FutureFlash

Swamp Thing #12 Cover Impressions: Looks like Swampy is ready to toss Liz off the bridge. Swamp Thing #12 (April, 1983) Cover Price: $.60 Title: And Yet It Lives Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yates (Cover: Yates) Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Issue Recap: This is issue picks up right after the end of last issue with Swamp Thing and the Golem battling. Swampy turns the Golem "off" by erasing one of the Herbrew letters word for 'life' by turning it into the Herbrew word for "dead". Afterwards realizing the Golem attacked Swampy due to Kathy's amulet, Dr Kay puts it on the Golem and reanimates it to track Kathy. Shortly thereafter the Golem finds Kathy and the battle begins. The battle is fierce but in the end Swamp Thing kills Kathy. However also dead are Milton and Dr. Kay's other operatives. Back at the hotel, Dennis and Liz are researching Swamp Thing's disease when Grasp shows up holding them at gun point. However it is a ruse and Grasp allows Dennis to strike him which he figures the two will then flee to Swamp Thing. And Grasp is correct, that is exactly what Liz and Dennis do. They catch up to Swamp Thing just after the battle (with Grasp following them). Dennis tells Swamp Thing that they have cure. However Dr. Kay tells them they must wait as they need to find the missing Golem before it cause any damage. The group then sets off in search of the Golem. Of course Kathy is not really dead her spirit leaves her dead body and goes after Swamp Thing and co. Does nobody double check to make sure the villain is dead? Soon Kathy's spirit catches up to the group as they drive down the road and posses Liz. During the confusion the car crashes on the icy mountain road. Grasp is nearby ready to ambush the party but is unable to take a shot due to fact he wants to confirm his kill. The now possessed Liz threatens the party but Kathy finds Swamp Thing a much better target for possession. However Swamp Thing is able to resist the possession and casts Kathy out. The now enraged Kathy bathes everybody nearby (including Grasp) in a white light. Everybody then finds themselves in a medieval looking castle ending the issue. Remarks: I have really enjoyed the last couple of issues. The blurb at the end of this issue looks like it will be the finale for the Kathy story-line...hope it is good. Grade: B

I need to build a time machine! On a side note I can't wait to get my 227 back from cgc.

I believe I started with the toys, it must have been late 82 or early 83 because my first two figs were Stalker and the Cobra Trooper with the straight arms from the 82 series. Wish I still had them! After that it was the cartoon and my first issue of the comic was #29. As for a favorite I would say the comics, I stuck around until issue #69. 40 issue run!

Well honestly they are all great books, but I did find it interesting coming back to this hobby 3 years ago and finding 227 was worth a bit more than 232. I just wished I had bought stuff like this back in the late 80's and early 90's.

Just started reading Marvel SA over the last year...so far the TTA (Giant Man/Ant Man) issues have been a real chore. Sad to hear the Hulk/Sub issues are not much better. Tales of Suspense with Iron Man have been pretty boring too. On the bright side ASM and FF have been really good. Going to give the Dr. Strange run in ST and Avengers a read though at some point.

Still rolling along... Swamp Thing #11 Cover Impressions: Swamp Thing vs The Golem, nuff said! Swamp Thing #11 (March, 1983) Cover Price: $.60 Title: Heart of Stone, Feat of Clay Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yates (Cover: Yates) Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Back to the original crew. Issue Recap: This issue begins with a couple page recap of the series up till now. Dr. Kay also revels more of his background and not only was he a holocaust survivor, he also collaborated with the Germans as a Kapo while imprisoned at Dachau. Still not liking Dr. Kay's explanation, Dennis punches Kay and they begin a fisticuff. Afterwards Dennis and Liz leave to return to the hotel, where they research Swamp Thing's disease that is slowly killing him. Dr. Kay, Milton and the rest of Kay's agents begin to create a Golem to stop Kathy. Meanwhile Kathy acquires the Pendulum of von Ruhnstedt. Shortly thereafter the Golem finds Kathy, which she easily dispatches with her increased power from the Pendulum. Swampy joins the battle against Kathy and he to is defeated. Milton is able to repair the Golem, but Kathy flees before the battle can be rejoined. However with Kathy gone, the Golem goes berserk and attacks Swamp Thing due to Kathy's locket that he wears. Remarks: Well the battle between the Golem and Swamp Thing didn't really happen due to issue ending. I'm guessing the that will be in the next issue. The only thing I thought was a bit dumb was Dennis and Liz with a microscope at the hotel room researching the disease. Kinda strange that somebody would haul lab equipment to Europe with them in my opinion. Overall another solid issue. Grade: B

Sad news indeed. The odd thing is I just started reading the USS Stevens collected stories book this last Sunday. I've only read a handful of them previously in the various big 5 books. But I must say as I read through them now in order, they are really good . Certainly an underrated series. Favorite so far..."How Many Fathoms?" from OFF 128.

