The long forgotten story, of Pasko’s 19 issue run of Swamp Thing, starts here.
Swamp Thing #1 starts of simple enough. The first issue is a recap of Swamp Thing’s origin. Much like Batman’s famous origin of seeing his parents murdered in front of him; Swamp Thing’s origin is one you’ll see time and time again as the series goes on. The details of the origin here, are simple: Alec and Linda Holland are working on a Bio-restorative Formula. Basically, it will allow completely baron and dry lands to produce vast amounts of plant life and fauna. A forest in the middle of a desert, so to speak. They locate themselves into a barn house in the Louisiana swamp, hiding from those that wish to steal their work. Eventually, the Hollands are located, and their work is vandalized by an explosive, while setting Alec in flames; and killing Linda. Alec dashes into the nearby swamp waters, that eventually “transform” him into the Swamp Thing.
It’s interesting to note the nature of this Swamp Thing. While later stories focus on Swamp Thing coming out of touch with his humanity; it feels like he is still Alec Holland here. He still reacts and moves like a human, and still believes he is human, forever trapped in the form of the Swamp Thing. Reading all the proceeding stories first, and then returning to these early stories, for me really strengthen the plot lines and writing that is seen in later works.
The first issue also sees Swamp Thing save a little girl, Casey from her father, who after killing her mother, is set on killing her as well. Swamp Thing intervenes, and the struggle between the two, proves fatal for Casey’s father. This happens to be a pattern, where Swamp Thing simply appears, and a character happens to get hurt, or die. Earlier in the issue, Swamp Thing attempts to save a mother bear, from drunken hunters, only to enter into a brawl with the hunters. In the second issue, Swamp Thing is blinded by a fast moving vehicle, and accidentally causes the boy driver to fly out of the car, into the ground. Angering the locals of the town “Limbo”. I also find it humorous that Swamp Thing hears a strange noise, and investigates, simply because he has “nothing better” to do. All the while, the father, and the townsfolk alike, accuse Casey of being a form of witch, and Swamp Thing possibly being a demon she summoned.
Casey is apparently a mute, but Swamp Thing feels she can reach into his mind, and later wonders if there is any truth to the townsfolk’s words. In the chaos that followed the injury of the boy and his vehicle, a mysterious man kidnaps Casey, and sets a trap for Swamp Thing, who is captured by Sunderland Co. Swamp Thing is tested an experimented on, as they know his identity as Alec Holland. Casey and Swamp Thing eventually escape, and sneak on a train toward Rosewood. I’d also like to mention here (issue #3 now), how in each issue, they make a note to recap the last issue. (* See last issue!) I notice this happens quite often in comics of this era, and I can’t help but wonder why. Considering if they are referencing something in issue #3, it probably happened in issue 1 or 2. (And this was the case for the previous issue as well. And yes, I understand it’s most likely because every comicbook might very well be someone’s first. I just enjoy taking a jab at it.)
As they enter Rosewood, they are attacked by teenage vampires. Swamp Thing pushes away an attacker on the train, and they fall on a broken wooden crate, and it impales them. All the deaths so far are similar to this. Clumsy and almost humorous; where Swamp Thing usually pushes, dashes, or jumps for his safety, and someone is too close, or falls the wrong way, leading towards their doom. It’s almost like a fatal horror slapstick comedy. By the end of the issue, Swamp Thing is separated from Casey, and Rosewood has been entirely flooded. However it would return in Alan Moore’s run. Swamp Thing notices a news report of where Casey is, and goes to look for her. I should mention here, Swamp Thing’s attachment to Casey, is due in part because it gives him a sense of purpose, as well as making him feel “like a man again.” Casey displays more of her “powers” while Swamp Thing uses his alone time to wonder if he really is dying* (*See issue 2! Because you probably didn’t read it, and started reading on issue #4 for some reason! No but really, apparently he’s slowly dying. -Snes) Swamp Thing also considers perhaps his “obsession” with Casey, could be because she has a “lock” on him, or in other words, used her powers to make him feel like he needs to be her protector. I just want to say…there’s a part at the end of issue #4, where Swamp Thing is put up on a meat hook (in a slaughter house), and it’s rather funny. I can’t describe why, it feels goofy and clumsy and enjoyable at the same time. Anyway, his run in with the current monster-of-the-month puts him in a bad state, and he is sent away to people who can surely help him…Sunderland Co.
