Swamp Thing
House of Secrets No. 92
June-July 1971
Cover: Original Swamp Thing and Linda Olsen Ridge //Berni Wrightson
Story: “Swamp Thing” (8 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Feature Character: The original Swamp Thing (Alex Olsen; first appearance;
origin; next appears in SWAMP THING (2nd series) #47)
Intro: Linda Olsen Ridge (only appearance)
Villain: Damian Ridge (first appearance; dies in this story)
Comment: As explained in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #33, the Swamp Thing
depicted in this story is not the Swamp Thing character introduced in SWAMP
THING (1st series) #1, but an earlier incarnation of an “elemental champion”
which has periodically recurred in the swamp.
Synopsis: 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.
Swamp Thing No. 1
October-November 1972
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “Dark Genesis” (24 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: The Swamp Thing (first appearance; origin)
Supporting Characters: Alec Holland (first appearance; flashback in
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #28 (pgs. 10-12) probably takes place between pages
10 / 11 of this story; dies in this story; next appears, as a ghost, in
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #28), Linda Holland (first appearance; flashback
appearance in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #28 same as Alec’s; dies in this
story; next appears, as a ghost, in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2), Matt Cable
(Matthew Joseph Cable; middle name revealed in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING
#17; first appearance)
Villains: Nathan Ellery (first appearance; called “Mr. E.” in this
story; not to be confused with the mystery hero; face and name revealed
in issue #7), Maxwell Ferrett (first appearance; dies in this story; first
name revealed in issue #6), Bruno (first appearance; dies in this story),
two other hoods (first and only appearance), Anton Arcane (first appearance;
last chronological appearance in flashback in issue #3; as a hand only;
name and face revealed in next issue; first name revealed in WHO’S WHO
#3), the Un-Men (first appearance; name revealed in next issue)
Comment: The Swamp Thing introduced in this story is not to be confused
with the Swamp Thing of HOUSE OF SECRETS #92 (an earlier incarnation of
a plant elemental, as revealed in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #33), nor with
the Swamp Thing who appears in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #1, an adaptation of
the Avco-Embassy motion picture.
More facts about Swamp Thing’s origin are revealed in SAGA OF
THE SWAMP THING #21.
Synopsis: 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.
But a man-shaped plant-being arises from the swamp, created from the body
of Alec Holland, the chemicals in the formula, and the forces in the swamp
itself. Mr. E’s thugs have already killed Holland’s wife Linda, but
the Swamp Thing kills them with his bare hands. Matt Cable, a government
agent, sees the creature and thinks it is the killer of the Hollands.
Swamp Thing No. 2
December 1972 / January 1973
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “The Man Who Wanted Forever” (24 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Matt Cable
Intro: Patchwork Man (Gregori Arcane; Anton Arcane’s brother and Abigail
Arcane’s father; earlier chronological appearances in flashbacks in HOUSE
OF SECRETS #140 and next issue; real name revealed in next issue), Mike
(first and only appearance)
Cameo appearances: Alec Holland, Linda Holland, Bruno, another hood
(all in flashback)
Villains: Anton Arcane (face and last name revealed in this story;
appears in flashback in next issue, but next chronological appearance is
in issue #10), the Un-Men (first appearance of many, including Ophidian
and Cranius (named in issue #10); several die in this story; survivors
return in issue #10), Nathan Ellery, Maxwell Ferrett (as a corpse and in
flashback)
Comment: Swamp Thing’s height (7' 3") and weight (547 pounds) are revealed
in this story.
Synopsis: Swamp Thing is captured by misshapen “Un-Men” and taken to
their creator, Dr. Anton Arcane. Arcane offers the Swamp Thing the chance
to become Alec Holland, at the cost of turning Arcane into a Swamp Thing
himself.
Swamp Thing No. 3
February-March 1973
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “The Patchwork Man” (23 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist, colorist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Patchwork Man (true name and origin revealed; next appears in HOUSE
OF SECRETS #140)
Supporting Characters: Abigail (Abby) Arcane (first appearance; last
chronological appearance in flashback in HOUSE OF SECRETS #140; daughter
of the Patchwork Man and niece of Anton Arcane)
Villains: Nathan Ellery (next appears in issue #6), Anton Arcane (in
flashback, chronologically between HOUSE OF SECRETS #140 (flashback) /
issue #1)
Synopsis: Ten years ago, Anton Arcane’s brother Grigori was blown up
by a mine, but was pieced together by Anton, who used parts of other corpses
to turn him into a Patchwork Man. Grigori went on a rampage and was
sedated and chained in Arcane’s castle. Now the Patchwork Man makes
off with his daughter Abigail, and the Swamp Thing must battle him.
Swamp Thing No. 4
April-May 1973
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “Monster on the Moors” (23 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Scripter: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abigail Arcane (both next appear
in issue #6)
Intro: Paul Rodman (dies in this story)
Villains: Ian MacCobb (a werewolf; first appearance; dies in this story),
Angus and Jenna McCobb (first and only appearance to date)
Synopsis: Matt Cable and Abby Arcane are taken in after a plane crash
by the lord and lady of a nearby castle, not knowing the MacCobbs intend
to use Matt in an experiment to rid their werewolf son of his curse.
Swamp Thing No. 5
June-July 1973
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “The Last of the Ravenwind Witches” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Jeremy and Rebecca Ravenwind, Larabee, Gideon’s wife and son
(only appearance for all), Gideon’s ancestor, Ravenwind’s ancestor (both
in flashback; only appearance for both), robot duplicates of Alec and Linda
Holland
Villains: Gideon, Jocko, Smith, and other citizens of Divinity, Maine
(first and only appearance for all)
Comment: In this story, Swamp Thing learns that when his limbs are chopped
off or destroyed, they can instantly regenerate.
Synopsis: The Swamp Thing stows away on an America-bound ship.
He end up in Divinity, Maine, where he befriends a woman and her brother,
both of whom are accused of witchcraft by the townspeople.
Swamp Thing No. 6
September-October 1973
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “A Clockwork Horror” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane (both last seen in issue
#4)
Intro: Hans Klochmann (dies in this story), robot citizens of Burgess
Town (all destroyed in this story), Jack (only appearance)
Other characters: Alec and Linda Holland robots (both destroyed in
this story)
Cameo appearances: Alec and Linda Holland, Maxwell Ferrett (all in
photographs)
Villains: Nathan Ellery (last seen in issue #3), the Conclave’s soldiers
(first appearance; all die in this story)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing, Matt Cable, and Abby Arcane all find themselves
in Burgess Town, which is almost entirely populated by human-seeming robots,
including duplicates of Alec and Linda Holland.
Swamp Thing No. 7
November-December 1973
Cover: Swamp Thing and Batman //Berni Wrightson
Story: “Night of the Bat” (21 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Batman (last appearance in SUPERGIRL #8; next appears in WORLD’S
FINEST COMICS #219)
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane (both next appear in
issue #9), Commissioner Gordon (between DETECTIVE COMICS #437 / 438), Alfred
Pennyworth (last appearance in BATMAN #253; next appears in DETECTIVE COMICS
#438)
Cameo appearance: M’Nagalah (first appearance; in “next issue” cameo)
Villains: Nathan Ellery (name and face revealed in this story; next
appears in issue #16), Dr. Hammerschmidt (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing arrives in Gotham City, where he and the Batman
are after the same objective: Mr. E, mysterious head of the Conclave.
Swamp Thing No. 8
January-February 1974
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “The Lurker in Tunnel 13" (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Ezekiel (dies in this story), Abraham (in flashback; only appearance)
Villains: M’Nagalah (destroyed in this story, but begins to regenerate;
next appears in CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #81), Jason, Jody, Lydia, Hector
Mutteridge, Mayor Mutteridge (first and only appearance for all), citizens
of Perdition (first appearance; next appear in CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN
#81)
Synopsis: The Swamp Thing is warned by a dying old man not to go near
the town of Perdition, whose played-out mines were restored by sorcery,
but from whom people have been disappearing without a trace.
