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A comprehensive chronology of Alec Holland, John Constantine and the Un-Men
  This website was created to chronicle the history of the "muck-encrusted mockery of a man" known as the Swamp Thing. Now I've expanded it to include its celebrated spinoff, Hellblazer.
To date, all four Swamp Thing incarnations have been incorporated, along with every guest appearance in other titles. As for Hellblazer, I've added all of the Jamie Delano run and am currently breaking down the events of the Garth Ennis years. And when the next Swamp Thing spinoff, The Un-Men, launches next month, I'll begin adding that as well.
To access the timeline, choose an era from the leftside navigation bar, or click here to start from the beginning...
What's New Bayou?
The latest news and rumors from the universe of Vertigo Comics' Swamp Thing, John Constantine: Hellblazer and The Un-Men, as well as recent updates to this site.
What if the Original Swamp Thing Series Had Never Ended?
August 16, 2007
Remember, at the end of issue #24 of the first Swamp Thing series, way back in the mid-1970s, when DC advertised an upcoming guest appearance by Hawkman in issue #25? If you're someone who regularly reads this site—and, really, why would you be here now if you weren't?—then your answer must be "Yes, of course I remember that."
 For 30 years, fans have wondered what that lost chapter of Swamp Thing history would have been about, had it actually been published. Although we may never know the official answer, reader 'Alec Holland' (author of the currently on-hiatus Swamp Thing's Blog and one of the creative minds behind the DC Cosmic Teams Swamp Thing timeline a few years back) has taken it upon himself to create his own continuation.
"Of Hawk and Hauntings" is now online at Alec's new website, Swamp Fiction: Lost Swamp Thing Fanfic Stories from Times Past, and it's a fun read. Picking up where issue #24 left off, Alec's fanfic features Edward Holland, Jefferson Bolt, Matt Cable, Sabre, Dwight Wicker, John Constantine and other memorable characters from both the first and second Swamp Thing runs, and sets the stage for what he hopes to be an ongoing series of "What If?" tales.
Alec has also created a dandy cover for his maiden issue, posted above (to see a larger version, click the image or go directly to the story). Check it out! I've added a permanent link from the right nav-bar, and I'll also continue to announce when updates get posted.
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  Cover Gallery Update: Parodies
August 15, 2007
I've added a selection of Swamp Thing and Hellblazer parodies to the "Other Media" portion of the cover gallery. Some of them are pretty funny, and some...well...not so funny. But if you're a completist, you might decide they're worth tracking down.
So far, I've got ten parodies up there: Elf-Thing #1, What The—? #6, Boris the Bear #5, Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror #11, Howard the Duck #4, Evil Ernie Vs. The Superheroes #2, Batman: Mitefall, Blandman #1, Top 10 #8 and, believe it or not, an {ahen} adult comic entitled The Best of San Francisco Ball Comics #2. I kid you not. Only in San Francisco, folks.
As always, if you know of any other relevant covers I've overlooked, feel free to let me know and I'll add them to the gallery.
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Swamp Shorts
August 14 2007
 Two tidbits before I head out on a much-needed family vacation to Lake George (not exactly the swamp, but at least it's far more in touch with nature than the lower end of New York, where I live):
• The Un-Men #1 hit stores last week, which I humbly admit I still haven't picked up. I'll be grabbing my copy tomorrow, along with the latest issue of Hellblazer (#235). Given all the hype and anticipation over The Un-Men, I'm surprised how little I've seen written about it in the week since the first issue finally hit stores. Kind of weird, actually. Some reviews have cropped up, however, on such sites as Comixfan, Broken Frontier and The X-Axis, and there's also a brief discussion of it over on Newsarama.
 • In addition to Jamie Delano's upcoming return to Hellblazer for the graphic novel Pandemonium, Chas Chandler will also help celebrate Hellblazer's 20th anniversary by starring in his own miniseries, Hellblazer Presents: Chas—The Knowledge. Simon (The Exterminators) Oliver will pen this miniseries, in which John Constantine's long-time friend (who recently turned his back on him, at the conclusion of Mike Carey's run) will undergo several tests that a London cab driver must pass to be licensed. Apparently, the title refers to the routes a driver must possess to succeed, and to "the supernatural information he’s undoubtedly learned over the years with Constantine." For more details, check out Newsarama's annoucenemt. Should be a hoot (even if Newsarama misspelled Chas' name and got the title partially wrong).
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 Cover Gallery: Unused or Unpublished Cover Art
August 8, 2007
 As I've been compiling the various sections of the cover gallery, I've stumbled across the unused, rejected or alternate-draft artwork to more than a dozen covers from Swamp Thing, Hellblazer and The Un-Men
These include covers to Rick Veitch's rejected Swamp Thing #88 (right), Warren Ellis' Hellblazer #141 (left) and a number of illustrations by Bernie Wrightson, Stephen Bissette, Jon Totelben, Tom Yeates and more.
Until now, I've just been posting these covers in chronological order, along with the published covers, but I've decided to create a new section of the gallery for such artwork. Clear here to visit the covery gallery.
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John Constantne: Rebel Without a Home
August 7, 2007
The breakup up his relationship with Kit Ryan proves too much for John Constantine to bear. Turning to the bottle for solace, he begins a rapid decline into depression that drives him to live homeless on the streets of London. And as if this weren't enough for any man to handle, the Kimg of the Vampires—Garth Ennis' James Dean-looking leader of the undead, and a rival of the First of the Fallen—finds John at his most vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Kit returns home to see her brother and sister in Belfast, who help her recover from the breakup by...as one might expect in an Ennis Hellblazer story...going to a pub. Kit's solo adventure, "Heartland" in issue #70, marks the only issue in Hellblazer's history in which John's character never actually appears (aside from Kit's other solo story in the one-shot of the same name, published without "Hellblazer" in its title).
