Swamp Thing

Current Events

DC Comics announced that they would be relaunching their entire line of comics during the month of September 2011. This would be done through the release of 52 brand new #1 titles. Swamp Thing was chosen to be one of the new titles. The first issue came out September 7, 2011 and is written by Scott Snyder with art by Yanick Paquette.

Origin

In the 1970's, Scientist Alec Holland (working on a secret restorative formula in the Louisiana swamps that can "make forests out of deserts") is killed by a bomb planted by agents of the mysterious Nathan Ellery, who wants the formula. Splashed with burning chemicals in the massive fire, Holland runs from the lab and falls into the waters of a muck-filled swamp. Some time later, a creature resembling a humanoid plant appears. This creature, called Swamp Thing, was originally conceived as Alec Holland mutated into a vegetable-like being, a "muck-encrusted mockery of a man".

Creation

Swamp Thing - Creation

The Swamp Thing character was created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson in the House of Secrets horror anthology for DC Comics back in the 70's. Therefore, "Swamp Thing" first appeared in House of Secrets #92 (July 1971) but that character is not the same as the one who became an established character in comics. The original Swamp Thing was Alex Olsen, but when Swamp Thing was deemed a hit the character was updated by his creators and became Alec Holland who first appeared in Swamp Thing #1 (November 1972).

Starring in his first ongoing series, which lasted for four years and twenty-four issues, a lot of Swamp Thing's cast of characters were introduced including mainstays like Abigail Arcane, Anton Arcane and Matthew Cable. However, it was until the second series (originally entitled "The Saga of the Swamp Thing") that Swamp Thing found the writer that would shape him in a run that is still one of the most acclaimed in comic history. With Swamp Thing #20, Alan Moore came onto the series and broke Swamp Thing down entirely and began to build him back from the ground up and make him a much more formidable being...transforming him from an almost-mute wandering lost soul to a plant elemental with the power to regenerate and travel the cosmos.

Alan Moore stayed on the book until #64, and was followed by several other writers such as Rick Veitch, Doug Wheeler, Nancy A. Collins (during whose run the title became part of the Vertigo imprint with #129) and Mark Millar but none gained the success of Moore and the title ended at #171 in 1996. It wasn't until 2004 that Alec Holland returned as the star of his own series (the third Swamp Thing volume, written by Brian K. Vaughan, featured his daughter instead) which was kicked off by a six-issue arc from Andy Diggle until Joshua Dysart would become the main writer up until the book's cancellation at #29. Alec has not had his own ongoing since, although it was rumored in 2010 that China Mieville had proposed a fifth Swamp Thing volume but was denied because DC was no longer printing new comics featuring their properties through Vertigo. Alec returned to the DCU in Brightest Day #23.

Character Evolution

DC Comics/Vertigo

Swamp Thing (DC/Vertigo)

Holland is eventually hunted down by the villainous Sunderland Corporation, who seek to find the secrets to his research, and kill him in a hail of bullets. During the autopsy it is discovered that Swamp Thing's body was only superficially human; its organs little more than crude, nonfunctional, vegetable-based imitations of their human counterparts, meaning that there was no way Swamp Thing could have been human. This meant the Swamp Thing was not Alec Holland, but only thought that it was: Holland had indeed died in the fire, and the swamp vegetation had absorbed his mind, knowledge, memories, and skills and created a new sentient being that believed itself to be Alec Holland. Alec Holland would never be cured because there was nothing to cure.

It is later revealed that there have been dozens, perhaps even hundreds of Swamp Things throughout the time of man and that all versions of Swamp Thing were created for the purpose of being the "defenders" of the Parliament of Trees, an elemental community also known as " The Green" that represents all plant life on Earth which includes the original Swamp Thing, Alex Olsen.

Post-Flashpoint

Swamp Thing (Post-Flashpoint)

Six weeks after the events of Brightest Day, Alec Holland has been living as a normal construction worker. He's abandoned his plant growing formula, and his superhero duties. Superman came to visit and inform Alec of the strange animal death occurrences around the world, and ask him if he knows anything about it. He tells Superman no, and informs him that he has awakened with strange, new memories of being the Swamp Thing, he also tells of how he doesn't want to return to being the creature anytime soon.

Major Story Arcs

DC Comics/Vertigo:

Swamp Thing Has A Daughter

Father & Daughter

The Swamp Thing has a romantic relationship with Abigail Arcane, the niece of his nemesis Anton Arcane. He took possession of his friend John Constantine's body to have a child with Abigail, their child Tefe'.