Swamp Thing No. 9
March-April 1974
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “The Stalker From Beyond” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Berni Wrightson
Inkers: Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane (both between issues
#7 / 11)
Intro: An alien (dies in this story), Rufe, Elmo, Smithers, Capt. Brad
Samson, Optik, O’Reilly, Trumbo, Twitchett (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The Swamp Thing hops a slow frieght back to the Louisiana
swamp where he was “born”, not knowing an alien has landed there to repair
his spacecraft.
Swamp Thing No. 10
May-June 1974
Cover: Swamp Thing //Berni Wrightson
Story: “The Man Who Would Not Die” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Berni Wrightson
Letterer: Gaspar Saladino
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Elsbeth DeLuvian, Black Jubal and his fellow slaves (all ghosts;
only appearance for all)
Cameo appearance: Mutant worms (in “next issue” blurb; first appearance)
Villains: Anton Arcane (last seen in issue #2; body destroyed in this
story (again), but is rebuilt for his next appearance, in SAGA OF THE SWAMP
THING #17), Un-Men (last seen in issue #2; all die in this story, but new
Un-Men appear in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #17), “Hunk” Dorry (first appearance;
dies in this story), Samson Parminter (in flashback; first appearance;
dies in this story)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing rescues an old woman from an escaped convict,
and in return receives some ghostly help when he encounters a returned
Anton Arcane and his Un-Men.
Swamp Thing No. 11
July-August 1974
Cover: Swamp Thing //Luis Dominguez
Story: “The Conqueror Worms” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Abigail Arcane, Matt Cable (last appearance
for both in issue #9), Jefferson Bolt (first appearance)
Intro: Sheriff Kain, Luke (only appearance for both), Ruth (dies in
this story)
Cameo appearance: Dr. Thirteen (in flashback)
Villains: Zachary Nail (last appearance in PHANTOM STRANGER #14; last
appearance; possibly dies in this story), mutant worms, a mutant alligator
(first appearance for all; all die in this story)
Comment: Story continues in the next issue.
Synopsis: Swamp Thing must rescue Abby and Matt Cable from Zachary
Nail, an old foe of Dr. Thirteen’s, and from mutant worms under his command
(or so he thinks).
Swamp Thing No. 12
September-October 1974
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “The Eternity Man” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Sulpporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt
Intro: A Caesar, Hans, Otto (only appearance for all)
Villains: Milo Mobius, Gretel (first and only appearance for both)
Synopsis: The Swamp Thing finds himself catapulted into various time-epochs
by a mysterious gem with a seven-pointed star, and faces danger in each
era. And in every epoch, he encounters the same man in different
incarnations.
Swamp Thing No. 13
November-December 1974
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “The Leviathan Conspiracy” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Len Wein
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt (all
next appear in issue #15)
Intro: Prof. Coolidge Degrez (dies in this story)
Cameo appearances: Delta and Jeremy Wheeler (first appearance for bot;
in “next issue” blurb), Alec and Linda Holland, Maxwell Ferrett, Bruno,
other hood, mutant worms, an alien, Nathan Ellery, Patchwork Man, Conclave’s
robot, Ian MacCobb (in flashbacks)
Villain: Commander John Zero (first appearance; next appears in BRAVE
AND THE BOLD #122)
Synopsis: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt, and a government
scientist capture the Swamp Thing and take him to a lab in Washington,
D.C. for study and eventual destruction. But Cable changes his mind
when he hears the Swamp Thing utter the words, “I...AM...ALEC HOLLAND!”
Swamp Thing No. 14
January-February 1975
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “The Tomorrow Children” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Jeb Wheeler (in flashback), Delta Wheeler (both die in this
story), Seth Wheeler, Jeremy Wheeler, Jimbo (only appearance for all)
Cameo appearances: Nebiros, Father Jonathon Bliss (first appearance
for both; in “Next Issue” blurb)
Villains: Taggart (first appearance; dies in this story), Elton, the
mayor and other citizens of Prelude, Louisiana (first and only appearance
for all)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing becomes involved with a strange child who possesses
telekinetic powers thanks to an evolutionary experiment, and must protect
him from attack by the townspeople.
Swamp Thing No. 15
March-April 1975
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “The Soul-Spell of Father Bliss” (20 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt (last
appearance for all in issue #13)
Intro: Luke (dies in this story)
Villains: Father Jonathon Bliss (first appearance; dies in this story),
Nebiros (first appearance; scattered throughout the cosmos in this story),
the Conclave (last appearance in issue #6)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing is tricked by Father Jonathon Bliss, a priest
who has become a black magician, into letting his body be taken over by
the demon Nebiros while his soul is stored in a mystic globe.
Swamp Thing No. 16
May 1975
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “Night of the Walking Dead” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt
Intro: Laganna, Adam Rook (both die in this story), Sepp tribesmen
(zombies; destroyed in this story)
Villains: A hijacker (first appearance; probably dies in this story),
army of Kala Pago (first and only appearance; several soldiers die in this
story), Nathan Ellery (last appearance in issue #7), Dr. Pretorius (first
appearance), the Conclave
Synopsis: Swamp Thing finds himself on the island of Kala Pago, where
a priestess and a mercenary enlist him in their revolution against the
tyrannical regime there--until she uses her magic to raise an army of zombies
from the dead.
Swamp Thing No. 17
July 1975
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “The Destiny Machine” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt
Cameo appearance: Alec Holland, Linda Holland (in flashback)
Villains: Nathan Ellery (dies in this story), Dr. Pretorius (probably
dies in this story; last appearance), the Conclave (including Bogen; last
appearance)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing must rescue Matt, Abby, and Jeff, who are being
held prisoner by Nathan Ellery and the Conclave on Kala Pago.
Swamp Thing No. 18
September 1975
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “Village of the Doomed” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (next appears in BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#122)
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt
Intro: Nicholas Trask (only appearance), director of Serenity Village
(only appearance; dead before the events of this story take place)
Villains: Aubrey Trask (first appearance; dies in this story), Marion
Trask, residents of Serenity Village (first and only appearance for all)
Comment: Shortly after this story Batman and Swamp Thing team up to
deal with B. B. Riggs and a plant growth choking Gotham City in BRAVE AND
THE BOLD #122.
Synopsis: Swamp Thing and his three friends end up in Serenity Village,
a home for aged people who have regained their youth by using black magic
to leach it from younger people.
Swamp Thing No. 19
October 1975
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “A Second Time To Die” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#122)
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Arcane, Jefferson Bolt
Intro: Smith (only appearance), Pseudo-Swamp Thing (grown from the
arm lost by Swamp Thing in issue #5), Ho’tah Makanaw, Burton Sloan, Jr.,
Frank Halston
Cameo appearances: Jeremy and Rebecca Ravenwind, Jocko, Smith, residents
of Divinity, Maine (all in flashback)
Villains: Burton Sloan, Earl Hobart (first appearance for both)
Synopsis: A pseudo-Swamp Thing has grown from the arm Swamp Thing lost
in his adventure in Divinity, Maine. Now both it and the real Swamp
Thing have arrived in Gatorsburg, Florida, both drawn to the same town
but unaware of each other’s existence.
Swamp Thing No. 20
December 1975 / January 1976
Cover: Swamp Thing //Ernie Chua
Story: “The Mirror Monster” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable (next appears in SAGA OF THE SWAMP
THING #17), Abby Arcane (next chronological appearance in flashback in
SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #17), Jefferson Bolt (last appearance)
Intro: Ho’tah Makinaw’s parents and tribe (in flashback; all die in
this story), Carmody (only appearance)
Other Characters: Frank Halston, Burton Sloan, Burton Sloan, Jr. (last
appearance for all)
Villains: Pseudo-Swamp Thing, Ho’tah Makinaw (both die in this story),
Earl Hobart (last appearance) and his motorcycle gang, ten white traders
(in flashback; first and only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The real Swamp Thing and his duplicate clash in battle when
Ho’tah Makinaw orders the pseudo-Swamp Thing to attack construction workers
who have buried the Grotto of Eternal Youth.
