Swamp Thing 1 (series 1) Indonesian trading cards

Another sheet of pure, uncut Indonesian trading cards arrived, just in time for Christmas. I’ve finally found the time to translate the cards and I’ve been itching to do so ever since they arrived. This sheet tells the story of Dark Genesis from Swamp Thing #1 (1972). I was so excite to, A) find another sheet of Indonesian cards, and B) that they are directly related to the comic series, unlike the first sheet I obtained which I believe was tied to the live action TV series. I have not been able to find a whole lot of information regarding the origin of the cards but I was told that an Indonesian artist created the artwork. This new sheet provided an exciting, new piece to the puzzle though; the press. The logo of the press that printed both trading card sheets can be found on cards #1 and #28. Gunung Kelud, an Indonesian based press, specializes in offset printing, packaging and screen printing. They claim to be “the pioneer in printing and packaging business in Indonesia”. I contacted them last weekend to try and find out when the sheets were printed but I have yet to receive a response. I’m guessing the sheets were printed in the early/mid ’90s but I will keep you posted. A volcano is depicted within their logo. The press is named after the volcano sharing the same name. The volcano is quite impressive and worth reading about. “More than 30 eruptions have occurred since 1000 AD.”

As I’ve mentioned numerous times in previous posts, I love fan/amateur art. For as crude and rough as the drawings can be, they are equally beautiful. The passion and effort that goes into them is terrific. Whenever I see a piece involving Swamp Thing, I feel the need to track it down. This sheet isn’t exactly fan-art but it is quite crude in spots, especially how Swamp Thing is drawn. To celebrate this style, I’ve decided to pair Wrightson’s original artwork with the cards so you can see what the unknown, Indonesian artist was influenced by when creating the cards.

This sheet, like the other, is in great shape and the colors are quite vivid.

The Story
Swamp Thing #1 (series 1) 1972
Dark Genesis

The Cards
Card 1
<<Beginning of Human Sludge>>
Swamp Thing

Card 1 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 16, Panel 1

Card 2
<<A barn, isolated in the midst of a silent forest>>

Card 2 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 3, Panel 2

Card 3
<<In the barn is a laboratory inhabited by Dr. Alec and his wife Linda>>

Throughout the cards, Dr. Holland is called Alec as well as Alex. I’m not quite sure why.
Card 3 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 3, Panel 3

Card 4
<<For the lab, there is a watchdog named Lieutenant cable>>

Card 4 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 4, Panel 1

Card 5
<<For a few days, Dr. Alex’s imagination starts to run wild for a secret chemical ingredient>>

Card 5 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 5, Panel 2

Card 6
<<They manage to make the discovery to allow for a fertile desert>>

Card 6 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 5, Panel 3

Card 7
<<Dr. Alex thought Lt. Cable left and came back. He guessed wrong>>

Card 7 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 5, Panel 5

Card 8
<<Gangster, Ferret wants to buy the formula from Dr. Alec>>

Card 8 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 6, Panel 1

Card 9
<<Ferret tries to force Dr. Alec to sell it but to no avail>>

Card 9 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 6, Panel 4

Card 10
<<Ferret hears the roar of Cable’s car and runs>>

Card 10 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 7, Panel 1

Card 11
<< Lt. Cable advises to be more careful when opening the doors>>

Card 11 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 7, Panel 3

Card 12
<<Lt. Cable returns to his car. Dr. Alec proceeds to work on his discovery>>

Card 12 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 8, Panel 1

Card 13
<<Soon, a suspicious sound comes from the front doors>>

Card 13 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 8, Panel 2

Card 14
<<like something is breaking down the doors. Dr. Alex is ready, with rifle in hand>>

Card 14 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 8, Panel 4

Card 15
<<it turns out that it’s just a stray dog. Linda wants to keep it>>

Card 15 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 9, Panel 1

Card 16
<<Criminals put a mini radio on the dog that Dr. Alec accidentally let into the barn.>>

Card 16 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 9, Panel 4

Card 17
<<The Gangster boss hears Dr. Alex talk.>>

Card 17 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 10, Panel 2

Card 18
<<Ferret orders Alec to sell the formula, Alec tells them to leave.>>

Card 18 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 11, Panel 1

Card 19
<<From behind, Ferret’s friend hits Dr Alec in the back of the head.>>

Card 19 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 11, Panel 2

Card 20
<<While Dr. Alec is unconscious, Ferret instructs his friend to set Dynamite.>>

Card 20 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 11, Panel 3

Card 21
<<Dr. Alex begins to wake up hearing a strange ticking sound>>

Card 21 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 11, Panel 4 & 5

Card 22
<<Dr. Alec sees a bomb mounted under the table, he tries to pick it up.>>
“Arcel” seems to be written at the bottom of the panel but it’s not very clear. I’d love to know if this is the name of the artist.

Card 22 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 11, Panel 6

Card 23
<<The bomb explodes alongside Dr. Alex and his chemical concoction.>>

BWAROOOOMM! translates to BLAAAR

Card 23 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 12, Panel 1

Card 24
<<Poor Dr. Alec runs from his lab, looking for safety.>>

Card 24 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 12, Panel 3

Card 25
<<Only god knows what happened. He was in pain, splashing into the marsh waters.>>

Card 25 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 12, Panel 4

Card 26
<<Grieving, Linda and colleagues thought Dr. Alec’s body was destroyed.>>

Card 26 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 13, Panel 1

Card 27
<<After the burial, Linda returns to the laboratory with the dog and Lt. Cable.>>

Card 27 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 13, Panel 2

Card 28
<<It is now raining outside. There is something emerging from the marsh.>>

Card 28 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 14, Panel 2 & 3

Card 29
<<From the marsh, the monster begins to rise.>>

Card 29 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 14, Panel 5

Card 30
<<He is Swamp Thing. He looks toward the lab>>

Card 30 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 17, Panel 2

Card 31
<<Confused, the dog runs out of the lab. Linda and Lt. Cable begin to chase>>

Card 31 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 17, Panel 4

Card 32
<<Cable finds the dog and is hit with a hard object.>>

Card 32 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 18, Panel 3

Card 33
<<Linda returns to the lab and is caught by Ferret.>>
In this version of Swamp Thing’s origin, Linda does not get shot and killed. Instead she faints and is later retrieved by Swamp Thing.

Card 33 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 18, Panel 5

Card 34
<<Swamp Thing comes to help Linda. He pursues Ferret who is escaping>>
The first panel on card 34 depicts Swamp Thing holding Linda who has fainted. Swamp Thing #1 does not contain a panel that looks similar to the one on the card but the cover of ST #3 looks pretty close.

Part 2: ST #3, Cover & ST #1 Page 20, Panel 4

Card 35
<<Ferret and his men are beat. He remembers the bomb at the lab.>>

Card 35 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 21, Panel 1

Card 36
<<Swamp Thing tells Lt. Cable about Linda who has fainted. He passes on into the woods.>>

Card 36 Inspiration: ST #1 Page 23, Panel 3 & Page 24, Panel 2