Films: Man-Thing (2005)
Alias: Ted Sallis
Type: Natural
Location: Swamp
Height/Weight: Twice that of an average human.
Affiliation: Neutral
Summary: The Swamp Thing is DC's answer to dirty natural heroic horror. But as far as Marvel is concerned, they can do better. However, whether this obscure adaptation stands as a good representation of the Man-Thing is ultimately up to you.
History: Long ago, the swamp of Dark Water, Louisiana became the base of a petroleum plant run by sociopathic Frederick Schist. When local chieftain Ted Sallis tried to stop him, he was killed. But that was far from the end. For the petroleum plant was destroying the environment, awakening a guardian of the swamp residing in the Nexus of All Realities. The spirit bonded with Sallis, and they became Man-Thing, a monstrous tree-like humanoid that would kill anyone who dared venture into the swamp until that plant was destroyed.
Notable Kills: Almost every person gets plant matter stuffed into their bodies. It's rather horrifying. Also, see Final Fate.
Final Fate: Man-Thing finally manages to kill Schist by impaling him and pumping him full of oil in a twistedly ironic demise. The survivors try to kill the monster by blowing up the rig, but it survives. Thankfully, because the rig is gone, Man-Thing departs from the mortal realm.
Powers/Abilities: Can control plant life, shrug off most damage, and use his tentacles to suck up liquids and pump them or plant matter into things.
Weakness: If his mission is complete, he will not harm anyone else.
Scariness Factor: 4-Man-Thing has no time for Syfy CGI to throw off his flow. This demonic Ent is a perfect guardian of the swamp, killing any and all intruders in horrific ways and upending ecological threats on the way. Not the nicest nature spirit, but at least he goes away when the problems are over. Maybe someday, he'll realize that those who kill indiscriminately are probably not going to get eco-friendly support from humans.
Trivia: -Man-Thing is a LOT less violent in the comics, taking a more neutral stance with most things. While he is a primal beast, he absolutely hates negative emotions due to being an empath, which kind of sucks when you're a swamp monster that induces fear in the hearts of most. Oh, and those who express fear get burned by his touch, even if he doesn't want that. His stories introduced Howard the Duck of all characters, and at one point he even joined the Thunderbolts.
-The Nexus of All Realities is name-dropped in this film, and in the comics serves as an intergalactic means of travelling between realities. All realities, even the ones in-between other realities. Man-Thing is one of the few beings to have mastered using it.
