File:Fear Vol 1 12 001.jpg

Description
Wallace Corlee is the hateful, racist sheriff of Topequa, Florida. He pursues a black man named Mark Jackson into the swamplands outside of town. Corlee shoots Jackson in the shoulder, but the refugee manages to evade capture until he finally collapses from exhaustion. When he revives he finds the Man-Thing standing in front of him. Jackson is more afraid of the sheriff still hunting for him than he is of the muck monster. He tells the Man-Thing that the sheriff framed him for a burglary and is chasing him because Mark was romantically involved with a white woman (one that the sheriff had set his eye on). He continues to speak to the Man-Thing at length despite the fact that the Man-Thing does not have the intellect to comprehend anything that he is saying. Regardless, the creature listens to the man's story intently. Before long, Sheriff Corlee catches up with Jackson and draws his gun. He reveals that Jackson is a liar and is actually wanted for murder. Jackson confesses to the crime, but pleads that he wasn't left with a choice. The Man-Thing cannot determine the validity of the conflicting emotions he senses, so he begins to walk away. Once Corlee gets a clear shot, he shoots Jackson dead. The Man-Thing turns when he hears the sheriff joyously laughing over what he has done. The Man-Thing approaches, prompting terror in the sheriff's eyes. The Man-Thing grabs Corlee by the face and uses his burning touch to kill him.