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Swamp Thing (1972) #1-13
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age, Vol. 1
Deep in the bayous of Louisiana, far from civilization's grasp, a shadowed creature seen only in fleeting glimpses roils the black waters...a twisted, vegetative mockery of a man...a Swamp Thing!
Created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, this shambling, muck-encrusted figure swiftly became one of DC's most iconic characters of the Bronze Age of Comics, and his shocking stories have become classics in the gothic horror genre. Now, for the first time, all of these legendary early adventures are presented here in a comprehensive trade paperback edition.
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 collects the original short story "Swamp Thing" from The House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13, featuring all of Wein and Wrightson's original run on the series and including art by Nestor Redondo, Michael Wm. Kaluta and Luis Dominguez.
Created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson, this shambling, muck-encrusted figure swiftly became one of DC's most iconic characters of the Bronze Age of Comics, and his shocking stories have become classics in the gothic horror genre. Now, for the first time, all of these legendary early adventures are presented here in a comprehensive trade paperback edition.
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Vol. 1 collects the original short story "Swamp Thing" from The House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13, featuring all of Wein and Wrightson's original run on the series and including art by Nestor Redondo, Michael Wm. Kaluta and Luis Dominguez.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
71 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Len Wein
1,587 books154 followersLen Wein was an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men (including the co-creation of Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus). Additionally, he was the editor for writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons' influential DC miniseries Watchmen.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
Wein was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
June 25, 2019
When scientist Alec Holland and his wife Linda are murdered to gain access to their bio-restorative formula, Alec rises from his watery grave as Swamp Thing!
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Volume one collects a story from The House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13.
Like a lot of people my age, my first exposure to Swamp Thing was the Wes Craven movie from 1982. I've read some of the Alan Moore issues but I've never read any of the originals until now.
I don't know if Joe Orlando's editorial direction had anything to do with it but Len Wein and Berni Wrightson (and later Nestor Redondo) crafted something that feels like a throwback to the EC horror comics of the 1950s. Wein uses a lot of captions for narrative effect, much like the EC comics, and Berni Wrightson's moody artwork is straight out of the Vault of Horror. Once I forgave Nestor Redondo for not being Berni Wrightson, I liked his art quite a bit as well.
Old Swampy goes from one calamity to the next, hitting many staples of the horror genre, like mad scientists, wizards, werewolves, aliens, robots, secret societies, and horrors from beyond the stars. Compared to today's tales, it feels a little rushed but that's part for the course. Wein and Wrightson embraced the monster of the week formula with great success. Seeds are planted that won't bear fruit until sometime later in the run. Hell, it takes much of the volume for Matt Cable to change his views on Swamp Thing and Abbie Arcane hasn't had much interaction with the muck-encrusted avenger yet.
This run of Swamp Thing is probably more influential than people give it credit for. This feels more like a Marvel book than a DC book. In fact, it feels like a horror take on The Hulk at times, making it a spiritual ancestor of The Immortal Hulk. Also, now that I've read this, it's pretty apparent that Sam Kieth was trying his best to channel Berni Wrightson in the early issues of The Sandman.
The ending left me wanting more but it was a satisfying stopping point. The relationship between Matthew Cable and Swamp Thing turned a corner and it left Swamp Thing in a good place. The wait for the next volume is going to be tough but I think I'll manage.
Len Wein, Berni Wrightson, and Nestor Redondo crafted a great piece of horror that somehow got through the comics code. Four out of five Un-Men.
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Volume one collects a story from The House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #1-13.
Like a lot of people my age, my first exposure to Swamp Thing was the Wes Craven movie from 1982. I've read some of the Alan Moore issues but I've never read any of the originals until now.
I don't know if Joe Orlando's editorial direction had anything to do with it but Len Wein and Berni Wrightson (and later Nestor Redondo) crafted something that feels like a throwback to the EC horror comics of the 1950s. Wein uses a lot of captions for narrative effect, much like the EC comics, and Berni Wrightson's moody artwork is straight out of the Vault of Horror. Once I forgave Nestor Redondo for not being Berni Wrightson, I liked his art quite a bit as well.
Old Swampy goes from one calamity to the next, hitting many staples of the horror genre, like mad scientists, wizards, werewolves, aliens, robots, secret societies, and horrors from beyond the stars. Compared to today's tales, it feels a little rushed but that's part for the course. Wein and Wrightson embraced the monster of the week formula with great success. Seeds are planted that won't bear fruit until sometime later in the run. Hell, it takes much of the volume for Matt Cable to change his views on Swamp Thing and Abbie Arcane hasn't had much interaction with the muck-encrusted avenger yet.
This run of Swamp Thing is probably more influential than people give it credit for. This feels more like a Marvel book than a DC book. In fact, it feels like a horror take on The Hulk at times, making it a spiritual ancestor of The Immortal Hulk. Also, now that I've read this, it's pretty apparent that Sam Kieth was trying his best to channel Berni Wrightson in the early issues of The Sandman.
The ending left me wanting more but it was a satisfying stopping point. The relationship between Matthew Cable and Swamp Thing turned a corner and it left Swamp Thing in a good place. The wait for the next volume is going to be tough but I think I'll manage.
Len Wein, Berni Wrightson, and Nestor Redondo crafted a great piece of horror that somehow got through the comics code. Four out of five Un-Men.