Swamp Thing No. 21
February-March 1976
Cover: Swamp Thing //Nestor Redondo
Story: “Requiem” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Celanth (dies in this story), Solus’s captives (only appearance
for all; some die in this story)
Villains: Solus, Kolom, Jettak (first appearance for all; all die in
this story)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing is teleported into space to become the captive
of Solus, the ex-tyrant of an alien world, now in exile on a massive space
platform.
House of Secrets No. 140
February-March 1976
Cover: Patchwork Man //Ernie Chan
Story: “Reprise: The Patchwork Man” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Feature Character: Patchwork Man (last appearance in SWAMP THING #3;
next appears in SWAMP THING (2nd series) #?; also appears in flashbacks,
his earliest chronological appearances; origin retold in detail)
Intro: Dr. Darleen Greer, Dr. Andrew Harty, Ruth and her sister (?),
Ernie Kempler, McElroy, O’Neal (only appearance for all)
Villains: Dr. Elijah Chomes, Christian, members of the Mt. Good Hope
Institute’s Department of Mental Science (only appearance for all), Anton
Arcane (in flashback, part of which takes place before his flashback appearance
in SWAMP THING #3)
Comment: The last panel of this story announces a sequel, “Night of
the Rat”, which was never published.
Synopsis: The Patchwork Man survived his fall in Anton Arcane’s castle
and has been captured by members of the Mt. Good Hope Institute, whose
department of “biological oddities” subjects him to painful experiments.
He stuns his tormentors and escapes, but is hunted by two of them.
Swamp Thing No. 22
April-May 1976
Cover: Swamp Thing //Ernie Chua
Story: “The Solomon Plague” (18 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: David Michelinie
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Kate Solomon, personnel and inmates of Project Safehaven (all
die in this story)
Villains: Dr. Daniel J. Solomon, John Solomon (first appearance for
both; both die in this story)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing is captured by the government and taken to a
secret retreat housing mutants created by the side effects of a secret
underground bomb test.
Swamp Thing No. 23
June-July 1976
Cover: Swamp Thing //?
Story: “Rebirth and Nightmare” (17 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Writer: Gerry Conway
Artist: Nestor Redondo
Letterer: Marcos Pelayo
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (becomes a duplicate of Alec Holland
in this story)
Supporting Characters: Edward Holland (Alec’s brother), Ruth Monroe
(first appearance for both)
Intro: Ned (only appearance)
Cameo appearances: Alec Holland, Linda Holland (in flashback)
Villains: Sabre (John Zero; last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #122;
first appearance as a costumed villain), Councilman Red, Thrudvang, Colossus
(an evil organization; first appearance for all)
Synopsis: Commander John Zero, whose lost hand has been replaced by
a sabre, takes the costumed identity of Sabre and is ordered by Councilman
Red of the Colossus organization to capture Swamp Thing that they may wrest
from him the secret of the bio-restorative formula.
Meanwhile, Swamp Thing encounters Alec Holland’s brother Edward and
his girlfriend Ruth Monroe, and reveals to them his origin.
Swamp Thing No. 24
August-September 1976
Cover: Swamp Thing //Ernie Chua
Story: “The Earth Below” (17 pages)
Editor: Joe Orlando
Plotter: Gerry Conway
Scripter: David Kraft
Penciller: Ernie Chua
Inker: Fred Carrillo
Colorist: Carl Gafford
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (as “Alec Holland”; next appears in
CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #83)
Supporting Characters: Edward Holland (last appearance to date), Ruth
Monroe (next appears in CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN #83)
Intro: Sheriff Kline, Bondo (only appearance for both)
Villains: Sabre, Colossus, Councilman Red (last appearance for all),
Thrudvang (last appearnce; possibly dies in this story), Councilman Blue,
Solomon Smith (first and only appearance for both)
Comments: Swamp Thing only appears as “Alec Holland” in this story,
except for flashbacks and images in “Alec’s” mind.
This is the last issue of the first series of SWAMP THING.
The proposed story announced in the “Next Issue” blurb, guest-starring
Hawkman, never saw print.
Swamp Thing next appears, as “Alec Holland”, in CHALLENGERS OF
THE UNKNOWN #83, in which his treatment wears off and he returns to his
Swamp Thing identity. He continues as a guest-star with the Challengers
through issues #84-87. Next, Swamp Thing teams up with Superman to
fight Solomon Grundy in DC COMICS PRESENTS #8, and helps Batman round up
the Delta organization in BRAVE AND THE BOLD #176.
Synopsis: Councilmen Red and Blue of Colossus spring Sabre from jail
and reveal to him their plan to build an invincible army of Swamp Things.
Meanwhile, “Alec Holland” is attacked by Thrudvang, a monster in search
of Swamp Thing himself.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 1
May 1982
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “What Peace There May Be In Silence” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (last appearance in BRAVE AND THE BOLD
#176; origin retold)
Intro: Patrick Clancy (dies in this story), Hank Henderson, Jr. (only
appearance), Gully, Clete, a hunter, Claude, Mr. Heever
Cameo appearances: Alec Holland, Linda Holland, Matt Cable, Maxwell
Ferrett, Bruno and other hireling, Abby Arcane (in flashbacks)
Villains: Grasp (Walter Ellenback; first appearance; known as “Mr.
G” in this story; face and codename revealed in next issue; last name revealed
in issue #9; first name revealed in issue #12), Harry Kay (Dr. Helmut Kripptmann;
real name revealed in issue #9; first appearance), Karen “Casey” Clancy
(first appearance; real name revealed in issue #6), the Sunderland Corporation
(behind the scenes; named in next issue; first appearance)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing rescues a girl who leads him into the town of
Limbo, North Carolina. In the meantime, Harry Kay is tracking the
Swamp Thing on behalf of his superior, “Mr. G”, and his employers, the
Sunderland Corporation.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 2
June 1982
Cover: Dick Durock as Swamp Thing (photograph)
Story: “Something To Live For” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Cathy Newquist (dies and becomes a vampire; only appearance),
Mrs. Newquist, Mr. Heever (only appearance for both)
Other characters: Gully, Clete (last appearance for both)
Villains: Grasp (next appears in issue #9), Harry Kay (next appears
in issue #5, the Sunderland Corporation (behind the scenes), Karen “Casey”
Clancy, Stiv Slashers (first appearance; last name revealed in next issue)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing is captured by the Sunderland Corporation and
held by Grasp, a man with mechanical hands, who seeks to wrest from him
the secret of the bio-restorative formula.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 3
July 1982
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “A Town Has Turned To Blood” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Elizabeth Tremayne (first appearance; next appears
in issue #5), Paul Feldner (first appearance; name revealed next issue)
Intro: Larry Childress, Steven Childress, Hillary Downs (all die in
this story), Bobby Downs, Sam (only appearance for both)
Villains: Stiv Slashers (next appears with Rosewood vampires in issue
#38), X-Head (a vampire; first and only appearance), vampires of Rosewood,
Illinois (first appearance; some die in this story; survivors next appear
in issue #38), Karen “Casey” Clancy
Synopsis: In Rosewood, Illinois, Swamp Thing becomes involved with
a small band of hunters out to rid their town of vampires.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 4
August 1982
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “In the White Room” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Paul Feldner (next appears in issue #6)
Intro: Timmy Chung (in flashback; dies in this story), Mrs. Hernandez,
Rosita Hernandez, Mr. Fields, Aunt Polly (only appearance for all), Sheriff
Bingham
Villains: Bernard Stryker (first appearance; dies in this story), Karen
“Casey” Clancy (next appears in issue #6), a demon (first appearance; destroyed
in this story), the Sunderland Corporation (behind the scenes)
Synopsis: A demon which murders children possesses the body of Paul
Feldner and kidnaps Casey Clancy, forcing the Swamp Thing to intervene.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 5
September 1982
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “The Screams of Hungry Flesh” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Elizabeth Tremayne (last seen in issue #3),
Dennis Barclay (first appearance)
