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The Swamp Thing is a fictional character created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson for DC Comics, and featured in a long-running horror-fantasy comic book series of the same name. He is a humanoid mass of vegetable matter who fights to protect his swamp home, the environment in general, and humanity, from various supernatural threats. The series was continued by a number of writers, notably Alan Moore, whose reinvention of the character was particularly influential.

Origin of the Swamp Thing character

Swamp Thing first appeared in House of Secrets #92 (June-July 1971), depicted in this story as Alex Olsen. Near the beginning of the 20th Century, scientist Alex Olsen is caught in a lab explosion set by his co-worker, Damian Ridge, intended to kill him so that Ridge may gain the hand of Olsen's wife Linda. Olsen is changed by the chemicals and the forces within the swamp into a powerful, monstrous Swamp Thing who kills Ridge before the latter can murder Linda. Unable to make Linda realize his true identity, the Swamp Thing sadly shambles back to his boggy home.

After the success of the short story in the House of Secrets comic, the original creators were asked to write an ongoing series, but updating the character to be in the present and to appear more heroic. Swamp Thing #1 (1st series, October-November 1972, by Wein and Wrightson) was then begun, fast-forwarding to the 70s, and relating a completely different origin for the frightfully foliaged character. 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 Mr. E, 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". Much of his later adventures would involve the Swamp Thing attempting to find a way to become human again.

The major difference between the first and second Swamp Thing is that the latter not only appears more muscular than shambling, but possesses the ability of speech. The speech impediment of Alex Olsen is a major reason why his wife was unable to recognize him. During Alan Moore's run in Saga of the Swamp Thing #33, a connection was made between the two versions of the Swamp Thing when the narrator of the House of Secrets comic relates Alex Olson's tale and then states "Alec Holland was not the first thing to walk the swamps! There were others before him . . . In the history of the world there have come sour times when the earth feels compelled to create an elemental champion for itself . . . Your world has again shaped a protector."

Swamp Thing in the comics

The Swamp Thing has appeared in four comic book series to date, including several Specials, and has crossed over into other DC titles.

1st Series

Len Wein

The first volume of Swamp Thing lasted from 1972 to 1976 for 24 issues. Swamp Thing fought against the evils surrounding him, and sought a means to return himself to his human form, occasionally encountering the mad Dr. Anton Arcane, his nightmarish Un-Men, the Patchwork Man (a Frankenstein-type assemblage of body parts, revealed to be Arcane's own brother Gregori Arcane), even leaving his swamp long enough to battle Batman in issue #7 in what would be one of the few encounters with a traditional DC superhero for the supernatural star of the comic. Of note is Dr. Anton Arcane, who acted as his nemesis and has been killed several times, appearing in different forms throughout the series (including an old man, a muscular zombie-like creature, a robot-spider-human hybrid, his own nephew-in-law, and a devout Catholic). Supporting characters include Matthew Cable, who pursued Swamp Thing in the early issues believing him to be the murderer of Linda Holland (Alec's wife, who was in fact killed by Mr. E's henchmen), and Abigail "Abby" Arcane, Dr Arcane's niece who possesses long white hair with a black streak.

David Michelinie / Gerry Conway

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 into the picture. Holland's brother was never brought up again in the series thereafter.

The appearance of Holland's brother toward the end of the series marked a series of plot developments which subsequent writers had difficulty explaining. Issue 23 featured an ageing supervillain called Sabre, hellbent on killing Swamp Thing. In the final panel Alec Holland was shown inexplicably returning into human form, with his brother crying, "Alec Holland lives again!". Although Swamp Thing was on the cover of the 24th and final issue, Holland appeared as human throughout the interior story. The cover illustration showed a yellow muscular creature (Thrudvang) beating up Swamp Thing; the interior showed Holland imagining Swamp Thing beating up Thrudvang, in similar positions but with roles reversed. Holland, and his new love interest/brother's research assistant, spent most of the issue running away from Thrudvang.

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