December 21, 2021
Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson lay a terrific foundation that Alan Moore would one day build off of. The Swamp Thing comes across Anton Arcane and his Un-Men in the second issue. He comes across the paths of witches, werewolves, Patchwork Men, elder gods and Batman during his travails from the Balkans back to the swamps of Louisiana. Bernie Wrightson's art is sublime. It's got this classic EC look to it. He really makes creatures like the Un-Men look horrific while giving Swamp Thing his iconic look. Wrightson leaves after issue #10. Nelson Redondo capably takes over for the last 3 issues but you can tell Len Wein's heart isn't in those last 3 scripts before he leaves the book as well. If you've ever wondered about the Swamp Thing's origins this still holds up very well.
October 2, 2014
A classic collection, important if you want to know what Alan Moore did with Swampy when he picked up the story. This collects Wein's original 8 page treatment that was a very popular feature when it came out in 1971. After some time, Wein came back and did 13 issues, and his idea was just that this was this green mossy monster. It wasn't imbued with all these environmental and mystical and serious IDEAS that Moore brought to the story to make it something profound. Comparing the writing and art, we see a not bad seventies horror comic vs. a kind of philosophical reflection on plant-human relations, grafting of species, love, eco-terrorism, and so much more. I give this 3 stars not because I loved it, but because it is important for comics history to have it as a resource, to have the origin, and to appreciate what Moore did to reboot comics in impressive ways.
October 6, 2025
Fourteen issues, 304 pages of full-color awesomeness awaits readers of the compilation “Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age, Vol. 1”, written by the comic book genius collaborators Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.
“Swamp Thing” didn’t start out in the pages of “Swamp Thing”. Swampy first appeared as a character in a short story in issue #92 of DC’s House of Secrets, a horror comic that paid homage to classic silver age comic titles like “Tales From the Crypt”.
Swampy fit into that horror niche quite well, but Wein/Wrightson couldn’t give him up. It is to the world’s betterment that they brought him back in a series of his own.
The story has been told numerous times, of how scientists Alec and Linda Holland were brutally murdered by villains after refusing to share their bio-regenerative formula; how Alec—-due to his own formula being splashed on him during the melee—-returns to life in the body of a plant-based creature, emanating from the primordial ooze of the Louisiana swamps; how Swampy tries to save his fellow humans from worse creatures and villains but is always pushed away due to the fact that he is terrifying to behold.
He is the tragic hero whose flaw is being so hideous and monstrous-looking that it prevents people from seeing the compassionate and loving human heart that beats within.
That, and he’s just friggin’ cool.
He battles werewolves, a Frankenstein-like monster, Arcane, killer robots, witches, an alien from outer space, a Swiss watch-maker, mutant worms, Southern racists, a Cthulhu-like monster, and even Batman. Oh, and he even travels back to prehistoric times to battle a T. Rex.
Name another single superhero who has done all that. Seriously, you can’t do it.
This first volume is brilliant. It would be another 30 or so issues before Alan Moore would take over as writer, but Wein’s writing and Wrightson’s artwork are fantastic. (Wrightson left for other projects after issue #10, but his replacement, Nestor Redondo, was a talented artist in his own right.)
“Swamp Thing” didn’t start out in the pages of “Swamp Thing”. Swampy first appeared as a character in a short story in issue #92 of DC’s House of Secrets, a horror comic that paid homage to classic silver age comic titles like “Tales From the Crypt”.
Swampy fit into that horror niche quite well, but Wein/Wrightson couldn’t give him up. It is to the world’s betterment that they brought him back in a series of his own.
The story has been told numerous times, of how scientists Alec and Linda Holland were brutally murdered by villains after refusing to share their bio-regenerative formula; how Alec—-due to his own formula being splashed on him during the melee—-returns to life in the body of a plant-based creature, emanating from the primordial ooze of the Louisiana swamps; how Swampy tries to save his fellow humans from worse creatures and villains but is always pushed away due to the fact that he is terrifying to behold.
He is the tragic hero whose flaw is being so hideous and monstrous-looking that it prevents people from seeing the compassionate and loving human heart that beats within.
That, and he’s just friggin’ cool.
He battles werewolves, a Frankenstein-like monster, Arcane, killer robots, witches, an alien from outer space, a Swiss watch-maker, mutant worms, Southern racists, a Cthulhu-like monster, and even Batman. Oh, and he even travels back to prehistoric times to battle a T. Rex.
Name another single superhero who has done all that. Seriously, you can’t do it.
This first volume is brilliant. It would be another 30 or so issues before Alan Moore would take over as writer, but Wein’s writing and Wrightson’s artwork are fantastic. (Wrightson left for other projects after issue #10, but his replacement, Nestor Redondo, was a talented artist in his own right.)
December 11, 2022
Neko je rekao: “Swamp Thing is one lonely mother-fucker.” I šta više može jedan retro džanki kao ja da poželi od stripa iz 1972. ako su glavne teme usamljenost i odbačenost. Prava poslastica.
Alek Holand a.k.a. Stvorenje iz močvare je bio naučnik koji usled eksplozije gubi svoju laboratoriju. Tokom eksplozije biva poprskan bioobnavljajućom formulom na kojoj je radio zajedno sa svojom ženom Lindom, i postaje čudovište.
Alek na svom putu u potrazi za odgovorima sreće mnoštvo neprijatelja, od ludog naučnika Arkanusa, vukodlaka, Betmena, vanzemaljca do M’nagala samoproklamovanog boga, koji je kako sam tvrdi, dotakao umove Lavkrafta i Poa.
Stvorenje je frankenštajnovski arhetip i tokom čitanja se tačno primećuju brojne sličnosti. Ono što je mene jako dotaklo u ovom stripu je ta emocija u Vinovom scenariju, i znam da to stalno guram u prvi plan, ali bez ljubavi koji je smisao? A ljubav je ono što Aleka održava i vodi kroz njegov mučan život. A Rajtson je to savršeno prikazao svojim crtežom, zaista vredno divljenja.
Inače strip je nastao kada su Vin i Rajtson oboje prolazili kroz težak emotivni period, a dobro je poznato da iz emotivnog rastrojstva nastaju najbolja dela. Najkreativniji smo kada patimo. Samim tim, oseća se koliko ovaj strip ima dušu.
Prva knjiga ima 13 maestralnih horor epizoda(13 magičan broj, nema šta) od kojih je 10 crtao Rajtson i kasnije napustio serijal, pa mi je trebalo neko vreme da se naviknem na Redondov crtež u preostale tri epizode. Imam i malu dozu straha da nastavim sa čitanjem jer nije Vinov scenario u drugoj knjizi već je radio Mur. Iako Alana stvarno volim ipak imam neku tremu jer mi je Vinov stil baš legao. Držim palčeve i idem dalje. 🤞💚
Alek Holand a.k.a. Stvorenje iz močvare je bio naučnik koji usled eksplozije gubi svoju laboratoriju. Tokom eksplozije biva poprskan bioobnavljajućom formulom na kojoj je radio zajedno sa svojom ženom Lindom, i postaje čudovište.
Alek na svom putu u potrazi za odgovorima sreće mnoštvo neprijatelja, od ludog naučnika Arkanusa, vukodlaka, Betmena, vanzemaljca do M’nagala samoproklamovanog boga, koji je kako sam tvrdi, dotakao umove Lavkrafta i Poa.
Stvorenje je frankenštajnovski arhetip i tokom čitanja se tačno primećuju brojne sličnosti. Ono što je mene jako dotaklo u ovom stripu je ta emocija u Vinovom scenariju, i znam da to stalno guram u prvi plan, ali bez ljubavi koji je smisao? A ljubav je ono što Aleka održava i vodi kroz njegov mučan život. A Rajtson je to savršeno prikazao svojim crtežom, zaista vredno divljenja.
Inače strip je nastao kada su Vin i Rajtson oboje prolazili kroz težak emotivni period, a dobro je poznato da iz emotivnog rastrojstva nastaju najbolja dela. Najkreativniji smo kada patimo. Samim tim, oseća se koliko ovaj strip ima dušu.
Prva knjiga ima 13 maestralnih horor epizoda(13 magičan broj, nema šta) od kojih je 10 crtao Rajtson i kasnije napustio serijal, pa mi je trebalo neko vreme da se naviknem na Redondov crtež u preostale tri epizode. Imam i malu dozu straha da nastavim sa čitanjem jer nije Vinov scenario u drugoj knjizi već je radio Mur. Iako Alana stvarno volim ipak imam neku tremu jer mi je Vinov stil baš legao. Držim palčeve i idem dalje. 🤞💚
May 11, 2020
Swamp Thing is one lonely mother-fucker. An anguished, tortured body of moss and mayhem, this pivotal character for DC is one of my favorites from the 1970s. This collection shows his beginning roots in the Bayou Gothic, and ends up with him fighting dinosaurs. Bernie Wrightson owns this existential shit-kicking monster, and lovingly has him paired up with not only Frankenstein, but werewolves, aliens, mutants, even Batman. Once Nestor Redondo took over the illustrations, the quality of the frames dips quite a bit, but still, this is a magnificent collection.
January 10, 2023
On my way da vidim kako je Alan Mur uspeo da izvuče ovaj strip iz blata, ili bolje - močvare.
November 21, 2017
Man, do I ever love the Wein/Wrightson run of this book!
November 22, 2021
The art of Berni Wrightson is incredible but the stories are not as good as they would be later under Alan Moore.
November 4, 2017
Wein manages to meld together horror and science fiction into a harmonious whole, telling stories that are strange, scary, and sometimes dreamlike. The height is surely #10, which puts the misshapen horror Arcane in conflict with antebellum ghosts. There's a reason that this story was later reprinted in the second Swamp Thingrun!
There are also an amazing number of long-running characters introduced by Wein including Alec (#1), Matt (#1), Arcane (#2), Abby (#3), Gregori (#3), and even Tim Ravenwind (#5). However, you really have to read through this run to see how long a shadow it's cast over the next few decades of the Swamp Thing comic. Wein recognized the power of Arcane by depicting him in two very different forms (#2, #10). He also introduced the idea of Alec traveling through time (#12) and even meeting Batman (#7), plots that would later be plunder by Veitch and Moore. Even when introducing characters that wouldn't be seen again like the fallen alien (#9) and the conquerer worms (#11), Wein offered up memorable foes.
Overall this is a magnificent moody run, marred only a bit by the wordiness of the time period. It's also nice that Wein offers some closure in his final issue for the relationship between Matt and Alec, offering some changes to the storyline that were pretty unknown in the era. The beautiful, spooky art by Bernie Wrightson for the first ten issues only improves that great storytelling.
There are also an amazing number of long-running characters introduced by Wein including Alec (#1), Matt (#1), Arcane (#2), Abby (#3), Gregori (#3), and even Tim Ravenwind (#5). However, you really have to read through this run to see how long a shadow it's cast over the next few decades of the Swamp Thing comic. Wein recognized the power of Arcane by depicting him in two very different forms (#2, #10). He also introduced the idea of Alec traveling through time (#12) and even meeting Batman (#7), plots that would later be plunder by Veitch and Moore. Even when introducing characters that wouldn't be seen again like the fallen alien (#9) and the conquerer worms (#11), Wein offered up memorable foes.
Overall this is a magnificent moody run, marred only a bit by the wordiness of the time period. It's also nice that Wein offers some closure in his final issue for the relationship between Matt and Alec, offering some changes to the storyline that were pretty unknown in the era. The beautiful, spooky art by Bernie Wrightson for the first ten issues only improves that great storytelling.
April 25, 2017
Enjoyed this one a lot. Swamp Thing is a mix of Gothic romance, Lovecraftian horror, fantasy/scifi, and of course comic book heroism. I liked the classic look of the art work too. I especially liked Batman's appearance in which he is described as annoyingly committed to duty by Swamp Thing. He really does have a rich inner monologue--I found myself admiring that the most about the character that because he was mute, his monologuing became your insight into his often failed, but ultimately successful attempts at communication. It'll be nice to have read this when I get around to Moore's take on the character.
January 26, 2020
This IS your daddy's Swamp Thing. A time of dark broody twisted art and a shambling example of humanity vs the not human? LIVING for the art - can't believe all this goodness was available for 20 cents and issue!
October 15, 2024
Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson do an excellent job in these first 13 issue building the bizarre and macabre world of the Swamp Thing. Wein’s prose have a gothic flair while Wrightson’s grotesque monster designs are as evocative as they are off-putting.
December 14, 2019
I was in high school when I first started to read "Swamp Thing" - my introduction to the works of Bernie Wrightson...I was memorized by his work - as ST faced all matter of supernatural beings - a werewolf, a pulsing mass, patchwork men...and others. Sadly, I stopped reading "ST" after Wrightson left the series after issue 10, and it never was the same....I never cared for Moore's take on ole Swampy either...
This book contains the fist appearance of ST in "The House of Secrets", and well as issues 1-13, illustrated by Nestor Redondo - but by this time, the magic was gone.....
Hopefully this book will serve to introduce you to the magic of Wrightson....and certainly look for his work in "Creepshow" and "Cycle of the Werewolf"......
Jeff McIntosh
This book contains the fist appearance of ST in "The House of Secrets", and well as issues 1-13, illustrated by Nestor Redondo - but by this time, the magic was gone.....
Hopefully this book will serve to introduce you to the magic of Wrightson....and certainly look for his work in "Creepshow" and "Cycle of the Werewolf"......
Jeff McIntosh
June 8, 2019
I absolutely LOVED reading this. It had been years since I had read any Swamp Thing stories, so I didn’t know quite what to expect. Anticipation for the new tv series made me want to revisit it, and I was not disappointed one bit. The writing is awesome. It’s very Frankenstein-ish. Swamp Thing is a monster, but most of the humans he comes in contact with are more monsterous than he is. I personally hate when people say things like this, but they just don’t make comics like this anymore.
October 24, 2018
A favorite
Back in the70s, i read this first run and remembered it well. Now thanks to this reprint, I've enjoyed it again. Different stories and some of the best artwork of the era, swamp thing is a great character and this is a fine series.
Back in the70s, i read this first run and remembered it well. Now thanks to this reprint, I've enjoyed it again. Different stories and some of the best artwork of the era, swamp thing is a great character and this is a fine series.
June 18, 2021
Me ha encantado. Swamp Thing es un personaje que suele pasar desapercibido por la mayoría de los fans de DC, no solo por lo atípico que es el concepto del propio monstruo en sí, tambien por el tono de historias pulp con algo de terror paranormal y body horror que solemos encontrar en sus desventuras. Y es precisamente por eso, por ser algo tan diferente que recomiendo ampliamente esta recopilación con su primer cómic y los 13 primeros números de su primera saga si es que ya estas cansado de leer cómics más enfocados al género de superheroes.
La saga de La cosa del pantano comienza con el asesinato del científico Alec Holland en una terrible explosión provocada por unos mafiosos que querian robarle un agente químico restaurador muy poderoso, el cual termina mezclandose con su cadaver haciendo que su cuerpo se regenere con las plantas del pantano convirtiendolo en una criatura muy fuerte apodada "Swamp Thing" una primicia que si, es bastante simple pero que a lo largo de los números nos llevaran a conocer lugares malditos, a enfrentamientos contra hechiceros, mutantes, alienigenas, hombres lobo e incluso un horror cósmico lovecraftiano que no nos dejaran despegarnos del melancólico Alec y de sus aventuras para tratar de curar su actual condición.
Si no conocías al personaje o quieres empezar a leer sus cómics SWAMP THING The Bronze Age es la antología perfecta para empezar y conocer a este horripilante ser dd los pantanos de Luisiana. 10/10
La saga de La cosa del pantano comienza con el asesinato del científico Alec Holland en una terrible explosión provocada por unos mafiosos que querian robarle un agente químico restaurador muy poderoso, el cual termina mezclandose con su cadaver haciendo que su cuerpo se regenere con las plantas del pantano convirtiendolo en una criatura muy fuerte apodada "Swamp Thing" una primicia que si, es bastante simple pero que a lo largo de los números nos llevaran a conocer lugares malditos, a enfrentamientos contra hechiceros, mutantes, alienigenas, hombres lobo e incluso un horror cósmico lovecraftiano que no nos dejaran despegarnos del melancólico Alec y de sus aventuras para tratar de curar su actual condición.
Si no conocías al personaje o quieres empezar a leer sus cómics SWAMP THING The Bronze Age es la antología perfecta para empezar y conocer a este horripilante ser dd los pantanos de Luisiana. 10/10
September 8, 2024
I just got this two days ago, and I've already finished. This is a combination of good stories, great art, and it being generally light, fun reading. The combination of Horror and Science Fiction might strike some as a bit silly, but it reminded me of one of my favorite seasons of Doctor Who, Season 13, where they heavily use horror motifs to enhance the Science Fiction. Here, it's a bit of the reverse.
House of Secrets #92 Swamp Thing 4.5 Stars
An independent tale that Wein and Wrightson had some really close ties to. In only a few pages, they weave a tale of tragedy and torment that is admittedly a little overwritten and somewhat stock, but it reflects very real emotions, and I think that's why it's spawned a character who has lasted.
Swamp Thing #1 Dark Genesis 4 Stars
Once again, it's a bit simple for today, but it effectively established the Alec Holland Swamp Thing and begins the tragedy surrounding him. Though, I think it might be a little too heavy handed with Lt. Cable's motivations and the Conclave, but it sets up the series effectively enough.
Swamp Thing #2 The Man Who Wanted Forever 4 Stars
The first appearance of Arcane! It's weird to see him so parred down, but it is an effective origin for the man that would become Swamp Thing's long running foe. I guess I'll talk about Wrightson's art here. He's on for the first ten issues, and he constantly evokes the glook of gothic horror mixed with the vibrancy of EC comics. Love it.
Swamp Thing #3 The Patchwork Man 3 Stars
The first appearance of Abigail Arcane, but it's really Alan Moore that would move her beyond "damsel in distress." Here, it's more of a Frankenstein story with too much Lt. Cable.
Swamp Thing #4 Monster on the Moors 3 Stars
I'm always down for a werewolf story, but this one seems a little too simple. Wrightson's werewolf looks so cool, though!
Swamp Thing #5 The Last of the Ravenwind Witches 4.5 Stars
A classic Swamp Thing story where he stumbles into innocence threatened by injustice and does his best to fix things. Without the supporting cast, the one off characters are able to get more development, and the story ends in a nice little twist. This is the best of the one-offs.
Swamp Thing #6 A Clockwork Horror 4 Stars
This story is weird, but I rather love it. It forces Swamp Thing to face his humanity, and the frame story reflects that. The Conclave stuff is somewhat clunky, but that's not unusual for the underdeveloped Conclave. The clockwork city itself is great.
Swamp Thing #7 Night of the Bat 3 Stars
I like the Swamp Thing sections, but Batman is written far too much as the villain. It's been over a decade since I read the Bronze Age Batman, so I don't remember if he was always this much of an aggressive asshole, but damn, he is unpleasant. I would have preferred less Batman and more of Swamp Thing's interaction with finally discovering the man who is responsible for his wife's death.
Swamp Thing #8 The Lurker in Tunnel 13 3.5 Stars
It's another one-off, like Swamp Thing #5, but its more basic and has some weird plot flaws.
Swamp Thing #9 The Stalker From Beyond 4 Stars
It's a Science Fiction plot with a Swamp Thing twist. I appreciated it, especially because it finally ends Lt. Cable's stupid misunderstanding.
Swamp Thing #10 The Man Who Would Not Die 4.5 Stars
Weird, but awesome. It's the best of the "plot" issues. Wrightson really uses this last issue to go out with a bang.
Swamp Thing #11 The Conqueror Worms 2.5 Stars
The artist changes here to Nestor Redondo, and while his work is excellent, it loses the atmospheric horror quality that elevates many of the lesser stories from the first ten issues. This story is very silly. It's a sequel to a previous story, and it just doesn't have enough space to do much.
Swamp Thing #12 The Eternity Man 2.5 Stars
I guess it's fine, but it isn't a great representation of this concept.
Swamp Thing #13 The Leviathan Conspiracy 4 Stars
It's a solid conclusion to Wein's version of Swamp Thing. It left me wanting more, which is a good thing.
So, I'm not the biggest Wein fan, knowing him mostly from random Marvel and DC issues from the 70s. Even his X-Men and Wolverine stuff is just so-so to me. However, I really enjoyed this. If you've only read the Alan Moore or Scott Snyder Swamp Thing runs, going back to the beginning is a strange, but worthwhile, journey.
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House of Secrets #92 Swamp Thing 4.5 Stars
An independent tale that Wein and Wrightson had some really close ties to. In only a few pages, they weave a tale of tragedy and torment that is admittedly a little overwritten and somewhat stock, but it reflects very real emotions, and I think that's why it's spawned a character who has lasted.
Swamp Thing #1 Dark Genesis 4 Stars
Once again, it's a bit simple for today, but it effectively established the Alec Holland Swamp Thing and begins the tragedy surrounding him. Though, I think it might be a little too heavy handed with Lt. Cable's motivations and the Conclave, but it sets up the series effectively enough.
Swamp Thing #2 The Man Who Wanted Forever 4 Stars
The first appearance of Arcane! It's weird to see him so parred down, but it is an effective origin for the man that would become Swamp Thing's long running foe. I guess I'll talk about Wrightson's art here. He's on for the first ten issues, and he constantly evokes the glook of gothic horror mixed with the vibrancy of EC comics. Love it.
Swamp Thing #3 The Patchwork Man 3 Stars
The first appearance of Abigail Arcane, but it's really Alan Moore that would move her beyond "damsel in distress." Here, it's more of a Frankenstein story with too much Lt. Cable.
Swamp Thing #4 Monster on the Moors 3 Stars
I'm always down for a werewolf story, but this one seems a little too simple. Wrightson's werewolf looks so cool, though!
Swamp Thing #5 The Last of the Ravenwind Witches 4.5 Stars
A classic Swamp Thing story where he stumbles into innocence threatened by injustice and does his best to fix things. Without the supporting cast, the one off characters are able to get more development, and the story ends in a nice little twist. This is the best of the one-offs.
Swamp Thing #6 A Clockwork Horror 4 Stars
This story is weird, but I rather love it. It forces Swamp Thing to face his humanity, and the frame story reflects that. The Conclave stuff is somewhat clunky, but that's not unusual for the underdeveloped Conclave. The clockwork city itself is great.
Swamp Thing #7 Night of the Bat 3 Stars
I like the Swamp Thing sections, but Batman is written far too much as the villain. It's been over a decade since I read the Bronze Age Batman, so I don't remember if he was always this much of an aggressive asshole, but damn, he is unpleasant. I would have preferred less Batman and more of Swamp Thing's interaction with finally discovering the man who is responsible for his wife's death.
Swamp Thing #8 The Lurker in Tunnel 13 3.5 Stars
It's another one-off, like Swamp Thing #5, but its more basic and has some weird plot flaws.
Swamp Thing #9 The Stalker From Beyond 4 Stars
It's a Science Fiction plot with a Swamp Thing twist. I appreciated it, especially because it finally ends Lt. Cable's stupid misunderstanding.
Swamp Thing #10 The Man Who Would Not Die 4.5 Stars
Weird, but awesome. It's the best of the "plot" issues. Wrightson really uses this last issue to go out with a bang.
Swamp Thing #11 The Conqueror Worms 2.5 Stars
The artist changes here to Nestor Redondo, and while his work is excellent, it loses the atmospheric horror quality that elevates many of the lesser stories from the first ten issues. This story is very silly. It's a sequel to a previous story, and it just doesn't have enough space to do much.
Swamp Thing #12 The Eternity Man 2.5 Stars
I guess it's fine, but it isn't a great representation of this concept.
Swamp Thing #13 The Leviathan Conspiracy 4 Stars
It's a solid conclusion to Wein's version of Swamp Thing. It left me wanting more, which is a good thing.
So, I'm not the biggest Wein fan, knowing him mostly from random Marvel and DC issues from the 70s. Even his X-Men and Wolverine stuff is just so-so to me. However, I really enjoyed this. If you've only read the Alan Moore or Scott Snyder Swamp Thing runs, going back to the beginning is a strange, but worthwhile, journey.
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February 21, 2022
Well this was fun! The Swamp Thing of my child hood.
I found this on Hoopla through my library. Some of the story telling was a little cliche, but most of the art in this book was done by Bernie Wrightson, the co- creator of Swamp Thing, along with writer Len Wein. So of course, the art was great. Later in this volume it isn’t drawn by Wrightson anymore but it’s still good.
I also liked that Swamp Thing has to tangle with a bunch of different monsters including Frankenstein and a Werewolf.
5 stars!!! Some of my best reads pile. I’ll read the second volume.
I found this on Hoopla through my library. Some of the story telling was a little cliche, but most of the art in this book was done by Bernie Wrightson, the co- creator of Swamp Thing, along with writer Len Wein. So of course, the art was great. Later in this volume it isn’t drawn by Wrightson anymore but it’s still good.
I also liked that Swamp Thing has to tangle with a bunch of different monsters including Frankenstein and a Werewolf.
5 stars!!! Some of my best reads pile. I’ll read the second volume.
July 1, 2021
Wrightson's work on the early Swamp Thing is something to behold: framing and mise en scene as tight and dynamic as anything I've ever seen in ink. Wein's writing? Not so much, but the panoply of classic horror tropes sustains an otherwise mawkish narrative. Great to have all of these in one well-curated package.
September 17, 2025
Better than I expected, I thought everything up to the Alan Moore run would be enjoyable pulp at best, but this has some depth to it. The writing is good, the art is even better, and the Swamp Thing works as a tragic figure of gothic horror even when he's being thrown into goofy adventures with robots and aliens.
March 24, 2020
A bit naive at times (the Batman stint for example) but overall enjoyable.
September 20, 2023
Frequently capturing the look and feel of the old EC horror books, this collection of stories was a lot of fun.
November 20, 2025
Wrightson's work is jaw-dropping.
March 11, 2020
Reprints House of Secrets (1) #92 and Swamp Thing (1) #1-13 (July 1971-December 1974). When Dr. Alec Holland is targeted by a nefarious organization for his new formula, he finds his life destroyed, his wife Linda dead, and himself transformed into a hulking human-vegetation hybrid called the Swamp Thing. Hunted by his former friend Matt Cable who suspects Swamp Thing killed Alec and Linda, Swamp Thing finds himself caught in a web of mystery and horror…and desperate to cure himself from his curse!
Written by Len Wein, Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 1 is a DC Comics horror collection. Featuring art by Bernie Wrightson, Nestor Redondo, Michael Wm. Kaluta, and Luis Dominguez, the volume contains Swamp Thing’s first appearance in House of Secrets (1) #92 (July 1971) and Swamp Thing (1) #1-13 (November 1972-December 1974). Issues in the collection were previously collected as Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Omnibus, Roots of the Swamp Thing, Secret of the Swamp Thing, and Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis among others.
