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==Powers and abilities== {{More citations needed section|date=October 2008}} In ''[[Thunderbolts (comics)|The Thunderbolts]]'', [[Hank Pym]] has expressed the view that the Man-Thing is sentient, though difficult to communicate with.<ref name="auto"/> For example, he once rescued an infant and left the child with a doctor (which would require an understanding of the function of a doctor and the ability to navigate to a specific address).<ref>As demonstrated in such issues as ''Fear'' #10, ''Man-Thing'' vol. 2 #9, and ''[[Heroes Reborn (1996 comic)|Heroes Reborn]]: The Return'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> He is shown to understand concepts such as how to ring a doorbell,<ref name="Fear #10">''Fear'' #10. Marvel Comics.</ref> how to put an arm in a sling,<ref>''Fear'' #12. Marvel Comics.</ref> and even how to flip an auto-destruct switch.<ref name="Astonishing Tales #13">''Astonishing Tales'' #13. Marvel Comics.</ref> The change in the Man-Thing's intellect can partly be explained by fact that its brain, sensory organs, and central nervous system are organized in a completely different fashion than a human.<ref name="Fear #17">''Fear'' #17. Marvel Comics.</ref> Regardless of what level of humanity the creature still possesses, it can discern when a person's motivations are evil, which causes it pain and motivates it to lash out.<ref>''Fear'' #12; ''Man-Thing'' #1, etc. Marvel Comics.</ref> It can sense human emotions, and is enraged by fear and automatically secretes a powerful corrosive; anyone feeling fear and clutched by the Man-Thing is prone to be burned (either chemically or mystically), hence the series' tagline: "Whatever knows fear burns at the Man-Thing's touch!". Though fear is understandably most people's response to the creature, both for his monstrous appearance and the physical danger of his touch, typically only villains end up meeting an immolating death at its hands. Many survive being burned, notably Ellen Brandt,<ref>''Savage Tales'' #1, ''Monsters Unleashed'' #5, ''Man-Thing'' vol. 3 #1-8. Marvel Comics.</ref> [[Nightcrawler (character)|Nightcrawler]],<ref>''Nightcrawler'' (vol. 3) #10 - 12 (November 2005 - January 2006)</ref> and Mongu,<ref name="Fear #14">''Fear'' #14. Marvel Comics.</ref> either due to intervention or dissipation. Unusual psychic and mystical forces react in what passes as the "brain" cells located throughout his body. These unique forces render the Man-Thing extremely sensitive to emotions. Emotions that are mild and generally considered positive arouse curiosity and the Man-Thing will sometimes observe from a distance. However, emotions that are often viewed as negative, such as violent emotions like anger, hatred, and fear, cause the Man-Thing great discomfort and might provoke him to attack. Once provoked into violent actions, his body secretes highly concentrated acid that can burn human beings to ashes within a matter of seconds. Even individuals that have high levels of superhuman durability have proven unable to withstand the acid. While the Man-Thing is devoid of violent emotions, his body produces mucus that neutralizes the acid.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} Although the Man-Thing's superhuman strength, speed, intelligence, durability, and immortality, give the monster his powers it is his spiritual ability that makes him immune to any other disease, it has been established that the creature possesses physical stamina beyond the limitations of any human athlete. Initially, the Man-Thing is only slightly stronger than Captain America,{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2009}} but in later appearances, the Man-Thing possesses sufficient superhuman strength to stand toe-to-toe with much stronger villains.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=April 2009}} He can lift a {{cvt|2,000|lb|sigfig=2}} automobile when sufficiently motivated.<ref name="Man-Thing #1">''Man-Thing'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Man-Thing's body is practically invulnerable to harm. Because his body is not entirely solid, but composed of the muck and vegetative matter of the swamp, fists, bullets, knives, energy blasts, etc. will either pass entirely through him or will harmlessly be lodged within his body. Even if a vast portion of the Man-Thing's body were to be ripped away or incinerated, he would be able to reorganize himself by drawing the necessary material from the surrounding vegetation. The [[Devil-Slayer]] once sliced him nearly in half,<ref>''Man-Thing'' vol. 3 #4. Marvel Comics.</ref> and he has survived being incinerated by a [[Celestial (comics)|Celestial]],<ref>''Heroes Reborn: The Return'' #1 / ''Marvel Team-Up'' vol. 2 #4. Marvel Comics.</ref> although his healing from the latter has been the longest and most complex in his lifetime.<ref name=mtu4>''Marvel Team-Up'' vol. 2 #4. Marvel Comics.</ref> Due to the construction of his body, the Man-Thing can ooze his body through openings or around barriers that would seem too small for him to pass through. The smaller the opening, the longer it will take for him to reorganize his mass upon reaching the other side. This ability can be defeated mystically.<ref>First demonstrated in ''Astonishing Tales'' #13. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref name="Fear #14"/> The Man-Thing was once dependent upon the swamp he inhabits for his continued survival; his body would slowly weaken and eventually lapse into dormancy if not returned to the swamp or would be greatly damaged if exposed to clean water. His exposure to the Citrusville waste treatment plant greatly enhanced his ability to leave the swamp, as he became a self-contained ecosystem, feeding off of his own waste products.<ref>''Man-Thing'' #17 (May 1975). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Man-Thing'' #19. Marvel Comics.</ref> He generally leaves the swamp of his own accord only if he senses a mystical disturbance. The Man-Thing has also demonstrated himself susceptible to possession by other entities.<ref>''The Defenders'' #98; ''Man-Thing'' vol. 3 #4; ''Strange Tales'' vol. 4 #1-2; ''Peter Parker: Spider-Man'' Annual '99. Marvel Comics.</ref> The Man-Thing and a host of alternate counterparts have undergone a couple of changes in form,<ref>''Weapon H'' #4 (June 2018). Marvel Comics.</ref> like having the ability to control and alternate plant matter both from its own person and the surrounding area.<ref>''Champions'' vol. 2 #22-23 (2018). Marvel Comics.</ref> The Man-Thing also has trans-reality shifting abilities due in part to his nature as a living extra-dimensional crossroads; he can open portals to and from alternate realities,<ref>''Champions'' vol. 2 #27 (Feb. 2019). Marvel Comics.</ref> interact with different dimensional counterparts and even alternate the physical appearances of said doppelgangers with those of their prime universe iterations.<ref>''All-New Guardians of the Galaxy'' #12 (Dec. 2017). Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>''Fear Itself: Fearsome Four'' #1 (2011). Marvel Comics.</ref> Through his empathic abilities, the Man-Thing can grow more powerful by feeding on the fear of others, increasing his size and mass to titanic proportions during ''Fear Itself''.<ref>''Fear Itself: Fearsome Four'' #1-4 (2011). Marvel Comics.</ref> Although the Man-Thing lacks a normal human intellect, in his life as Ted Sallis, he possessed a Ph.D. in biochemistry.<ref>''[[The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition]]'' #5 (Jan. 1991)</ref> Sallis is legally dead, but his identity is known to numerous people, including Wilma Calvin, Ellen Brandt, Stephen Strange, [[Molecule Man]], the [[Thing (comics)|Thing]], [[Thog (comics)|Thog]], and Jennifer Kale. His identity as the Man-Thing could not be considered secret, but his existence is generally believed to be a hoax, and an obscure one at that.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name=mtu4 /> [[In-universe]], knowledge of his existence is rarely tied to the experiments of Sallis, as are speculations as to any human identity he may have had. Despite having appeared in Citrusville many times, many there still believe him to be a rumor.<ref>''Shadows & Light'' #2; ''Man-Thing'' vol. 3 #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>
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