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Ayla Prentiss was a high wire acrobat at Garvey's carnival. Her father was a famous clown, and she jumped at the chance to teach millionaire Darrel Daniel the art of being a clown. Darrel was a successful clown years, and his feelings for Ayla Prentiss grew. [1]

Many years later Darrel overheard Garvey and Ayla Prentiss talking about his money which destroyed him. He believed Ayla was using him to get a hold of his fortune. He changed the style of his act to reflect his new mood, using skulls and serpents in his show. This of course frightened the audience, so Darrel ran away from the carnival. Darrel was driven to Man-Thing's swamp, where he shot himself in the head. Darrel's spirit emerged from his body, and the Critics, an extra-dimensional tribunal, informed him his soul must be judged according to an artistic retelling of his life's story.

During this time the Man-Thing found Darrel's corpse, and started to dig a grave for it. Ayla Prentiss went looking for him with the help of Richard Rory and Ruth Hart. Darrel's spirit lead them to Man-Thing and his body. Darrel's spirit also lured Garvey and Tragg to the swamp. When his old friends were assembled, Darrel's spirit manifested again ,telling them they would help his soul find peace by reenacting his life story for the Critics.

The three then began their judgement on his soul. His life was neither morally or artistically worth while and none of the critics wished him to enter Heaven, Hell, or the Realm Between. They decide that their only choice was to destroy his soul, sending into into the oblivion of nothingness. Richard Rory tried to defend Daniel after witnessing his life, but the Critics warned him if he interfered his soul would also be destroyed. Man-Thing tried to attack the critics, which was pointless. Ayla Prentiss in a moment of supreme sacrifice offered her soul instead. This great gesture humbled the Critics and they decided to let him enter the Kingdom of Heaven.[2]

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