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Alec Holland

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Alec Holland
Textless cover of Swamp Thing (vol. 5) #2 (December 2011),
art by Yanick Paquette and Nathan Fairbairn
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSwamp Thing #1 (October–November 1972)
Created byLen Wein
Bernie Wrightson
In-story information
Full nameAlec Holland
SpeciesHuman (formerly)
Swamp monster/Elemental (currently)
Team affiliationsParliament of Trees
White Lantern Corps
Justice League Dark
Justice League United
Justice League
PartnershipsJohn Constantine
Animal Man
Doctor Fate
Deadman
Zatanna
Etrigan
Batman
Superman
Blue Devil
Phantom Stranger
Notable aliasesSwamp Thing
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength and durability
  • Plant control and manipulation
  • Hyperelasticity
  • Regenerative Healing Factor

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.

Publication history

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Alec Holland first appeared in Swamp Thing #1 (October–November 1972), created by writer Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson.

Fictional character biography

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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.

Crisis on Infinite Earths

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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.

The Sprout

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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.

The Quest for the Elementals

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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.

The New 52

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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]

Infinite Frontier

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In Infinite Frontier, Levi Kamei succeeds Alec Holland as Swamp Thing.[3][4]

In other media

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See also: Swamp Thing

Television

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Live-action

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  • Alec Holland / Swamp Thing appears in an anti-littering public service announcement that was aired on behalf of Greenpeace and coincided with the release of The Return of Swamp Thing.
  • Alec Holland / Swamp Thing appears in a self-titled TV series (1990), with Dick Durock reprising the title role from Swamp Thing films, and regular form Alec Holland, was played by Lonnie R. Smith Jr, Patrick Neil Quinn and Ray Wise.
  • Alec Holland / Swamp Thing was rumored to appear in an episode of Constantine, but the show was cancelled before the rumor could be proven or disproven.[5]
  • Alec Holland / Swamp Thing appears in a self-titled TV series (2019), portrayed by Andy Bean and Derek Mears respectively.[6][7][8][9][10] This version is a disgraced scientist who manipulated test results to prove himself right. He is hired by businessman Avery Sunderland to investigate a virus plaguing Marais, Louisiana, though Holland believes that Sunderland's research is tied to the virus, and works with Abby Arcane to investigate further. Holland is shot by an unknown assailant and his boat is destroyed by dynamite. He dies from his wounds, but the swamp covers him in vines and transfers his memories to a plant that would later become Swamp Thing.

Animation

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Film

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Video games

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Miscellaneous

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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]

Notes

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  1. ^ The Chester Williams character is an homage to the underground comix character Chester P. Hackenbush, created by Moore's fellow English cartoonist Bryan Talbot.[1]

References

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  1. ^ Whitson, Roger (Winter 2007). "Engraving the Void and Sketching Parallel Worlds: An Interview with Bryan Talbot". ImageTexT. Archived from the original on 15 December 2012.
  2. ^
    • Justice League Dark (vol. 1) #19 - 21 (June - August 2013)
    • Justice League Dark (vol. 1) #25 (January 2014)
    • Justice League Dark (vol. 1) #30 (June 2014)
  3. ^ Swamp Thing (vol. 7) #3
  4. ^ Swamp Thing (vol. 7) #4
  5. ^ Sandy Schaefer (October 16, 2014). "David S. Goyer Talks 'Constantine', Justice League Dark & DC TV Show Crossovers". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  6. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 2, 2018). "'Swamp Thing' Drama Series From James Wan In Works At DC Digital Service, 'Metropolis' Heads To Redevelopment". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  7. ^ Behbakht, Andy (May 28, 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Breakdowns For 'SWAMP THING' Reveal Details On Series Leads!". That Hashtag Show. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
  8. ^ Topel, Fred (September 7, 2018). "'The Nun' Screenwriter Gary Dauberman Talks 'Conjuring' Spin-offs, 'It: Chapter 2' and DC Universe's 'Swamp Thing' [Interview]". /Film. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Squires, John (September 11, 2018). "Derek Mears Has Been Cast as the Creature in DC's "Swamp Thing" Series!". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  10. ^ McCabe, Joe (November 6, 2018). "Andy Bean and Derek Mears to Star in DC Universe's SWAMP THING". DC Universe. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  11. ^ Collider Heroes - New Justice League Animated Series Coming?. 29 September 2015. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2015 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Murray, Noel (2019-05-31). "This weekend, stream two versions of Swamp Thing online". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  13. ^ Vincent Yeung (April 3, 2017). "Batman & Harley Quinn Animated Film's Voice Cast, Villains Revealed". Archived from the original on June 8, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  14. ^ Damore, Meagan (July 23, 2016). "SDCC: "JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK" ANIMATED FILM CONFIRMED; "TEEN TITANS" & MORE ANNOUNCED". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  15. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (November 15, 2016). "JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: TRAILER DEBUT FOR R-RATED DC ANIMATED MOVIE". IGN. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  16. ^ Kit, Borys (January 31, 2023). "DC Slate Unveiled: New Batman, Supergirl Movies, a Green Lantern TV Show, and More from James Gunn, Peter Safran". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  17. ^ Kit, Borys (February 1, 2023). "James Mangold in Talks to Tackle 'Swamp Thing' Movie for James Gunn, Peter Safran's DC Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  18. ^ Cauterize. "Unreleased Sega Megadrive game Swamp Thing Prototype ROM dumped". RetroCollect. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
  19. ^ Templeton, Ty (w), Burchett, Rick (p), Beatty, Terry (i). "Flower Girl" The Batman Adventures, vol. 2, no. 16 (September 2004).
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