Intro: The Receptors (next appear in issue #9)
Other Character: Sheriff Bingham (last appearance)
Cameo appearances: Grasp, Karen “Casey” Clancy (in flashback)
Villains: Harry Kay (last appearance in issue #3), Spinelli, Danberg,Galway,
Murch, Tess (first appearance for all; all die in this story), Sunderland
Corporation
Synopsis: The Swamp Thing is healed by a Sunderland Corporation doctor,
apparently by the laying on of hands, but in reality by his channelling
of the power of the Receptors, humanoid captives of the Corporation.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 6
October 1982
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Sins On the Water” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Elizabeth Tremayne, Dennis Barclay, Paul Feldner
(last seen in issue #4)
Intro: Mrs. Patrick Clancy, Phil (both die in this story), Tim Halloran,
Sam (only appearance for both)
Villains: Gen. Avery H. Sunderland (first appearance; first name and
middle initial revealed next issue; hereafter referred to as General Sunderland),
Milton Grossman (first appearance; last name revealed in next issue), Maitland,
humans altered by a virus monster, the virus monster (first appearnace
for all), Harry Kay, Karen “Casey” Clancy
Synopsis: Swamp Thing must try to free Elizabeth Tremayne from a ship
upon which a tentacled horror lurks.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 7
November 1982
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “I Have Seen the Splintered Timbers of a Hundred Shattered Hulls”
(17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Paul Feldner (next appears in issue #9), Elizabeth
Tremayne, Dennis Barclay
Villains: The virus monster, humans altered by the virus monster (all
die in this story), General Sunderland, Sunderland Corporation (both next
appear in issue #9), Harry Kay, Milton Grossman, Karen “Casey” Clancy
Synopsis: The Swamp Thing, aboard the S. S. Haven, must battle a squid-like
being created from the union of marooned aliens and an experimental herpes
virus.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 8
December 1982
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Here’s Lookin’ At You, Kid” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Elizabeth Tremayne, Dennis Barclay, Paul Feldner
Intro: Cheeto, Juice, DiCenzo, Gitlin, Fox (all die in this story),
Reef
Cameo appearances: King Kong, Humphrey Bogart (as Rick Blaine from
Casablanca), Sidney Greenstreet, Ingrid Bergman, Peter Lorre, Fay Wray,
Orson Welles, Dooley Wilson (all as illusions)
Villains: Karen “Casey” Clancy, Harry Kay, Milton Grossman
Synopsis: Swamp Thing, Dennis, and Liz are stranded on an island populated
by six mutated Marines and the shades of classic movie heroes.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 9
January 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Prelude To Holocaust” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Jan Duursema
Inker: Tom Mandrake
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Adrienne Roy
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Elizabeth Tremayne, Dennis Barclay, Paul Feldner
Other characters: Reef (dies in this story), the Receptors (last appearance
in issue #5)
Intro: David Marx, Harry Kay’s operative (only appearance)
Cameo appearance: Mrs. Patrick Clancy (in flashback)
Villains: Karen “Casey” Clancy, Harry Kay, Milton Grossman, Grasp (last
appearance in issue #2; last name revealed in this story), Sunderland Corporation,
Gen. Sunderland (last appearance for both in issue #7)
Synopsis: Casey Clancy grows her body to adulthood by psychic power
while General Sunderland assigns Grasp the task of killing the Swamp Thing.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 10
February 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Number of the Beast” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Tom Yeates
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Dennis Barclay, Lizabeth Tremayne, Paul Feldner,
Harry Key (no longer a villain)
Other Characters: Milton Grossman (no longer a villain), David Marx
(dies in this story)
Intro: Rachel (dies in this story), Lyle and Margaret Tremayne, Samuel
(only appearance), Karl (next appears in issue #12), Alan
Cameo appearances: Nazis, prisoners of Dachau concentration camp (as
reanimated corpses)
Villains: Karen “Casey” Clancy, General Sunderland, Sunderland Corporation,
Grasp, Ernst Von Ruhnstedt (a ghost; first and only appearance)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing and his allies discover an adult Casey Clancy,
in search of the mystic pendulum of one of Hitler’s most powerful occultists.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 11
March 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Heart of Stone, Feet of Clay” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Intro: Mr. and Mrs. Otto Muller (both die in this story), the Golem
(only appearance)
Supporting Characters: Dennis Barclay, Elizabeth Tremayne, Paul Feldner
Other Characters: Harry Kay, Milton Grossman, Alan
Cameo appearances: Alec and Linda Holland, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Clancy,
Ernst Von Ruhnstedt (in flashbacks)
Villain: Karen “Casey” Clancy
Synopsis: Harry Kay tells Swamp Thing and his allies that he was a
kapo, a Jewish trusty of the Nazi guards at Dachau. Paul Feldner
reveals that Casey Clancy is the “herald” of the Beast, the “antichrist”
foretold in the Book of Revelation. To stop her, Harry Kay and his
aide Alan reconstruct the Golem, but it senses Casey’s presence in a locket
on Swamp Thing’s body and moves to destroy him.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 12
April 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “And Yet It Lives” (17 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Dennis Barclay, Elizabeth Tremayne, Paul Feldner
Other Characters: Milton Grossman, Alan (both die in this story), Karl
(last seen in issue #10; dies in this story), Harry Kay, the Golem
Villains: Grasp, General Sunderland, Sunderland Corporation (all last
seen in issue #10), Karen “Casey” Clancy
Synopsis: Swamp Thing deactivates the Golem by erasing one of the Hebrew
letters inscribed on its head. Casey Clancy challenges them all to
a duel at a synagogue nearby where Harry Kay had once worshipped.
Grasp plans to assassinate them all in one swoop.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 13
May 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Lambs To the Slaughter” (18 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Artist: Tom Yeates
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Dennis Barclay, Elizabeth Tremayne
(both next appear in issue #16)
Other Characters: The Golem (destroyed in this story), Harry Kay (next
appears in issue #16)
Cameo appearances: Alan, Alec Holland, Mrs. Patrick Clancy, Ernst Von
Ruhnstedt (all in flashback or in illusion), Dennis Barclay, Sr. (first
and only appearance; an illusion; dead before this story begins)
Villains: Karen “Casey” Clancy (as a spirit), Grasp (both die in this
story), General Sunderland, Sunderland Corporation (both next appear in
issue #16), Ms. Hammond (first appearance; next appears in issue #16),
Satan
Synopsis: In the Fortress of the Beast, the evil spirit of Casey Clancy
and Grasp (transformed into a devil-being) toy with Swamp Thing, Liz, Dennis,
and Harry Kay, running them through a gantlet of death-traps.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 14
June 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Crystal Visions, Shattered Dreams” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Dan Mishkin
Penciller: Bo Hampton
Inker: Scott Hampton
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Phantom Stranger (last appearance in his own story in last issue)
Intro: Kelly Broder, George Williston, Peter Murdock, Sid, Jimmy
Villain: Nathaniel Broder (first appearance)
Comment: Story continues in next issue.
Synopsis: Nathaniel Broder, an electronics genius who specializes in
silicon technology, transforms is body into a mass of living crystal, and
then turns both Swamp Thing and the Phantom Stranger into crystal as well.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 15
July 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Empires Made of Sand” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Dan Mishkin
Penciller: Bo Hampton
Inker: Scott Hampton
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Phantom Stranger (next appears in BATMAN AND THE OUTSIDERS #8)
Intro: Mike, Gary, and Rob (only appearance for all)
Other Characters: Peter Murdock (dies in this story), Sally Broder,
George Williston, Sid (last appearance for all)
Villain: Nathaniel Broder (dies in this story)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing’s regenerative powers restore his body to normal,
and the Phantom Stranger reappears, mysteriously back to his old form.