Check it out in the Vertigo Jam one-shot and Hellblazer issues 68-71, all spanning from July 1993 to January 1994, with backstories in 1916, 1940 and Winter 1985. You'll also find a synopsis of Darko Macan's rejected Swamp Thing proposal in mid-1997. (Read the entire proposal here.)
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Andy Diggle's Hellblazer Scripts Online
August 6 2007
Hellblazer author Andy Diggle has graciously posted his scripts for issues 232 and 233 (the two-part "Wheels of Chance, Systems of Control") on his website, and they're worth reading even if you've already read the issues themselves, as they provide great insight into Diggle's view of John Constantine and his world. Check them out here and here.
Speaking of Hellblazer...and why wouldn't I be?...I hope to have another timeline update posted later today, for issues #68-71 and the Vertigo Jam ministory.
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John Whalen Speaks
August 5 2007
Vertigo's official site has posted an interview with writer John Whalen regarding next week's debut of The Un-Men. Keep your fingers crossed...only three more days to go before Vertigo "un"-veils this new chapter in Swamp Thing history.
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One Man's Review of the Un-Men Preview
August 2, 2007
Hellblazer #234 contains a preview of The Un-Men #1, which premieres next Wednesday, and I have to say, despite my initial reservations about how well an Un-Men series could work...it’s pretty good.
The premise: Anton Arcane’s surviving Un-Men from Swamp Thing (Cranius, Ophidian, etc., created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson), once freed from his alchemical control, found their way to Damien Kane’s freak refuge (established in the American Freak: A Tale of the Un-Men miniseries, written by Dave Louapre and illustrated by Vince Locke). With help from industrialists, they began developing the camp, restoring dignity to their kind. The deformed, outcast and mutated from other corners of society apparently gravitated there as well, looking for a place where they could be themselves without feeling shame.
In the 15 years since Vertigo published American Freak (which was released in 1994 but was set in '92), American Freak: Home of the Un-Men has grown into an amusement park for tourists, who travel far and wide to see the freaks, much as they used to do at sideshow carnivals—but on a Disneyland-esque scale. And this time, the freaks are the ones exploiting the “normal” gawkers, with the series holding a mirror up to humanity so that, to paraphrase The Twilight Zone, we have seen the freaks...and they are us.
With this setting as a backdrop, The Un-Men's opening story arc, "Get Your Freak On," is about a agent investigating the murder of an the Gill Man, an amphibious freak who’d been one of the show’s star attractions. That’s where the preview ends, so it’s too soon to really know what’s going at this point, but I like what I've read so far, and I suspect many of you will as well. And for the continuity-minded, Kane and Cranius both appear in this series (Kane, in fact, seems to be an Abe Lincoln-esque emancipating hero to his people), nicely building on established Swamp Thing and American Freak history.
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Hellblazer Fan Film Coming Soon
August 1, 2007
Chris R. Notarile, an independent filmmaker, has announced the upcoming release of a fan film entitled Hellblazer: Proper Gents.
Notarile maintains Blinky Productions, an indy film site that has already put out a number of well-made films based on such comic-book and horror properties as The Question, Power Girl, Friday the 13th, Halloween, The Shadow, Hourman, Blue Beetle, the Joker, Catwoman and more.
According to Notarile, Hellblazer: Proper Gents should be available online sometime next week.
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Interview With The Un-Men's Mike Hawthorne
July 31, 2007
Comic.com has posted an interview with artist Mike Hawthorne regarding next month's debut of The Un-Men. I must admit, although I initially had my doubts about this series, I'm starting to get excited about it. Check out the interview here.
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First Aid for Kit
July 31, 2007
Things go from bad to worse to really, really worse for John Constantine in Garth Ennis' three-part "Fear and Loathing" storyline (Hellblazer issues 64-67) and it's epilogue, "Dear John." True to his usual form, John messes things up with the one woman he ever truly loved: Kit Ryan. In the process, he not only endangers her life, but also that of his friend, Dez Foster. Moreover, he insults Chas so badly that his best mate turns his back on him as well. These four issues take place in Mid-May 1993, setting the stage for the final year-and-a-half of Ennis' epic run.
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A Talking Rabbit, a Sacrilegious Vicar and Swamp Thing as
Pot Dealer...When Constantine Turned 40, Garth Ennis-Style
July 30, 2007
 Issue 63 of Hellblazer, simply titled "Forty," celebrated the fourth decade since John Constantine killed his twin brother during childbirth. And true to both Garth Ennis and Hellblazer, it was not the usual birthday party.
Among the guests were Zatanna, the Lord of the Dance, the demoness Ellie, and a trio of new characters in the motley, ever-growing pantheon of Constantine's friends: Header, a long-haired Scotsman with a tendency to beat people up and kill them; Rick the Vic, a mild-mannered priest who collects and sells forbidden objects; and Mange, a magical being very much like a soft, furry talking rabbit...because he is, indeed, a soft, furry talking rabbit. If you thought the Newcastle and Freedom Mob gangs were unusual, they didn't hold a candle to the friends Ennis gave Constantine.
For Swamp Thing fans, "Forty" has the added appeal of featuring one of the more unusual guest appearances in the character's history—namely, as a grower of marijuana. And the Phantom Stranger cameo is an absolute pisser...literally. Check out it, in the May 10 and May 11, 1993 entries.
