The monstrosity known as Man-Thing is about to get a brand new origin from Marvel Comics, not as a freak accident... but the next weaponized super-soldier following in Captain America's footsteps.
The first connection between Man-Thing and Captain America was actually delivered months ago, in Wolverine & Captain America: Weapon Plus. It was that one-shot which revealed the direct link between Steve Rogers and Logan's own experiments--along with an entire chain of evolutions both before and after. The revelation that Venom may actually be 'Weapon 5' seemed most shocking, but the inclusion of Man-Thing as Venom's predecessor was a bombshell for the creature's fans. Now that Weapon Plus: World War IV has been announced, it looks like Man-Thing was intended to be even more of a gun-toting action hero, as 'Man-Slaughter.'
Fans are recommended to read that Weapon Plus issue if possible, since it reveals almost every other test subject before and after. That includes officially making Deadpool 'Weapon 9,' and even Luke Cage. But when Wolverine and Cap stumbled into a secret lab, and failed to notice the blackboard noting every project in the works, fans of Man-Thing only cared about the entry titled 'Weapon IV': officially designated Project Sulfur, and led by a man named "T. Sallis" (as in Ted Sallis, the scientist who became Man-Thing). But judging by the cover art for Weapon Plus: World War IV (via XavierFiles) fans don't know the whole story.
The plot details on the new one-shot from new Wolverine writer Benjamin Percy and artist Georges Jeanty confirm 'Man-Slaughter' is not actually Ted Sallis, but another test subject that followed after his tragic accident and transformation. And it fits perfectly with the new truth about Weapon Plus, as explained to Wolverine and Cap by Fantomex. Well, a hologram of Fantomex, since the former X-Force member and 'Weapon XIII' was killed for learning that very truth:
Ever since I escaped my creators, I have pulled at the threads behind the Weapon Plus program. It's all connected, Captain. the patriots that forged you, the monsters that violated Logan, and my own "Dr. Frankensteins"... They are the same. The programs weren't contiguous... They were concurrent... And they've been escalating their plans from the beginning! Eliminating anyone who got too close to the truth.
Despite the accident 'killing' Ted Sallis, fans can now see how Weapon Plus turned his research into a secret, previously unknown super-soldier when the one-shot arrives in January. Until then, check out the full credits and plot synopsis below:
- WEAPON PLUS: WORLD WAR IV #1
- Release Date: January 2020
- Written by: Benjamin Percy
- Art by: Georges Jeanty
- Cover Art by: Kyle Hotz
- WHATEVER KNOWS FEAR! Biochemist Ted Sallis was developing a serum for military application, but was tragically killed in a freak accident before he could perfect it. Still, the data behind his formula remains property of the United States government and the Weapon IV Program to this day–Mutants aren’t the only ones to have weaponized flora! Marvel Comics proudly presents a sensational new hero ready to fight back against the new world order! No longer just a man…not a thing…he’s All-American soil and he’s reporting for duty… Benjamin Percy (WOLVERINE, X-FORCE) and GEORGES JEANTY (WEAPON X) introduce…MAN-SLAUGHTER!
Weapon Plus: World War IV #1 will be available at your local comic book shop in January 2020.
Source: XavierFiles