Man-Thing has finally joined theMarvel Cinematic Universe. After years of teases in shows likeAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.andThor: Ragnarok, the iconic Marvel hero finally made his MCU debut in the recently released Halloween specialWerewolf by Night. Man-Thing debuted inSavage Tales#1 in 1971 and was created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow.
The character is Dr. Theodore “Ted” Sallis and was working on recreating the super soldier serum that created Captain America. He becomes Man-Thing after he injects himself with the formula and wanders into a mysterious swamp that happens to be at the Nexus of Reality. Man-Thing secrets an acid on anyone he touches who feels fear.
The character has been a fan favorite in Marvel Comics since his creation and his appearance inWerewolf by Nighthas made him an overnight star with new fans. The character is arguably the breakout hit of the critically praised special and audiences are likely clamoring for more Man-Thing. With the MCU is a big place and here are some stories Man-Thing could show up next.
Man-Thing in Loki Season 2
Currently,Lokiis the only live-actionMCU Disney+ seriesto get a second season. Season 2 will deal withLokiand the new TVA dealing with the aftermath of the events of season 1 when Sylvie killed He Who Remains and broke the Sacred Timeline to create the MCU multiverse, as well as deal with the threat of Kang the Conqueror who was teased at the end ofLokiseason 1 and will be the main villain inAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
In the comics, Man-Thing is the guardian of the Nexus of Realities, protecting his Earth from multiversal threats. WithLokiseason 2 leaning into multiversalthreats pretty heavily, Man-Thing could team up with the god of mischief and become an unlikely supporting player in the series as a full-time protector of the MCU multiverse.
Agatha Harkness: Coven of Chaos
After stealing the show onWandaVision, Agatha Harkness is set to get her own Disney+ series titledAgatha Harkness: Coven of Chaos. Few details have been revealed about the series, but Agatha Harkness will likely need a strong supporting roster of characters. The characters she is commonly associated with are either presumed dead (Scarlet Witch) or not yet in the MCU (The Fantastic Four) meaning Marvel can draw from their vast library to round out the cast.
Related:Here’s Why Kathryn Hahn is Perfect as Agatha Harkness
Swamp-Thing seems like an ideal fit for the supernaturally themed series likeAgatha Harkness: Coven of Chaos, and would provide a lovable side character that might bring out a bit more of Agatha’s humanity.
Marvel Zombies
Marvel Studios is developing an animated seriesbased on the comicMarvel Zombies, and a spin-off of the episode fromWhat If…?The series already has confirmed a number of survivors which consist of many Phase 4 heroes like Shang-Chi, Kate Bishop, and Yelena Belova, meaning Man-Thing would fit in perfectly with this new branch of heroes.
Man-Thing was a major part of variousMarvel Zombiescomic storylines, so his inclusion in the series feels appropriate. On top of that, his status as a ‘monster’ would serve as a nice contrast to the zombies. Certainly, audiences want to see how Man-Thing faces off against an army of zombies.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
It is unclear ifShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwill get a season two renewal, but many are likely hoping for it as the series has a great episodic structure that lends to both great comedy and a fun rotating door of guest stars. Man-Thing would fit right in with the world She-Hulk has established. Man-Thing could be one of the many cases Jennifer Walters takes on, possibly being captured and held without due process.
A guest spot onShe-Hulk: Attorney at Lawwould allow the characters to expand on Man-Thing’s origin, as part of his legal briefing. Man-Thing’s endearing nature lends for great comedy, and Jennifer Walters would likely have some fun comedic jokes to make about the character.
Thunderbolts
One of the major announcements regarding the future of the MCU isthe lineup for the movieThunderbolts. The team mainly consists of characters from the Earth-bound episode stories likeThe Falcon and Winter SoldierandBlack Widow, with Ghost fromAnt-Man and the Waspon the team as well. The film is still two years away from release and the studio is likely still working on the script, and it might be time to add not only more muscle to the team but a little more diversity in terms of power set and background. Enter Man-Thing.
Related:How Werewolf By Night Will Impact the MCU
In the 2010s during Marvel’s Heroic Age storyline, Man-Thing was recruited as a member of the Thunderbolts, so there is precedent for him joining the team. Plus given how three of the characters on the Thunderbolts roster (Red Guardians, Winter Soldier, and US Agent) are all super soldiers from attempts at recreating the super soldier serum, Man-Thing origin could tie directly in with his other team members as another attempted super soldier.
Bladeis Marvel Studios' big screen leap into the supernatural after the groundwork was laid inWerewolf by Night. Currently, it is unclear what the progress onBladeis, as they recently hired anew writer to rework the scriptand they recently lost their director. This shift might allow the creative teams to now incorporate a character like Man-Thing into the supporting cast, especially ifthe newBladedirectoris a fan, or has just seen the success ofWerewolf by Night.
Man-Thing on Disney+
Man-Thing’s brief but memorable appearance inWerewolf by Nightsuggests the character might be strong enough to support his own project, either another Disney+ special centered more on him or even a Disney+ series that could delve into his origin story and show what Man-Thing has been up to all these years in the MCU.
A series could offer a fun explanation for why he is a statue on Sakaar inThor: Ragnarok, showing one episode of him arriving on the planet and finding a way to return to Earth. It could see the return of Stéphanie Szostak as Ellen Brandt, Ted Sallis' girlfriend who betrayed him and was previously shown inIron Man 3.Man-Thing has certainly proven himself popular and worthy enough to carry his own project.
