Man-Thing #5

Issue Details

Synopsis

“Night of the Laughing Dead” marks a unique chapter for the Man-Thing as artist Mike Ploog joins the cast of comic creators. This volume of Man-Thing paints a tragic tale of a life gone awry. The splash page briefly reviews the beginnings of the Man-Thing, showing him slowly rise from the swamp and trek out onto the shore. In a not-too-distant location, the scene shifts to a depressed clown who sits by the shore of the swamp with a gun in his hand. He has been contemplating the seeming meaninglessness of his existence and decides to end his life. A single gun shot rings through the swamp and the Man-Thing responds to the sound.Finding the clown’s dead body, the Man-Thing discovers a suicide note at his feet. He no longer possesses the ability decipher the symbols on the paper, but the note states: “To whom it may concern, laughter is dead, futility. Blame Ergon.” He may not be able to understand the note but he does remember the importance of a proper burial, a funeral of sorts. And so the Man-Thing carries the clown’s body to a suitable location to dig a hole for its burial.Meanwhile, miles away at a motel, Richard Rory and Ruth Hart rent two rooms to get some much needed rest from the recent ordeal they have faced (see Man-Thing issues 2, 3, and 4). On the way to their rooms, they notice that a carnival is playing nearby. A discussion is overheard about a clown named “Darrel” who seems to be missing. A woman is concerned about his safety but her carnival boss is glad to see him gone. The dialog escalates into an argument and the man begins striking the woman in the face. Richard Rory has seen enough and jumps the man, warning him not to hurt the woman. Before he can respond, a large lumbering man named “Tragg” intervenes, threatening Richard not to mess with his carnival boss. As a final warning, he strikes Richard and walks away.Richard and Ruth get in the van to leave and the woman from the carnival joins them. She is leaving and wants to find...