Half way to Moore! Swamp Thing #10 Cover Impressions: Swamp Thing is entangling Liz and Dennis....as seen at the end of last issue. Kind of a blah cover. Swamp Thing #10 (February, 1983) Cover Price: $.60 Title: Number of the Beast Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yates/John Totleben (Cover: Yates) Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Totleben joining Swamp Thing for the first time as the inker. Issue Recap: Continuing on from the previous issue, Dr. Kay (Kripptmann) continues to plead with Liz, Dennis and Swamp Thing to join him in stopping Kathy. Who is on her way to West Germany (ah the good old cold war) to obtain the Pendulum of Ernst von Rhunstedt, which will transform her into the Herald of the Beast (as in the Beast from the Bible). Dr. Kay then tells Swamp Thing that if he helps defeat Kathy, Kay will tell him why Sunderland (and the US Government) is trying to kill him. Swampy reluctantly agrees along with Liz and Dennis. Later the team arrives in Munich and learns the location of the Pendulum is at Dachau the infamous concentration camp. At Dachau they find Kathy and who is summoning the spirit of von Rhunstedt causing flashbacks and apparitions of the horrors of the camp during WW II. Kathy learns that the Pendulum is located in Berchtesgaden and quickly leaves the heroes. After Kathy leaves the apparitions begin to fade and the team learns that Dr. Kay is no Nazi but a former inmate of Dachau. Also in this issue Grasp and Gen. Sunderland continue to track the team to West Germany. Grasp then flies to Munich to kill Swamp Thing and Dr. Kay. Remarks: Another solid issue. We learn that Kathy is trying to become the Herald of the Beast and unleash him into the world. Pretty good use of horror in this issue with the creepy images of Dachau during WWII. I'm looking forward to see where this all going. Pros: Finding out that Dr. Kay may actually be a sort of good guy, rather than a Nazi. Dennis and Liz almost have a love connection in Munich...but is spoiled by the ravings of Feldner about Kathy. Swamp Thing is shipped to Munich in a crate...no respect for the title lead. Cons: Nothing Grade: B

Good luck on the rest of the clean up. Hopefully there isn't to much more damaged. Ugh water.

Swamp Thing #9 Cover Impressions: Looks like Dr. Kay is going to cap Swampy. Kathy is a pillar of flame and Feldner looks like a mummy after getting set on fire by Kathy in the previous issue. Swamp Thing #9 (January, 1983) Cover Price: $.60 Title: Prelude to Holocaust Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Jan Duursema/Tom Mandrake (Cover: Yates) Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza First artist tag out of the series. Yates still provides the cover. Issue Recap: This issue picks up with Dennis, Liz, Swamp Thing and Reef flying the mentally created helicopter back to the US. However the wounded Reef dies and causing the helicopter to crash. Meanwhile Dr. Kay and Milton discuss Kathy's maturation into a woman and her growing power after burning Feldner to a crisp. In the background Grasp is spying on them and reports back to Gen. Sunderland who tasks him with killing both Kay and Swamp Thing. Kay then takes Feldner to a Sunderland facility to restore his health. Later Liz, Dennis and Swamp Thing return to the Dennis's clinic to search for Feldner. However they find it abandoned but they do find some secret files that reveal the Dr Kay is really and ex-Nazi named Helmut Kripptimann. Soon afterwards Dr. Kay and Milton show up to capture them. Milton begins to use his psychic powers to cause Swampy to mutate and entangle both Liz and Dennis. The issue ends with Dr. Kay offering to team up, to which Dennis replies "go to hell." Remarks: This issue gets back on track with the Kathy/Dr. Kay/Sunderland plot. These early issues have been at there best when following that story-line. Though I'm not to sure I like Dr. Kay much anymore since he is an ex-Nazi. Perhaps next issue will explain things a bit more. Pros: Back to the main plot of the book. Cons: A lot of jumping around locations which was a bit confusing. Grade: B

