Issue(s): Adventure Into Fear #16
Cover Date: Sep 73
Title: "Cry of the native!"
Credits:
Steve Gerber - Writer
Val Mayerik - Penciler
Sal Trapani - Inker

Review/plot:
A land developer has bought some swampland that is the home of a tribe of native Americans. They fight back, wearing "traditional" Indian costumes that i suspect was a lack of communication between the artist and writer.

They keep wearing these costumes but the dialogue seems to go out of the way to justify it, as if Gerber was embarrassed by what the artist was drawing.

The land developers name is F.A. Schist, not at all a heavy-handed metaphor.

Anyway, meanwhile the Man-Thing shuffles around mindlessly and kills a construction worker.

Val Mayerik backgrounds and Man-Thing are very nice...

...but his somewhat cartoony humans, coupled with names like F.A. Schist and a bunch of Indians running around in full 1940s TV Western get-up, undermine the fact that Gerber has set up some reasonable and realistic conflicts here.

The Man-Thing brings a wounded Indian to Warren and Margaret Thompson, the same couple he brought the baby to in Fear #10, although that issue isn't referenced.

The Kale family also briefly appears to observe the protests.

I assume this was reprinted in a Marvel Milestones issue due to the fact that it was the inspiration for the horrible Man-Thing movie. Other than that and the first appearance of Mr. Schist, it's not a particularly significant or great issue. Actually, one other thing that becomes pretty important: the Man-Thing briefly is able to recall a bit of his Ted Sallis days, and per this flashback Sallis was working on a serum that will enable men to breathe pollutants. This will be picked up on in Gerber's Daredevil run.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - first F.A. Schist

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• The Man-Thing briefly recalls his origin from Savage Tales #1.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Milestones: Blade, Man-Thing, Satana