Thanks to Joe Bongiorno, who first dragged me kicking and screaming into the mucky mythos of Swamp Thing, and to Paul Giachetti, who created the amazing header banner.
Thanks also to reader 'Alec Holland,' whose support has been invaluable; Mike Sterling, for promoting Swamp Thing and this site; and Kevin Church, for his excellent optimization advice.
And thanks to Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, Alan Moore, John Totelben, Stephen Bissette, Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis and all the other creators whose work inspired this site. |
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In the Swamplight
The House of Secrets #92
| Story Title | Pub. Date |
| "Swamp Thing" | June-July 1971 |
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| Writer | Artist |
| Len Wein | Bernie Wrightson |
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| Cover | Editor |
| Bernie Wrightson | Joe Orlando |
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| Chronological Breakdown |
| • 1903: Prominent Louisiana scientist Dr. Alex Olsen marries his fiancée Linda Olsen. Alex's scientist partner, Dr. Damian Ridge, pretends to be happy for them but is secretly furious that his best friend has married the woman he, too, loves. |
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| • 1904: Damian Ridge toasts Alex and Linda Olsen's first wedding anniversary, still hiding his anger at their joining. Soon thereafter, Ridge causes an explosion in the couple's lab that leaves Alex dead, then dumps the man's battered, chemical-soaked body in a nearby swamp so he can be with Linda instead. After consoling Linda through her mourning period, Damian eventually marries her. Unbeknownst to the newlyweds, the essence of Alex is reborn in the body of the next Earth elemental known as the Swamp Thing. |
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| • 1905: The muck-encrusted mockery of a man once known as Alex Olsen stares at the Louisiana mansion owned by Damian and Linda Ridge. Pining for his lost life, Alex (now an Earth elemental known as the Swamp Thing) recalls the explosion that led to his condition. Meanwhile, after six months of marriage, Linda begins to suspect Damian's guilt in causing Alex's death. To keep her silent, Damian prepares to inject her with a deadly poison, but Alex crashes into the room and kills his former friend. He tries to explain who he is, but damage to his vocal chords prevents him from forming words. Seeing her horror at his mossy appearance, he shambles sadly back into the swamp without letting on his true identity. |
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| Trivia |
| • This eight-page story was published without a specified setting. The exact year was later revealed in issue #47 of the second Swamp Thing series. |
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| • One month before the publication of this "pilot" story of Swamp Thing, a similar tale appeared in issue #1 of Marvel's Savage Tales, introducing the creature known as Man-Thing. This has caused a long-time debate over which title might have ripped off the other. However, both Swamp Thing creator Len Wein and Man-Thing creator Gerry Conway (who were roommates when the stories were written) have gone on record as stating the similarities were pure coincidence. |
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| • This story was reprinted in issue #33 of the second Swamp Thing series. In that issue, Alan Moore bridged the histories of Alex Olsen and regular series star Alec Holland, forming the start of a much larger swamp mythology that he and future writers would develop for years to come. |
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| Cover Variations |
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| Original Release | | DC Silver Edition | | Silver Age Classics | | Millennium Edition |
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| Other Reprints and Collections |
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DC Special Blue Ribbon
Digest #9: Secret Origins
of Super-Heroes | | Swamp Thing
Series 2, #33 | | Essential Vertigo:
Swamp Thing #14 | | |
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Swamp Thing:
Dark Genesis | | Swamp Thing:
Dark Genesis | | Roots of the
Swamp Thing #5 | | |
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Swamp Thing:
Love and Death | | Swamp Thing:
Love and Death | | Swamp Thing:
Love and Death | | |
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Showcase Presents:
The House of Secrets
Vol. 1 | | | | | | |
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