But both are stymied as to how to stop Nathaniel Broder from gaining power
over all computer information in his new, silicon-crystal state.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 16
August 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Stopover In a Place of Quiet Truths” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Dennis Barclay, Elizabeth Tremayne (last appearance
for both in issue #13), Abby Arcane Cable (last chronological appearance
in flashback in issue #17)
Intro: Jimmy Spurlow, Cyrus and Ida Harmon, Mallory Harmon (only appearance
for all), Hec “Dallas” Brandon (next appears in issue #20)
Other Character: Harry Kay (last appearance in issue #13)
Cameo appearances: Alec and Linda Holland, Grasp (in flashbacks), Rod
Serling (pg. 10, panel 4)
Villains: General Sunderland, Sunderland Corporation (both between
issues #13 / 20), Frank (an illusion; first appearance; dispersed in this
story)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing and his friends head for Washington, D.C. to
uncover the roots of the conspiracy against them. On the way they
come to a small secluded town inhabited by a man with a chest full of Soul
Masks, one of which appears to transform Swamp Thing back to Alec Holland.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 17
September 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates / Steve Bissette
Story: “And Things That Go Bump In the Night” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Abby Cable (marriage to Matt Cable revealed
in flashback, which takes place chronologically betweeen SWAMP THING (first
series) #20 / last issue), Matt Cable (full name, Matthew Joseph Cable,
revealed in this story; last chronological appearance in flashback in issue
#19; appears in flashbacks as follows: page 13, panel 5 between SWAMP THING
(first series) #20 / SHOWCASE #95; page 14, panel 6 between SHOWCASE #96
/ issue #19 flashback), Dennis Barclay, Elizabeth Tremayne (both next appear
in issue #19)
Other Character: Harry Kay
Cameo appearances: Alec and Linda Holland, Pseudo-Swamp Thing (in flashbacks)
Villains: Anton Arcane, the Un-Men (recreated; last appearance for
all in SWAMP THING (first series) #10), General Sunderland (in flashback
only; earliest chronological appearance; next chronological appearance
in issue #6), Dwight Wicker (in flashback; first appearance; next appears
in issue #20)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing encounters Abby Cable, learns of her marriage
to the now-alcoholic Matt Cable, and is attacked by a powerful monster
materialized from Matt’s mind. Harry Kay, having wandered off, gets
stuck in a bear trap and is retrieved by the occupant of a strange insect-ship--
Anton Arcane.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 18
November 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “The Man Who Would Not Die” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable, Abby Cable
Other Character: Harry Kay
Villains: Anton Arcane, the Un-Men
Comment: Credits as given above only apply to pages 1, 2, 22, and 23.
Pages 3-21 reprint “The Man Who Would Not Die” from SWAMP THING (first
series) #10, minus the last panel on pg. 20 of the original story.
Synopsis: While Swamp Thing, Matt, and Abby are overwhelmed by the
monsters from Matt’s brain, Arcane tells the captive Harry Kay the story
of his last encounter with Swamp Thing. Then he tells his Un-Men
to prepare Kay for the “metamorphosis.”
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 19
December 1983
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “And the Meek Shall Inherit--” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Marty Pasko
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Dennis Barclay, Elizabeth Tremayne (last appearance
for both in issue #17), Abby Cable, Matt Cable (also appears in flashback,
chronologically between SWAMP THING (first series) #20 / flashback in issue
#17)
Other Character: Harry Kay (dies in this story)
Villains: Anton Arcane (more or less dies in this story; body appears
in next issue), the Un-Men (last appearance), DDI agents (in flashback;
first appearance)
Synopsis: Matt Cable wills away his mind-monsters and reveals how DDI
electroshock treatments administered by Dennis Barclay to make him reveal
what he knew of the biorestorative formula rendered him incapable of being
an agent. Later, Anton Arcane, who has been rebuilt by his Un-Men
with an insect body, captures Swamp Thing and Abby.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 20
January 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story; “Loose Ends” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Dan Day
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Dennis Barclay, Elizabeth Tremayne (both next
appear in issue #?), Matt Cable, Abby Cable (both next appear in issue
#22)
Villains: General Sunderland, Sunderland Corporation (last appearance
for both in issue #16), Dwight Wicker (last appearance in issue #17), Anton
Arcane (as a corpse; next chronological appearance in flashback in issue
#30), Otis, Roy, Henry (first and only appearance for all), Giuseppe, Andy
(first appearance for both; both probably die in this story), DDI agents
(next appear in issue #?)
Synopsis: After satisfying himself that Anton Arcane is deceased, Swamp
Thing tries to return to his friends. But the Sunderland Corporation and
DDI almost kill Dennis Barclay and Elizabeth Tremayne with a bomb, napalm
Abby’s and Matt’s house, and shoot the Swamp Thing eleven times and pronounce
him dead.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 21
February 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “The Anatomy Lesson” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (new origin details revealed in this
story)
Cameo appearances: Alec and Linda Holland (in flashback)
Villains: General Sunderland (dies in this story; next appears as a
ghost in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2), Sunderland Corporation (last appearance),
the Floronic Man (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #197)
Synopsis: Jason Woodrue, the Floronic Man, has been hired by General
Sunderland to dissect the Swamp Thing and learn why the biorestorative
formula, also found in Linda Holland’s corpse, only turn Alec Holland into
a Swamp Thing? Woodrue, after careful study, learns the answer: the
Swamp Thing was never really Alec Holland!
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 22
March 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Swamped” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: Todd Klein
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Matt Cable (between issues #20 / 25), Abby Cable
(last appearance in issue #20)
Cameo appearances: Alec and Linda Holland, Patchwork Man, Grasp, Anton
Arcane, Batman, the Golem, other indistinct characters from Swamp Thing’s
past (as dream images)
Villain: The Floronic Man
Synopsis: Swamp Thing has made his way to the swamp in Louisiana, where
he lays down, takes root, and begins to lose his grip on reality.
Meanwhile, Jason Woodrue eats one of the tubers from Swamp Thing’s body,
seems to become mentally one with all flora, and appears to receive a summons
from the plant world to begin a sinister mission.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 23
April 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Tom Yeates
Story: “Another Green World” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Abby Cable
Intro: Stuey, Dumont, Andy, Ed Cutler (all die in this story), Luther
Galen, James Galen, Angie, Billy Anslinger
Villain: The Floronic Man
Synopsis: The Floronic Man, commanding the power of all plants, goes
on a rampage of murder and destruction throughout Terrebone County, Louisiana.
Slowly perceiving Woodrue’s presence, Swamp Thing uproots himself to save
Abby from destruction. Then he goes to confront Woodrue himself.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 24
May 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / Tom Yeates
Story: “Roots” (23 pages)
Editor: Len Wein
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern (between JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#219 / 224), Green Arrow, Firestorm, Hawkman, Superman, Zatanna, Wonder
Woman (the Justice League of America; between JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA
#227 / 228)
Supporting Character: Abby Cable
Intro: Sandy (only appearance)
Other character: Angie (last appearance)
Villain: The Floronic Man (next appears in issue #30)
Synopsis: The Justice League monitor the situation in Terrebone County
and try to formulate a plan of action. Meanwhile, the Swamp Thing
battles the Floronic Man.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 25
June 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The Sleep of Reason” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Jason Blood (the Demon; last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS #66)
Supporting Characters: Abby Cable, Matt Cable (last appearance in issue
#22)
Intro: John Constantine (name revealed in his next appearance, issue
#37), Chris and Jenny (in flashback; both die in this story), Harry Price
(dies in this story), Bobby and Selena Corelli, a priest, Jesus (in a drawing
of Paul’s; only appearance for all), Paul, Roberta, Deanna French, Mike
(named in issue #43; only appearance)
Cameo appearances: Alec Holland (in flashback), the Checkered Demon
(an underground comix character created by Spain Rodriguez; on a poster)
Villain: The Monkey King (first appearance)
Synopsis: Abby Cable starts work at a school for autistic children,
where a fear-demon called the Monkey King is loosed by a child’s parents
using a Ouija board. Jason Blood has been drawn to Louisiana as well,
and deduces the presence of the Monkey King with his own board.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 26
July 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “A Time of Running” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: The Demon
Supporting Characters: Abby Cable, Matt Cable
Intro: Michael, Roberta, Jessica, John (only appearance for all), Tim
Carburton (next appears in issue #37), Vince
Other Characters: Paul, Deanna French (next appears in issue #38)
Villain: The Monkey King
Synopsis: The Monkey King manifests itself at the school for autistic
children, and Abby summons Swamp Thing over Matt’s objections. Jason
Blood turns into the Demon and joins in the battle. Matt Cable, still
drunk, tries to drive to the school to join Abby. He loses control
of the car and smashes headlong into a tree.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 27
August 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “By Demons Driven” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: The Demon (next appears in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2)
Supporting Characters: Abby Cable, Matt Cable (possessed by Anton Arcane
in this story; next appears in issue #29)
Other Characters: Paul, Vince Roberta, John (last appearance for all)
Villains: Monkey King (eaten by the Demon in this story), Anton Arcane
(last chronological appearance in flashback in issue #30; in the form of
an insect; possesses Matt Cable’s body in this story; next appears in issue
#29)
Synopsis: The Demon and Swamp Thing fight the Monkey King and his manifestations,
giving Abby time to run away with Paul. But the fear-demon is still mentally
tethered to the boy, and finds him again.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 28
September 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The Burial” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Shawn McManus
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Alec Holland (as a ghost; last appearance in
SWAMP THING (1st series) #1; next appears in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2; also
appears in flashback, chronologically between pages 10 / 11 of SWAMP THING
(1st series) #1), Linda Holland (in flashback, chronologically between
pages 10 / 11 of SWAMP THING (1st series) #1), Abby Cable
Villains: Bruno, Maxwell Ferrett, and other hood (in flashback to SWAMP
THING (1st series) #1)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing is haunted by a vision of Alec Holland, who draws
him to the farmhouse where the experiment that gave him birth came about.