Swamp Thing ends back up fighting off Sunderland Co. where they’ve been doing some interesting experiments, mutating their employees. I should mention here, there’s been a book published about Swamp Thing, by author, Lizabeth Tremayne, who met and sent Swamp Thing to Sunderland, and eventually, helps him escape. In all of this, Casey is taken back to her home town, where Swamp Thing and Liz follow. Casey’s mother is revealed to be alive…and then dies. Before she does however, she reveals how it’s important that they do indeed kill “Casey”, who’s name is actually, Karen Clancy (K.C, I’ll just continue calling her Casey). It’s also all confirmed Casey does indeed have unusual powers, and is using the Swamp Thing for something.
Swamp Thing and friends, are eventually taken into an island of dreams…or old movies, specifically King Kong. It makes for a really good shot of Swamp Thing in the pilot’s seat…literally. Issue #8 is a nice little homage to old movies, even including a movie poster shot at the end, and opening with a little recap of the gang.
And so in issue #9, we learn the truth about Casey, as she can now set people on fire with her mind (nice). She’s actually trying to bring about the end of the world…or something. I’m more focused on how many times they “plot twist” or simply just change Casey’s relationship with Swamp Thing. Now apparently, she never needed him as a bodyguard, but she wanted to see if she could use him. Having found someone else, she sets off for her plans to go into full motion. The gang eventually meets up with Casey, who can now speak through her mental powers, and is a force to dread. Swamp Thing feels guilty, because in a way, he is responsible for all of this. In case you don’t want to read issue 1-10…issue #11 does a great job at summing everything up. As well as explaining things a bit more. Casey is a “scout” of sorts, and they believe she isn’t really human. She took that form, to develop her powers. However, her powers develop with her physical maturation, and so she…somehow accelerated that. They don’t explain everything too well. And it doesn’t matter. She will bring about the end of the world!
Unlike other Swamp Thing stories I’m used to, it’s been interesting so far seeing that, this book isn’t only about Swamp Thing. In fact, many times it doesn’t even feel like he is the main character. We’re introduced to such a wide cast, of many tales and histories, it almost feels a little cluttered to be a Swamp Thing title. Alas, it’s enjoyable to see Swamp Thing interact with humans, and obtain friends.
By issue #12, Swamp Thing battles Casey, while his friends summon a Golem (according to Jewish legend) to help fight Casey. However, Casey flees, leaving the Golem to attack Swamp Thing, because of the pendant he has* (*See all previous issues, you obviously didn’t read! Seriously though, early on, Swamp Thing obtains Casey’s pendant, that’s almost like an extension of her soul, psychically. Which is why it attacks him). What an adventure it’s been. With Casey being an adorable little girl, to being the the herald of the Antichrist! Good times for Swamp Thing and his friends. One of which (Hint: It’s Liz) becomes possessed by Casey, after her body is finally weakened. It then jumps to Swamp Thing, before being it’s own energy…demon…thing. Which, now may be a good time to add what a fantastic job the artists did. I’m not well versed in the world of art, but I know good art when I see it. It’s easy to distinguish the variety characters, and their facial expressions. The setting, the environment, and the monsters, everything looks stellar, in that 80’s kind of way. It feels right, and it feels smooth.
Oh and yes, by the time we get, yet another recap of events in issue #13, it’s clear to me Casey fed off of the psionic powers of others to accelerate her growth. I knew those recaps would be useful for something. Swamp Thing and friends battle many demonic forces here, before finally finding victory over Casey. In a rather…lackluster manner. 13 issues for a story arc, and it all kind of just ends. There’s no big resolve, or major battle. Swamp Thing just realized he posses some of Casey’s power, via the pendant, and fights back, eventually winning. Hurrah for avoiding Armageddon.
