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| “ | Dr. Alec Holland had all the answers... he was an intelligent man... but Alec Holland is dead... and in his place stands only a... SWAMP THING! | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing. |
| “ | I stand as the avatar of plant life so that no one else who actually would harm the balance can have that role. And when you fight me, you fight the plant life of the whole world. | „ |
| ~ Prime Earth Swamp Thing. |
Swamp Thing is a fictional superhero in the DC Universe and comics. He is elemental-swamp monster that is the protector of the Green and often absorbs the memories of many people, most notably Dr. Alec Holland. He is also the partner of the occultist John Constantine and the superhero Animal Man, and a member of the Justice League Dark.
Bernie Wrightson and Lein Wein created Alex Olsen and Alec Holland's Swamp Thing, Alan More and Stan Woch created Albert Höllerer's Swamp Thing, Doug Wheeler and Pat Broderick created Tefé Holland's Swamp Thing, Mike Hoffman and Wheeler created Allan Hallman's Swamp Thing, Jon J. Muth created Aaron Hayley's Swamp Thing, as Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette created Calbraith A.H. Rogers' Swamp Thing.
The character first appeared in House of Secrets #92 in July of 1971, as Alec Holland's Swamp Thing first appeared in Swamp Thing #1 in October-November of 1972.
Origin[]
Once, there was a man. A man named Alec Holland.
A brilliant scientist, Holland was perfecting a formula designed to turn deserts bloated with forests... until a bomb planted by enemies destroyed his lab, lighting him on fire. In desperation, Alec fled into the swamp, hoping to put the flames out. Though he was too late to save his own life, the Parliament of Trees transferred his memories into a new body made entirely of vegetation. Initially thinking himself to be merely transformed into a "muck-encrusted mockery of a man", Alec sought to return to his human form... only to discover the truth years later.
Now, Alec protects the swamp from those who would harm both it and its inhabitants. Do NOT bring your evil into the swamp... or else, you'll face the wrath of... the Swamp Thing!
Biography[]
Background[]
Not much is known about Alec Holland's past, but he is the son of Larry and Alice Holland, and is the brother of Edward Holland. In adulthood, Alec became a biochemist, and later met a woman named Linda Olsen Ridge from his senior Dr. Jordan Schiller. Despite being a previous relationship with Schiller, Linda turned her attention to Alec after Jordan ended their romance due to their age difference. Following their marriage, Alec and Linda became scientific partners, and Holland accepted a job at the Genomics Corporation.
Swamp Thing's Creation[]
While developing the bio-restorative formula in Lousiana, Alec and Linda were threatened by Conclave's leader Mister E. whom wanted their research. Alec refused, and Mister E. had a bomb planted in his laboratory, with the story being that they planted it there or his subordinates Maxwell Ferrett and Bruno. Alec survived the explosion, but due to being covered in his own formula, died when the swamp's plant life was affected by it. The Green also acted in Swamp Thing's creation, forming the Earth elemental to protect plant life since it was threatened. Due to absorbing the memories and consciousness of Alec, Swamp Thing initially believed himself to be the scientist, and started to search for "his" body. While Linda survived the incident as well, she was later killed by Ferrett to tie up loose ends.
Heroics[]
During his search for "his" body, Swamp Thing encountered the Romanian scientist Anton Arcane, and fought the supervillain and his Un-Men. Some time later, Swamp Thing was captured by General Sunderland and studied by Jason Woodrue for Holland's formula, and later wrote a report after learning of the Earth elemental's misconception. Before parting ways with Sunderland, he assisted Swamp Thing in escaping, and after reading the report, escaped to the marshlands. While sleeping, he learned of his connection to the Green, which was watched by Woodrue.
After Dr. Arcane's death, Swamp Thing developed a friendship with his enemy's niece Abby, whom became closer to him due to her marriage with Matthew Cable falling apart. During his friendship with Abby, Alec's spirit asked Swamp Thing to find his corpse and to give it a proper burial. Once Alec entered Heaven, Swamp Thing confronted his arch-nemesis once again, as Anton was possessing Matthew to fight his foe. During the confrontation, Swamp Thing convinced Matthew to fight off Anton, and the two discovered that the scientist had sent Abby's soul into Hell. Enraged, the Earth Elemental defeated Arcane, and traveled across Hell to save Abby' soul with the help of Etrigan.
Later on, Swamp Thing encountered John Constantine, whom advised him to go to several locations to stop supernatural threats. During the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, Constantine informed Swamp Thing that he wanted the elemental to see the effects of the incoming crisis. While seeing the start, the two were teleported to the Monitor's satellite by Lex Luthor, Jr., explaining of his plan to save their reality. Despite not officially taking part in the events, Constantine promised Swamp Thing that plant life would be protected from the reality crisis. Traveling to Brazil, Swamp Thing met Alex Olsen, the previous elemental, and learned of the history of the Green and each parliament board.
While battling the Great Darkness, Abby was forced to run away to Gotham City after the journalist Howard Fleck published pictures of her and Swamp Thing's relationship. With Gotham's law preparing to lock Abby away for crimes against nature, Swamp Thing arrived and held the city under hostage by growing plant life. Batman soon arrived to resolve the situation, but the elemental defeated him, and asked for Abby to be released. The Dark Knight then changed his tactics and successfully convinced the mayor to release Abby since she didn't break any crime, and Swamp Thing proceeded to remove the plant life from the city.
