2 #40. The story concludes in Doctor Strange, Volume 2 #41.
- This issue includes flashback sequences of events that occurred in Doctor Strange #38, Doctor Strange #39, and Doctor Strange #40.
- This is the first appearance of John Daltry, who is the sheriff of Cypress County. He becomes a regular supporting character on the series going forward.
- Stephen Strange makes reference to Howard the Duck, whom he met in Marvel Treasury Edition #12 in October, 1976.
- Stephen Strange makes reference to Dakimh the Enchanter, who was a mentor to Jennifer Kale and ally of the Man-Thing.
- This is the final appearance of Julian Phyffe as Azrael, not including flashbacks. His final fate is unclear.
- The waterway that Jaxon pilots his boat through is the Okealachobee River. It will be identified by name in Doctor Strange, Volume 2 #41.