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My Stance on the Whole "Is Vertigo Part of the DC Universe?" Debate
July 30, 2007
For years, fans have debated the question: Should Vertigo and the DCU universe be separate or joined? Over at Newsarama, the debate continues following comments on the subject from Dan DiDio and others at Comic-Con Internationsl.
While I agree that the reasons DiDio and others give for separating the supposed universes are hypocritical and arbitrary (rape is a FAR worse thing for a kid to see than someone saying "Fuck," and as a parent, I'd be really pissed if my 10-year-old were reading the former), I just don't think this is such a big deal. Regardless of the DCU ties Hellblazer, Swamp Thing, Books of Magic, The Un-Men and other books have in their origins, it doesn't really make a difference now.
Are they in the same universe? Most definitely they are, regardless of what silly, easily contestable statements Berger or DiDio might make that everyone else sees through in a second. Alec Holland, John Constantine, Cranius, Morpheus, Tim Hunter, Buddy Baker and others all originated in the DC universe, and re-reading any of their series will bring you right back to those origins.
But the old maxim still applies here: Just because something CAN be done, doesn't mean something SHOULD be done. Sure, there are a few stories where the costumed crowd have interracted with them over the years, but I personally think it cheapens Swamp Thing and Hellblazer to have a muscle-clad do-gooder in body-tight Spandex show up, hands on hips, ready to save Houma or London.
Now, I'm NOT trashing superhero books with that statement. (I want to make that clear, as I can just picture the flame war that could result.) That motif works fine in the superhero genre. I'm just saying that if I were to pick up an issue of Hellblazer and see a guy in a cape show up, who regularly fights other guys in capes, then the automatic kneejerk reaction I would have would be to cringe, as the believability factor of the series would then be weakened for me.
Sure, John Constantine knows Zatanna and the Phantom Stranger...Tim Hunter knows Zatanna...Swamp Thing knows Batman and Superman and Adam Strange and a dozen other DCU heroes...Swamp Thing and Constantine attended Green Lantern's funeral and Guy Gardner's club party...Lex Luthor helped Sunderland kill Swamp Thing...Sunderland Corp. still operates in the DCU...Swampy and Constantine both fought in the Crisis on Infnites Earths...Jason Woodrue and Poison Ivy are connected to Swamp Thing...and so forth. But even now, after all these years, if I re-read the Len Wein or Alan Moore or Rick Veitch runs of Swamp Thing, it still seems weird to me to have superheroes show up.
Personally, I agree that the line between unvierses is pointless if based on the nature of the material since the material in several DCU books is graphically worse than anything that shows up in Vertigo (aside from Preacher, of course). However, I still think removing the barrier would be an equally pointless decision because (with all due respect to those who write and draw and read superhero comics, with whom I have no problem whatsoever), it would damage the credibility of the Vertigo books to have John Constatine visiting the Fortress of Solitude, Swamp Thing fighting the Joker, or Tim Hunter joining the Teen Titans. They may co-exist, and nothing can change that...but keeping them separate, in my opinion, is the best policy.
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Hellblazer Sales on the Rise
July 29, 2007
Andy Diggle is doing a solid job on Hellblazer, not just in terms of quality but also sales, which have risen nearly every month since his arrival. Here are the most recent sales numbers, according to Marc-Oliver Frisch:
 | | 06/2001: Hellblazer #163 — 18,251
06/2002: Hellblazer #175 — 18,849
06/2003: Hellblazer #185 — 16,555
06/2004: Hellblazer #197 — 15,045
06/2005: Hellblazer #209 — 15,149
———————————-————————
06/2006: Hellblazer #221 — 13,973 (- 1.3%)
07/2006: Hellblazer #222 — 13,912 (- 0.4%)
08/2006: Hellblazer #223 — 13,956 (+ 0.3%)
09/2006: Hellblazer #224 — 13,704 (- 1.8%)
10/2006: Hellblazer #225 — 13,629 (- 0.6%)
11/2006: Hellblazer #226 — 13,388 (- 1.8%)
12/2006: Hellblazer #227 — 13,231 (- 1.2%)
01/2007: Hellblazer #228 — 12,956 (- 2.1%)
02/2007: Hellblazer #229 — 13,032 (+ 0.6%)
03/2007: Hellblazer #230 — 13,210 (+ 1.4%)
04/2007: Hellblazer #231 — 13,142 (- 0.5%)
05/2007: Hellblazer #232 — 13,164 (+ 0.2%)
06/2007: Hellblazer #233 — 13,201 (+ 0.3%)
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Corrected Hellblazer #234 Available Online
July 29, 2007
A corrected version of Hellblazer #234 (published without any speech balloons on page 21) has been posted online here and here. As some have pointed out, however, the story works almost as well without the missing dialog. Check out the preview of next month's The Un-Men #1.
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Swamp Thing Exclusive: Darko Macan's Unpublished Third Series
July 29, 2007
 Back when Brian Vaughan was pitching the concept that eventually became Swamp Thing series 3, noted Croatian writer Darko Macan (of Star Wars, Hellblazer and Grendel fame) put his hand in the game as well. Darko's proposal was ultimately rejected because Vertigo preferred to go in a (excuse the pun) darker direction, a la Vaughan's storyline. As such, his plans for Tefé have remained virtually unknown to fans until now—in fact, most probably have no idea the proposal even existed.
Now, Darko (a long-time buddy, with whom I collaborated on a licensed Star Wars comic many moons ago) has graciously provided the proposal for all to read. It's a great concept, with thoughtful insight into its major characters: Tefé Holland, Swamp Thing, Abby Holland, Anton Arcane, Nergal, John Constantine and Arcane's sister Aniela, as well as a whole new setting—a boarding school for girls—and the ready-made source of new characters such would have allowed.
