Every week, I will spotlight strange but ultimately endearing comic stories (basically, we're talking lots and lots of Silver Age comic books). Here is the archive of all the installments of this feature. Feel free to e-mail me at bcronin@comicbookresources.com if you have a suggestion for a future installment!

Today, in honor of Fred Van Lente Day, we'll spotlight the final issue of the hilariously offbeat Marvel Zombies 5, where Machine Man and Howard the Duck traveled the multiverse and end their mission on OUR Earth!

The first four issues of Marvel Zombies 5 were a blast in and of themselves, as Machine Man and Howard the Duck traveled the Marvel multiverse going to familiar worlds based in different time eras, like Marvel Western and Killraven's battle against the Martians in the future.

In the final issue, though, they come to OUR world where a familiar type of comic book fan has contracted zombie-ism.

Here is the fellow's intro...

And here is where he catches the zombie virus...

And when he becomes a zombie...

In a touching bit in the issue, the young man decides that he WILL emulate the superheroes he has read for so long and he will sacrifice himself...

However, before he does it, he hears a scream and decides that it is better for him to use his newfound powers for GOOD!

The problem is, he is on OUR world, where OUR logic follows, so like anyone other dead person, he develops rigor mortis...

Wow, that is one messed up comic book, Van Lente! But a hilarious one!