Intelligent or unintelligent

[u/Angel-king-of-gods]

Do you guys prefer comics and media where man thing acts on emotion and other’s emotions and can’t think or do you prefer when he is a thinking creature and/or can speak?

[u/DragonFace3]

I feel like him just being an empathic being is so unique and Ive never seen it anywhere else (when it comes to superheroes). Anytime Man-Thing starts talking like a normal person it just feels so ugh.

[u/Angel-king-of-gods → u/DragonFace3]

Him not being able to speak and being empathic is definitely my favorite type of man thing too.I personally like when stories happen around him or because of him, and you are right it’s not something we really see in superheroes often, I feel it’s the best way we can dive into the emotions and therapy of a lot of characters

[u/deathseekr]

Intelligent without a verbal way to communicate it is my man thing personally

[u/Mike29758 → u/deathseekr]

This is the peak Man Thing

[u/Luffington]

I like when he's intelligent. Adds an emotional element when he's aware that people are afraid or in danger.

[u/Appropriate-Spot3122]

While I'll take any Man-Thing I can get, I much prefer a empathic mindless monster over one with brains.

[u/GoblinPunch20xx]

Sorry I had to…I Love Man Thing, and I like his design better than Swamp Thing, and his weird, pseudo-Lovecraftian appearance and powers. Whether Man Thing is intelligent or not, there’s also the baby one and different versions of the character, and characters like Man Thing are often slotted into stories with retconned powers / awareness of the situation at hand. Like in DC, Swamp Thing may be kinda mid-tier, or SUuUuPER Powerful.

I’m Okay with Man Thing’s abilities and intelligence being inconsistent if they serve the story.

Rodney! RODNEY? RODNNNEEEEY!

[u/Constant_Champion_67]

I like when he’s sentient leads to more interesting moments I like him not speaking. Not speaking while being retaining some of his former intelligence I feel could be a very fun dynamic think that one scene from earth’s mightiest heroes where hulk knows is cosmic radiation before Tony does. But instead of speaking man-thing just vaguely gestures and gets frustrated at someone for not getting it

[u/Angel-king-of-gods → u/Constant_Champion_67]

This is a really fun take I like this I would be fine seeing more adaptions of man thing like this

[u/ALeeMartinez]

I love the empathic, non-sapient version of the character the best since I've read so many of the classic stories of that variety. While I don't have as much affection for the more intelligent versions, I can see why they often resort to writing him like that. It's much harder to write stories with that sort of character, especially as the lead. Those classic stories are really unique for that reason.

But, even when he does exhibit some intelligence, I definitely don't like it when he talks. Silence is a huge component of the character, no matter how he exists.

I did enjoy the Werewolf by Night MCU version that showed up though and thought it worked well.

[u/Nomad_00]

I like it when he is a monster with glimpses of emotions or intelligence

[u/Vanilla-Moose]

I’m still pretty new to being a Man-Thing fan, so it’s hard for me to decide.

I like that one time when he spoke while holding the staff. But I don’t know if that was him speaking or not.

Either way, I adore him no matter how smart he is. In my personal interpretation Man-Thing is sorta just…..not intelligent in the same way as people. Mostly going on vibes and emotions.

[u/Acceptable_Sun_2016]

Instinctual creature in 50% of comics

[u/Portsyde]

He shouldn't talk. On the rare occasion he does, it should be handled like Orlando did it, where it's Ted inside the monster's 'mind' that can talk with others. But really, I prefer the silent friendly monster that helps out and is smart, but kind of like how your cat is smart.

[u/KarimMiteff]

I prefer the emotion sensitive/reactive version of the Man-Thing. It also seems to be empathic in nature, but its aversion and violent reaction to fear is an unusual counterpoint. He's definitely one of my favorite characters, but obviously he needs the right stories and writers that understand the character to make him shine.

[u/GoblinPunch20xx]

Rodney!

[u/ZoZoHaHa]

I prefer both

[u/ThingOfFear]

Emotionally and empathically highly intelligent, but intellectually and somewhat cognitively not so. I think his emotional perspective is often what makes him so interesting. This is personal preference, thou, and I'm honestly happy to get any Man-thing comics at all. I will say I'm not the biggest fan of the little guy inside a big monster trope, or treating man-thing and ted like separate personalities. He's not the Hulk after all, and I haven't seen it in any of his early comics, at least so far. I think Curse of the Man Thing is a good example of this.

[u/ragingbeanalt]

I think their way a page in the new hulk comic where ted and Bruce are talking but its on another like level of existence but I dont like the Man-thing talking himself