The Comic Book Trivia Quiz (1977) This week I’m in Cleveland, and with every trip, a thorough exploration into the local comic shops is a must. Being the birthplace of Superman creators, Jerry Siegel and… More
Swampy Production Pages
Fellow collector, Robert Barbieri was kind enough to pass these pages along to me. The production pages were used for Swamp Thing 5 (1973) “The Last of the Ravenwind Witches”. Based on the coloring style, the acetate production transparencies were most likely used for a trade paperback. I’m unsure which tpb or the year they were created but am really excited to add them to the collection.
Used during the print production process, the two transparent sheets house the text bubbles and final artwork. I photographed the sheets on a white comic backing-board for clarity sake. To see the sheets interacting, view this video.
Swamp Thing Garbage Pail Kids
Last we saw Swamp Thing on a Garbage Pail Kids card was in 2014. Now he’s back, amongst the “Oh The Horror-ible 80s Sci-Fi” series of sticker trading cards. Swampy is represented by, Swamp Bing & Sammy Swamp. Sammy Swamp appears to be some sort of booger variant card. Look for the cards in stores.
Card 1a: Swamp Bing
Card 1b: Sammy Swamp
Starlog 48 – Casting ‘81 Swamp Thing
Starlog 48 (1981)
As you know, I love Swamp Thing articles and ads, big and small alike. This instance being the latter, Starlog Magazine delivers another Swamp Thing mention. This time, a brief statement regarding the feature film from 1981.
Across the science-fiction universe and deep within the Star-Studded Notes portion of the magazine, Swamp Thing producers Avco Embassy make a key casting announcement.
The Phil Hester Test Pages
This weekend I had the opportunity to catch-up with artist/writer, Phil Hester at the 3rd annual SiouxperCon. Last month, Phil mentioned finding some old Swamp Thing pages (circa 1994) that he’d created for DC Comics in trying to get the on-going Swamp Thing gig. I was chomping at the bit to see these DC test pages and perhaps purchase a few. I’m happy to say that I came home with four beautiful pages.
Friday night kicked things off. The wonderful folks of the Wednesday Comics Podcast held a live recording from the convention. I was fortunate enough to take part in the show that was comprised of a series of comic-themed games. I was on Hester’s team and thrilled to hear that we would be playing Pictionary.
The planets aligned; Phil was tasked with drawing Swamp Thing, I guessed it immediately for the point, and was lucky enough to take Phil’s Pictionary sketch home with me.
The following day, and excited beyond words, I met-up with Phil to get a look at his Swamp Thing test pages. I ended up purchasing 4 of the 7 pages. Below are the beautiful pieces that now hang on my walls. It’s an honor to have a piece of DC history as well as Phil’s artistic process from a time when he was still digging into the comic book industry. Thanks Phil!
Swamp Thing ran off and joined the pirates
Harley Quinn 50
Harley Quinn Destroys DC Continuity
Swamp Thing has been popping up in various titles lately but Harley Quinn’s “Extra-Sized Anniversary Issue”, 50 has been the zaniest of them all. Swampy appears two separate times within the book, drawn by John Timms and John McRea, respectively.
It’s all hands on deck as Harley’s mixed up in a continuity kerfuffle. The book, written by Sam Humphries, features 15 artists teamed-up to tell a topsy turvy tale rooted in fandom. Sam Humphries does a great job poking fun at the DC continuity issues of late. Oh, and Harley is out to find her mother as well.
Swamp Thing appears in the title page spread along with a slew of other DC characters, emerging from a melting pot of Elseworlds. John Timms draws a great Swampy!
Timms also does a killer Swamp Thing shoulder. Within one of the panels on the title page, Harley passes Swampy and I believe she may be calling him a “jerkweed”. We can only hope.
Later in the issue, Harley angrily stomps across the deck of a pirate ship. She comes upon a melee at sea as she fights her way through a backdrop of ever-changing Elseworlds/continuity shifts. Swamp Thing arrives on the scene to do battle! John McRea creates some great features, blending Swamp Thing with the pirate ship.
Pixel Elixer Pledge Pin
From Pixel Elixer and Lightyear Entertainment; the Return of Swamp Thing pin is here! This month, the enamel pin has been making its way into mailboxes everywhere. Get one while they last if you haven’t already. shop Pixel Elixer here
“This 2″ soft enamel pin comes with dual yellow rubber clutches, back logo stamp and comes bagged on a glossy, double-sided backer card.” -via Pixel Elixer
With the release of the Return of Swamp Thing soundtrack and dvd earlier this year, this pin adds to the excitement in celebrating the best comics character in all the land.
Backing card, sans pin
An All-time Swamp Thing Reunion via Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo Team-Up 40 (2018)
How’s Bayou?
It’s a team-up and reunion of epic proportions for Swamp Thing and his friends. Swampy fans will enjoy revisiting some old friends…
Sholly Fisch kicks the book off with a tip of the hat to Alan Moore and it is wonderful. The elaborate, poetic description works as a fun flashback for Swamp Thing fans, as if revisiting the era of issue 34. I was truly elated opening to the first page to see the writing style.
Fisch provides a number of glorious Swamp Thing moments in this book. He makes my year by creating a fun connection between the Swamp Thing and Scooby-Doo Universes. Below, Shaggy mentions that Chester Williams is his uncle. I nearly fell out of my chair in excitement; such a fun pairing between the two hippies. For those not familiar, Chester is an old friend of Swamp Thing and Abby, since he first appeared in Swamp Thing 43 (1985). He’s one of my favorite characters and am so happy to see him back, sharing pages with Swamp Thing.
Scooby and the crew are down in Louisiana looking to solve the mystery of rumored zombies within the swamp. They’re quickly alerted to a group of brainwashed workers held captive by a Voodoo Queen. It’s a typical, entertaining Scooby-Doo plot filled with numerous special guests. The Swamp Thing themed scenario is a walk down memory lane for fans of Alan Moore era Swampy.
The book has more twists than a pig’s tail. Eluding the zombies, Scooby and crew look for help from an old swamp friend but Solomon Grundy is on the scene as well. Continue reading “An All-time Swamp Thing Reunion via Scooby-Doo”
