It’s been over a month since I’ve posted because life has been busy in the best way possible. I started a new job-which keeps me very busy-and our son turned one in July. His endless curiosity paired with a passion for tearing and tasting paper makes it difficult to read physical comics around him. But, I’m still keeping up with my favorites and have also been enjoying, Comics and the U.S. South by Qiana J. Whitted and Brannon Costello. More on that anthology after this cool illustration by John Gholson!
You probably recognizeJohn Gholson’s name from Holland Files. He has contributed to every issue. He is a huge Swamp Thing fan and is extremely talented. Earlier this week, John tagged me on Twitter with this illustration. I’m so grateful and touched by his words.
As if this week couldn’t get more Swamptastic, a Swamp Thing sticker arrived in the mail yesterday.
The 4” x 5” sticker was released in the early 90s, in conjunction with the short lived Swamp Thing animated series. I’m assuming the stickers would have been available in sticker vending machines. I was fan of the quarter slot sticker dispensers when I was a kid in the 80s. I loved the thick cardboard that sandwiched the sticker.
Another Swamp Thing related book that I’ve been enjoying lately is, Comics and the U.S. South (2012) by Qiana J. Whitted and Brannon Costello. Comics and the U.S. South provides an insightful exploration into how life and culture in the South is represented in comics. The book is filled with scholarly essays that are beautifully crafted. Whitted and Costello wield a vocabulary that sent me thumbing through the dictionary a couple times-which I find exciting.
I’m writing an essay for the next issue of Holland Files. It explores Jason Woodrue’s history in relation to Alec Holland/Swamp Thing. My essay primarily focuses on how Woodrue could have effected Holland becoming Swamp Thing.
I tell you all that to tell you this: I’m sharing my Woodrue chronology (that goes to 2017) below. I’m hoping that other Floronic Man fans will notice an appearance that I’ve missed and I can add it to my reading list. I’ve been rereading every Woodrue appearance to document in my essay, and I want to be sure I cover all my bases. Note: My essay focuses on Woodrue up to the late 80s (after Alan Moore’s redefined Swamp Thing). This is why I’ve stopped my Woodrue chronology at 2017… laziness. Enjoy, and thank you -John
The following list of appearances includes Jason Woodrue of New Earth & Earth Prime July 1962 – March 2017
The Atom Vol 1 1 – July 1962
The Atom Vol 1 24 – April 1966
Justice League of America Vol 1 61 – March 1968
Limited Collectors’ Edition Vol 1 C-41 – January 1976
The Flash Vol 1 245 – November 1976
The Flash Vol 1 246 – January 1977
Super-Team Family Vol 1 14 – January 1978
Cancelled Comic Cavalcade Vol 1 2 – September 1978
Secret Society of Super-Villains Vol 1 11 – December 1977
Secret Society of Super-Villains Vol 1 12 – January 1978
Secret Society of Super-Villains Vol 1 13 – March 1978
Secret Society of Super-Villains Vol 1 14 – May 1978
Secret Society of Super-Villains Vol 1 15 – July 1978
Justice League of America Vol 1 166 – May 1979
Justice League of America Vol 1 167 – June 1979
Justice League of America Vol 1 168 – July 1979
Justice League of America Vol 1 195 – October 1981
Justice League of America Vol 1 196 – November 1981
Justice League of America Vol 1 197 – December 1981
Swamp Thing Vol 2 21 – February 1984
Swamp Thing Vol 2 22 – March 1984
Swamp Thing Vol 2 23 – April 1984
Swamp Thing Vol 2 24 – May 1984
Swamp Thing Vol 2 30 – November 1984
