Swamp Thing

I over the years started to read some old D.C. comics "Swamp Thing" issues and I must say the issues and stories were good and interesting as they focused on real life issues. And I remember this early 90's series on the "USA Network" as I watched as a kid I liked it being that the stories were fun with issues and entertaining with action, and now from time to time I catch early morning or late night reruns on digital TV.

Set in the muggy and hot humid swamps and lakes of Louisiana it involves a monster moss like hero named "Swamp Thing", though he may look like a scary monster this hero is out to avenge his being burnt by chemicals. And along the way "Swamp Thing" helps those who need it as it's clear he's the ruler of the "Swamps". Overall well done action hero series that had drama and suspense as it was a great take on a creature anti hero type.

I enjoyed the first SWAMP THING film for what it was, and despise the second for what it was. I had read the comics for many years but didn't know what to expect of a weekly show that would have a small budget. Looking back, I feel the series succeeded as often as it failed.

The best episodes were those that focused on Swamp Thing (or 'Alec' as he was referred to by the people who knew him). The series started out on shaky footing, and had Swampy act out of character. In the first episode he turns a bad guy into a tree until the writers establish that he would never take a human life. Any episode that had him turn back human was well done.

Most of the episodes made him a Rod Serling of the swamp, taking a back seat to the action. A lot of these weren't too bad, but the bad ones were terrible. These boiled down to two plots: bad guys hide out in the swamp, only to have to face their crimes in a nightmare-ish way, or people with problems wander in the swamp, to become better by facing their fears. The best of these was when Ray Wise (Dr. Holland from the original movie) guest starred as someone who might be an alien and almost kills Swamp Thing.

In my opinion far too many episodes chronicled Arcane's (Swamp Thing's enemy) foul adventures. I realize that there is a fan base of women (and some men) who found the character/actor too sexy for words and wanted even less of Swamp Thing in each episode. Be that as it may, I feel the series as a whole suffered for it, and that will keep people from rediscovering it.

The series lacked truly dramatic episodes, the ones that would get the media's attention (like how 'The Best of Both Worlds' episodes of Star Trek:TNG did). There wasn't a single two-part episode throughout the run, which would've allowed the writers to develop a deeper story. Plotlines were never adequately ended, such as the disappearance of Tressa's son.

In the face of all these detriments, I enjoyed the show (and have almost every episode on tape; doubtful there will be a DVD release). Although it could have been so much more, it was certainly better than many other shows or movies based on comic books.

1990 was my first year of high school the running gag was how ridiculous the fight scenes were where he would grab onto a car door and yank on it and it would just fly off screen. Apparently one of swamp things many powers is to violate the laws of physics. You'd be at somebody's house and be on TV and did you like what show is this simply be apologetic about how he was just some stupid show but it was worth watching for laughs why are there not more reviews if this show? "Cultural Abyss" now that's a poetic.

Let's be honest, the pilot episode probably won't win anyone over right away. Season 1 is a complete mess, with the secondary protagonist being written off the show by literally being s*x trafficked, I kid you not.

Seasons 2 and 3, are much better in comparison.

Dick Durock IS Swamp Thing for me, even under pounds of makeup, he has this presence and can emote with only his eyes and stance. His voice is perfect, the exact guttural and unearthly voice you would imagine reading in the green word bubles the comics present his voice in.

Mark Lindsay Chapman as Anton Arcane is PERFECT as his foil. Despite starting out as an irredeemable psychopath throughout Season 1, he eventually evolves into a baddie who you cannot help to enjoy watching. Though villainous and slimy, Chapman plays the character with gravitas and finesse, almost making him an almost secondary protagonist of the series later on.

Another good additionis that of Janet Julian, who plays as Swamp Thing's love interest and link to humanity in a professional and heartfelt way. Despite being mean-spirited at times and with many horror elements, this series is ultimately a tale of good versus evil. The first few episodes are mean-spirited and the best episodes of the series for me are found in later seasons (examples include "Night of the Dying," "Better Angels," "Love Lost," "Sonata," and "A Nightmare on Jackson Street" to name a few),

The series is many things; dark but not brooding, sad but not depressing, adult but still family-friendly. It tackles such mature topics as Voodoo, self-harm, murder, grief, and redemption, areas most subjects of this premise wouldn't dare trod. In conclusion this is a highly underrated and forgotten mature series not of a superhero, but a man who has transcended with pain into an (almost) all powerful embodiment of nature with a deep hold upon humanity. And at 20 minutes per episode, it does not waste your time.

I have to say I really enjoyed the cartoon and this show. I'm still a fan of this show because of the intro. I was such a fan of swamp thing because he was different, he's not the usual superhero, and he's a scientist/monster. Dick Durock gave Swamp Thing his heart and soul. He was so good, as a kid there were times seeing him in pain really made me cry. Mark Lindsay Chapman was very good too as Arcane. He didn't play Arcane like a cliche supervillain, he played him as a man who is obsessed with immortality. Either way, I liked the stories and yeah there were some corny ones but it did last three seasons. So for any of you who are haters of this show, you can't deny it lasted three seasons.