BATTLE FOR THE PALACE OF THE GODS (1973-1974)

Drawn into a conflict he probably doesn't understand, the Man-Thing - guardian of the Nexus of All Realities - fights alongside Jennifer Kale, Korrek and Dakimh the Enchanter against Thog the Nether-Spawn and his plan to collide all the realms. Along the way, they a certain opinionated duck from another reality makes his debut...

Like many other '70s characters, Man-Thing had a regular spot in a generic title before earning a banner of his own. First issues were often a direct continuation of a tale that had begun in that title. Man-Thing made his debut in Savage Tales and earned regular appearances in Adventure into Fear before the launch of the ongoing Man-Thing series which concluded his team-up with Howard the Duck. It didn't look as though Howard was more than a throwaway gag character, but he would end up returning and eventually earned his own series too!

• Adventure into Fear #19
• Man-Thing #1

Adventure into Fear #19

Reality begins to break down and the Man-Thing, unwitting guardian of the Nexus of All Realities, finds itself at the centre of it all as time, dimensions and universes collide. A barbarian called Korrek from a dimension called Katharta initially challenges the Man-Thing but soon joins forces with him and a humanoid duck from another dimension as hordes of demons descend on them. Meanwhile, Dakihm explains to his apprentice Jennifer Kale that the damage to reality was caused when Franklin Armstrong Schist's construction company tried to drain the Man-Thing's swamp. The mysterious Overmaster sends soldiers and barbarians to kill Dakihm so that he can focus on merging every reality into one that's under his control...

Man-Thing #1

Having convinced the Congress of Realities to approve his plan to merge all realities, the Overmaster sends his demonic agents to take out the Man-Thing. Man-Thing, Korrek, Dakihm and Jennifer Kale all join forces, losing Howard the Duck who falls through reality. They head to the last reality unaffected by the chaos, Therea, where they clash with the Congress of Realities and the Overmaster unmasks, revealing himself to be the demon Thog. Man-Thing hurls Thog into Therea's pure waters turning him to stone. With the battle over, reality is restored.

Man-Thing #7-8 (1974) 

FA Schist's plans to build over the swamp come to an end when the Man-Thing kills him.

Giant-Size Man-Thing #2 (1974) 

Schist's widow, Vivian Schist, comes looking for revenge on the Man-Thing leading to his existence becoming public knowledge.

Giant-Size Man-Thing #3 (1975) 

Man-Thing, Dakimh, Jennifer Kale hed to Korrek's dimension, Katharta, to defend the realm from Mortak the Usurper and Klonus the Wizard; Dakihm doesn't survive the encounter but his spirit continues to train Jennifer Kale even after his death.

Giant-Size Man-Thing #4 (1975) 

Howard the Duck's fate is revealed when he finally returns to reality, though it's not his own; Howard is stranded on Earth-616 and starts looking for a way to return to Earth-47920 (Duckworld).

Man-Thing #21-22 (1975) 

Thog returns, allying with Mortak and Klonus, attempting to gain power by collecting the Nightmare Boxes.

Howard The Duck #22-24 (1978) 

Howard the Duck teams up with the Man-Thing, Korrek and Jennifer Kale again to save reality again, this time from Bzzk'Joh and his spread of madness through the universe.

Quasar #50 (1993)

Some members of the Congress of Realities break away and ally with Ereshkigal of the Deviants to seek independence from the Congress and gain full control of their own realities.

Howard the Duck Omnibus
Howard the Duck: The Complete Collection vol.1
Man-Thing Omnibus
Man-Thing by Steve Gerber: The Complete Collection vol.1
Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders vol.5
Marvel Masterworks: Howard the Duck vol.1

Include... 

Adventures into Fear #19

Man-Thing #1