All in all, Darko's proposal for Swamp Thing series 3 progresses very logically from Mark Millar's brilliant ending to series 2, and builds quite nicely on established Swamp Thing and Hellblazer continuity up to that point. Now, I'm one fan who enjoyed both Vaughan's and Josh Dysart's Swamp Thing runs, but I can't help but wonder what fascinating developments we might have seen had Vertigo greenlit this proposal. Click here and enjoy...and thanks, Darko, for letting me post it.
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Cover Gallery: A Swamp Thing By Any Other Name
July 28, 2007
 I've added more covers to the "International Editions" section of the cover gallery. These issues from Italy, France, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Germany reprint stories from both Swamp Thing and Hellblazer, as  well as numerous other DC/Vertigo titles, such as Books of Magic, Shade the Changing Man, The Sandman, Death and more.
Some of the covers contain the same illustrations that appeared on the English-language originals, but laid out differently or with different color schemes.
Several, however—particularly anthology titles like Horror, Inferno and Dossier Negro—feature new artwork that is often very creepy and effective.
Oh, and I also uploaded some promotional posters advertising the comics, as well.
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Daddy's Coming Home
July 27, 2007
 To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hellblazer's historic first issue, Vertigo Comics has commissioned Jamie Delano to return to the series he created and write an original graphic novel entitled Hellblazer: Pandemonium. This is great news, especially with British artist Jock (who drew some of Mike Carey's stories on the monthly title) providing the illustrations.
Little has been revealed about Pandemonium at this point, though Delano has told CBR.com: "Simply, Pandemonium will find John Constantine intrigued through a mixture of sex, magic, politics and ennui to travel abroad to a well-known contemporary war-zone; there, in an environment of fear and cruelty, to encounter a demonic arch-enemy who, with roots in the mythological substrate of the violence-ravaged land, is enjoying a resurgence fertilized by blood."
It sounds like Constantine's going to Iraq...again (he previously visited the war zone in John Shorley's novel War Lord). Delano told CBR he wasn't caught up on recent continuity, but said: "This story—while absolutely contemporary in its setting—is stand-alone and has no relation to events depicted in the ongoing series. That said, I'm sure the editor will be alert for blatant contradiction, any instance of which will be creatively covered." Read the full story here.
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Printing Error in Hellblazer #234
July 27, 2007
  I have some good news, and some bad news, and some better news. First, the good news...Hellblazer #234 hit stores Wednesday after a week's delay, complete with a preview of the upcoming Un-Men series. Now, the bad news...a printing error resulted in page 21 being published without any speech balloons. I suspect Arcane may be behind this unfortunate screw-up.
The better news is that author Andy Diggle has graciously posted the corrected page at his blog (which I've also added to the blog links at right) so fans can find out what the heck was going on in that scene. The corrected version, with dialog intact, will eventually be included in the collected edition. In the meantime, click here to read the missing dialog, but if you haven't yet read the issue, beware...there are major spoilers for the story.
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New Banner: Len Wein's WEINWORDS
July 26, 2007
 Reader "Alec Holland" reminds me that I was remiss in not also mentioning Len Wein's blog, WEINWORDS, when I discussed Stephen Bissette's MYRANT (see below).
Without Len Wein, there would have been no Swamp Thing...and without Swamp Thing, there would have been no John Constantine, which means there would have been no Hellblazer...and without either Swamp Thing or Hellblazer, there would have been no Un-Men...or Books of Magic, most likely...or, arguably, the entire Vertigo Comics imprint...
And if that had been the case, there would have been no Roots of the Swamp Thing for you to be reading right now, and my wife wouldn't be shaking her head in dismay, wondering why I spend so much time updating the site. Thank you, Mr. Wein, for all your "Wein words."
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New Banner: Stephen Bissette's MYRANT
July 26, 2007
 I've added a new banner to the site, linking to Stephen Bissette's MYRANT blog. Stephen Bissette needs no introduction to Swamp Thing fans, of course. Alongside Alan Moore, John Totelben and Rick Veitch, he helped chronicle what still stands as the quintessential era of Alec Holland's varied and far-spanning history.
Bissette's blog is an engaging combination of anaylsis, reviews, politics, humor and comic-book history (always a good mix). There's a a fair amount of Swamp Thing reminiscing in the blog entries, too, making MYRANT a must-read for any Swamp Thing fan.
Frankly, as much as I enjoyed Brian Vaughan and Josh Dysart's more recent runs (which I wholeheartedly did), I think DC Comics is nuts for not bringing Bissette, Moore and others back to the title. I'd love to see new stories from Len Wein, Mark Millar, Nancy Collins or even David Michelinie. (Just as long as we never get any more disasterous misfires like Totems, thank you.)
For now, we can at least enjoy Bissette's ruminations about life, comics, the universe and everything.
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 In Case Anyone's Interested...
July 25, 2007
At the request of the fine folks at the Voices From Beyond Hellblazer forum, I've posted the contents of the Vertigo Encyclopaedia.
To view the pages, click here. For more information about the Encyclopaedia, check out the July 20 entry, below.
And be sure to visit Voices From Beyond, which is easily the best Hellblazer forum on the 'Net—great discussion, no flame wars and visits from several writers and artists who have helped create the life of John Constantine.
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Cover Gallery Update: Othr Media
July 25, 2007
I've uploaded a quick update to the cover gallery: namely, high-res images of the Magic Sourcebook from Mayfair's DC Heroes Role-Playing Game and the two-issue Critics Choice Files Magazine Spotlight series on Swamp Thing.