To me, Swamp Thing was Wes Craven’s film. I started reading comics during Alan Moore’s run on the series which was not kid friendly, nor very accessible for infrequent readers so I gravitated toward Man-Thing (which premiered in slightly before Swamp Thing in Savage Tales (1) #1 (May 1971)). Swamp Thing may have had more range than Man-Thing, but the series especially in their onset had a lot of similarities.
The comic is primarily a horror book. Swamp Thing does encounter Batman in one issues and fights a villain of Dr. Thirteen, but the series doesn’t feel very attached to the DC Universe. Swamp Thing primarily encounters monsters and all sorts of demonic creatures. There is some nice creeping horror in the volume and some nods to writers like H.P. Lovecraft (but to be fair, Man-Thing was also doing this).
One of the interesting aspects of Swamp Thing is that the first issue had some clean-up to do. The character that premiered in House of Secrets #92 wasn’t Alec Holland (it was Alex Olsen). Holland and his origin didn’t premiere until the series launched. This little aberration was cleaned up by Alan Moore’s run in Saga of the Swamp Thing #33 (February 1985) which cleaned up the issues with the “two” Swamp Things. Here, it is an odd read without the retcon-read of the Moore story.
The series owes a lot to Bernie Wrightson in the early issues. His illustrations on Swamp Thing gets the monstrous feel that they need. The creature is both a hero and a horror and Wrightson seems to get that he doesn’t necessarily need to make Swamp Thing look like the classic superhero (though he does have the physique of a superhero under the vegetation). It helps make Swamp Thing feel different than a lot of DC’s comics at the time.
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 1 is a good read. It may not flow and connect as well as modern comics, but it shows a different type of hero from DC Comics who was trying to play catch-up to Marvel’s more grounded and rounded characters at the time. Though I still love Man-Thing, Swamp Thing over the years has been better told and better developed. He has “grown” in ways you’d never expect. Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 1 is followed by Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 2.
Written by Len Wein, Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 1 is a DC Comics horror collection. Featuring art by Bernie Wrightson, Nestor Redondo, Michael Wm. Kaluta, and Luis Dominguez, the volume contains Swamp Thing’s first appearance in House of Secrets (1) #92 (July 1971) and Swamp Thing (1) #1-13 (November 1972-December 1974). Issues in the collection were previously collected as Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age Omnibus, Roots of the Swamp Thing, Secret of the Swamp Thing, and Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis among others.
To me, Swamp Thing was Wes Craven’s film. I started reading comics during Alan Moore’s run on the series which was not kid friendly, nor very accessible for infrequent readers so I gravitated toward Man-Thing (which premiered in slightly before Swamp Thing in Savage Tales (1) #1 (May 1971)). Swamp Thing may have had more range than Man-Thing, but the series especially in their onset had a lot of similarities.
The comic is primarily a horror book. Swamp Thing does encounter Batman in one issues and fights a villain of Dr. Thirteen, but the series doesn’t feel very attached to the DC Universe. Swamp Thing primarily encounters monsters and all sorts of demonic creatures. There is some nice creeping horror in the volume and some nods to writers like H.P. Lovecraft (but to be fair, Man-Thing was also doing this).
One of the interesting aspects of Swamp Thing is that the first issue had some clean-up to do. The character that premiered in House of Secrets #92 wasn’t Alec Holland (it was Alex Olsen). Holland and his origin didn’t premiere until the series launched. This little aberration was cleaned up by Alan Moore’s run in Saga of the Swamp Thing #33 (February 1985) which cleaned up the issues with the “two” Swamp Things. Here, it is an odd read without the retcon-read of the Moore story.
The series owes a lot to Bernie Wrightson in the early issues. His illustrations on Swamp Thing gets the monstrous feel that they need. The creature is both a hero and a horror and Wrightson seems to get that he doesn’t necessarily need to make Swamp Thing look like the classic superhero (though he does have the physique of a superhero under the vegetation). It helps make Swamp Thing feel different than a lot of DC’s comics at the time.
Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 1 is a good read. It may not flow and connect as well as modern comics, but it shows a different type of hero from DC Comics who was trying to play catch-up to Marvel’s more grounded and rounded characters at the time. Though I still love Man-Thing, Swamp Thing over the years has been better told and better developed. He has “grown” in ways you’d never expect. Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 1 is followed by Swamp Thing: The Bronze Age—Volume 2.
April 29, 2013
So way back in the day when Marvel starts cranking out Dracula, Wolfman, and Frankenstein comics, DC busts out with its own original creation, the Swamp Thing. While those other books are now relegated to the nostalgic past, Swampy is still iconic and going strong. Why? Originality, for one - not being tied to a "classic monster" franchise. Granted, Swamp Thing actually appeared several months after Marvel's similar Man-Thing, but wasn't saddled with that stupid name.
Another reason? Bernie Wrightson. My god, that man can draw creepy. I never read his stuff as a 70's kid - I was too scared. One look at a Wrightson drawing and I knew my mom would burn all my comics at once if she ever caught me reading that stuff. So now, of course, I lap it up.
In comparison to Marvel's horror comics of the era, however, Swamp Thing doesn't hold up in terms of story. The book never finds a consistent tone. I was expecting a lot of gothic, swamp-based, angsty horror, but instead Swamp Thing immediately gets transplanted into just about every other horror cliche you can think of - mad scientists, European castles, crazy robots, and even aliens.
He makes it home to the swamp in the end, turning the comic's original arc into a nice little odyssey, but the book is definitely rooted in the kid-friendly, DC Super Friends universe of the 70s. Swamp Thing himself comes across as less of a shambling horror and more like the brain of Adam Strange trapped in Frankenstein's monster's body. Maybe the fact that deep down the Swamp Thing is such a likable everyman is what's made him stick around so long.
Another reason? Bernie Wrightson. My god, that man can draw creepy. I never read his stuff as a 70's kid - I was too scared. One look at a Wrightson drawing and I knew my mom would burn all my comics at once if she ever caught me reading that stuff. So now, of course, I lap it up.
In comparison to Marvel's horror comics of the era, however, Swamp Thing doesn't hold up in terms of story. The book never finds a consistent tone. I was expecting a lot of gothic, swamp-based, angsty horror, but instead Swamp Thing immediately gets transplanted into just about every other horror cliche you can think of - mad scientists, European castles, crazy robots, and even aliens.
He makes it home to the swamp in the end, turning the comic's original arc into a nice little odyssey, but the book is definitely rooted in the kid-friendly, DC Super Friends universe of the 70s. Swamp Thing himself comes across as less of a shambling horror and more like the brain of Adam Strange trapped in Frankenstein's monster's body. Maybe the fact that deep down the Swamp Thing is such a likable everyman is what's made him stick around so long.
April 15, 2013
When I first got heavily into reading comics about 5 years ago, I did an enormous amount of searching online for what volumes to hunt down, writers/artists to look into and the best means to get complete story arcs. Almost at the outset, raves were abound for Alan Moore's historic run on Swamp Thing in the mid-1980's with claims of it having raised the bar for literary tendencies within the medium. I found a copy of Volume One at the local library and by the end, I was hooked. Maybe even a bit obsessed.
When DC launched the New 52, they came out with Scott Snyder's newest take on Swamp Thing and like Alan Moore, Mr. Snyder made the character his own and raised the bar again. At this point, I wanted to go all the way to the beginning and discover every facet of Dr. Alec Holland.
As with many of the older comic stories from the 1970's and prior, there is still a sense of being caught in between eras. As a reader, you can sense that the newcomers of the post-Vietnam era were beginning to break new ground in the writing area of the medium, but growing pains were bound to occur. In that sense, while the writing was becoming more literary, certain conventions of the comic book at that point where found to be pulling back somewhat. In the 1st collection of Swamp Thing stories, there are some awkward panel transitions at times as well as some clunky dialogue. Still, what was to come was breaking through the original molds and my intrigue in the character and story override any minor imperfections that might arise.
When DC launched the New 52, they came out with Scott Snyder's newest take on Swamp Thing and like Alan Moore, Mr. Snyder made the character his own and raised the bar again. At this point, I wanted to go all the way to the beginning and discover every facet of Dr. Alec Holland.
As with many of the older comic stories from the 1970's and prior, there is still a sense of being caught in between eras. As a reader, you can sense that the newcomers of the post-Vietnam era were beginning to break new ground in the writing area of the medium, but growing pains were bound to occur. In that sense, while the writing was becoming more literary, certain conventions of the comic book at that point where found to be pulling back somewhat. In the 1st collection of Swamp Thing stories, there are some awkward panel transitions at times as well as some clunky dialogue. Still, what was to come was breaking through the original molds and my intrigue in the character and story override any minor imperfections that might arise.
January 7, 2015
Stvorenje iz močvare je prava poslastica za sve ljubitelje američkog stripa. Prva knjiga obuhvata kratku priču publikovanu 1971. godine u magazinu Kuća tajni (zametak sage koja će uslediti) i prvih trinaest epizoda DC-jevog serijala (1972-1974). Scenario za sve epizode napisao je Len Vin. Uvodnu kratku priču i prvih deset epizoda nacrtao je fenomenalni Berni Rajston, dok je poslednje tri ilustrovao solidni Nestro Redondo. Zapravo, ovo vanserijsko izdanje (pogledajte samo te korice sa mahovinom koju, bukvalno, možete da osetite pod prstima i izvarnednu kolor štampu) sadrži ono najbolje što je ovaj serijal imao da ponudi tokom svoje prve faze, pre nego što će doći Alan Mur i priči o Stvorenju dati novi zamajac.
http://citymagazine.rs/clanak/best-of...
http://citymagazine.rs/clanak/best-of...
July 6, 2019
Issue 1: An experiment, a discovery, a tangled web of intrigue, a tragedy, a transformation, a vendetta. Classic origin story stuff.
Issue 2: an army of mis-assembled corpse men lead by a human hand with a face and a demon snake crucify the vegetable boy on their seaplane so they can take him to the wizard's castle
So spectacularly goofy while earnestly swinging for Big Melodrama. The blend of lowbrow pulp storytelling and perfect, gorgeous art by a master is so tasty. I just adore it.
Issue 2: an army of mis-assembled corpse men lead by a human hand with a face and a demon snake crucify the vegetable boy on their seaplane so they can take him to the wizard's castle
So spectacularly goofy while earnestly swinging for Big Melodrama. The blend of lowbrow pulp storytelling and perfect, gorgeous art by a master is so tasty. I just adore it.
January 18, 2010
All the Len Wein written issues of the first volume of Swamp Thing in one place. Some of the stories or, to be honest, a bit silly. Piling coincidence upon coincidence in a mad race away from any possible suspension of disbelief. But this book is really worth owning for the fantastic artwork by Berni Wrightson that fills the bulk of the pages. Gorgeous stuff.
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