Okay back to the Swamp Thing read- a-thon! Swamp Thing #8 Cover Impressions: Swampy and Liz are on a walk, in the background is skull shaped mountain...creepy. Swamp Thing #8 (December, 1982) Cover Price: $.60 Title: Here's Looking At You, Kid Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yeates Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Same creative team as the previous issues. Issue Recap: This issues picks up after the sinking of the Haven. Swampy, Liz and Dennis all find that they are on an island that is recreating old movies such as King Kong, Casablanca, Citizen Kane and such. However the trio find that none of it is real, but the creation of six Vietnam vets who are later forced to reveal themselves. The six were the only survivors of the USS New Hampshire which sunk in the Caribbean. All of them were exposed to a chemical in Vietnam called "Agent Blue" (I wonder if Sunderland was involved?) which gave them an ability to reshape matter as they desired. Liz and their leader Cheeto then get into an argument about Vietnam which causes Cheeto to pull a gun and attempt to shoot Liz. However Swamp Thing pushes Cheeto, causing the the bullet to hit Reef one of the other survivors. With Cheeto loosing control of his powers the "island" begins to turn back into the New Hampshire causing it to sink. Reef quickly creates a helicopter which allows him to escape along with Liz, Dennis and Swamp Thing. Also we learn during the issue's interlude that Dr. Kay and Milton have tracked down Kathy and Feldner at an airport attempting to book a flight to Germany. Fledner attempts to warn Kay but is incinerated by Kathy. Remarks: Overall it was a decent story with Swamp Thing fighting the environment rather than a villain. It was a bit strange at the end how Reef made a helicopter for an escape, but they did not rescue Cheeto and the others, who are seen drowning at the end. Perhaps that reason will be reveled next issue. Pros: Interesting plot, but maybe it could have been tied into Sunderland a bit more. I can see them making Agent Blue after the whole mutated space herpes creature from the previous two issues. Cons: Strange choice just to let the vets just die and not rescue them. Kind of reminds me of issue 3 when Swampy just leaves the boy after the town is destroyed. Not much movement of the overall plot of the series with Kathy, Dr. Kay and Sunderland Corp. Grade: C+

Yeah agreed on HPB and their overpricing. However about a month ago somebody dumped a small BA collection at my local HPB and shockingly they were priced very reasonable. I picked up Batman 237 for $25 and it is about a 6.0.... Also scooped up some Flash, Mr. Miracle and Superman issues as well.

Great run! Thanks for sharing. Hope you can do a Legion one someday.

I am guessing that 265,000 would be considered on the low side in the early 70s. I was looking through a Superman issue from 78 or 79 that I picked up the other day and the statement of circulation average as I recall was around 425,000. Though I think any publisher today would love 265,000 issues sold per month...as Batman is the only current modern that hovers around 100k consistently now.

Amazing that in 1972 they were still going to the Superbaby well. Did anybody by this point enjoy those stories? Anybody know the average sales that Superboy had during the early 70s before Legion took over?