The first provides background information (very little of it new, unfortunately) for John Constantine, Swamp Thing, Anton Arcane, Abby Arcane, the Phantom Stranger, the Parliament of Trees and other magic-oriented entities from the DC Comics universe. The other two volumes provide an insightful analysis of Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run.
All are worth tracking down, particularly the Critics Choice books, though all three are rather difficult to find (and often costly).
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Prelude to Preacher: Enter Chantinelle
July 23, 2007
With the cover gallery finally uploaded (minus some cameos still to be added), I've chronicled four more Garth Ennis stories on the timeline, as well as a Sandman-based public service announcement starring John Constantine, written by Neil Gaiman.
 Issues 58 and 59 form a two-part tale introducing the next recurring character in Hellblazer: the demoness Chantinelle, also known as Ellie, who fell in love with an angel and gave birth to a half-breed child. Sound familiar? It should. Ennis would later create his epic Preacher series with the same premise, though the two stories are not otherwise connected.
Issue 61 continues Ellie's story, with John Constantine helping the succubus hide from the First of the Fallen, who (in typical First of the Fallen melodrama) rants furiously that one of his demons would dare betray him. And issue 62 introduces Harry Constantine, the next in a long line of John's cursed ancestors.
Finally, in Death Talks About Life, a six-page pamphlet packaged with issue 62, Death of the Endless asks Constantine's help in educating readers about AIDS. How? Why, by having him hold out a banana like an erect penis so she can explain how to don a condom, of course!
The majority of the action takes place near the end of 1992, with backstory details at the dawn of time, before 8,000 B.C., 1649, 1972, early 1984 and December 1984.
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Hellblazer #234 Preview Available Online
July 21, 2007
DC Comics has provided CBR News with an advance look at Hellblazer #234, which will be arriving at comic stores this Wednesday, following a week-long delay.
Issue #234 begins the new "Joyride" storyline by Andy Diggle and Leonardo Manco, and judging by the preview, it looks to be a joy of a ride indeed. (Okay, I admit it...that was corny.)
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Shout-Outs in the Swamp
July 21, 2007
I want to take a moment and give shout-outs to sites that have mentioned Roots of the Swamp Thing recently. Kevin Church's comics blog, Beaucoup Kevin is a must read, as is Mike Sterling's Progressive Ruin, if you want a daily dose of information, humor and insight about the world of the funnybooks. Kevin provides invaluable advice for those looking to optimize their websites, while Mike is one of the few people who seems to enjoy a good Swamp Thing story as much as I do.
Also worth giving a click is Steven G. Saunders' "All the Rage" column at Silver Bullet Comics. Thanks for the recent nods, guys—right back atcha. (Oh, and if anyone who speaks Portuguese can translate what "Freud" says about my site at Blog Media Pixel, feel free to let me know!)
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Looking Back: The Vertigo Encyclopaedia
July 20, 2007
 While going through my collection last night, I came across something I'd forgotten I had—and, indeed, something I think many fans don't even know about, as I never hear anyone talking about it, and a search online reveals almost no discussion of it.
Around the same time Hellblazer #75 and Swamp Thing #140 were hitting stores, Vertigo put out a promotional item called the Vertigo Encyclopaedia (and yes, that's spelled correctly). Now, promos from DC and Vertigo are nothing new, as a look at the "Promotional Materials" section of the cover gallery (which I updated heavily in the past couple of days) shows. Basically, these comic-book-esque marketing tools were fashioned to resemble actual comic books in the hope of inspiring interest in whatever titles were on the stands at the time. Fair enough.
What makes the Encylopaedia different, however, is that it's actually written in-universe. Much like the Swamp Thing death certificate that was issued to promote issue 54, the Vertigo Encylopaedia is more than just a "buy our comics" advertisement. It's narrated by John Constantine, who offers his personal opinion of such Vertigo characters as Animal Man, Black Orchid, Tim Hunter, Doom Patrol, Kid Eternity, Morpheus, Wesley Dodds, Shade the Changing Man, the Swmp Thing and even himself. Each two-page spread includes John's comment on a character, followed by a brief blurb about the next story in that particular series.
John begins by telling us:
"Trust me. Most books are good for only one thing: trouble. Like the Necronomicon, for instance, or Remy's Daemonolateria, or the Malleus Maleficarum. (Don't know what it is? Good. Keep it that way.) A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and that's about the only kind of knoowledge you'll find between the covers...of most books, that is.
So when I stumbled across this bloody weird Encyclopaedia (don't ask me where), well, my first instinct was to chuck it on the rubbish heap. I mean, who needs another set for the shelf, right?
But this one is different...very different. And I don't need the entrails of a bird or a pair of loaded dice to tell me that it's about nothing less than the shape of things to come.
You may find that shape appealing...or not. It all depends on your point of view.
And believe me, mate, this one's got a point of view that'll make your head spin faster than a fifth of Tanqueray with a pint-sized Guinness chaser.
Vertigo.
Hmmph. No kidding."
Okay, so John's dialog sounds...well...not much like him. And, okay, he seems to be making way too big a deal over what is basically a very brief amount of general information intended to sell a product. And, yeah, there's probably nothing in the Encyclopaedia that any DC-universe magic user would find as amazing or "different...very different" as John claims this to be. But I don't care. It's cool, and I'm glad to have it. (Check out a larger version of the cover in the gallery.)
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July Delays and October Solicits: It's An Un-Hellish Week
July 16, 2007
 Good news and bad news today.
First, the bad: Hellblazer 234, originally slated for release this Wednesday, has been delayed until next week.  Those of us greatly enjoying Andy Diggle's run—and the rise in sales following Denise Mina's departure shows that many of us are—will have to wait another week to find out what happens to John Constantine now that...
