Comics

The Journey

Man-Thing, Vol. 3 (1998): Liam Sharp Bob Harras (chief editor) Christie Scheele (colors) Mike Ploog (cover) Mark Bernardo (editor) Jon Babcock (letters) John Marc DeMatteis (story)

Doctor Strange warns Sheriff Donald Fillmore not to interfere with events surrounding Ellen Brandt and the Man-Thing. After altering the man's perceptions of reality, he convinces the sheriff that what is at stake here is beyond human comprehension. Fillmore quietly leaves the scene. Doctor Strange then tells Ellen Brandt that the Man-Thing is intricately tied to the veritable unmaking of reality, and that Ellen is one of the few people in existence who might be able to create an empathic rapport with the creature. Ellen reflects upon her own life and the decisions she has made - decisions that ultimately led to betrayal and the inadvertent creation of the Man-Thing. Through it all however, she comes to realize that she still loves the man that the monster once was - Ted Sallis.

Meanwhile, a strange bald man with white eyes and a blackened mouth named Mister Termineus visits the motel where the Burke family are staying. The Burkes are still recovering from their roadside encounter with the Man-Thing. Termineus is interested in their young son Job. After taking what he needs, he makes Job's parents forget that he was even there.

Back in Citrusville, Doctor Strange explains how the sudden return of certain "heroes of legend" have created cracks within the walls of reality, cracks that are widening with alarming speed and threaten to destroy all realities. At the hub of this crisis is the Nexus of All Realities, the virtual birthplace of the Man-Thing. The Nexus too however, has been shattered and needs to be repaired. Strange convinces Ellen to help guide the Man-Thing on his path towards fixing the cracks, and in so doing, Ellen may even be able to heal the cracks in her conscious mind.

Strange returns to his Sanctum and finds Mister Termineus waiting for him. Strange has no time for the eerie man's intrusion and expels him from his home.