Brightest Day

Holland Returns

DC Comics announced in 2010 that Swamp Thing would be returning to the regular DC universe rather than continue under the Vertigo imprint which was solidified when the character appeared in Brightest Day. Alec Holland was revealed to be the Champion of the Life that was meant to stop the Dark Avatar. The husk of The Swamp Thing, (which looks very Alan Mooreish) no longer has a guide and believes itself to Nekron, the Lord of the Unliving.

Martian Manhunter becomes an earth elemental, Firestorm becomes a fire elemental, Aquaman becomes a water elemental, and The Hawks are air elementals to give guidance to the dark avatar. The White Lantern tree is to become the foundation for the new Parlaiment of Trees. Eventually the four elements restored Alec Holland as the true Swamp Thing and in doing so cleansed the Green from Nekron's influence. Leaving Swamp Thing to carry on his new mission to protect the planet.

Post-Flashpoint:

Alec Learns History of The Green

Swamp Thing vs. Alec

Following a violent dream, Alec is confronted Calbraith A.H. Rodgers, the Swamp Thing active in 1942. Rodgers explains that he gave up his spot in the Parliament of Trees to convince Alec Holland to again become one with the Swamp Thing. Rodgers explains that Alec's connection to the Green is unique and extraordinarily powerful. Before dying, Rodgers explains that Alec's connection to the Green will be needed to defeat a rising threat, known as Sethe. Sethe, the polar opposite of the Swamp Thing, is the avatar of the Rot. Rodgers also warns Alec to beware of the white-haired woman of his Swamp Thing memories. Shortly thereafter, fleeing the forces of the Rot, Alec is confronted by that very woman, Abigail Arcane, who promptly levels the barrel of a gun in his face.

Powers & Abilities

Elemental Control: The Swamp Thing has complete mastery over all forms of plant life and can command vegetative matter to do his bidding. Through this power, he is in constant communication with the very essence of the Earth, and serves as the Plant Elemental for the entire planet.

In the past Alec Holland has gained access to other elemental powers. At one point gaining control over earth, water, air, and fire in addition to that of plantlife. However, often almost immediately gaining control over all of them, giving up all but his connection to the Green.

Superhuman Strength: The Swamp Thing's strength level is directly tied to his connection to the Earth. Occupying his most commonly used body, the Swamp Thing is capable of lifting volumes of mass many times greater than his own body weight. With additional power supplied to him by The Green, his ultimate strength level is nearly incalculable.

Immortality: Theoretically so long as there is some vestige of plant life on the planet Earth, Alec Holland will always have a vehicle through which to house his consciousness, thus rendering him effectively immortal.

Resurrection: The Swamp Thing houses his conscious mind inside of a faux body made up of compacted flora and vegetative material. At will, he can abandon this host form and take up residence inside of another shell. Even if the body he is currently occupying is destroyed, Alec's mind lives on and will reconstitute itself in a newly grown swamp-form. The Swamp Thing operated for several years before he even became aware of this ability. Eventually, it was the occultist John Constantine who revealed Alec's Elemental nature to him, and instructed in the ways of reconstituting a new body.

Chlorokinesis: The ability to commune with plantlife and to varying degrees control its growth and form. Summon forth vines to entangle or snare, and so on. A master of this ability can manipulate the microscopic algae inside of a person's body and use it to attack them from the inside out.

Self-Sustenance:The ability to nourish oneself, typically via an external energy source. In Swamp Thing's case, likely through a form of photosynthesis.

Flight: Post-Flashpoint, after Alec decides to become Swamp Thing again, he gains the ability to grow fully functioning wings made of leaves.

Other Versions

Other Media

Over the years, Swamp-Thing has been utilized in the media many times. Although none of these were landmark successes, they do have a fan following; however, none of these media appearances used the stories setup by Alan Moore. Instead, they opted for the traditional origin.

Film

The Return of Swamp Thing

There were two live-action films based on Swamp-Thing. The first of which was directed by horror legend Wes Craven and followed the original origin fairly exact. The movie did moderately and earned a sequel that failed. Dick Durock portrayed Swamp-Thing in both films.

Swamp Thing (1982)

The Return of the Swamp Thing (1989)

Television

A short-lived live-action series was later created to extend the mythos setup by the films. Dick Durock renewed his role of Swamp-Thing.

Swamp Thing (1991-1993)

Swamp Thing cartoon

There was also a Swamp-Thing cartoon series that only lasted five episodes. It was based on the Kenner toyline and sort of followed the continuity setup by the films. The series followed Swamp-Thing and his allies facing off against Dr. Arcane and his Un-Men. It starred Len Carlson as the voice of Swamp-Thing.

Justice League

Justice League

Although Swamp-Thing never directly appeared in any DC Animated Universe cartoon, an alien bearing a striking resemblance to him had a blink-and-you-missed-it appearance in the background of the Justice League episode " Comfort and Joy".