After experiencing a vision of Holland’s death, the Swamp Thing learns
what Alec Holland’s spirit must have to be set to rest: his body must be
buried.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 29
October 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Love and Death” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Characters: Abby Arcane, Matt Cable (last appearance in
issue #27; still possessed by Anton Arcane)
Villains: Anton Arcane (last appearance in issue #27; still in possession
of Matt Cable’s body), Eric Loveday, Betty Montclair (first appearance
for both; both next appear in issue #31), Gus Pritchett, Sally Parks, Mark
Newell (first appearance for all)
Synopsis: After a joyful reunion with Swamp Thing, Abby returns to
Matt, who gives her three surprises. The first is her new home, a mansion.
The second is his new job, with a firm called Blackriver Recorporations.
The third Abby only learns later, when she learns that Matt’s “coworkers”
are actually mass murderers, and Matt and his friends drop their pretenses
when Anton Arcane mutters to her, “Just say uncle.”
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 30
November 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “A Halo of Flies” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: Alfredo Alcala
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: The Monitor, Lyla (last appearance for both in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF
AMERICA #232)
Supporting Characters: Abby Cable (dies in this story), Matt Cable
(still possessed by Anton Arcane)
Intro: Mr. Pierce, Doreen DuPlantis (both die in this story), Rickie
Pattersson, Cheryl and Loni Williams (only appearance for all)
Cameo appearances: Spectre, Trigon (as images on the Monitor’s viewscreen),
Chris, Jenny, Monkey King, Demon (in flashbacks)
Villains: Anton Arcane (still in possession of Matt Cable; also appears
in flashback, chronologically between issues #20 (flashback) / 27), Floronic
Man (last appearance in issue #24; next appears in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS
#9), Joker (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS #72; next appears in
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #2), Jody Herbert, Tina-Louise Pierce, Hattie
DuPlantis (first and only appearance for all), Sally Parks, Gus Pritchett,
Mark Newell
Synopsis: Arcane explains to Swamp Thing how his soul was hurled into
the region of “bodiless men” after his last death in combat. He fought
free of that plane, incited Paul’s late parents to summon the Monkey King,
and thus lured Matt Cable into his fateful accident. All across Louisiana,
and spreading into other states, the madness that Arcane has unleashed
makes normal people succumb to homicidal impulses. Lured by Arcane
to a mansion, Swamp Thing enters and then emerges with the lifeless body
of Abby Cable.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 31
December 1984
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The Brimstone Ballet” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Rick Veitch
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (next appears in SWAMP THING ANNUAL
#2)
GA: Monitor, Lyla (both next appear in TALES OF THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES
#317)
Supporting Characters: Abby Cable (her life, but not her soul, returned
to her body in this story; next appears in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2), Matt
Cable (last appearance; the New Earth Matt Cable first appears, in raven-form,
in SANDMAN #?)
Intro: Bobby (only appearance)
Cameo appearances: Demon, Paul, Un-Men (in flashbacks)
Villains: Anton Arcane (loses possession of Matt Cable’s body; dies
for the fourth time running in this story; next appears as a damned spirit
in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2), Sally Parks, Gus Pritchett, Betty Montclair,
Eric Loveday, Mark Newell (all return to death in this story)
Comment: Story continues in SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2.
Synopsis: Arcane reveals to Swamp Thing that he has not only killed
Abby, but sent her guiltless soul to Hell, or its equivalent. He
chases Swamp Thing with a plague of abominations. But the hero has
lured him back to the swamp that is his homeland, and reveals to him the
new power he has gained from communion with the world of flora.
SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2
1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Down Amongst the Dead Men” (40 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (between SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #31
/ 32)
GS: Deadman (last appearance in DETECTIVE COMICS #500; next appears
in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #5), Demon (last appearance in SAGA OF THE
SWAMP THING #27; next appears in BLUE DEVIL ANNUAL #1), Phantom Stranger
(last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #231; next appears in FIRESTORM
#32), Spectre (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #220; next
appears in AMERICA VS. THE JUSTICE SOCIETY #2)
Supporting Characters: Abby Cable (between SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING
#31 / 33; soul returned to her body in this story), Alec Holland (as a
ghost; last appearance in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #28; last appearance),
Linda Holland (as a ghost; last appearance in SWAMP THING (first series)
#1; last appearance)
Intro: Jerry and his mother (only appearance for both), poltergeists
Villains: Anton Arcane (as a ghost; last appearance in SAGA OF THE
SWAMP THING #31; last appearance), Gen. Sunderland (as a ghost; last appearance
in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #21; last appearance), Muttlecrunch, Flutch,
Rundelthratt, Festlesquirm (only appearance for all)
Comment: This story continues from SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #31 and
continues in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #32.
Synopsis: Realizing that he can transport his consciousness beyond
the boundaries of his body, Swamp Thing moves his spirit into the realms
of Afterlife to search for Abby Cable’s lost soul.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 32
January 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Pog” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Shawn McManus
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (last appearance in SWAMP THING ANNUAL
#2)
Intro: Bartle (dies in this story), Pog, Strigiforme, the Hystricide,
the Tadling, the Junior Umbrella-Birds, “Find-the-Lady” (only appearance
for all; based on characters in the Pogo comic strip by Walt Kelly)
Comment: Story continues from SWAMP THING ANNUAL #2.
Synopsis: A living turtle-spaceship lands on Earth in Swamp Thing’s
habitat and declares the world to be “the Lady”, i.e., a world compatible
enough to settle on. But Swamp Thing sadly wises them up to the fact
that the dominant species eats other animals, and crew member Bartle meets
a terrible fate.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 33
February 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //John Totleben
Story: “Abandoned Houses” (20 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Ron Randall
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (only makes a cameo appearance in this
story)
GS: Cain, Abel (last appearance for both in HOUSE OF MYSTERY #321;
both next appear in BLUE DEVIL #20)
Supporting Character: Abby Cable (last appearance in SWAMP THING ANNUAL
#2)
Intro: Three prior Swamp Things (in flashback; cameo appaearance; only
appearance for all)
Cameo appearance: The original Swamp Thing
Comments: Credits as given above are for pages 1-6 and 15-20 only.
Pages 7-14 reprint “Swamp Thing” from HOUSE OF SECRETS #92.
This issue also contains a three-page pin-up gallery by John
Totleben and Steve Bissette.
Synopsis: In a dream, Abby Cable is given a choice of entering the
House of Mystery or the House of Secrets. She chooses the latter,
and is told by her host Abel the story of a prior Swamp Thing, Alex Olsen.
Moreover, Abel reveals that there were other Swamp Things before Olsen.
Whenever “sour times” occur, he states, “the Earth feels compelled to create
an elemental champion for itself.”
