- "They are madness given form; and they will keep coming, wave after brutal wave."
- ―Devil-Slayer
| "Silent Night" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Man-Thing | |
| Title: | "Silent Night" |
| Volume: | 3 |
| Number: | 4 |
| Cover price: | $2.99 |
| Cover date: | March, 1998 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Bob Harras |
| Writers: | John Marc DeMatteis |
| Pencilers: | Liam Sharp |
| Inkers: | Liam Sharp |
| Cover artists: | Liam Sharp |
| Cover inker: | Liam Sharp |
| Colorists: | Christie Scheele |
| Letterers: | Jonathan Babcock |
| Editors: | Mark Bernardo |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | Man-Thing #3 |
| Next: | Man-Thing #5 |
"Silent Night" is the title to the fourth issue of the Man-Thing ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by John Marc DeMatteis with artwork and inks by Liam Roger Sharp, who also rendered the cover art illustration for this issue. It was colored by Christie Scheele with lettering by Jonathan Babcock. It was edited by Mark Bernardo. This issue shipped with a March, 1998 cover date and carries a cover price of $2.99 per copy (US).
"Silent Night"[]
Eric Simon Payne, former hero turned mental patient, is now literally wrestling with his own internal demons. A horde of monstrous figures erupts all around him and begins wreaking chaos at the Rosewell Sanitarium. Standing in the room observing the carnage is Mister Termineus who is dressed in a ragged Santa Claus outfit. Sorrow goes to Simon's side and tries to use her empathic abilities to calm him down.
Suddenly, the Man-Thing and Ellen Brandt appear inside the Sanitarium. Ellen is holding the staff given to her by Termineus and knows that she must somehow use it to repair the broken Nexus of All Realities. The Man-Thing takes up the staff and the power of the mystic relic speaks through him.
Meanwhile in Brooklyn, the Burke family decorate the tree for Christmas morning. Proud father Jack is ready to give his son Job the best Christmas possible. While looking at a Christmas tree ornament, he sees the reflection of Mister Termineus staring back at him. He drops the ornament and just as quickly, the memory what he had seen fades away. In the other room, the dream-essence of the mental patient Sorrow visits young Job. Using her strange abilities, she gives Job a shimmering snowfall of hopes and dreams: devotion, joy and mercy.
Back at Rosewell, Mister Termineus perceives that Sorrow was somehow "visiting" Job. He warns he to stay clear of him. Eric Payne tries to attack Termineus, but he is too lost within his own mindscape to have any affect. Turning, he sees the Man-Thing and believes that he is an agent of Termineus. He reaches into his Shadow Cloak and withdraws an astral spear. Using this mystic weapon, he cleaves the Man-Thing in two.
Eric's anger, combined with his telepathic abilities and the fragment of the Nexus lodged within him yields catastrophic consequences. The crater of unreality surrounding the hospital begins to spread throughout the town of Charles, Massachusetts. The Man-Thing's body partially reconstitutes itself and Eric Payne and he fight again. When the two combatants collide with one another, they create a massive explosion of fire.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
Minor characters
- Cory Payne (In flashback only)
- Gwyneth Burke
- Jack Burke
- Job Burke
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
- Automobile (In flashback only)
Powers
Miscellaneous
- Christmas Eve
- Dreams
- Exploding vehicle (In flashback only)
- Flashbacks
- Full moon
- Mental health facility
- Nightmares
- Nurse
- Severed limbs
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 is UPC barcode number 759606044467 00411.
- This issue bears the "Strange Tales" logo upon the cover.
- Writer J.M. DeMatteis is credited as John Marc DeMatteis in this issue.
- Letterer Jon Babcock is credited as Jonathan Babcock in this issue.
- Eric Simon Payne appeared last in Man-Thing #3.