Swamp Thing (comic book)

Len Wein

The first Swamp Thing series ran for 24 issues, from 1972 to 1976.[1] Len Wein was the writer for the first 13 issues before David Michelinie and Gerry Conway finished up the series. Horror artist Berni Wrightson drew the first 10 issues of the series, while Nestor Redondo drew a further 13 issues, the last issue being drawn by Fred Carrillo. The Swamp Thing fought against evil as he sought the men who murdered his wife and caused his monstrous transformation, as well as searching for a means to transform himself back to his human form.

The Swamp Thing has since fought many villains, most notably the mad scientist Anton Arcane and his army of Un-Men. Also involved in the conflict was Matthew Cable, a federal agent who originally mistakenly believed Swamp Thing to be responsible for the deaths of Alec and Linda Holland.

Wein ended his run as writer by having the Swamp Thing reveal his identity to Matt Cable and ultimately avenging the death of his wife by killing Nathan Ellery. The full Wein 13-issue run was released in hardcover by DC in June 2009 as Roots of the Swamp Thing, volume 4 of the 9-volume book series the DC Comics Classics Library.

David Michelinie/Gerry Conway/David Anthony Kraft

As sales figures plummeted towards the end of the series, the writers attempted to revive interest by introducing fantasy creatures, sci-fi aliens, and even Alec Holland's brother, Edward (a plot point that was never referred to or even mentioned again by later writers), into the picture.

The appearance of Holland's brother toward the end of the series marked a series of plot developments, designed to provide the series with a happy ending, which generated much controversy. In Swamp Thing #23, Alec finally regains his humanity and while the creature was on the cover of the 24th and final issue of the series (albeit transforming into human), Holland appeared as human throughout the interior story. The cover illustration showed a yellow muscular creature, Thrudvang, beating up the Swamp Thing; the interior showed Holland imagining the Swamp Thing beating up Thrudvang, in similar positions but with roles reversed—the issue itself depicting Holland and his new love interest (and his brother's research assistant) running away from Thrudvang.

A battle between the Swamp Thing and Hawkman was promised for the next issue, but no such battle occurred until Swamp Thing (vol. 2) #58. The existing scripts and artwork from this unpublished issue were eventually reprinted in the trade paperback Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Volume 2.[2] In 2026, it was announced that the unreleased 25th issue of the series would be completed for the first time for the Dark Genesis Omnibus with Josef Rubinstein inking the surviving pencils, alongside pencilling and inking a page from the original script, with José Villarubia on colors.[3]

Martin Pasko/Dan Mishkin

In an issue dated May 1982, DC Comics revived the Swamp Thing series to try to capitalize on the summer 1982 release of the Wes Craven film of the same name. The title, called The Saga of the Swamp Thing, featured in its first Annual the comic book adaptation of the Craven movie. Now written by Martin Pasko, the book loosely picked up after the Swamp Thing's appearances in Challengers of the Unknown #81-87, DC Comics Presents #8, and The Brave and the Bold #176, with the character wandering around the swamps of Louisiana as something of an urban legend that was feared by locals.

Martin Pasko's main arc depicted the Swamp Thing roaming the globe, trying to stop a young girl (and possible Nazi-affiliated Anti-Christ) named Karen Clancy from destroying the world. The series also featured back-up stories involving the Phantom Stranger by Mike W. Barr, which led to a collaboration between the Swamp Thing and the Stranger in a guest run by Dan Mishkin that featured a scientist who transformed himself into a silicon creature. The primary artist for the bulk of Pasko's run was Tom Yeates; towards the end of the run he was replaced with Stephen R. Bissette and

Brian K. Vaughan

Written by Brian K. Vaughan and drawn by Roger Petersen (issues #1 – #11) and Giuseppe Camuncoli (issues #12 – #20) in 2001, the third series focused on the daughter of the Swamp Thing, Tefé Holland. Even though she was chronologically 11–12, the series had Tefe aged into the body of an 18-year-old with a mindwipe to try to control her darker impulses, brought about by her exposure to the Parliament of Trees. Due to the circumstances under which she was conceived (the Swamp Thing, possessing John Constantine, was not aware he was given a blood transfusion by a demon), she held power over both plants and flesh.