Here’s a good time to explain the back up stories presented in these issues: The Phantom Stranger. These short tales are stand alone serials of sorts. Usually involving some sort of problem, or injustice, and the Phantom Stranger exposing it. A lot of the time, the Stranger feels a little like a crime pulp noir feature. Simply smacking someone, or holding them up against a wall in a dark ally, asking all the right questions. He always seems to know all the answers, but forces the “perp” to reveal them on their own. Obviously so the audience can understand the entire story, but in the plot, it feels like a cathartic way for the characters to break free of their “curse” or “hauntings”. There are a few two part stories, but overall they’re all stand alone, anthology like stories. Issue #14 promises the “crossover” between the two characters, but it really doesn’t feel like it. It still feels like part of the Phantom Stranger story, and then part of the Swamp Thing story. Oh and by the way, it was theorized that Swamp Thing can stop dying…by bathing in the swamp’s waters that created him. And it seemed to have worked. I wonder if that was planned to be a longer plot line, or a different story arc after the whole, end of the world thing, but just never panned out. It ends up sort of tacked on, to add more story to the arc.
Back to the Phantom Stranger and Swamp Thing, there seems to be sand appearing in the swamp, and a crystal monster fighting Swamp Thing. The issue ends with Swamp Thing being turned into a crystal statue, and the Phantom Stranger seemingly crumbling into crystal dust, to his death. Only not. He shrugs it off next issue, as being unable to die so easily. And Swamp Thing gets better via the bio-restorative formula. It’s moments like these that “cheapen” the story for me, removing all real sense of death and consequence to the characters. Whereas in the previous story arc, it was an extremely real possibility any character could die; it now feels like every character is immune to death. Meanwhile, the Crystal Man (Nat is his name, and no, his name isn’t officially the Crystal Man, it’s just the best way to describe him. Sounds like a boss out of Mega Man…) devises a plan to overtake all technology around the globe! (Evil crystal laugh here.) It sounds really tongue in cheek now, but considering the year and era, it really does come off as a sort of threat. Especially with his “crystal touch” that turns anyone into crystal. The Stranger appears now again, once more, always having the answers, simply making the characters bring light to their own truths and horrors.
Excited though I was for the Swamp Thing meeting the Stranger, this two part story arc was extremely underwhelming for me. It’s more of the monster-of-the-month formula, which I don’t mind, but there’s something off putting about this one. Perhaps it’s because it believes itself to be so clever, in which Nat is more of an internal monster, than an external one. Or maybe it’s just the fact that the Stranger hardly does anything, and in retrospect, there was no real threat to him. In contrast, issue #16 is a great read. It reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode, and focus on the inner beauty of a person. It helps define what is ugly, and beauty. And even if the twists are somewhat predictable, it’s still an enjoyable read, if only because we see Swamp Thing being able to be Alec Holland one more time.
There’s also an unusual mystery about Linda Holland’s grave being empty, and a little cameo from Abby Arcane! The foreshadowing! Interestingly enough, starting here, we aren’t just given recaps and footnotes that reference previous issues, but now we get footnotes, telling us things will be explained in FUTURE issues. Maybe people kept complaining mysteries were not solved that issue, and assumed they wouldn’t be solved at all. So editorial had to…I don’t know; it just comes off as silly. Oh and from here on out, the Stranger back ups ended. Issue #17 is pretty vital to everything that’s being going on. Linda’s body was taken for an autopsy, and never returned, Abby Arcane is now Abby Cable, married to Matt Cable, the man in charge of protecting the Hollands when they were working on the formula, and now a drunk, who has these projections of his fear and paranoia. I’d also like to add, this is the best the art has ever been in the series thus far. There are panels focusing on the eyes of Swamp Thing and Matt, that are both chilling and haunting, sobering and sullen. Of course, we receive one final plot twist at the end of the issue, as we see the return of the Un-Men, and their leader, Anton Arcane!
