Man-Thing #9

“Deathwatch!” opens a two-part story that takes place in the heart of the swamps. The Man-Thing has stumbled across a family of three: Ezekiel & Maybelle Tork and their dog, known simply as “Dawg.” It is Monday and Maybelle is doing the weekly wash and talking to Dawg, when she is visited by the Man-Thing. Fearing for her life, she screams out for her husband Ezekiel, whom she calls “Zeke.” Zeke comes running with rifle in hand and attempts to rescue Maybelle by shooting the Man-Thing. The swamp creature is unhurt by the bullet and harmlessly leaves the couple to comfort each other.

Zeke carries Maybelle into the shack and lays her in bed. She tells Zeke that her heart is giving her problems and that she needs to see a doctor. Zeke agrees to go into town and bring a doctor back to examine Maybelle. Dawg stays behind with Maybelle who has an apparent heart attack. Dawg is filled with fear and goes after Zeke, swimming through the swamp waters to the boat Zeke is paddling. Just as Dawg catches up with Zeke, a huge dead tree comes alive and attacks Zeke. The Man-Thing is standing nearby and moves in to rescue Zeke and battle with the demon possessed tree.

Defeating the tree, Man-Thing begins to leave when the tree reappears and grabs Dawg. Man-Things stops and frees Dawg and destroys the evil tree. A strange scarlet mist leaves the tree and enters into an alligator. The possessed alligator attacks Zeke’s boat and nearly kills Zeke, but the Man-Thing overcomes the demonic beast, saving the old man and his dog again.

When all seems well, the mysterious mist hovers through the swamp and enters the skeletal remains of an abandoned chain gang. The skeletons come to life and try to kill Zeke. Once again, the Man-Thing comes to the rescue, but Zeke has been severely choked by a monstrous skeleton. Man-Thing destroys the skeleton and holds the motionless body of Zeke in his arms. The mysterious scarlet mist leaves the broken bones of the skeletons and enters a brood of vipers hanging from the swamp trees. What will happen next?