Swamp Thing #7 Cover Impressions: Ahoy mates! We got a pirate cover...well a one eyed mutant pirate cosplay cover. As an added bonus, Liz is cosplaying Princess Leia as Jabba's slave or maybe one of Conan's babes...by Crom indeed. You really can't go wrong with either. Swamp Thing #7 (November, 1982) Cover Price: $.60 Title: I Have Seen The Splintered Timbers Of A Hundred Shattered Hulls (This may be the longest title ever for a comic book) Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yeates Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Same creative team as the previous issues. Issue Recap: This issue continues the panic on the ship from the last issue as people are being turned into one eyed mutants. Dennis (still dressed as a donkey) and Liz (still dressed as Leia) make for a quick escape only to run into Dr. Kay, who suddenly decides to help them escape. He tells Dennis to pistol whip him to make it look convincing to his Sunderland bosses. Dennis gladly pistol whips Kay to the deck. Later Kay is seen fleeing in a boat with General Sunderland telling him that Liz is dead and the matter is over. Meanwhile Swampy finds the tentacle monster in the hold of the ship. The creature (which is very Cthulhu-esque) explains it is from the stars and it is sinking ships in the area for raw materials to rebuild its space ship. [Sea worthy ships apparently make good space ships.] It also tells Swampy that it was mutated by the Sunderland corporation dumping herpes virus(yes herpes) into the water near its lair. After the villain telepathic monologue, it attempts to turn Swampy into one of its mutants. Swamp Thing escapes after some of his blood hurts the creature and makes it in recoil in pain. Afterwards Swamp Thing, Liz and Dennis meet up in the ships infirmary to plan how to defeat the creature. Dennis determines that what ever is slowly killing Swamp Thing also hurts the herpes mutated space creature. They then fashion a crude biological bomb, which Swamp Thing takes into the water with him to blow the creature up. Of course Swampy knew right where to go because of the mental connection they shared as the creature revealed its plan. After the bomb goes off, part of the space ship debris underwater strikes the Haven causing it to sink. We last see Swamp Thing washed up on an island with a dinosaur in the back ground. Also in the issue Dr. Kay and the now suspicious Gen. Sunderland return to land. Kay calls his agent Milton and learns that Kathy's transformation has began and he knows where to find her. [oh-oh] Remarks: Well the herpes mutated Cthulhu-esque creature was basically a two issue villain of the week, it really didn't add to much to the story. Also a bit of plot hole, why did Kay bother to kidnap Liz and bring her to the Haven (where Sunderland is waiting) only to help her and Dennis escape? Maybe I missed something? The cheesiest part of this issue is Swamp Thing knowing exactly where to find the creature to set the bomb off. But I guess they did mind meld a bit during the villain monologue. That easy solution would not make it in today's comics. Still an entertaining read overall. Pros: The mystery around Kay continues. Other than Swamp Thing he his my favorite character...is a good guy or his he bad guy. Not quite sure at this point. Cthulhu! Okay it was actually a herpes mutated space creature. Cons: Rather simplistic way to defeat what seems to be a rather powerful enemy who basically just a villain of the week. Grade: C+

Back to the reviews after a busy weekend. Swamp Thing #6 Cover Impressions: Swamp Thing fighting/entangled by tentacle creature on a ship. Swampy looks a bit concerned. Swamp Thing #6 (October, 1982) Cover Price: $.60 (All the issues up to this point have been .60 cents) Title: Sins on the Water Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yeates Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Same creative team as the previous issues. Issue Recap: This issues opens with a bit of recapping of the previous issues. Also of importance we find out the little girl's name is actually Kathy not Casey. In addition to finding out Kathy's real name, Dr. Barclay receives a medallion given to him by her dying mother...who begs that they kill Kathy. A lot of people sure want Kathy/Casey dead. Afterwards Dr. Kay captures Liz via a lasso from a helicopter (yeah that happened) with the assistance of his henchman Milton. Dr. Kay delivers Liz to the ship named Haven where all of the Sunderland executives are having a meeting at Dr. Kay's request. Soon Barclay and Swampy trail Liz to the Haven and smuggle themselves on board. Once on board and the ship is away, they split up to look for Liz. Swamp Thing in the lower decks runs afoul with the tentacle creature from cover. Meanwhile Barclay disguised as a donkey at the costume party aboard the ship finds Liz. However just as they are about to escape, they find the most people on board have been turned into one eyed creatures (assuming by the tentacle creature below decks) and are surrounded. Remarks: Good issue over all. Just a minor quibble is the tentacle creature that just happens to stowaway before the ship leaves the dock. I'm not really clear on why it is there, perhaps the next issue will make it more clear. Or maybe it is just a monster of the week? Also of note Barclay discusses with Swamp Thing what could be killing him. The whole mysterious disease killing Swamp Thing sub plot finally gets a bit of traction. Pros: More details about Kathy/Casey Dr. Kay seems to have his own agenda...what is with this guy? Cons: Random Tentacle Monster! Though is having a creepy tentacle monster that turns people into one eyed slaves in your story really a drawback? Grade: C+

I just picked this issue up at a Half Price Books the other day. Great Cover.

Thanks for reading. I'll have another review up tonight or tomorrow.

Ha that would be funny. Though maybe DC could use Super Baby as a joke in a less serious movie like Booster Gold.

Awesome cover!