While I certainly poke fun at their decision to include little recaps every issue, and footnotes directing you to the previous issue; at times here, we are given these things, for the previous Swamp Thing volume, that ran a decade prior. This was certainly a great decision, as an entirely new generation of comicbook readers and Swamp Thing fans arose in those 10 years. Although I don’t think that increase of fans has anything to do with the film, I could be wrong. Issue #18 features kind of an odd story with Arcane. I mentioned previously that Anton Arcane can be seen as Swamp Thing’s “arch nemesis”, and he is constantly coming back from the dead, or curses, or hell, or whatever, just for a chance to duel Swamp Thing once more. His grotesque features, face and body are just the start to what makes him a threat. Combine with the fact he knows the Swamp Thing’s weaknesses, and how he’s usually equipped with a big plan to bring the green guy down.
Back to issue #18, I was pretty confused what was actually happening. From my understanding, we’re taken to a Flashback, where Arcane attacks Swamp Thing with his Un-Men (basically, his small army of men that look as grotesque as he does.) but disrupts the peace (and graves) of slaves that have been murdered here. The slaves return and take Anton back with them to the grave. It’s confusing because there seems to be a flashback, within a flashback. And while I described it briefly, this flashback actually happens over 95% of the issue. So you forget what was actually happening before the flashback, and when it’s over, it transitions so oddly. I certainly don’t mean to attack Pasko, if that’s how it’s coming off; but yet I can’t help but wonder if this was perhaps due to him being bored with writing the title. Swamp Thing fans often joke, saying when a writer has run out of ideas for Swamp Thing, simply bring back Arcane! While it certainly feels that way at times, I can’t say for certain why the need for an elaborate flashback story on Arcane.
Especially when in issue #19, Arcane explains what happens, without any need of the last issue. I did a double take, if you entire skip issue #18, and go from 17 to 19, you lose absolutely nothing. In fact, it works even better, because it makes it more eerie as to how Arcane was defeated. Basically, what happened is, Arcane’s body was split up, and stashed in several different graves. Other loyal Un-Men came and collected him, and tried to “rebuild him”, but they did so…poorly. Arcane, who’s purpose is to gain immortality, puts his studies to focus on insects, explaining his arachnid body, and why his Un-Men appear as unholy insect monsters, shown flawlessly by the artwork here, it’s top notch. Meanwhile, Matt and Swamp Thing discuss how Matt can project images from his mind and emotions into real beings.
Arcane travels in a large, dragonfly/mosquito sort of ship, with his insect Un-Men, and attack Swamp Thing and the Cables. Arcane intends to warp himself into the Swamp Thing’s body, in order to become truly immortal. However, his planned is sabotaged, and leaves Arcane in a dead state. Swamp Thing saves Abby as the Un-Men feast upon Arcane’s body. As they escape, Arcane’s ship crashes, and Abby questions if Arcane is truly dead this time (spoilers: No). And so, Swamp Thing must do one last thing. He must inspect the body. He must confirm that Arcane is indeed dead! To be continued…
But first, a look back. I went ahead and did any online research I could about this series, and the fans reception to it. I spent a few hours searching, and honestly I did not find much. I’m not sure if this is in part, because it was never collected all together as a series, or because it was considered a sub-par series, or because it is so greatly overshadowed by the far superior Alan Moore run, that these 19 issues are forgotten. Which is strange, given that Moore’s run begins right in the middle of everything. Obviously why issue #20 is titled “Loose Ends”. In any case, it feels like a vast majority of people have not read these issues. Overall however, my research does meet with my own opinions of the run. The artwork is masterful, and improves as the series goes on, and even mentions how a certain issue feels like a Twilight Zone episode. Something I didn’t consider however, is how Pasko did do something different: He took the Swamp Thing, out of the Swamp. Rarely in this run, is the setting a swamp. Instead being hospitals or labs, Nazi bases, or castles, towns and transportation. I have to give Pasko credit on creativity there. I also didn’t really notice how the series feels like a television run. With many characters, many sub plots, and a larger overarching plot that connects everything together. It’s no wonder then, that Pasko left this series, to work on television related…things. Stephen R. Bissette and John Totleben are the art team that works towards the end of the series, and is the reason the art makes a massive improvement as the series goes on.
