Fear Itself: Fearsome Four

Fear Itself was the company-wide crossover event coming to Marvel in 2011, and it was only fit and proper Man-Thing got a starring role in this related miniseries.

The world is a scary place, especially in the Marvel Universe and mostespecially during Fear Itself, Fearsome Four writer Brandon Montclare tells Marvel.com. And Man-Thing, he's drawn to fear like a moth to a flame. So with all the terror out there, Man-Thing is overloaded. He's about to go supernova.

The Fearsome Four have come together to stop Man-Thing, or die trying. And while doing so they each have to face their own very personal and very unique fears. Howard the Duck, She-Hulk, Nighthawk, and Frankenstein are pretty different; but each in his or her own way is a monster, a freak, a person with a dark side. They're all outsiders, so while some have done the team thing before, there's going to be tension. This story can only happen with thesefour characters. The Fantastic Four were the world's greatest heroes. The Fearsome Four have an explosive situation to deal with, and whether they'll defuse it or set if off is a big part of the story.

Man-Thing has recently been much more active with the Marvel heroes, confirms Montclare. Fearsome Four is an extension of that: the potential consequences of having such a powerful, primal force introduced to the super powered world.

Cover artist and living legend Michael Wm Kaluta will also be doing the special segment in issue #1. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Just below the icy waterline the one-and-only Simon Bisley is lurking. Down in the depths below also lurks artist Henry Flint of Judge Dredd and Haunted Tank fame. It's a monstrously amazing group of guys that people will never forget.

Newsarama has chatted with Montclare about the series:

Man-Thing looks to be at the center of things here, a character most folks thought was a natural fit for Fear Itself given all that "whoever burns at the touch" jazz. How would you characterize his role in the context of the larger Fear Itself conflict?

Montclare: The Fearsome Four have come together to stop Man-Thing. With the events of Fear Itself, Man-Thing is about to explode-literally. Man-Thing isn't evil - in fact he's more mindless than anything else. But in a world completely scared stiff, he's a ticking time bomb. Also coming into play is the less predictable Nexus of All Realities. This is a part of the Man-Thing mythos that started deep in his mossy roots. He's been recently using the NoAR to transport the Thunderbolts to and fro in that book; and in Fearsome Four he'll unfortunately be bringing some alternate reality nightmares into this world.

Nrama: I think it's fair to say that Howard the Duck will be one of the main attractions of Fearsome Four. He has a long history with Man-Thing - is that touched upon in the course of the series?

Montclare: The important heroes have their eyes on the main onslaught in Fear Itself. So the Man-Thing threat might fly under the radar if not for Howard the Duck. Their history is essential to the story. And it's more than just a NYC neighborhood Howard wants to save from inferno. Man-Thing is his friend, and Howard wants to bring him in safe. And if this is the time that Marvel's avatar of fear has to be taken down, Howard wants to be the one to do it.

Fearsome Four at Marvel.com

Montclare Assembles the "Fearsome Four" - Comic Book Resources