The Best of DC Vol 1 61 – June 1985 (Reprints Swamp Thing #21 Anatomy Lesson)
Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 8 – October 1985
Crisis on Infinite Earths Vol 1 9 – December 1985
Swamp Thing Vol 2 52 – September 1986
Swamp Thing Vol 2 66 – November 1987
Doctor Fate Vol 1 2 – August 1987
Batman Vol 1 415 – January 1988
Infinity Inc. Vol 1 46 – January 1988
Detective Comics Vol 1 582 – January 1988
Millennium Vol 1 2 – January 1988
Batman: The New Adventures 415- January 1988
Millennium Vol 1 3 – January 1988
Millennium Vol 1 4 – January 1988
Secret Origins Vol 2 23 – February 1988
Millennium Vol 1 5 – February 1988
Justice League International 10- February 1988
Millennium Vol 1 6 – February 1988
Superman 14- February 1988
Millennium Vol 1 7 – February 1988
Blue Beetle Vol 6 21 – February 1988
Green Lantern Corps Vol 1 221 – February 1988
Teen Titans Spotlight: Starfire 19 – February 1988
Millennium Illustrated Index 1 – March 1988
Millennium Illustrated Index 2- March 1988
Forever People 6- July 88
Who’s Who: Update ’88 Vol 1 2 – September 1988
New Guardians Vol 1 1 – September 1988
New Guardians Vol 1 2 – October 1988
New Guardians Vol 1 3 – November 1988
New Guardians Vol 1 4 – December 1988
New Guardians Vol 1 5 – December 1988
Black Orchid Vol 1 1 – December 1988
New Guardians Vol 1 6 – Holiday 1988
Swamp Thing Vol 2 82 – January 1989
Secret Origins Vol 2 36 – January 1989
New Guardians Vol 1 7 – February 1989
Invasion! Vol 1 2 – February 1989
Invasion! Vol 1 3 – March 1989
New Guardians Vol 1 8 – April 1989
New Guardians Vol 1 9 – June 1989
New Guardians Vol 1 10 – July 1989
New Guardians Vol 1 11 – August 1989
New Guardians Vol 1 12 – September 1989
Swamp Thing Annual Vol 2 5 – 1989
Swamp Thing Vol 2 91 – January 1990
Who’s Who in the DC Universe Vol 1 3 – October 1990
Who’s Who in the DC Universe Vol 1 6 – January 1991
Guy Gardner Reborn Vol 1 1 – July 1992
Green Lantern Vol 3 32 – November 1992
Green Lantern Vol 3 33 – November 1992
Green Lantern Corps Quarterly Vol 1 4 – March 1993
Justice League of America 72- March 1993
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Vol 1 43 – March 1993
Swamp Thing Vol 2 132 – June 1993
Superman & Batman Magazine Vol 1 3 – December 1993
Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 56 – November 1996
Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 57 – December 1996
Batman: Shadow of the Bat Vol 1 58 – January 1996
Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing Vol 1 1 – November 1996
Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing Vol 1 2 – December 1996
Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing Vol 1 3 – January 1996
Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing Vol 1 4 – February 1996
Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing Vol 1 10 – August 1996
Swamp Thing Vol 2 166 – May 1996
Swamp Thing Vol 2 167 – June 1996
Swamp Thing Vol 2 169 – August 1996
Swamp Thing Vol 2 170 – September 1996
Starman Vol 2 33 – August 1997
Starman Vol 2 34 – September 1997
Starman Vol 2 35 – October 1997
JLA Secret Files and Origins Vol 1 1 – September 1997
Batman: Poison Ivy – 1997
JLA 80-Page Giant Vol 1 1 – July 1998
Swamp Thing Annual Vol 2 4 – November 1998
Millennium Edition: Saga of the Swamp Thing Vol 1 21 – November 2000
Joker: Last Laugh Vol 1 1 – December 2001
Joker: Last Laugh Vol 1 3 – December 2001
Joker: Last Laugh Vol 1 4 – December 2001
Joker: Last Laugh Secret Files and Origins Vol 1 1 – December 2001
Outsiders Vol 3 6 – January 2004
Dc Comic Presents The Atom #1 – October 2004
Identity Crisis Vol 1 3 – October 2004
Enginehead 3- August 2004