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 34
March 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing and Abby Cable embracing in swamp //Steve Bissette
(painting)
Story: “Rite of Spring” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Abby Cable
Synopsis: Abby Cable and the Swamp Thing declare their love for each
other. As a gift of communion, Swamp Thing gives Abby a tuber grown
from his own body. She eats it and takes an hallucinogenic trip.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 35
April 1985
Cover: Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The Nukeface Papers: Part 1” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Abby Cable
Intro: Diagonal Bob (dies in this story; nickname revealed in next
issue), Wallace and Treasure Monroe
Villain: Nukeface (first appearance)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing is drawn to Blossomville, Pennsylvania, in which
an abandoned coal mine has become a nuclear waste dump. There he
meets a hobo called Nukeface who drinks nuclear waste from a can, obligingly
shares it with his newfound friend, and turns Swamp Thing into a mass of
blue ruin.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 36
May 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The Nukeface Papers: Part 2" (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Abby Cable
Intro: Mike Bernhardt, Mrs. Morel, Billy Hatcher, Tommy (only appearance
for all),
Other Characters: Diagonal Bob (as a corpse), Wallace and Treasure
Monroe (last appearance for all)
Villain: Nukeface (last appearance)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing, rapidly being eaten away by Nukeface’s radioactive
waste, makes telepathic contact with Abby and draws her to the spot where
he lays helpless. Then he manages to tell her he is going to try
to expel his consciousness from his body and build another one, just before
he disintegrates before her eyes.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 37
June 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Growth Patterns” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Rick Veitch
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: John Constantine (named in this story; last appearance in issue
#25)
Supporting Character: Abby Cable
Intro: Benjamin Cox (next appears in SWAMP THING (2nd series) #45),
Mrs. Cox (only appearance; death revealed in SWAMP THING (2nd series) #48),
Sister Anne-Marie (next appears in SWAMP THING (2nd series) #46), Emma
(dies in this story)
Other Characters: Tim Carburton (last appearance in issue #26; next
appears in SWAMP THING (2nd series) #48)
Villains: The Invunche (first appearance; next appearance in SWAMP
THING (2nd series) #48), Judith (first appearance; next appears in SWAMP
THING (2nd series) #48)
Synopsis: Over a period of 13 days, Swamp Thing successfully grows
himself a new body from a seedling. Over the same period, John Constantine
travels cross-country, gathering four allies. All of the four agree
that a cataclysmic, evil event will take place soon in America, but none
agrees on just what it is.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 38
July 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Stan Woch / John Totleben
Story: “Still Waters” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Stan Woch
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: John Constantine
Supporting Character: Abby Cable (next appears in SWAMP THING (second
series) #40)
Intro: Frank North (next appears in SWAMP THING (2nd series) #45),
Ronnie, Leon (only appearance for both), Bill, Howie, Nicky Shapiro (dies
and becomes a vampire in this story)
Other Character: Deanna French (last appearance in issue #26; next
appears in SWAMP THING (second series) #48)
Villains: Stiv Slashers, vampires of Rosewood, Illinois (last appearance
for all in issue #3), Charlene (first and only appearance)
Synopsis: After a boy swimming in a stagnant pond in Rosewood, Illinois
becomes the victim of underwater vampires, Swamp Thing regenerates his
body near the town, where he meets John Constantine. Constantine
tells him that some of the vampires he once faced have survived, and that
a vampire “mother” has laid a great quantity of eggs...which are hatching.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 39
August 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Fish Story” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: John Constantine
Intro: Mr. Shapiro, Joan Shapiro, Osgood (all die in this story), Jack,
Tammy, William’s father (only appearance for all)
Villains: Stiv Slashers, Nicky Shapiro, vampires of Rosewood, Illinois
(including Charlene; all die in this story)
Comment: With this issue, the title becomes SWAMP THING in the indicia.
Synopsis: Swamp Thing, present at the “nativity” of the Rosewood vampire
brood, is confronted by a giant fish-like vampire which attacks and destroys
his body.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 40
September 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The Curse” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (next appears in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#85)
GS: John Constantine (next appears in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #4)
Supporting Character: Abby Cable (last appearance in SAGA OF THE SWAMP
THING #38)
Intro: Roy, Joanie, her husband, Mr. Stein, women of the Pennamaquot
Indian tribe (in flashback; only appearance for all)
Villain: Phoebe (a werewolf; first appearance; dies in this story)
Comment: Shortly after this story, Swamp Thing helps cure Superman
of Scarlet Jungle fever in DC COMICS PRESENTS #85.
Synopsis: A woman named Phoebe, whose house is built over the lodge
in which menstruating Pennamaquot Indian women stayed so that their blood
might not touch the ground, becomes a werewolf with the full moon.
Swamp Thing appears to battle her, but she breaks away to rage through
a pornographic bookstore and a restaurant.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 41
October 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette (painting)
Story: “Southern Change” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (last appearance in DC COMICS PRESENTS
#85)
Supporting Character: Abby Cable
Intro: Charlotte Jackson, William (all ghosts), Angela Lamb, Billy
Carlton, Dennis Linder, Alice, Billy Carlton’s agent (only appearance)
Villains: Richard Deal, Wesley Jackson (a ghost; first appearance for
both)
Synopsis: Not far from the swamp in which Swamp Thing lives, a television
soap opera set in the Old South is being filmed. But a cemetary filled
with black slaves is nearby, and actors Richard Deal, Angela Lamb, and
Billy Carlton find themselves possessed by the spirits of a long-dead plantation
owner, his wife, and a slave, respectively.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 42
November 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Strange Fruit” (22 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inkers: John Totleben, Ron Randall
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Abby Cable (next appears in issue #44)
Intro: Alice’s father, R. David Pratt, Tom Stazer, James Wheeler, and
other zombies (only appearance for all)
Other characters: Angela Lamb, Billy Carlton, Charlotte Wesley, William,
Dennis Linder, Alice (last appearance for all)
Villains: Richard Deal (dies in this story), Wesley Jackson (last appearance)
Synopsis: Swamp Thing senses that Robertaland’s tragedy, the skinning
of William the slave, has produced a psychic pattern that is forcing the
movie cast to replay the original incident.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 43
December 1985
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Windfall” (23 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Stan Woch
Inker: Ron Randall
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
Supporting Character: Chester (first and only appearance; New Earth
Chester appears first in issue #?)
Intro: Dave, a junkie, manager of the Anchor Inn (only appearance for
all), Sandy (dies in this story)
Cameo appearances: Patchwork Man, Conclave’s robot, General Sunderland,
Monkey King, Charlene, Anton Arcane, an Un-Man, Ian MacCobb, an alien (as
hallucinations)
Villain: Milo Flynn (first appearance; dies in this story)
Synopsis: Chester, a naturalist and sometime drug dealer, retrieves
one of the tubers which Swamp Thing had grown and dropped from his body
some time ago. He divides it into three parts. One part goes
to his friend’s dying wife Sandy, who eats it and psychedelically becomes
one with the world before dying. Another part goes to an uncouth
drug abuser, who relives the horrors of Swamp Thing’s life and dies when
he is hit by a truck. Chester decides against trying the third portion
himself.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 44
January 1986
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Bogeymen” (22 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inkers: Ron Randall, John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
GS: Batman (last appearance in NEW TEEN TITANS (2nd series) #13, pg.