[SPOILER ALERT FOR ISSUE #233]...he's cast out his demons, taken ownership of Ravenscar Asylum and cleaned up his life.
Now the good: Solicits are available for The Un-Men #3 (left) and Hellblazer #237 (right), courtesy of Newsarama. For descriptions and release dates, check out the calendar; and for larger versions of the covers, visit the cover gallery.
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Cover Gallery Update: Hellblazer
July 14 (Updated July 15), 2007
It's taken me a few days, but I've added the entire Hellblazer series to the cover gallery. It's funny—I've read every issue since #1, and am currently re-reading them all so I can add them to the timeline (which I'm anxious to get back to, once I finish with the cover gallery).
And yet, as I look back at some of the covers after all these years, I find myself thinking, "What the heck was this one about again?" I guess I'll remember soon enough. |  | I still haven't added John's appearances in such titles as Shade the Changing Man, Modfire, Green Lantern and so forth, nor have I uploaded any of the trade-paperback compilations of Hellblazer.
Unfortunately, there's this thing called sleep that keeps getting in the way. But I will ge to it soon...if I don't pass out first from exhaustion, or sell my collection and run in terror. |
UPDATED: The Hellblazer trades have now been added, including the cover for Denise Mina's The Red Right Hand, just released by DC (thanks to reader 'Alec Holland' for the heads-up).
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Cover Gallery Update: In Any Language, It's Still Muck-Encrusted To Me
July 11, 2007
  I had some fun with the cover gallery today, adding a section featuring French- and Spanish-language Swamp Thing covers. If anyone has any foreign covers I'm missing, feel free to e-mail them to me (see the link at the bottom) and I'll gladly post them.
In addition, I've also created a separate section of the gallery containing promotional materials. There's not much there yet, but I'll be adding more when I get a chance. (Creating this cover gallery is becoming an immense task...and I haven't even begun to add Hellblazer yet...but I'm determined to eventually make it complete.)
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Cover Gallery Update: Other Media
 July 11, 2007
Both Swamp Thing and Hellblazer have been adapted into other media over the years. Now, the cover gallery features covers to the film novelizations, original novels, VHS/DVD releases and role-playing game books based on the two series. In addition, I've added an unproduced game cartridge for the GameBoy, and a children's book that has nothing to do with our Swamp Thing...but is just too funny to pass up.
One of the more unusual covers can be found on the British DVD box for the first Swamp Thing film, as seen at right. Apparently, the marketing folks were worried the Brits might have a problem seeing a romantic relationship between a woman and a plant-man, but not one between a woman and a huge green guy who looks like a cross between the Jolly Green Giant and David Hasselhoff.
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Cover Gallery Update: Trade Paperback Compilations
 July 10, 2007
Another update to the cover gallery—this time with a plethora of trade paperback compilations from series 1, 2 and 4. To date, series 3 has not been collected in this format, and no announcements have been made indicating Vertigo has any intention of doing so.
I haven't yet added the Hellblazer collections, but I will soon, along with the monthly issues of that serires. And on the seventh day, I'll rest.
In addition, I also plan to add the covers of the various VHS and DVD releases of the films and animated series—and, of course, the live-action TV series if it's ever released—along with the film novelizations. But for now, I'm calling it the seventh day.
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 Cover Gallery Update: Crossovers and Tie-Ins
July 9, 2007
Today's cover gallery update spotlights the covers for the various guest appearances of Swamp Thing and his regular cast of characters in other titles, such as the Patchwork Man, featured in House of Secrets #140 and the Swedish comic Gigant #3/1983.
 This section of the cover gallery covers only those crossovers in which Swamp Thing characters play a substantial role. Alec Holland has had many cameos, some as minor as just his hand. While fun, such cameos have not been included in the cover gallery (though they are mentioned on the timeline).
 Additionally, as an ongoing character in both The Sandman and The Dreaming, Matt Cable had a number of appearances in those titles. However, since I am not covering either series on this site, I have only included two storylines in the cover gallery—the three-parter revealing his identity as Matt Cable, and the four-part story of his death. Conversely, his appearances in Showcase Presents #94-96 are featured.
Vertigo should really consider publishing a Patchwork Man miniseries. It'd be a great opportunity to reprint this oft-forgotten two-parter—and English-speaking fans could finally read the second half of the story. (I'll gladly write it. Vertigo, are you listening?)
UPDATED: I've added a selection of other DC Comics issues containing decidedly Swamp Thing-esque stories to the crossovers gallery. These tales are also worked into the timeline, and all are fun to read as pieces of psuedo-Swamp Thing history. In fact, Len Wein even worked The Phantom Stranger #14 into Swamp Thing continuity during his brief tenure on the book.
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Cover Gallery Update: Swamp Thing, Series 4
July 7, 2007
Another update to the cover gallery—this time with the 29 covers to Swamp Thing, series 4.
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Cover Gallery Update: Reprints and Promos
July 7, 2007
 The latest update to the cover gallery highlights the various reprints, special editions and promotional issues published throughout Swamp Thing's 35-year history.
Among the reprints are the "Silver Age Classics" version of House of Secrets #92, the "Millennium Editions" of House of Secrets #92 and Swamp Thing #21, the five-issue miniseries Roots of the Swamp Thing (catchy name!), the silver-tinted Collector's Edition of Swamp Thing issue #140, the 20 issues of Essential Vertigo: Swamp Thing and the four DC Special Series: The Original Swamp Thing Saga issues.
