GOOSEBUMPS Author R.L. Stine Is Writing MAN-THING for Marvel Comics
For those of you who grew up reading R.L. Stine’s classic horror series Goosebumps, you’ll be excited to hear that he’s now writing Man-Thing for Marvel Comics! Stine made the announcement himself during an interview with the New York Times.
“My first ambition was to be a comic book artist. I started doing these little comic books in the fourth grade: ‘Super Stooge,’ the dumbest hero on earth. I was terrible. I had no choice but to be a writer.”
Being a writer obviously turned out to be a pretty good gig for him! Man-Thing, which made its debut in 1971, seems like the perfect fit for Stine! It’s a five issue series that will feature cover art by Tyler Crook and artwork by German Peralta and Daniel Johnson.
The new comic series is inspired by the classic horror comics from the 1950s such as Tales From the Crypt, Eerie, and Creepy. Stine said:
“They were scary, really gruesome, bloody comics and they always had a twist ending. I think they’ve been a major influence in everything I’ve done since. Every Saturday morning, I’d go get a haircut so I could read the comics.”
Marvel offered Stine the opportunity write for several characters, but he wanted Man-Thing. When talking about what he plans on doing with the character, he said:
“I’m going to do a lot of action and a lot of great violence and make it creepy, but I’m going to make it funny at the same time. It’s what I try to do in my books.”
The first story that he will tell centers on Man-Thing, who heads to Burbank, Calif., “wondering why he is not starring in a major motion picture.” If you’re familiar with the history of Man-Thing, then you know that he’s a mute, but in this comic he won’t be. Stine says that “He can talk and he’s very sarcastic.”
Each issue will also include a short horror story written by Mr. Stine that is drawn by a guest artist.
I think it’s awesome that Stine is writing comics for Marvel now! It’s about time! I can’t wait to read his Man-Thing comics!