19; next appears in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #5), Steve Dayton (Mento;
last appearance in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #4; next appears in NEW TEEN
TITANS (2nd series) #22), John Constantine (last appearance in CRISIS ON
INFINITE EARTHS #4)
Supporting Character: Abby Cable (between issues #42 / 47)
Intro: Number 165 (dies in this story), Jeannie Tucker, Numbers 1,
58, 132, 97, 12, 33, 71 (all in flashback; dead before the events of this
story; seen only as eyes)
Villain: The Bogeyman (first appearance; dies in this story)
Synopsis: In Louisiana, a man is murdered by a serial killer who calls
himself the Bogeyman, and who remembers most of his victims only as eyes
and as numbers in what order he has killed them. But a short cut
the Bogeyman takes brings him into contact with the Swamp Thing.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 45
February 1986
Cover: Swamp Thing //Stan Woch / Alfredo Alcala
Story: “Ghost Dance” (22 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Stan Woch
Inker: Alfredo Alcala
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: John Constantine
Intro: Rod, Judy (both die in this story), Ed Clutty, the Dutchman,
Franny Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Weatherby and their two daughters, and
other ghosts, David, Linda, a gun shop owner (only appearance for all)
Other Characters: Benjamin Cox (last seen in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING
#37), Frank North (last appearance in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #38)
Synopsis: Two couples in San Miguel, California come to the deserted,
six-acre mansion of Amy Cambridge, long-dead family member of the Cambridge
Repeater Rifle designer’s family. Legend has it that the house is
haunted by the ghosts of all who were slain by the rifle...and the legends
are accurate.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 46
March 1986
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “Revelation” (22 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Steve Bissette
Inker: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (appears isochronally with pages 6-10
of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #5)
GS: Alex Luthor, Phantom Stranger, Batman, J’onn J’onzz, Hawkman, Elongated
Man, Little Sure Shot, Jonah Hex, Aquaman, Eclipso, Kamandi, Negative Woman,
Blackhawk, Creeper, Cyborg, Sargon (all appear isochronally with CRISIS
ON INFINITE EARTHS #5), Ambush Bug (last appearance in AMBUSH BUG (mini-series)
#1; next appears in AMBUSH BUG STOCKING STUFFER #1), Enemy Ace (last appearance
in UNKNOWN SOLDIER #264; next appears in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #7),
John Constantine
Cameo appearances: Adam Strange, Hourman II (by mistake; neither is
present on the Monitor’s satellite at this time), vampires of Rosewood,
Illinois (in flashback)
Other Characters: Sister Anne-Marie (last appearance in SAGA OF THE
SWAMP THING #37; dies in this story), Benjamin Cox (last appearance; death
revealed in issue #48), Frank North
Intro: Liver-Eating Johnson and one of his mountain men, a Jackboxer,
some mutated animals from Kamandi’s Earth (only appearance for all)
Villains: The Brujeria (seen only in John Constantine’s story; first
appearance), the Invunche (last appearance in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #37),
Clyde Barrow of Earth-One (last appearance in SUPERBOY #149; last appearance),
Rag Doll, Eclipso, the Mist (all isochronally with CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS
#5)
Comment: This story crosses over with CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #5.
Synopsis: With Earth beset by apocalyptic disasters during the Crisis
on Infinite Earths, John Constantine transports himself and Swamp Thing
to the Monitor’s satellite. There Alex Luthor is chairing a mass
meeting of superhumans. Later, back on Earth, Constantine reveals
that their real enemy is the Brujeria, a group of sorcerors who intend
to “bring back their Entity” and attempt to destroy Heaven.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 47
April 1986
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The Parliament of Trees” (22 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Stan Woch
Inker: Ron Randall
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Original Swamp Thing (last appearance in HOUSE OF SECRETS #92;
last appearance), John Constantine
Supporting Character: Abby Cable (last appearance in issue #44)
Intro: Jack-In-the-Green (Alf Oldland; origin retold in flashback),
“The Heap” of Earth-One (Albert Hollerer; origin retold in flashback; not
named in this story, but patterned closely after the original Heap in Hillman’s
AIRBOY COMICS), several other swamp elementals (including dopplegangers
of Marvel’s Man-Thing and Skywald’s Heap; only appearance for all, but
some may have appeared in flashback in issue #33), Howard Fleck, Marty
(only appearance for both)
Villains: The Brujeria (mostly behind the scenes)
Synopsis: John Constantine leads the Swamp Thing to the Parliament
of Trees in Brazil, which is composed of swamp elementals of the past (including
Alex Olsen, the original Swamp Thing) who have taken root to grow in peace
as trees. When the Swamp Thing asks to learn how to thwart the Brujeria,
they reject him as too naive and expel him from communion.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 48
May 1986
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “A Murder of Crows” (22 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: John Totleben
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: John Constantine
Supporting Character: Abby Cable (last appearance; New Earth Abby Cable
first appears in issue #51)
Intro: Peggy Long, Teddy Madden (only appearance for both)
Other Characters: Frank North (dies in this story), Deanna French (last
appearance in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #38), Tim Carburton (last appearance
in SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #37)
Villains: The Brujeria, the Invunche (last appearance in issue #46;
probably dies in this story), Judith (last appearance in SAGA OF THE SWAMP
THING #37; transformed into a crow-like Voladora in this story)
Comment: The deaths of Benjamin Cox and his mother are revealed in
this story.
Synopsis: John Constantine and Swamp Thing invade the lair of the Brujeria,
but are too late to stop the sorcerors from turning Judith, a turncoat
“ally” of Constantine’s, into a crow-being and sending her aloft with a
deadly “pearl”.
Swamp Thing (2nd series) No. 49
June 1986
Cover: Swamp Thing //Stan Woch / Alfredo Alcala
Story: “The Summoning” (22 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Stan Woch
Inker: Alfredo Alcala
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing
GS: Baron Winters (last appearance in NIGHT FORCE #14), Deadman, Demon,
Dr. Occult, Phantom Stranger, Sargon, Spectre, Zatara (last appearance
for all in CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #12), Mento (last appearance in NEW
TEEN TITANS (2nd series) #22), Zatanna (last appearance in JUSTICE LEAGUE
OF AMERICA #?; origin details revealed in this story), Dr. Fate (last appearance
in INFINITY, INC. #?), John Constantine
Supporting Character: Inza Nelson (last appearance in INFINITY, INC.
#?; last appearance)
Villains: The Brujeria, Judith (all die in this story), Abnegazar,
Rath, Ghast (last appearance for all in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #206),
a ghost, two demons (only appearance for all)
Synopsis: The Swamp Thing is able to destroy the Brujeria with plant
life, then escapes with John Constantine. Then they begin to rally
other mystic heroes to deal with the menace about to be unleashed.
But none are unable to stop Judith from dropping the black pearl into the
chaos-waters of Hell and arousing the entity pent within.
Saga of the Swamp Thing No. 50
July 1986
Cover: Swamp Thing //Steve Bissette / John Totleben
Story: “The End” (40 pages)
Editor: Karen Berger
Writer: Alan Moore
Artists: Steve Bissette, Rick Veitch, John Totleben, Tom Mandrake
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Tatjana Wood
Feature Character: Swamp Thing (last appearance; New Earth Swamp Thing
appears first in next issue)
GS: Abel (between BLUE DEVIL #20 / 29), Cain (between BLUE DEVIL #26
/ 29), Deadman (last appearance; New Earth Deadman first appears in ?),
Demon (last appearance; New Earth Demon first appears in ?), Dr. Fate,
Spectre (both next appear in LAST DAYS OF THE JUSTICE SOCIETY SPECIAL #1),
Dr. Occult (last appearance; New Earth Dr. Occult first appears in ?),
Baron Winters (last appearance; New Earth Baron Winters first appears in
?), Phantom Stranger (last appearance; New Earth Phantom Stranger first
appears in ?), Zatanna (next appears in ?), Mento (next appears in NEW
TEEN TITANS (2nd series) #?), Sargon, Zatara (both die in this story),
John Constantine (last appearance; New Earth John Constantine first appears
in next issue)
Other Character: The “Cosmic Hand” (last appearance (?) in GREEN LANTERN
#40; last appearance)
Villains: “Evil” (first and only appearance), Abnegazar, Ghast (last
appearance for both), Rath (dies in this story), various demons (last appearance
for all)
Comment: Even though the story in next issue continues without a break
from this one, the great restructuring of reality which takes place in
this story implies that the division between Earth-One and DC’s New Earth
takes place just after this story. Thus, the next appearances of
all cast members will be counted as the first appearances of the New Earth
characters.
Synopsis: While John Constantine and his crew conduct a deadly seance
to monitor the action, Swamp Thing and the mystic heroes of Earth meet
in Hell to enter one by one into the essence of Evil and attempt to answer
a question about the purpose of its existence.