Monday, October 14, 2019

The Spectre and Swamp Thing

Most comic book collectors are aware of the fact that DC Comics reintroduced many of its Golden Age superheroes (albeit as different individuals and origins) back in the mid-1950s.

Over the next decades DC would bring back many of its earlier heroes in try out issues and eventually grant them their own titles.

The Spectre was once such character.

Introduced in the 1940s The Spectre was a supernatural force of vengeance and justice.

When police detective Jim Corrigan was killed The Spectre brought him back and inhabited his body.

Whenever a particulaly dastardly crime was committed The Spectre would appear and mete out supernatural justice.

In 1966 DC Comics re-introduced The Spectre in Showcase Presents #60 during the Silver Age.

Where was he the last 20 years?  This issue explains all and also bumps up The Spectre’s supernatural powers and his status in the DC Universe.

With DC comics’ current continuing and escalating stories featuring supernatural threats Showcase Presents #60 offers an excellent jumping on point for DC’s mystical side.


Readers of DC Comics recognize the name Swamp Thing.  Swampy oozes magic and supernatural forces and is dubbed the Avatar of the Green.

But, that was not always so.

When artist Bernie Wrightson and writer Len Wein introduced Swamp Thing he was scientist Alex Holland who got doused by his plant growing formula when he was set ablaze by some bad guys.

Running into the nearby swamp, Alex’s body, the swamp and chemicals all combined to make him the Swamp Thing.

In issue #7 of his ongoing series Swamp Thing teams up with another denizen of the night: Batman!

Swamp Thing goes after the man who ordered the murder of his wife with Batman not far behind.  It’s a powerful story of revenge and justice.

The Bernie Wrightson art alone is worth picking up this issue.  Combine that with the fact that it was the first time Swamp Thing met up with any of DC Comics heroes and you have a classic.

Early Swamp Thing issues continue to rise in price and because the series had a lower print than most DC Comics of the time, finding issues is getting more difficult.

Get them while you can
!

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