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In the pre-Moore comics, Swamp Thing is basically a body-horror gag.

The relative lack of material on Swamp Thing seemed to reflect the fact that writers never really knew what to do with him. That might seem like a lot - and it did feel like a long haul at times - but if I wanted to read every appearance of even a third-tier character like Hawkman, even within a limited timeframe of a decade or so, I would quickly be overwhelmed by an uncontrollable profusion of material. Then there are 19 issues in the series Moore would take over, entitled Saga of the Swamp Thing, which revived the character in the 80s to capitalize on the fact that someone got the crazy idea of making a Swamp Thing movie. There are also a handful of guest appearances in other titles. After a one-off story in a horror anthology series, there are 24 issues of the original Swamp Thing series from the 70s, which was ultimately cancelled. All in, there are about 50 issues featuring Swamp Thing prior to Alan Moore’s run. This had the benefit of giving me a feeling that one can rarely experience in the comic book world - completion. Readers less invested in the details of decades-old comics are therefore encouraged to scroll down to the heading “The Political Theology Part.”Īfter getting through his entire run, I decided to go back and read the earlier Swamp Thing comics, just to see the straw that Moore had woven into gold. In fact, reading back over my post, I realize I’ve allowed my enthusiasm perhaps too free a rein, resulting in more plot exposition that is strictly necessary. Aflame, he runs into the swamp, where the bio-restorative formula from his lab turns him into a plant-based swamp monster.įrom this unpromising, borderline nonsensical starting point, Moore crafted stories of remarkable creativity and emotional depth - they are honestly some of the best comics I have ever read, maybe even better than Watchmen itself. Holland notices the dynamite strapped under the table just a second too late and is caught in the explosion. Someone plants a bomb in the lab in order to sabotage the project. His origin goes like this: scientist Alec Holland and his wife Linda are working on an advanced bio-restorative formula in a remote lab in the Louisiana bayou. Better known for Watchmen, Moore is one of the true comic book auteurs, and I was fascinated that he got his start writing for what has to be one of the most ill-conceived characters in comic history. Over Christmas break, I read one of the great literary classics of our time: Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing.