Non-US Editions

Dossier Negro – Spanish Collected Edition

Published on March 19, 2022April 24, 2022 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Dossier Negro was a Spanish comic magazine published between 1968 and 1988. The series featured original stories but for the most part, it collected and reprinted horror comics. Swamp Thing appeared in Dossier Negro issue #207 in 1987. I’ve been on the hunt for issue #207 for a number of years but this edition is the closest I’ve come to obtaining it. This book collects issues 204-207 and was published in 1988.

The last and best comic in this book, as you can see from the image below, features a painting by Bernie Wrightson. The cover of Dossier Negro Issue #207 may look familiar because it first appeared on the wrap-around cover of issue #1 of DC’s Roots of the Swamp Thing-a five-issue limited comic series that reprinted the first 10 issues of Len Wein & Berni Wrightson’s classic first Swampy series.

Oddly enough, Dossier Negro #207 does not reprint Wein & Wrightson’s work, but features the seminal sotry, ”Anatomy Lesson” by Moore, Totleben & Bissette. Below are photos from the interior.

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It’s a Mi Gran Aventura Sunday

Published on June 20, 2021June 30, 2021 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

It felt like a great day to pull out some of my Mexican, Mi Gran Adventura pocket books… so I did! These little beauties measure 14cm x 19.37cm, and were published by National Periodical Publications, Inc. The logo, EN can be seen in the corner of each book cover. It stands for Editorial Navaro, the imprint.

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Above are issues #153, 155 and 158 of the Aguila series. “Aguila”, is an indicator of the size of the book. If I recall, Navaro released Mi Gran Aventura books in a couple different sizes.

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I’m not a Mexican comics wiz/know-it-all, but the kind folks over at the Global Comic Safari are. Check out this link where they break down some of the Mexican Navaro formats.

Mi Gran Aventura #2-153, Serie Águila (June 1977)

This copy of #153 has seen better days but I’m thrilled just to have a copy in my collection. The book reprints, Swamp Thing #9 The Stalker From Beyond (April 1974) along with a backup story. The Stalker From Beyond was written by Len Wein. Bernie Wrightson handled the artwork.

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An Original Hindi Swamp Thing Story

Published on December 17, 2020December 31, 2020 by Roots of the Swamp Thing4 Comments

Fort Comics Digest #27 – India (circa 1995)

The title translates to, Churning of the Ocean. It’s an original Swamp Thing story written by Mahesh Dutt Sharma and illustrated by Baney Singh Rathod. I am absolutely thrilled to share this book with you. It’s rare to find an original, published Swamp Thing story outside of what DC permits, but they do exist. The few that I’ve come across are within the Indonesian trading cards: Manusia Rawa #1 & #2, and the Animated Series origin story within the DC/LCA Entertainment Style Guide. The latter wasn’t published for public consumption and the Manusia Rawa stories were not sanctioned by DC Comics. I’m guessing, Churning of the Ocean wasn’t sanctioned either.

It took some years but I was finally able to find a copy of this book a couple weeks ago. The pocket-sized comic hails from India and it contains an original Swamp Thing story in Hindi! Until now, I don’t believe it’s been available translated into english. Fellow Swamp Thing fanatic, Rich Handley assisted in getting the book translated. If not for Rich, I’d just be sharing photos of pages from the book. Because I’m mildly obsessed with our favorite muck-man, I photoshopped each page and placed the english translation so you can read along.

Notes: As the book progresses names of certain characters are abbreviated to acronyms to save space. I apologize for the poor angles of many of the images/panels. I did not wan’t to compromise the condition of the book/flatten spreads for better photographs.

To view a .PDF file of the original Hindi book: Click Here
To view a .PDF file of the translated book: Click Here

1 copy 2 copy 3 copy

In this book Swamp Thing is called, Deva Shakti. The translation I was given is, “Powerful God” or “God Power.” The character differs from Swamp Thing in a couple ways, as you will find in this story. The title page above reminded me of Martin Pasko’s monster from Saga of the Swamp Thing #4. Although the monster isn’t all that similar to Pasko’s, later on in the story you will find Rick Veitch and Alfredo Alcala’s wonderful work has been mimicked. Continue reading “An Original Hindi Swamp Thing Story” →

Batman Official Annual 1981

Published on September 15, 2019March 5, 2020 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Batman Official Annual 1981 – UK

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Brought to you by Egmont Publishing, this UK edition collects a few fun Batman stories. I had to have this well-used, 62-page, hardcover because it features Swamp Thing #7 “Night of the Bat” by Bernie Wrightson & Len Wein AND it was 99¢.

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The book includes a game, Batman trivia, as well as panels and covers from past Batman comics (“Vintage Views”, pictured below).
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The three stories featured in the Annual are, “The Threat of the Two-Headed Coin” originally printed in Batman 258 (1974), “Night of the Bat” (1973), and “The Riddle of the Man Who Walked Backwards”, originally printed in Batman 277 (1976).
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Avec la Creature du Marais!

Published on January 29, 2019February 28, 2019 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Spectral – French Pocketbooks
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These two French pocketbooks look similar but are indeed different. The Spectral Album on the left is twice the size of the Spectral Bimestriel (bimonthly) on the right. Both books contain many of the same collected horror stories, along with Swamp Thing #33, “Abandoned Houses”, but the larger Album houses the Swamp Thing Annual #2. Let’s jump in…

Spectral Bimestriel (Bimonthly) 14 (1987)

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This 80-page, French pocketbook edition was produced by French publisher Aredit (formerly Artima) in conjunction with Eclipse Comics. The book reprints Swamp Thing #33 “Abandoned Houses” along with other mystical, horror stories. To read details about “Abandoned Houses”, see my previous post of the original issue.
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Other stories within the book include, “Zatanna the Magician” from Adventure Comics #413 (December, 1971) by Swamp Thing co-creator Len Wein. Gray Morrow takes care of visuals.
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Continue reading “Avec la Creature du Marais!” →

Swamp Thing’s Brazilian Super Powers

Published on November 25, 2018February 8, 2019 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Super Powers 6 (1987)
O Monstro Pântano

Swamp Thing comes by way of Brazil, in this awesome pocketbook edition. The 80-page beauty collects issues 29-31 of Alan Moore’s run. The collected stories highlight the Anton/Abby Arcane resurrection story arc; Love and Death, A Halo of Flies and The Brimstone Ballet. The stories are collected under the Super Powers series, from Editora Abril.

Editora Abril is a Brazilian publisher and printing company. Most of the comics editions within my collection, from Brazil, were produced by Editora Abril.

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Historia de los Comics 33

Published on April 11, 2018April 25, 2018 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Historia de los Comics 33 (1982)

The Spanish magazine provides a glimpse into the history of comics, including profiles of some of comics greatest artists. This issue highlights Swamp Thing and features a portion of Swamp Thing 2, The Man Who Wanted Forever. The reprinted story is translated and recolored.

Bernie Wrightson’s profile:

Below, I attempted to translate the featured Wrightson interview:
“In the horror stories that I draw, the characters perish more to real people than Kirby characters, or that of much of the publications of Marvel. Many of the Marvel magazines present superheros, the local means that the type that hits is super strong and, what is equally important, the one that receives the blow is also super strong, is able to endure it. It is as if two brick walls hit each other. What I want to say is that there is a lot of action and fights and dazzling lights and vigorous lines. I prefer the cause and the effect. I prefer that each action has an equal and opposite reaction, which means that if someone hits your head, your brain falls to the ground. and you die bleeding.
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Horror 32

Published on February 20, 2018April 11, 2018 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Horror 32 (1989)

This amazing, black and white, oversized, Yugoslavian, Swamp Thing edition is awesome! The racy cover distracts from the killer Swamp Thing stories within but it is beautifully done. For those offended by the female form, and the dragon monsters who love them, I’ve blocked out the woman’s breasts. On to the book!

The Yugoslavian Edition reprints Alan Moore’s #25+26 of the second series. The oversized book, with its black and white artwork is stunning. As if it didn’t before, John Totleben and Stephen Bissette’s artwork really jumps off the page in this format. Below are some of my favorite pages from this edition. To read more about these specific issues, visit, Swamp Thing 25 and Swamp Thing 26.

“Čudovište iz Crne Lagune” rougly translates to, “A Monster from a Black Lagoon”
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Wrightson’s Danish Edition

Published on October 28, 2017November 5, 2017 by Roots of the Swamp Thing2 Comments

Wrightson’s Swamp Thing 2 (1979)
Patchwork Manden

Mail call!
These two oversized Danish editions arrived in the mail today and I’m thrilled to finally have Wrightson’s Swamp Thing 2 – Patchwork Manden

I was able to track down issue 1, Alec Hollands Sære Skæbne a while ago and it is as awesome as issue two. Issue 1 and two reprint the first two issues-respectively- of Swamp Thing, series one.
The oversized books show off Wrightson’s amazing ability and talent. I’ve included some of my favorite panels, below.

The Patchworkman makes his debut!
Technically, this isn’t the first panel he appears in, I just love this one.

Bernie’s drawing of the shadows and lighting in the next two panels has always blown me away.

A very early appearance by Abigail Arcane.
It’s no wonder she became such a strong character. In this black & white format, her strong shock of black hair is almost iconic.

Back cover

La Cosa del Pantano – Parte 1

Published on October 1, 2017October 15, 2017 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

La Cosa del Pantano – Parte 1 (2014)

This awesome Brazilian edition is part one of a seven book series collecting some of Alan Moore’s greatest ST stories. Parte 1 features issues 21-24.

I’m very grateful in receiving this book, along with two other Brazilian Swamp Thing editions, from fellow Swamp Thing fanatic, @palta_heart! He had some extra copies and I was happy to give them a home.

I’ll share the other two Brazilian reprints in the future.

ST 21 The Anatomy Lesson

ST 22 Swamped

Continue reading “La Cosa del Pantano – Parte 1” →

La Creature Des Marais 2

Published on April 9, 2017July 26, 2017 by Roots of the Swamp Thing2 Comments

La Creature Des Marais Tome 2 (1979)

This French edition collects issues 6-10 of Wrightson and Wein’s series 1 run. Like many oversized, non-US editions the book is black and white. The art work is beautiful. The black and white editions really highlight Wrightson’s craftsmanship.

The cover features the House of Secrets 92 cover. It appears to have been recolored.

Book 1 of this series features issues 1-5 (series 1). I’ll be sharing it later on.

Artwork from the cover of Swamp Thing 3 appears on the title page.

Swamp Thing 6 (1973)
A Clockwork Horror

Swamp Thing 7 (1973)
Night of the Bat
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Superband 9: Swampy’s in Germany

Published on March 13, 2017July 26, 2017 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Batman – Superband 9 (1979)
Ein Monster Sieht Rot!

Swamp Thing appears in this fantastic, oversized German edition. It collects a number of Batman stories and Swampy’s appearance falls within “Ein Monster Sieht Rot!” , originally printed in Swamp Thing 7 (1973). A fellow Swamp Thing fan let me know that this is Swampy’s first appearance in a German comic. I thought that was pretty darn cool!
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The cover of the book is unique in that it references the Swamp Thing story, “Night of the Bat” but does not use the original cover. I love finding non-US editions that feature reinterpreted Swamp Thing covers.
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While thumbing through the book, I was really surprised to see this cool centerfold. The image comes from Detective Comics 410, drawn by Neal Adams, with Dick Giordano on inks.
1224F523-5211-4118-9AC3-25840FD1B13B Continue reading “Superband 9: Swampy’s in Germany” →

Läderlappen 9

Published on October 3, 2016August 4, 2017 by Roots of the Swamp ThingLeave a comment

Läderlappen 9 (1976) – Sweden
Utrym Gotham City

Another wonderful book arrived in the mail today; this one from Sweden! Läderlappen 9 features a reprinting of The Brave and the Bold #122. Like most non-US editions, I enjoy how they are re-colored with the panels slightly re-arranged to facilitate translations. This book did a bit of both and I’m looking forward to comparing and contrasting it with the original publication.
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