Comics Spotlight: Swamp Thing
Alec Holland was an idealistic scientist who was synthesizing a top-secret chemical in his hidden lab in the marshlands. But after a bomb in his office explodes, the young scientist is murdered. Or so it seems. Because rising in his place is the Swamp Thing, a creature made of vegetation that’s absorbed Alec Holland’s memories, personality—and grief.
HISTORY OF SWAMP THING
Created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, DC Comics’ Swamp Thing made its first appearance in House of Secrets #92 in 1971. However, it’s but one of several “muck monster” characters that have populated comic books over the years—a list which also includes The Heap, Solomon Grundy, Man-Thing, and more. All of them owe a debt to Theodore Sturgeon’s short story “It!”, published in the August 1940 issue of Unknown.
A muck-encrusted mockery of a man, the monstrous Swamp Thing can control all plant life, from fungus on stale bread to forests of towering oaks. A living embodiment of the power and terror in our environment, the Swamp Thing protects both humanity and the environment—usually from each other.
NOTE: With the character’s on-again, off-again publication history, combined with the publisher’s habit of re-packaging issues in different configurations, there isn’t a linear track to follow for these collections. I’m revising as I continue to navigate the list.
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1
Deep in the bayous of Louisiana, far from civilization's grasp, a shadowed creature seen only in fleeting glimpses roils the black waters—a twisted, vegetative mockery of a man—a Swamp Thing!
Created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, this shambling, muck-encrusted figure swiftly became one of DC’s most iconic characters of the Bronze Age of Comics, and his shocking stories have become classics in the Gothic horror genre. Swamp Thing’s early adventures are collected in paperback with SWAMP THING: THE BRONZE AGE VOL. 1. These are the tales that introduced Alec and Linda Holland, Anton Arcane, Abigail Cable, the Patchwork Man, the Un-Men, plus an appearance by Batman! Collects THE HOUSE OF SECRETS #92 and SWAMP THING #1-13.
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Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 27
Witness as Swamp Thing fights with a being made of his very own flesh, teams up with Batman, shifts uncontrollably between his human and monster forms and even joins the ranks of the Challengers of the Unknown alongside the likes of Deadman and Rip Hunter.
SWAMP THING: THE BRONZE AGE VOL. 2 presents the complete adventures of Swamp Thing from 1975 through 1981 featuring writers like DAVID MICHELINIE and GERRY CONWAY and artists like NESTOR REDONDO and KEITH GIFFEN. Collecting Swamp Thing #14-24, Challengers of the Unknown #81-87, DC Comics Presents #8 and The Brave and the Bold #122 and #176. Including many NEVER-BEFORE-COLLECTED ISSUES and the surviving scripts, pencils and inks from the NEVER-BEFORE-PUBLISHED Swamp Thing #25!
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The Alan Moore Years
Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book One
Before WATCHMEN, Alan Moore made his debut in the U.S. comic book industry with the revitalization of the horror comic book THE SWAMP THING. His deconstruction of the classic monster stretched the creative boundaries of the medium and became one of the most spectacular series in comic book history. With modern-day issues explored against a backdrop of horror, SWAMP THING’s stories became commentaries on environmental, political and social issues, unflinching in their relevance. SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING Book One collects issues #20-27 of this seminal series including the never-before-reprinted SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #20, where Moore takes over as writer and concludes the previous storyline. Book One continues with the story “The Anatomy Lesson,” a haunting origin story that reshapes SWAMP THING mythology with terrifying revelations that begin a journey of discovery and adventure that will take him across the stars and beyond.
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Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book Two
Alan Moore took the Swamp Thing to new heights in the 1980s with his unique narrative approach. His provocative and groundbreaking writing, combined with masterly artwork by some of the medium's top artists, made Swamp Thing one of the great comics of the late twentieth century. Collecting SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #28-34 and SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2, the Earth Elemental says goodbye to the illusion of his own humanity after learning that he is 100-percent plant, meets a crew of benevolent alien invaders, and consummates his relationship with Abigail Arcane as only he could.
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Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book Three
Collecting issues #35-42 of Alan Moore's award-winning run on THE SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING, this third volume is brimming with visceral horrors including underwater vampires, a werewolf with an unusual curse, the hideous madman called Nukeface. Best of all, this volume features the comics debut of John Constantine, Hellblazer, who launches Swamp Thing on a voyage of self-discovery that will take him from the darkest corners of America to the roots of his own long-hidden heritage.
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Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book Four
In these stories from SWAMP THING #43-50, Swamp Thing’s quest for self-discovery comes to its shattering conclusion. A harbinger of doom has been released with the sole charge of waking an evil beyond comprehension, and Swamp Thing, John Constantine, Deadman, The Phantom Stranger, Etrigan the Demon, The Spectre and other masters of the occult must unite against the dark forces that threaten to eradicate Heaven’s light.
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Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book Five
Collecting issues #51-56, this volume begins as Swamp Thing returns from his journey to hell, only to learn that his girlfriend Abby is being persecuted for their “unnatural relations.” When she skips town for Gotham City, he follows and runs afoul of the Gotham City Police Department, Lex Luthor—and Batman.
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Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book Six
This collection of issues #57-64 of SWAMP THING begins across the galaxy, where the Swamp Thing's consciousness has been hurled. Trying to find his way back to Earth, Swamp Thing stops over on Thanagar, home of Hawkman; Rann, home of Adam Strange; and encounters the Green Lantern of a world of sentient plants.
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