In addition, you'll find a number of promotional items, including two DC Samplers, the Swamp Thing/Lucifer flipbook and a death certificate commemorating Swamp Thing's murder. More promos will be added eventually, along with covers to the numerous trade-paperback compilations of both Swamp Thing and Hellblazer.
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 Cover Gallery Update: Swamp Thing Series 3
July 6, 2007
I've finished adding all the monthly covers for both Swamp Thing series 2 and series 3 to the cover gallery.
In the next day or so, I hope to add the covers for series 4, after which I'll get started on Hellblazer and the various crossovers and tie-ins Swamp Thing and Hellblazer have had with other titles over the years.
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Swamp Thing's Cartoon Cameo: How'd I Miss This?
July 5, 2007
 Well, I'm four years late on this one...but Swamp Thing apparently had a cameo appearance in an episode of the animated series Justice League Unlimited (which makes sense, really, since I don't watch it).
Specifically, he had a walk-by at a cantina in the Dec. 13, 2003 episode, entitled "Comfort and Joy." Why he's hanging out with the Justice League at a bar, I couldn't tell you...but there it is.
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Cover Gallery Now Online
July 5, 2007
More covers have been added, this time from Swamp Thing series 2, American Freak: A Tale of the Un-Men and the Un-Men monthly series. I've also added a new covers page to the left-hand navigation bar. Click here to view the covers currently available.
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If Only He'd Run For Office Again...
July 4, 2007
Happy Independence Day to all my American readers! Forget Clinton, Obama, McKane and Giuliani...Swamp Thing for president in 2008!
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I Got Ya' Covered
July 4, 2007
I've begun creating cover galleries for each of the four Swamp Thing titles, as well as the entire Hellblazer run. Swamp Thing series 1 should be available later today.
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Diaries, Demons, Desecration and Damnation...Oh, My!
July 3, 2007
Three stories have been added to the timeline: a one-off tale about a demon, a diary and a man facing eternal damnation, in Hellblazer #56; and a two-parter, from issues #57-58, about vengeful souls trapped in their desecrated bodies by a demented research lab director using their bodies for illegal ballistics testing. All three take place from August to Septemner 1992. Not Garth Ennis' best work, to be sure...and not entirely original, either...but fun reads nonetheless.
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Charles the Ripper: A Royal Pain in the Arse
July 2, 2007
Imagine, if you will, the maniacal leader of a major world power betraying his country, his oath of office and his religion, and spilling the blood of innocent people just to satisfy his own hideous desires and increase his power base...but enough about George W. Bush.
"Royal Blood," in Hallblazer #52-55, remains one of my personal favorite Garth Ennis Hellblazer stories—and, in fact, one of my favorites of the entire series. Britain's Prince Charles, in an effort to expedite his ascendency to the throne, allows himself to become possessed by Calibraxis, a demon that once caused the 'Jack the Ripper' murders.
Grisly and gory, yet at the same time humorous and socially poignant (and not entirely over-the-top), "Royal Blood" takes Jamie Delano's scathing commentaries on the British monarchy to a whole new level. The main story takes place at the end of 1991 and the beginning of 1992, with the Ripper's backstory revealed from 1845 to 1888 (the actual years of the infamous Ripper murders).
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Calendar Update
July 1, 2007
DC has postponed the release of Golden Age Doctor Fate Volume 1 (a hardcover volume reprinting the much-overlooked first appearance of John Constantine's nemesis, Nergal) to July 5.
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After Midnite
July 1, 2007
 In stark contrast to the Blaxploitation nature of Swamp Thing's Jefferson Bolt (see below), Mat Johnson's Papa Midnite miniseries makes a multidimensional, flesh-and-blood character out of Papa Linton Midnite. Midnite was first introduced in Jamie Delano's opening story arc, then returned in Garth Ennis' Hellblazer #74-76, seemingly jumping to his death from the Empire State Building in the latter.
With this five-part story, Johnson successfully reconciles the overweight, stereotypical Voodoo witch doctor from the Delano/Ennis stories with the much slimmer (and better-dressed) version portrayed by Djimon Honsou in the film Constantine. At the same time, Johnson provides a powerful indictment of the African slave trade in the United States, pointing a blameful finger not only at the European White men behind the slaving, but also at those African-Americans who benefited from the practice, and those who have since done little to better the Black man's status in America. It's a poignant story, set on two fronts: the period spanning from 1712 to 1744, and in the present day (2004).
Some inconsistencies do crop up (Midnite still being alive, his sister's name and how she died, and so forth), but Johnson satisfactorily explains these away by the end of the series, making Papa Midnite one of the more compelling Hellblazer miniseres to date.
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In the Midnite Hour
July 1, 2007
I finally got around to chronicling the remaining issues of the Papa Midnite miniseries by Mat Johnson, which (despite being an obvious tie-in with the film Constantine) was quite enjoyable and well written. I'd posted the events of the first two issues several months ago, but in my desire to finish up the Delano run and begin re-reading Ennis, I'd put it on hold. I'll add a breakdown of these issues to the timeline later today. Alas, it's 2:00 in the morning and I'm going to bed.
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Twilight's Lost Gleaming
June 30, 2007
Alan Moore—fan-favorite Swamp Thing scribe and creator of John Constantine—proposed a 12-issue miniseries to DC Comics around 1986, following his success on The Watchmen. Unfortunately, DC opted not to publish it.
 Despite DC's attempts to remove from the Internet what it sees as its copyrighted material, Moore's proposal for Twilight of the Superheroes has been circulating among fans for years, and is widely available online. The title is a reference to Twilight of the Gods, the last of four operas comprising Richard Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung saga, first performed in 1876.