DC Comics Encyclopedia – 2004
Batman: Gotham Knights Vol 1 65 – July 2005
Son of Vulcan Vol 2 1 – August 2005
JLA Vol 1 115 – August 2005
JLA Vol 1 116 – September 2005
JLA Vol 1 117 – October 2005
JLA Vol 1 118 – November 2005
JLA Vol 1 119 – November 2005
Infinite Crisis Vol 1 7 – June 2006
Amazing Adventures of the JLA – June 2006 (This story is reprinted from JLA 80-Page Giant #1)
Swamp Thing Vol 4 28 – August 2006
Swamp Thing Vol 4 29 – September 2006
The All-New Atom Vol 1 12 – August 2007
Countdown Vol 1 37 – August 2007
The Essential Batman Encyclopedia – 2008
DC Comics Encyclopedia: Updated and Expanded – 2008
Joker’s Asylum: Poison Ivy Vol 1 1 – September 2008
Superman/Batman Vol 1 51 – October 2008
Trinity Vol 1 30 – December 2008
Trinity Vol 1 32 – January 2009
Trinity Vol 1 35 – January 2009
Trinity Vol 1 39 – February 2009
Trinity Vol 1 40 – March 2009
Titans: Villains for Hire Special Vol 1 1 – July 2010
Gotham City Sirens Vol 1 8 – March 2010
Justice League of America Vol 2 45 – July 2010
Animal Man Vol 2 13 – December 2012
Swamp Thing Annual Vol 5 1 – December 2012
Swamp Thing Vol 5 16 – March 2013
Swamp Thing Vol 5 21 – August 2013
Swamp Thing Vol 5 22 – September 2013
Swamp Thing Vol 5 23 – October 2013
Batman Black and White Vol 1 1 – November 2013
Swamp Thing Vol 5 24 – December 2013
Swamp Thing Annual Vol 5 2 – December 2013
Swamp Thing Vol 5 25 – January 2014
Swamp Thing Vol 5 26 – February 2014
Swamp Thing Vol 5 27 – March 2014
Swamp Thing Vol 5 35 – December 2014
Swamp Thing Vol 5 40 – May 2014
Secret Origins Vol 3 9 – March 2015
Convergence: Swamp Thing Vol 1 1 – June 2015
Sinestro Vol 1 19 – March 2016
DC Comics Encyclopedia: All-New Edition – October 2016
Batman and Harley Quinn Vol 1 3 (Digital) – November 2017
Harley Quinn and Batman Vol 1 4 (Digital) – November 2017
Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth Vol 1 1 – March 2017
A couple weeks ago, Stan Chu (a fellow collector from Toronto, Canada) contacted me to share some amazing letters that he’d found at his local comic shop. The first letter, intended for DC Comics freelancers, was written by-then President of DC-Jenette Kahn in1986. Amongst other things, her letter discusses the transition from the “Sophisticated Suspense” label on the Swamp Thing series to the introduction of the “For Mature Readers” label. Check it out below, and thanks again Stan!
DC Comics – Letter to Freelancers
Page 1 of Letter to Freelancers by Jenette Kahn – DC President and Publisher
Below, Kahn mentions Swamp Thing! After all, the wild success and craftsmanship put into the Swamp Thing series helped DC to distance themselves from the Comic Code. “Almost anything in a comic book is acceptable if appropriate to the characters, the storyline and the way the story is told.”
Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland (2011)
I’ve had this book on my ‘want list’ for a while and I finally picked it up while traveling through Omaha, Nebraska last week. I took the family to the Omaha zoo, but not without a stop at Krypton Comics. The store is covered, wall-to-wall, with awesome books, collectibles and games. I bought a couple Swamp Thing series 1 books as well, to be sure our muck-encrusted friend was represented.
Front Cover – Dust Jacket
The title page is a Bolland illustration that features some the more notable characters he has worked on. Naturally, Swamp Thing made the cut.
Below is a detail from the title page.
If you pick up a copy of this beautiful hardcover book, be sure to take off the dust jacket for these two amazing black and white reproductions.
Last week, artist and fellow Swamp Thing fanatic, Jeff Gauntt let me know of a Swamp Thing sighting within Comics Journal magazine. Swamp Thing and a thorough interview with Len Wein can be found within this Super Summer Special!
“Interview with Len Wein, DC’s newest editor and one of comics’ most prolific writers!” The interview begins with a deep dive into how Len Wein got his foot in the door of the comics industry. As most of you know, Len had a close relationship with Marv Wolfman and the two finally broke through with the help of Joe Orlando in 1968. The first series that Len wrote was, Hot Wheels for Charlton Press. Alex Toth was the artist for the Hot Wheels series at the time. But, Neal Adams, Ric Estrada and Dick Giordano also contributed to the series.
Swamp Thing made his way into the background of the feature interview illustration. Newsome depicts Swampy looking exceptionally toothy and tired.
Wein worked on numerous titles in his early years in comics and was published by Charlton, Gold Key, Skywald, DC and other smaller publications. He worked on Star Trek for Gold Key and, with help from his friend Marv Wolfman, revived Phantom Stranger for DC.
Wein didn’t start writing Phantom Stranger, regularly, until about 10 issues in. And, Wolfman barely contributed to the series. But, Len mentions that he was eagerly waiting in the wings. Wein’s talent, hard work and making himself available, proved to pay off immensely for the writer and creator throughout his career.
On page 77 of the lengthy interview, Swamp Thing is finally brought up. I was surprised to read that Wolfman thought Wein was a better writer on Phantom Stranger
Swamp Thing appears again on page 78 of the book. The illustration is by Mitch O’Connell. The page also features insightful info regarding Wein & Wrightson’s creative process while making Swamp Thing.
Two wonderful Swamp Thing things came my way this week and I’m excited to share them with you. First, I received this amazing Cranius pin in the mail. The enamel pin is a dream come true. I’ve always wanted more Cranius collectibles, and the leader of the Un-Men only has a handful to speak of.
Thank you to everyone who left a comment for the giveaway. I loved reading your responses and am excited to announce the winners of the McFarlane Swamp Thing figures.
The first comment chosen at random was from Brandon Jernigan. Brandon answered the following question, What character would you cast yourself as, in any film or tv show starring Swamp Thing?
The second comment chosen at random was from Bill Stewart. Bill stumbled upon the bonus entry page, and answered the question, Who is your favorite writer (other than Alan Moore) to work on the Swamp Thing comic book?
Thank you for visiting rootsoftheswampthing.com and participating in the giveaway. Stay tuned for more fun giveaways in the near future.
Mediascene #8 – January/February 1974 Sure, this issue of Mediascene is focused on Pin-Ups but Swamp Thing made the cut as well!
Jim Steranko’s Mediascene newspaper-style publication always delivered amazing art and comics/media information. I acquired a hefty stack of back-issues a few years ago and I’m still digging through them for Swamp Thing sightings and posters I’d like framed. In 2018 I posted a Bernie Wrightson interview from Mediascene #16 (1975). It’s a fun and insightful read.
In this issue, Swamp Thing can be found buried behind all the Pin-Up information and art. But, I’m going to lead with it. As you can see, the awesome full-page image is a grayscale reproduction of Swamp Thing #11 ”The Conquerer Worms.” Matt Cable tries his best to be brave.
The large Swamp Thing image appears within the upcoming (in 1974) comics portion of Mediascene. It is the only place Swamp Thing appears in the paper.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when Holland Files makes its way into mailboxes around the world. I hope everyone is having a healthy and enjoyable holiday season. This year the Swamp Thing fanzine came in at 60-pages. It’s packed with fan fiction, articles, essays, poetry and more. Holland Files 6 features pages from, ”Daphne” the seldom seen, unpublished Swamp Thing and Poison Ivy story by David Sexton. Mike Perkins provided this years beautiful cover and you’ll recognize numerous contributing artists from swampy’s past, including John Totleben, Phil Hester, Yanick Paquette, Alvaro Martinez Bueno and Mike Rooth. Many thanks are due to all who contributed this year and those who’ve supported the book over the years. It’s hard to believe Holland Files is on it’s sixth year and that Swamp Thing turned 50 in 2021. Here’s to you and yours, and the new year to come.
If you would like to order a copy of Holland Files, please email hollandfileszine@gmail.com. Books are $10 each +shipping. Issues 1-6 are currently available. Thank you, John
It’s that time of year again! Holland Files #6 (the international Swamp Thing fanzine) is now available to preorder. This year’s cover is by current Swamp Thing artist, Mike Perkins. His beautiful cover holds 50+ pages of Swamp Thing art & articles by Swamp Thing fans from around the world. Books are $10 and shipping is $2 within the US. Please contact me for international rates. Holland Files ships all over the world.
Email Hollandfileszine@gmail.com to preorder your book today.
First off, I’d like to thank everyone for participating in the Halloween giveaway this year. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to list your favorite halloween/horror films. I’ve compiled an amazing list of movies thanks to your comments and I can’t wait to watch them. Here is a link to the contest comments so you can do the same. Below is the winner!
Congratulations, Shawn Vandiver for being randomly chosen to win the Halloween giveaway. Your Hammer recommendation is a classic! I wanted to be sure the winner received the Swamp Thing DVD in time to enjoy for Halloween so your DVD will be shipped this weekend.
I hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween. I can’t wait to see all the fun costumes on social media.
I’m thrilled to share this recent arrival with you and it’s perfect for the Halloween season. The beautifully gruesome artwork is by, Richard Luong. The familiar looking, limited variant covers are featured on issue #10 of the Department of Truth series. The covers are homages to Bernie Wrightson’s House of Secrets #92, as well as the design of the masthead on the right.
James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds are the creative team behind Department of Truth and it’s a pretty good series so far. If you like cryptids and conspiracy theories you may really enjoy the title.
I ordered the set of books in June and they finally arrived this week. I’m not sure what caused the delay, but they are well worth the wait. I’ve noticed other Swampy fans sharing their books on various social media platforms and was thrilled to see them in person. Richard Luong’s artwork is an amazing reimagining of Bernie’s cover of Swamp Thing’s first appearance. I’d love to hear what Gail Simmone thinks of her reinterpretation. Maybe Tom Kleve will run into her and ask for me.
Halloween is around the corner and I’m getting excited for all the treats. I’m also excited to giveaway a Swamp Thing DVD to one lucky person. The DVD is a Halloween Walmart release. The really cool monochromatic slipcover contains the recent (tragically cut short) live action series. The DVD does not feature any new material. I believe the Halloween slipcovers replaced the original slipcovers (seen later in post). Walmart basically slapped some really cool lipstick on my favorite pig and called it Halloween. But, its a really cool slipcover. the details are awesome. I’m a mark for this kind of stuff. And now you can have one too!
How to get the Halloween DVD:
Answer this question in the comments section below. What is your favorite Halloween and/or Horror movie? We’re looking for movies to watch while handing out candy and working on Holland Files 6! One person will be chosen at random and the results will be announced next weekend, Saturday, October 16th. I’ll post the results here on rootsoftheswampthing.com as well as on social media.
My local Walmart didn’t carry this great Halloween release (slipcover modification), but I was lucky to receive these two DVDs from fellow Swamp Thing fan, Adam. And thanks to Adam, I can give one of them away. I’ll be sending the one on the left to one lucky person next weekend.
Below are images of the back of the slipcover and the DVD within.
The 4” x 5” sticker was released in the early 90s, in conjunction with the short lived Swamp Thing animated series. I’m assuming the stickers would have been available in sticker vending machines. I was fan of the quarter slot sticker dispensers when I was a kid in the 80s. I loved the thick cardboard that sandwiched the sticker.
rootsoftheswampthing.com 