Andy Diggle / Will Pfeifer

The fourth series began in 2004, with rotating writers of Andy Diggle (#1–6), Will Pfeifer (#7–8) and Joshua Dysart (#9–29). In this latest series, the Swamp Thing is reverted to his plant-based Earth elemental status after the first storyline, and he attempts to live an "eventless" life in the Louisiana swamps. Tefé, likewise, is rendered powerless and mortal.

Joshua Dysart

Meanwhile, a rogue consciousness, calling itself the Holland Mind, was living in the Green. As of issue #15, botany professor Jordan Schiller, an influential man from Alec Holland's past, has been summoned to the swamp by strange visions and memories, apparently manipulated by this rogue consciousness. The full purpose for this manipulation was revealed in issues #21–24. In sacrificing his power, the Swamp Thing lost much of his Alec Holland personality. Now he is restored to his proper station and power and has resumed his romantic relationship with Abby, as of issue #25. Beginning with issue #21 onward, Eric Powell provided covers for the series.

The Floronic Man returned in #27–29, his mind splintered in the aftermath of Infinite Crisis. Issue #29 was the final issue of the fourth volume, which had been cancelled due to low sales numbers, despite fan-supported efforts to save the series.

Scott Snyder

The Swamp Thing was relaunched as an ongoing series in 2011 as part of The New 52, a company wide relaunch by DC comics. It was written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Yanick Paquette. Taking off from the end of Brightest Day, the series follows a resurrected Alec Holland who wants to put the memories of the Swamp Thing behind him. He is approached first by an earlier incarnation of the Swamp Thing, representing the Parliament of Trees. This Swamp Thing informs Holland that he is a unique individual who would have become a legendary warrior for the Parliament and the Green, the essence of all plant life. When Holland died, the Parliament created a creature which thought it was him as a substitute. Holland rebuffs the creature's entreaties that he assume the mantle of the Swamp Thing. Next, he is approached by Abigail Arcane, the former lover of the Swamp Thing. She enlists him to help save her half-brother William Arcane, before he becomes the champion of the Rot, the force of decay, once known as the Swamp Thing's archenemy, Anton Arcane. While traveling cross-country, Holland and Arcane find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. After confronting William, who has already become a servant of the Rot, Abigail is captured and taken away. At the same time, the Parliament of Trees comes under attack and is about to be destroyed. Realizing his mistake, Holland accepts the mantle of the Swamp Thing as the only way to save Abigail and prevent the Rot from triumphing.

Len Wein

From March to August 2016, a six-issue miniseries was published, written by Swamp Thing co-creator Len Wein and pencilled by Kelley Jones.[7]

Ram V

The new series, retitled as The Swamp Thing, started March 2021 and being written by Ram V and pencilled by Mike Perkins.[8] A new character Levi Kamei takes over the role as the new Avatar of the Green. The series was planned to be a ten-issue miniseries until it was extended to 16 issues.[9]

Comics Buyer's Guide Fan Awards

• Favorite Comic Book Story – Swamp Thing #53 (1986, ranked #6)
• Favorite Comic Book – Swamp Thing (1986, ranked #1)
• Favorite Character – Swamp Thing (1986, ranked #6)

Eisner Awards

• Best Single Issue – Swamp Thing #75, by Rick Veitch (1989, nominated)
• Best Single Issue or Story – Swamp Thing #113, by Nancy A. Collins, Tom Yeates, and Shepherd Hendrix (1992, nominated)
• Best Editor – Stuart Moore, Swamp Thing, The Invisibles, Preacher (1996, tie)
• Best Cover Artist – Phil Hale, Swamp Thing, Swamp Thing: Vertigo Secret Files and Origins #1, Flinch #11 (2001, nominated)

Harvey Awards

Series writers