The opera's original German title was a translation of the Old Norse phrase "Ragnarök," which (as shown in Marvel's Thor storyline, as well as in the Stargate: SG-1 episode "Red Sky") was the mythological name for a war of the gods prophesized to herald the end of the world. Moore's version—exploring John Constantine's masterful machinations to end the reign of all superheroes on Earth—takes place in two timeframes (1987 and 2000), with additional events set in mid-1995.
In Twilight of the Superheroes, Constantine is seen manipulating everyone from Batman to Superman—and even himself (belay that smirk, you dirty-minded so-and-sos)—as well as a bevy of other metahumans, aliens and godlike beings, in an effort to save mankind from its desperate reliance on the superheroic community (who, in Moore's hands, have gone mad with power and are set to fight an all-out war amongst themselves).
Conceived as a 12-issue miniseries, Twilight was Moore's attempt to rectify what he saw as unfortunate limitatons imposed by DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths—and, as with most of Moore's writings, it seems like it would have been an amazing work of art. Click on the years above to read the story breakdowns.
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Comixfan and Toonopedia Banners Added
June 28, 2007
I've added a new banner to the site, and I highly recommend clicking it, as it'll take you to the Comixfan website. Jordan T. Maxwell at Comixfan has put together an excellent overview of the trade paperback compilations of the various Swamp Thing series, with detailed plots for each.
In addition, I've also added a banner to Donald D. Markstein's amazing Toonopedia site. Don describes it as "a vast repository of toonological knowledge," and he ain't kidding—Toonopedia simply has to be seen to be believed.
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What Ever Happened to Jefferson Bolt, Sucka?
June 27, 2007
 Remember Jefferson Bolt, the perpetually angry African-American character from the first Swamp Thing series, who hung out with Matt Cable and Abby Arcane from issues #11-20, then was never mentioned again by any future writers? Ever wonder what became of him? I know I did, particularly since in issue #112, Alec Holland told Liz Tremayne she was the only living person who knew him when he still thought he was a man—implying Bolt had died in the interim.
Well, regular reader 'Alec Holland' alerted me to two non-DC titles featuring other characters named Jefferson Bolt, suggesting humorous fates for Matt and Abby's jive-talkin' comrade—and, as with his Swamp Thing analog, these Bolts were perfect examples of the Blaxploitation era of the early 1970s...and both looked like Swamp Thing's Bolt, to boot.
The first (at top) was a 1973 film called That Man Bolt, a movie starring Fred Williamson in a role clearly modeled in the vein of Shaft. "The highest-flyin', slickest, meanest dude you'll ever face is Jefferson Bolt...ON the CASE," the film's tagline said—and that pretty much describes DC's Bolt as well.
The other (which actually came out first—before Bolt's debut in the pages of Swamp Thing, in fact) was a 1972 issue of Marvel Team Up—issue #3, featuring Spider-Man and the Human Torch. At one point, this Jefferson Bolt accused his brother Jacob of "shining the White Man's shoes." Again, sounds like Alec's friend Bolt...though Marvel's version of the character ultimately became a vampire.
It's interesting to note that Marvel's Bolt appeared in an issue written by none other than Gerry Conway, co-creator of Swamp Thing's Marvel brother Man-Thing, and roommate of Len Wein...who, of course, created both Swamp Thing and the Jefferson Bolt of the DC universe. Coincidence? I think not, especially given that Conway was one of the writers to step in on Swamp Thing following Wein's departure. Hmmm....
Archived News >
Born on the Bayou
A detailed history and analysis of the history of the Swamp Thing comic book line and its surpassingly successful spinoff series, John Constantine: Hellblazer.
In 1971, Len Wein and Berni Wrightson introduced to the comic book world a sympathetic mossy monster who was far more than his horrifying exterior revealed.
The idea was not entirely original, of course. Bog-dwellers such as Airboy Comics’ Heap, for instance, had already stalked the swamps, and Marvel Comics had unveiled its own take on the concept, Man-Thing, |  |
at about the same time—created, ironically enough, by Wein’s then-roommate (and future Swamp Thing scribe himself) Gerry Conway.
And yet, though neither Wein nor Wrightson could have known it back then, their eight-page "Swamp Thing" story in House of Secrets #92 was the start of a saga unlike none that had come before. |
The story, set near the start of the 20th century, was simple enough: scientist Alex Olsen, murdered by friend and partner Damian Ridge, was reborn as a moss-covered monster and was shunned as hideous by his beloved wife, Linda. It was not a new theme, nor was this the last time such a plot device would be used (see Sam Raimi's Darkman, for example). But the vibrant illustrations of Berni Wrightson, combined with Wein's creepy and touching text, created a whole that was so much more than the sum of its parts. And it was only the beginning of a truly amazing journey, for there was Moore to come...
Full Story >
Lineage of the Elementals
A listing of elementals in the Swamp Thing/Hellblazer universe, as well as the Parliament of Trees, aborted or temporary elementals, non-elemental plant creatures, denizens of the Green and more.
From the dawn of life on Earth, elementals have walked the planet (or, at least DC Comics' version of it), champions of their respective realms. But who were these god-like beings? When did they reign, and where did they come from? This section documents the known elementals in the Swamp Thing mythos, plus a number of related entities...
Full Story >
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Thanks to Joe Bongiorno, who first dragged me kicking and screaming into the mucky mythos of the Swamp Thing.
Thanks also to the reader known as 'Alec Holland,' whose support has been invaluable; Mike Sterling for promoting Swamp Thing and this site whenver he can; and Kevin Church for his excellent advice on improving this site.
Moreover, my thanks to Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, Alan Moore, John Totelben, Stephen Bissette, Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis and all the other creators whose work inspired me to create this Web site. |
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