Although the series isn’t as dark as future runs, there still are traces of it. And I don’t mean the teenage punk vampires. It’s subtle, like how they tortured Matt Cable, and left him mentally damaged. A lot of it does kind of come off as goofy though. The major arc is obviously Casey, but it always feels interrupted. The issues feel like “filler” but are a lot of fun as well, such as the Punk Vampires, or the two part, Sea monster that crashes into the boat-masquerade party, or a tribute of sorts to old movies and King Kong. It’s fun, but at the same time, by the next issue, I’ve already forgotten the Casey plot line, and some vital details. THANKFULLY, I didn’t need to go back, as every issue contained a series of flashbacks and recaps that reminded me over and over again, what I need to know. A lot of the series, though good, can also not be read at all. What I mean is, you could probably not read a single word of these 19 issues, and still understand what is happening panel by panel. This is where I give the art teams massive kudos and respect for being able to do something like that. It reminds me of the Marvel method, drawing first, and filling in the words later. The writing itself isn’t bad, and many times, it does sound like poetry. The plot however feels a bit muddled and disoriented. Again, the subplot about Swamp Thing slowly dying, along with Sunderland’s real goals/agendas/ect, really just add weight to the book, instead of depth.
I know there’s a few characters I didn’t even name, who arguably, contribute a lot to this series, but honestly, I really couldn’t care about them. We’re introduced to so many characters and back stories, and how they intersect, that it pulls myself away from the current story arc. Too many times do we spend half an issue, recapping, or telling a character’s backstory, that I no longer care or am concerned about what is currently happening. Swamp Thing, for the most part is treated like a creature of urban legend. You could easily replace him for something like the Bigfoot for most of these issues, to the same effect. I suppose I miss the issues that are to come, where he can reform and reshape himself, where he uses his powers to the full. So what’s my main conclusion? While certainly not bad, Pasko’s Saga of the Swamp Thing suffers from a lot, and honestly, while filled with good ideas, isn’t a good quality Swamp Thing series. It may be in part of editorial wanting to have a series, simply to promote the film (which the first few issues does a good job at reminding you there is a film. Specifically issue #2’s cover.), or it could be Pasko wasn’t really invested in the series, having only writen it for a year and some months. This title was heading towards cancellation due to poor sales, and that may be the reason why Arcane was indeed brought back: to arouse some interest in the title again. It didn’t work. The first few issues, though cheesy, and campy, are still a lot of fun and interesting. Where the next few (about #10 and on) feel dragged on and far weaker. We get one or two extremely solid issues in between, but ultimately I lost interest. The Cable’s were by far the most interesting of the characters to be featured, and it’s no wonder they continued to appear in issue #20, which is when the series was given to one Alan Moore, to do as he pleases with the series and character.
I still believe it’s a crying shame this series probably wont ever be collected. Even the title is a bit ruined, because the trade start at issue #20 of Moore’s run, is “Saga of the Swamp Thing: Volume ONE”. Unless they name these 19 issues, Volume Zero, or simply “Pasko’s Swamp Thing.” Still, even with Moore’s mighty run of the series, we don’t see too many special editions, anniversary editions, or even an omnibus! It’s unfair to say DC doesn’t care for Swamp Thing, as even in 2016, he still has mini series, and is featured in the Hellblazer series, but it certainly feels like he gets the shortest straw. On a final note, although Moore’s run does indeed start on issue #20, and does indeed wrap up a story arc, it can be read entirely stand alone. There’s no need to read these 19 issues to understand what is happening when Moore takes over (it’s all eventually explained anyway.) If you’re a Swamp Thing fan, and have the chance to read this run; do yourself a favor and do it. It may not be Moore, or Millar, or Snyder, but it certainly is Swamp Thing history.
COMIC BOOK HERETIC 