Quarter of the way to the Moore run. Swamp Thing #5 Cover Impressions: Swamp Thing, Liz and guy in a blue suit running and fighting a pack of pinkish looking humanoids. A creepy looking house in the background. Another solid cover. Swamp Thing #5 (September, 1982) Title: The Screams of Hungry Flesh Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yeates Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Same creative team as the previous issues. Plot: Issue 5, opens with Swamp Thing being transported to a Sunderland medical clinic at the request of Liz from the previous issue. Swamp Thing after a brief attempt to escape is subdued by the clinic guards. Meanwhile Liz is leaving Pineboro and discovers that her assistant producer Paul has already left without telling anybody of where he is going. Back at the clinic Swamp Thing awakens to find that his wounds have been healed by Dr. Barclay who says that he is a psychic healer. (However he still slowly dying since issue #1 due to some unknown cause.) Swamp Thing later escapes and finds the true source of his miraculous recovery, the Sunderland Corp is using empaths to draw the wounds into themselves. As he fights his way out of the clinic, Swamp Thing finds both Dr. Barclay and Liz and they make a quick getaway. The issue ends with the empaths over running the facility and Dr. Kay escaping by using the guards to cover his escape. Remarks: Another quick moving issue and a lot of revelations about the overall plot. First we find that Dr Kay is not dead from issue 2, he used the same method of using the Sunderland empaths to heal his burns. Dennis (Dr. Barclay) and Liz both find out that their employer Sunderland Corp is not exactly an ethical company and may have many sinister plots in motion. Pros: Revelations about the overall plot. Liz and Dennis are joining Team Swamp Thing. Cons: Issue felt a bit choppy in regards to pacing. Grade: C+

Nice info, I did not know these issues were considered keys. I haven't picked up much of the BA war comics yet, still focused on getting the Silver and cheaper Copper Age books at the moment. Still they are nice looking books...for $25 bucks I would have scooped them up too!

Swamp Thing #4 Cover Impressions: Looks like Swampy is having a throw-down with a demon of some sort surrounded by pictures of children. Nice cover. Swamp Thing #4 (August, 1982) Title: In The White Room Credits: Writer-Martin Pasko Art-Tom Yeates Editor-Len Wein Colorist-Tatjana Wood Letterer-John Costanza Still the same crew as last issue. Plot: This issue opens with Liz, her associate producer Paul Feldner and Sheriff Bingham (who has the most annoying accent ever) are discussing the case of the child murder in Pineboro. Meanwhile Swamp Thing arrives in town riding in the back of a watermelon truck (yes a watermelon truck). Of course the child killer is none other than the local kids show host Uncle Barney, who we find out is possessed by a demon, who then departs Barney's body to posses Paul Feldner. Swamp Thing continues to search for Casey in town, wondering why he is so drawn to the child, shorty thereafter he discovers Paul attempting to kidnap Casey. The now demon possessed Paul tells Casey they are not so different. Maybe all those town people back in Carolina were right about Casey? Swamp Thing and Paul then battle for Casey, which Swampy loses as Paul kicks him off a bridge. Later Swamp Thing tracks Casey to a slaughter house where Paul is about to carve Casey up with a meat cleaver. Round 2, Paul and Swampy begin another fight ending with Swamp Thing skewered on a meat hook. Paul then gloats how he is about to kill Casey with Swamp Thing watching, in desperation Swamp Thing offers the demon to posses him if he will spare Casey. The demon agrees and begins to posses Swampy just as he hits the lever to send the meat hook rack (with the now possessed Swamp Thing) into the freezer. The issue ends with Liz and the Sheriff finding Paul (who remembers nothing), a now comatose Swamp Thing and Casey is still missing. Liz arranges Swampy moved to a private medical facility. Remarks: Story-wise things are back on track after the vampire issue. We find out maybe Casey isn't so innocent after all. This issue had a lot of action with Swamp Thing and the demon battling each other. However Swamp Thing got the worse of it, he was kicked off a bridge, nearly sliced in half with a meat cleaver and skewered on a meat hook. He was only able to defeat the demon by tricking him at the end. I think for a horror comic Swamp Thing does its job well. I am actually surprised some of these early issues were comic code approved back then...demonic possession and child killing is fairly mature themes. Pros: Swamp Thing and a demon throw-down. If you like horror style comics, this one has it. Cons: Liz's side plot trying to get her show on the air in the Pineboro market is a snooze fest. The sheriff's accent is terrible. Grade: B-

I believe after Veitch run, Doug Wheeler takes over. I haven't seen many positive reviews of his work on Swamp Thing. But hey maybe I'll read them if I can find them. As for Veitch's Swamp Thing, I lucked out a few months ago and I picked up his whole run for a buck each. Though I am surprised DC doesn't reprint his trades, it seems well respected. Yeah that Superman annual was solid too, forgot to mention that one. Actually both Superman and Action are 2 of my top 5 DC titles right now along with Red Hood and the Outlaws, Batman, Suicide Squad and Deathstroke...okay that is six!