By James Anders II

In my lifelong love of the comic book medium, Swamp Thing has been one of my favorites.  Ever since I picked up an issue of Saga of the Swamp Thing in the early 80s, I have forever been transfixed on the character and the series through all of the ups and downs of the story.  I’ve been there for the good (Alan Moore, Rick Veitch, Nancy A. Collins, Brian K. Vaughn, Scott Snyder, Charles Soule).  I’ve been through the bad (Andy Diggle, Joshua Dysart).  I’ve been through the “meh” (Grant Morrison, Mark Millar, pre-fallout).  And I’ve been through the ugly (Doug Wheeler, God bless him).  Through it all, I have seen in Swampy the story of a man, a monster, life, death, and rebirth.  Like the changes of the seasons, the Swamp Thing character has had periods of great life and growth, decline, and regrowth.  It has all been very fitting for a character whose very essence is that of nature.