DC's Swamp Thing just leveled up in a major way in a preview for an upcoming Swamp Thing issue.
Swamp Thing #15 comes from writer Ram V, artist Mike Perkins, colorist Mike Spicer and letterer Aditya Bidikar. In a preview for the issue provided by DC, Swamp Thing/Levi Kamei has bonded with energy from Green Lantern/Hal Jordan's Power Ring to become a new, ultra-powerful being. While Swamp Thing #14 ended with a tease of the character's upgrade, the preview for Swamp Thing #15 shows the mighty entity growing to nearly the size of an entire city.
"The Green Lantern's power surgery through my veins," Kamei narrates. "Not unlike....the dark machine that I rampage through...I too am a construct. A manifestation of will. I revel...in my newfound strength. It lacks the patience...and persistence of trees, but it is mercurial...and purposefully. It accomplishes...so much."
The synopsis for Swamp Thing #15 reads, "The Earth stands on the precipice of destruction as the Parliament of Trees considers a truly dangerous proposal from the Pale Pilgrim. Now Swamp Thing is all that stands between the natural world and Armageddon…or is he? Enter Trinity-an unprecedented being created by humankind’s most destructive moment who may prove to be our only hope of salvation."
Swamp Thing: Origins
Created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, Swamp Thing first appeared in 1971's House of Secrets #92 in a stand-alone horror story set in the 20th century. Later receiving a solo series set in modern-day, Swamp Thing is an organic, vegetative creature typically concerned with protecting his home and the environment, in general. A number of characters have become/taken on the Swamp Thing mantle over the years in addition to Kamei, including Alec Holland, Tefé Holland, Calbraith A. H. Rodgers and more.
DC also recently introduced a version of Swamp Thing in the publisher's Flashpoint Beyond series. Set in a universe where Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas, became Batman after Bruce was instead killed in Crime Alley by Joe Chill, Flashpoint Beyond#3 revealed the identity of Swamp Thing to be Jason Woodrue, a longtime Swamp Thing antagonist who has previously operated under the names of Plant-Master and the Floronic Man.
Swamp Thing has appeared in several live-action projects in the past, including 1982's Swamp Thing and its 1989 The Return of Swamp Thing sequel. Dick Durock played Swamp Thing in both films as well as Holland in The Return of Swamp Thing, while Ray Wise plays Holland in the first film. Durock later returned to the role in a 1990 Swamp Thing television series, which ran for 72 episodes on USA Network. Derek Mears and Andy Bean later played Swamp Thing and Alec Holland in a separate television adaptation released in 2019.
Swamp Thing #15 features cover art by Perkins and Spicer and variant cover art by Charlie Adlard. The issue goes on sale July 26 from DC.
Source: DC Comics