Upon reuniting with Abby, they were attacked by Dwight Wicker and the Defense Department Intelligence, wanting to avenge General Sunderland's death. Swamp Thing survived the attack when they attempted to kill him, but due to being locked out of the Green, turned into a alien-like creature outside of space. Suffering from loneliness, Swamp Thing created plants to resembled people he knew on Earth, but later destroyed them before departing to find other life. Reaching Rann, the elemental befriended Adam Strange, and saved the planet from its current drought. He later returned to Earth, reuniting with Abby and killing the man whom attempted to kill him.
Prime Earth[]
On Prime Earth, Alec is the son of Lloyd McGinn, whom abandoned his son when he five years old. At some point, Alec's mother married a man with the surname Holland.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Elemental-Physiology: As an Earth elemental, Swamp Thing is made of vegetable matter and plant life.
- Immortality: As long as there plant and vegetable life in the universe, Swamp Thing can live forever.
- Regeneration: Swamp Thing can regenerate his limbs.
- Astral Projection: He can communicate with the Green to create another body if his current one is destroyed.
- Elemental Control: The Swamp Thing has complete mastery over all forms of plant life and can command vegetative matter to do his bidding. Through this power, he is in constant communication with the very essence of the Earth and serves as the Plant Elemental for the entire planet.
- Superhuman Strength: The Swamp Thing's strength level is directly tied to his connection to the Earth. Occupying his most commonly used body, the Swamp Thing is capable of lifting volumes of mass many times greater than his own body weight. With additional power supplied to him by The Green, his ultimate strength level is nearly incalculable.
- Chlorokinesis: The ability to commune with plant life and to varying degrees control its growth and form. Summon forth vines to entangle or snare, and so on. A master of this ability can manipulate the microscopic algae inside of a person's body and use it to attack them from the inside out.
- Self-Sustenance: The ability to nourish oneself, typically via an external energy source. In Swamp Thing's case, likely through a form of photosynthesis.
Abilities[]
- Master Scientist: Holland is a master biochemist, having won a Noble prize at some point. Due to retaining Holland's memories, Swamp Thing is also skilled in chemistry and biology.
Portrayals[]
Films[]
- In the titular 1982 film, he was portrayed by Ray Wise and the late Dick Durock.
- Durock reprised his role as the character in The Return of Swamp Thing and the 1990 titular TV series.
- In the DC Animated Movie Universe, he was voiced by Roger R. Cross and John DiMaggio (who also voiced Bender Bending Rodríguez in Futurama, Marcus Fenix in the Gears of War series, and Jake in Adventure Time).
- Cross reprised his voice for the character in Justice League Dark: Apokolips War.
- Swamp Thing will be getting another movie of the same name. The movie will be part of the new DCU (DC Universe) multimedia franchise produced by James Gunn.
Television[]
- In the titular 1991 cartoon, he was voiced by the late Len Carlson.
- In Justice League Action, he was voiced by Mark Hamill, who portrays Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, and also voiced Corey Anders in Jeannie and Skips in Regular Show.
- In the 2019 TV series, he was portrayed by Andy Bean as Dr. Holland and Derek Mears as Swamp Thing.
- In Harley Quinn, he is voiced by Sam Richardson.
Video Games[]
- In DC Universe Online, he was voiced by Chilimbwe Washington.
- In Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, he was voiced by JB Blanc, who also voiced Hashirama Senju in Naruto video games and Hood Sickle in Skylanders: Imaginators.
- In Infinite Crisis, he was voiced by Michael Dorn.
- In Injustice 2, he was voiced by Fred Tatasciore, who also voiced Poseidon in 2005s God of War, Damon Baird in the Gears of War series, Nikolai Belinski in Call of Duty: Nazi Zombies, Mario Auditore in the Assassin's Creed series, and Zeratul in the StarCraft series.
Quotes[]
| “ | After all the suffering... and horror... I have witnessed... it is good... to see so many people... in one place... having a good time... | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing. |
| “ | Time... to do this... You asked me... who am I... that you should... be mindful of me... I AM SWAMP THING! | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing. |
| “ | You're right... I must teach... by example... Still... there must be a way... I can do justice... to both The Green... and my wife. | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing. |
| “ | You have made a mistake Arcane. Things have changed since you were dead. I am not Holland. I am Swamp Thing. I am of the clean Earth I am in my place of power. And you should not have COME here! | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing to Dr. Anton Arcane. |
| “ | You... evade... my questions... Constantine... This game... that you play... is dangerous... | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing to John Constantine. |
| “ | Be the Man of Tomorrow... and leave yesterday behind. | „ |
| ~ Prime Earth Swamp Thing. |
| “ | The swamp, is my world. It is who I am... it is what I am. I was once a man. I know the evil men do. Do not bring your evil here, I warn you. Beware the wrath of... Swamp Thing! | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing (Narrated in the 1990 TV Series) |
| “ | Good? Bad? I care little for humanity. But I do care... when my swamp burns! | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing in Injustice 2. |
| “ | You claim to serve the green, so why treat them as slaves? | „ |
| ~ Swamp Thing facing Poison Ivy in Injustice 2. |
Trivia[]
- Ranked 28th on IGN's "Top 100 Comic Book Heroes" list.
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