Straw Man (comics)

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Not to be confused with Scarecrow (Marvel Comics).

Straw Man
StrawMan.jpg
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceDead of Night #11 (August 1975)
Created byScott Edelman (writer)
(artist)
In-story information
Notable aliasesScarecrow, Skirra Corvus
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength
Invulnerability except from fire
Fear inducement
Plant manipulation
Portal creation
Weather manipulation

The Straw Man, originally called the Scarecrow, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history[]

The Scarecrow was created by writer Scott Edelman and artist and first appeared in Dead of Night #11 (August 1975).[1][2] Gil Kane and Bernie Wrightson provided the cover art.[3] Artist Bill Draut was to have drawn the first appearance of the Scarecrow, but did not complete the assignment.[4] The Scarecrow was originally scheduled to appear as a feature in Monsters Unleashed and Giant-Size Werewolf, but both of those series were cancelled before the Scarecrow feature could appear. It was then rescheduled for Dead of Night[5] and after that series was cancelled as well, the character was to have a self-titled Scarecrow series, but it was not published.[6] Edelman and artist produced a follow-up story which appeared in Marvel Spotlight #26 (February 1976),[7] and the story was eventually concluded by Bill Mantlo and Ron Wilson in Marvel Two-in-One #18 (August 1976).[8]

Many years later, he was brought back in the pages of Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #31 (July 1991)[9] in which he took on the name "the Straw Man" to differentiate himself from the costumed killer named the Scarecrow. He subsequently appeared in issues #38[10] and 40, meeting Daredevil in the latter issue.[11]

The Scarecrow did not speak in his early appearances, but in his later appearances he did and he pretended to be a newscaster named "Skirra Corvus", Latin for "Scarecrow".

Fictional character biography[]

The Scarecrow is an extra–dimensional magical entity, possibly a demon, which takes vengeance on its enemies. He lives inside a palimpsest painting of a laughing scarecrow purchased by Jess Duncan and opposes the centuries-old Cult of Kalumai.[1] The Scarecrow battled demons at a police station to recover the Horn of Kalumai, which would have allowed Kalumai to travel to Earth.[7] Kalumai later spread his influence through the painting into a man who was mutated into a fiery creature and then fought the Thing and the Scarecrow.[8] The Straw Man was invited by the Dweller-in-Darkness to join the Fear Lords, but he betrayed them to Doctor Strange.[11]

During the Fear Itself storyline, the Straw Man fought against Nightmare's attempt to use the fear brought by the Serpent to become the King of Fear.[12]

Powers and abilities[]

The Straw Man possesses superhuman strength, plant and weather manipulation, the ability to command crows, the ability to create portals and the ability to induce fear in others. He is invulnerable to everything, except for fire.[13]

Reception[]

The Straw Man was ranked #30 on a listing of Marvel Comics' monster characters.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Edelman, Scott (w),  (p), Rival, Rico (i). "Enter: The Scarecrow" Dead of Night #11 (August 1975)
  2. ^ Overstreet, Robert M. (2019). Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (49th ed.). Timonium, Maryland: Gemstone Publishing. p. 620. ISBN 978-1603602334.
  3. ^ "Dead of Night #11". Grand Comics Database.
  4. ^ Edelman, Scott (April 18, 2015). "In which a trip to Hell's Kitchen reveals who was supposed to draw The Scarecrow first". ScottEdelman.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016.
  5. ^ Edelman, Scott (w). "A Bit of Rag and a Clump of Straw (text article)" Dead of Night #11 (August 1975)
  6. ^ Edelman, Scott (w). "letter column" Marvel Spotlight #26 (February 1976)
  7. ^ a b Edelman, Scott (w),  (p), Yandoc, Ruben (i). "Death Waters of the River Styx" Marvel Spotlight #26 (February 1976)
  8. ^ a b Edelman, Scott; Mantlo, Bill (w), Wilson, Ron (p), Mooney, Jim; Adkins, Dan (i). "Dark, Dark Demon-Night!" Marvel Two-in-One #18 (August 1976)
  9. ^ Thomas, Roy; Thomas, Dann; Lofficier, Jean-Marc (w),  (p), DeZuniga, Tony (i). "TBOTV: A Gathering of Fear Part 1" Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #31 (July 1991)
  10. ^ Thomas, Roy; Thomas, Dann; Lofficier, Jean-Marc; Lofficier, Randy (w), Isherwood, Geof (p),  (i). "Fear Itself: The Great Fear Part 1 of 3" Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #38 (February 1992)
  11. ^ a b Lofficier, Jean-Marc; Lofficier, Randy; Thomas, Roy; Thomas, Dann (w), Isherwood, Geof (p), Sanders III, Jim (i). "From Hope and Fear Set Free...: The Great Fear Part 3 of 3" Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #40 (April 1992)
  12. ^  (w), Elson, Richard (p), Elson, Richard (i). "The Terrorism Myth Conclusion" Journey into Mystery v4, #636 (June 2012)
  13. ^ Christiansen, Jeff (May 22, 2012). "Straw Man". Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015.
  14. ^ Buxton, Marc (October 30, 2015). "Marvel's 31 Best Monsters". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018. This Scarecrow only had three Bronze Age appearance but he was bursting at the seams with potential (and with hellspun demonic straw).

External links[]

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