History: Alec Holland had memories of burning in the Louisiana bayou, and of the Swamp Thing that arose from his death. The Parliament of Trees approached him, stating that if he had not died he would have been Swamp Thing, and eventually convinced him to serve as their avatar.

(Constantine: The Hellblazer #7) - Swamp Thing manifested in Constantine's apartment, telling him a dark magic had been animating trees in Central Park and disemboweling people, and whatever it was had closed off the Green of the park to him. He needed Constantine to spread his form around Central Park so he could regain control, and admitted John was not his first choice for an assistant, as he avoided the magician whenever he could. John spread his sproutlings across the park, and some trees animated revealing themselves to be nymphs. Swamp Thing tried to contain them, but his powers in the park were still too weak, and he left to find an authority the nymphs would listen to. John held the nymphs off with fires he started using his cigarette until Swamp Thing arrived with the Great Nymph Mother. She said no new children of hers had formed in ages, and these newborn nymphs needed her guidance to coexist with humanity. She warned Constantine that dark magic was funneling into NYC, and Swamp Thing thanked Constantine for his help.

(Swamp Thing VI #1, 2) - Swamp Thing shambled through the bayou when he was attacked by an alligator, whose persistence annoyed him. He used vines to bind the alligator, and warned it to leave him alone, or next time he might kill it. The Phantom Stranger appeared, warning Swamp Thing that the Parliament of Trees was quite angry with him for ignoring them over the past couple of months, and the Stranger reminded him of his responsibilities. Alec said they'd get over it, and said he'd gladly trade his power and responsibilities to be human again. Phantom Stranger told him to watch what he wished for and vanished. Swamp Thing rescued a man from quicksand, and the grateful Frank Wormwood and his wife Grace told him they'd been looking for him. Their son Lazlo attended Crowley College, and was near death and hooked up to machines after he volunteered to prove Professor Crisp's theories of reanimating the dead. Lazlo disappeared from the hospital, and Crisp's dismembered body was found all over campus. They asked Swamp Thing as a protector of the swamp to find out what had happened. Swamp Thing found Lazlo at the college as he was killing two of his former classmates, and Swamp Thing realized he was now a zombie. They battled, and Lazlo tore Swamp Thing in half. Swamp Thing knitted his body back together, and sought the help of occultist Shade in New Orleans. Shade revealed that it was actually the Wormwoods who resurrected Lazlo after Crisp's failed experiment, and Swamp Thing said he disliked being manipulated. Shade instructed Swamp Thing to use the traditional method of putting down a zombie, fill his mouth with sea salt, and then sew his mouth shut. Shade said he'd expect his favor repaid one day, and Swamp Thing said he would regret it if he did. Swamp Thing kept Lazlo from killing his parents, and after a struggle managed to destroy the zombie. Later he met Phantom stranger again, and asked the Stranger if the zombie was the darkness he'd earlier hinted at. Stranger told him not even close, and Swamp Thing said he was being obnoxious.

(Swamp Thing VI #3, 4) - Swamp Thing went another round with his favorite boa constrictor; he'd come to appreciate their tussles over the years. Someone shot the snake's head off, and Swamp Thing was furious until he saw it was Matt Cable, who mistakenly thought he was saving Swamp Thing's life. Matt said he quit the FBI shortly after the adventures he went on with Swamp Thing and Abigail Arcane, and had devoted his time to finding a way to restore Swamp Thing's humanity. In the hidden city of Nanda Parbat he found the mystic Hand of Fatima. He didn't know how to use it, so they contacted Zatanna, who agreed to help despite her thinking Swamp Thing was making a mistake. She performed a spell to activate the Hand, and collapsed. Alec Holland was human again, but now Matt was the Swamp Thing. Zatanna knew the cosmic balance meant there had to be a Swamp Thing and she assumed Alec knew that. Matt said he hadn't told Alec the whole truth because his friend wouldn't have gone through with it otherwise. Back in the bayou Matt told Alec to enjoy his humanity, but Alec insisted on teaching him how to use his Swamp Thing powers. Alec was finally satisfied that Matt was ready when they ran into a poacher and Matt ripped him to shreds, claiming he didn't know his own strength. He told Alec to leave again, but now Alec was determined to keep an eye on him. Matt / Swamp Thing walked to Houma to announce his presence, attacking anyone who got in his way, and drawing the attention of the police and media. He told Alec he'd craved his power, and intended to police the world with it. Alec objected, and Matt summoned vines to pull him under the Earth.

Comments: Created by .Len Wein & Bernie Wrightson.

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © DC Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please visit The Official DC Comics Site at: http://www.batman.com