Editing Swamp Thing (section)

{{Short description|Fictional character, an elemental creature in the DC Comics Universe}}
{{about|the fictional character|the comic book|Swamp Thing (comic book)|other uses|Swamp Thing (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|Man-Thing}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox comics character
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| character_name = Swamp Thing
| image          = Swamp thing 09 1974.jpg
| caption        = Cover of ''Swamp Thing'' #9 (March–April 1974), art by [[Bernie Wrightson]]
| publisher      = [[DC Comics]]
| debut          = '''Alexander Olsen:'''<br/>''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' #92 (July, 1971)<br/>'''[[Alec Holland]]:'''<br/>''[[Swamp Thing (comic book)|Swamp Thing]]'' #1 (October–November 1972)<br/>'''Levi Kamei:'''<br/>''[[Infinite Frontier]]'' #0 (May, 2021)
| species        = Plant elemental            
| alliances      = [[Teen Titans|Titans]]<br/>[[Justice League]]<br/>Parliament of Trees<br/>[[Justice League Dark]]<br/>[[Lords of Chaos and Order]]<br/>[[Justice League|Justice League United]] 
| partners       = [[Animal Man]], [[Poison Ivy (character)|Poison Ivy]], [[John Constantine]], [[Batman]]
| supports       = [[John Constantine]] 
| aliases        = Avatar of the Green, The Force of Nature, Guardian of the Green 
| powers         = Often the embodiment of the cosmic energies connected to all plant life ("The Green"), he possess various powers in which includes:
* Manipulation of plant matter; allows for changing shape and size, travelling through time, and can appear in places where there's life.
* Superhuman strength, durability, and possess regenerative powers. Can also grow wings out of plants to allow for flight,
| alter ego      = Alexander Olsen<br/>Alec Holland<br/>Tefé Holland<br/>Levi Kamei
| creators       = [[Len Wein]]<br/>[[Bernie Wrightson]]
}}
'''Swamp Thing''' is a [[superhero]] and [[antihero]] appearing in [[American comic books]] published by [[DC Comics]]. Created by writer [[Len Wein]] and artist [[Bernie Wrightson]], the Swamp Thing has had several different incarnations throughout his publication. The character first appeared in ''[[House of Secrets (DC Comics)|House of Secrets]]'' #92 (July 1971) in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite book |last=McAvennie |first=Michael |title=DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7566-6742-9 |editor-last=Dolan |editor-first=Hannah |page=146 |chapter=1970s |quote='Swamp Thing' was the name of Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson's turn-of-the-century tale, and its popularity with readers led a modernized version of the character into its own series a year later.}}</ref> The character found perhaps its greatest popularity during the original 1970s Wein/Wrightson run and in the mid-late 1980s during a highly acclaimed run under [[Alan Moore]], [[Stephen Bissette]], and [[John Totleben]]. Swamp Thing would also go on to become one of the staples of the [[Justice League Dark]], a team featuring magical superheroes. 

The character is often depicted as a swamp monster that resembles an anthropomorphic mound of [[vegetable]] matter seeking to protect [[nature]] and humanity from threats of both scientific and supernatural origin. These duties are often an expression of his designation as the Avatar of the Green, an illustrious title depicted as synonymous with both Swamp Thing and makes the character the embodiment of the cosmic energies that gives life to all plant life in the known universe, often dubbed "The Green". Several incarnations arise from the consciousness of other beings who are selected as the champion of the Parliament of Trees, the guiding and collective consciousness of all plant life, which includes past incarnations of Swamp Thing.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=Manning |first1=Matthew K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2k0EAAAQBAJ |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia New Edition |last2=Wiacek |first2=Stephen |last3=Scott |first3=Melanie |last4=Jones |first4=Nick |last5=Walker |first5=Landry Q. |date=2021-07-06 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-7440-5301-2 |language=en}}</ref> Swamp Thing is also often in an elemental conflict with both rivals within the Green (i.e [[Floronic Man]]), rival elemental forces, such as "The Red" (embodies all animal life, including humanity), and most notably "The Rot" or "The Black" (embodies death), with their archnemesis being [[Anton Arcane]]. 

The original version of the character is Alexander Olsen, a scientist who was killed by his assistant vying for the affections of his wife. Returning as a swamp creature, he confronts his assistant and kills him in revenge but his wife runs off, unable to recognize him. He later becomes a local legend in Louisiana.  His successor, [[Alec Holland]], is the second and most well regarded version of the character. A [[chemist]] who dies following the creation of a scientific formula capable of stimulating plant life in hostile environment to criminal or malevolent elements. Stories vary in his being, sometimes a plant creature believing himself to be Alec possessing his memories while later stories make him the genuine Alec who transforms into the Swamp Thing. This version is also a reluctant ally of John Constantine and a later member of the Justice League Dark, considered a powerhouse among their ranks.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Tynion |first=James IV |title=Justice League Dark. Vol. 3, The witching war |date=2020 |others=Alvaro Martinez, Fernando Blanco, Javi Fernandez, Raul Fernandez, Brad Anderson, John Kalisz |isbn=978-1-77950-034-2 |location=Burbank, CA |oclc=1133663808}}</ref>

In 2021, a new incarnation of Swamp Thing was created. This version is Levi Kamei, a young [[Indian people|Indian]] scientist chosen as the new Swamp Thing at a young age. Descended from a [[tribunal]] connected to the [[Kaziranga National Park|Kaziranga]] wetlands, his powers awaken following an altercation between the community and employers, which also resulted in the death. Following his awakening, various factions seeking to control the new Swamp Thing for their own nefarious agenda. Kamei is guided by Alec and fellow scientist Jennifer Reece in his new role.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=V |first=Ram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CjBNEAAAQBAJ |title=The Swamp Thing Volume 1: Becoming |date=2021-12-07 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-77951-649-7 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=V |first=Ram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cVF-EAAAQBAJ |title=The Swamp Thing Volume 2: Conduit |date=2022-08-16 |publisher=DC Comics |isbn=978-1-77951-905-4 |language=en}}</ref> Existing concurrently with the Alec version, this Swamp Thing is instead more prominently a member of the [[Teen Titans|Titans]].

The character has been adapted from the comics into several forms of media, including feature films, television series, and video games. The character made his live-action debut in the film ''[[Swamp Thing (1982 film)|Swamp Thing]]'' (1982), with [[Dick Durock]] playing the Swamp Thing, while [[Ray Wise]] played [[Alec Holland]]. Durock played both Swamp Thing and Holland in the sequel film ''[[The Return of Swamp Thing]]'' (1989). Durock reprised the role again in the television series ''[[Swamp Thing (1990 TV series)|Swamp Thing]]'' (1990). The Swamp Thing was played by [[Derek Mears]] with [[Andy Bean (actor)|Andy Bean]] playing Alec Holland in the television series ''[[Swamp Thing (2019 TV series)|Swamp Thing]]'' (2019). Another live-action film adaptation, titled ''Swamp Thing'', is in development as an installment of the [[DC Universe (franchise)|DC Universe]] (DCU) media franchise. [[IGN]] ranked him 28th in the Top 100 Comic Book Heroes list.