This article consists almost entirely of a plot summary .(June 2018) |
Alec Holland | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Swamp Thing #1 (October–November 1972) |
Created by | Len Wein Bernie Wrightson |
In-story information | |
Full name | Alec Holland |
Species | Human (formerly) Swamp monster/Elemental (currently) |
Team affiliations | Parliament of Trees White Lantern Corps Justice League Dark Justice League United Justice League |
Partnerships | John Constantine Animal Man Doctor Fate Deadman Zatanna Etrigan Batman Superman Blue Devil Phantom Stranger |
Notable aliases | Swamp Thing |
Abilities |
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Alec Holland is a fictional character in comic books published by DC Comics. He is most notably a character in the various Swamp Thing series.
Holland appeared in his first live-action adaptation in the 1982 film Swamp Thing played by Ray Wise as Alec Holland and Dick Durock playing Swamp Thing form. Durock returned for the role in the sequel film The Return of Swamp Thing 1989, along with playing Holland in regular form. Durock continued playing the character in the 1990 to 1993 Swamp Thing TV series. Years later, the character was then played by Andy Bean as Alec Holland and Derek Mears playing Swamp Thing form in the 2019 television series for the DC streaming service before it was cancelled.
Alec Holland first appeared in Swamp Thing #1 (October–November 1972), created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson.
In a secret facility located in the Louisiana bayous, scientist Alec Holland and his wife Linda invent a bio-restorative formula that can solve any nations' food shortage problems. Two thugs working for Nathan Ellery, head of the criminal organization the Conclave, barge into Alec's lab, knock him out, and plant a bomb in the facility. Alec wakes up as the bomb explodes. In flames, he runs into the swamp. His body is drenched in bio-restorative formula, and this affects the plant life of the swamp, imbuing it with Alec's consciousness and memories. The newly conscious plant life forms a humanoid form and becomes Swamp Thing, the guardian of the Green.
Swamp Thing originally thinks that he is Alec Holland transformed. He seeks to regain his human body, but often meets opposition in the form of Anton Arcane and his "Un-Men". After defeating Arcane, Swamp Thing is attacked by General Sunderland's men in a covert military operation. Sunderland brings Swamp Thing's body back to Sunderland Corp to study and unlock the secret of the bio-restorative formula.
After learning that he is not Alec Holland, Swamp Thing goes into shock and spends three weeks rooted in the swamp. Amidst this, Floronic Man consumes parts of Swamp Thing's body and gains enhanced plant-manipulating abilities until Swamp Thing awakens and stops him.
Later, Swamp Thing is visited by Alec Holland's ghost and learns that his skeleton is still lying at the bottom of the bayou. He retrieves the bones and gives them a proper burial, allowing Alec's spirit to ascend to Heaven.
Swamp Thing later rescues Abby Holland's soul from Hell, after which they enter a relationship.
In Crisis on Infinite Earths , the Monitor and Alexander Luthor Jr. recruit Swamp Thing and John Constantine to battle the Anti-Monitor. During this time, they battle the ancient Bruheria cult and the Great Evil Beast, stopping them from destroying Heaven.
In his absence, amateur photojournalist Howard Fleck releases photos of Swamp Thing and Abby, causing a scandal and leading her to flee to Gotham City. Swamp Thing overruns Gotham with plants, keeping the city hostage until Abby is released. However, Dwight Wicker and the Defense Department Intelligence attack Swamp Thing and destroy his body with napalm. Swamp Thing forms a new body from alien vegetation, but loses his connection to the Green until Green Lantern Medphyll helps him regain it.
After settling down again with Abby in the swamp, Swamp Thing travels to the Parliament of Trees, but is greeted with surprised horror. The Parliament had assumed him to be dead and created a new plant elemental. Swamp Thing's return triggered a crisis, as having two elementals active at one time would disrupt the balance of nature.
In response, Swamp Thing and Constantine concoct a plan to bind the Sprout to a human host. Among the candidates is Swamp Thing's friend Chester Williams. [a] Eventually, Swamp Thing and Abby have a daughter named Tefé Holland, who becomes the Sprout's host.
Swamp Thing participates in the Green's war against the Gray, a cosmic force connecting fungal life. Later, he battles the Sunderland Corporation and Anton Arcane, who has returned as a demon.
In Brightest Day , Alec Holland is resurrected by the Life Entity, while Swamp Thing temporarily becomes an avatar of the Black Lantern Corps. In The New 52 continuity reboot, Holland becomes a carpenter in Louisiana, but is haunted by the Green. After being attacked by the Rot, Holland becomes Swamp Thing again to stop them.
Later, Swamp Thing enters the Rot to stop Anton Arcane and joins Justice League Dark in battling Doctor Destiny and the Crime Syndicate. [2]
In Infinite Frontier , Levi Kamei succeeds Alec Holland as Swamp Thing. [3] [4]
Alec Holland appears in The Batman Adventures #16. This version lives with the long-retired Pamela Isley and encounters a plant doppelganger she had created prior to keep Batman from locating her. [19]
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 #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the early 20th century. 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.
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Swamp Thing is a 1982 American superhero film written and directed by Wes Craven, based on the DC Comics character of the same name created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson. It tells the story of scientist Alec Holland who is transformed into the monster known as Swamp Thing through laboratory sabotage orchestrated by the evil Anton Arcane. Later, he helps a woman named Alice Cable and battles the man responsible for it all, the ruthless Arcane. The film did well on home video and cable and was followed by a sequel, The Return of Swamp Thing, in 1989.
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Abigail Arcane Cable Holland is a fictional comic book character in the DC Comics Universe. She is the spouse/partner of Swamp Thing and the mother of Tefé Holland. Holland's psychic powers include empathy, telepathy and telekinesis. She first appeared in Swamp Thing #3 and was created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson.
Tefé Holland is a fictional character in comic books published by DC Comics. The character is the child of Alec Holland/the Swamp Thing and Abby Holland.
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