Soon after the Man-Thing's initial 1971 appearance, writer Steve Gerber assumed the role as the muck monster's primary chronicler, producing a spate of often goofy yet engaging stories centered around the emphatic swamp creature with no personality of its own. In the late 80s after years of litigation surrounding his seminal creation Howard the Duck, Gerber returned to Marvel and began working on a graphic novel-length sequel to his story from Man-Thing #12 (December 1974) "Song-Cry...of the Living Dead Man!" The talented Kevin Nowlan, working at a glacial pace, could only manage to produce only 1-2 gorgeous painted pages a month. Since he needed to eat, he accepted other, quicker assignments, further slowing his output. Years after Gerber's death, the finished story "The Screenplay of the Living Dead Man!" finally appeared in late 2012 as a three issue mini-series. The Infernal Man-Thing collects that tale along with "Song-Cry" and the very first Man-Thing appearance from Savage Tales #1 (May 1971), written by Gerry Conway and Roy Thomas with art by Gray Morrow. As with many of Gerber's tales, both "Song-Cry" and "Screenplay" involve troubled individuals and social gravitas. The apparently mad writer Brian Lazarus, who produces his craft from within an abandoned insane asylum, creates demons that have a life of their own. In the sequel set many years later, Lazarus continues his struggles with his own terrors and his own humanity. Gerber seemingly taps into his own internal conflicts regarding money and creativity. Nowlan's magnificent illustrations elevate Gerber's often profound words into an excellent summation of the often troubled writer's career. ( )