Alec Holland (DC)
Alec Holland is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Alec Holland
Swamp Thing
After years of waiting, Arcane Arcane located Swamp Thing, and had his Un-Men, led by Cranius, bring him to his castle in the Balkans. Swamp Thing did not yet know Arcane, even though Arcane had encountered Swamp Thing’s future self in a time travel incident, and was easily coerced by the sorcerer. Arcane promised him his human body back, and used his magic to assume Swamp Thing's form and shaped a human body for Swamp Thing. Arcane had finally gained a body suitable for eternal life. When Swamp Thing realized Arcane's evil intentions he reversed the spell, and Arcane fell from a tower window while fleeing the enraged elemental. The Un-Men were unsure of what to do, knowing only blind obedience to Arcane, so they leapt out the window themselves. (Swamp Thing v1 #2) Swamp Thing’s destruction of Arcane’s castle freed the Patchwork Man, Arcane’s brother, who the sorcerer had resurrected and turned into an undead monster. Patchwork Man went into the village to find his daughter Abigail, who was in the company of Matt Cable, who’d come to the Balkans looking for Swamp Thing. He’d convinced himself that Swamp Thing was responsible for the Hollands’ deaths, and had vowed to destroy him. Abigail didn’t recognize her resurrected father, and was in terror. Swamp Thing thought Patchwork Man meant her harm, and the monsters clashed, resulting in Abigail nearly falling into a chasm. Patchwork Man saved her, but ended up plummeting into the chasm himself. With nothing left for her in the Balkans, Abigail convinced Matt to allow her to accompany him in the search for Swamp Thing. (Swamp Thing v1 #3)
Swamp Thing would later hitch a ride on Matt and Abby’s plane out of the Balkans, but the aircraft later crashed in the Scottish moors. The MacCobb family took in Matt and Abigail, and warned of a monster prowling the moors. Swamp Thing investigated, and met with a werewolf. They clashed, and the beast threw Swamp Thing into quicksand. The werewolf was actually the MacCobbs’ son Ian, and they’d waited years to find a victim to transfer his curse to. The MacCobbs drugged Cable and Ian, and when they awoke in bondage the MacCobbs revealed their plan for a complete drug transfusion that would transfer the curse from Ian to Cable. Ian couldn’t bear the thought of someone living with his curse, snapped his bonds, and transformed into a werewolf. Swamp Thing, who’d dug his way out of the quicksand, arrived and clashed with Ian. He knew silver could harm a werewolf, and although the MacCobbs thought they removed all of the precious metal from their home they forgot the chandelier. Swamp Thing swung the chandelier in a circle as Jenna stepped forward to protect her boy. The chandalier broke, and Ian shoved his mother to safety, allowing the silver to pierce his skin and kill him. He was relieved that he’d never again harm another person. Abigail was amazed at Swamp Thing’s heroism, but Matt was unmoved, telling her he was still not worthy of any good will on their part. (Swamp Thing v1 #4) Swamp Thing made his way from the moors to a small port, and stowed away on a ship. He hid in cargo, but when he went on deck he was discovered by the horrified sailors and forced to go overboard. He washed up on the shore of Divinity, Maine, a small town filled with superstition and distrust of strangers. He was discovered and cared for by Rebecca Ravenwind and her simple brother Timothy. She told him a man named Gideon was persecuting her for being a witch, although she swore it was a lie. She was glad to have aided the swamp monster, and Swamp Thing promised to reward her kindness by saving her from persecution. Gideon’s mob caught up with them, and one roughneck used a scythe to sever Swamp Thing’s arm. He felt no pain, and learned more about his own power when it soon regrew. The mob started a fire, and this brought back traumatic memories of Swamp Thing’s birth. In a panic he toppled over a cliff. By the time he recovered the townsfolk were ready to burn Rebecca at the stake. Swamp Thing fought the angry mob, and saved Rebecca. She flew into the air, and accused Gideon of keeping Divinity loyal through ignorance and paranoia. She summoned a storm and turned every member of the mob into a flower. She told Swamp Thing she hadn’t lied to him. Timothy was a warlock, and he channeled his abilities through her, but he never meant anyone harm. Swamp Thing thought the town got exactly what it deserved. (Swamp Thing v1 #5)
After finally defeating Arcane, Swamp Thing was set upon by General Sunderland's men, in a covert military operation. The resulting attacks blasted a hole in Swamp Thing's head and destroyed the lives of many of his friends. Sunderland brought the Swamp Thing's body back to Sunderland Corp to study and unlock the secret of the Bio-Restorative Formula. (Swamp Thing v2 #20) Sunderland hired the Jason Woodrue to study Swamp Thing's body, which he had stored in a cryochest. Over the course of his research, the Floronic Man deduced the truth about Swamp Thing, that he was a plant that thought it was Alec Holland—the real Alec Holland had died in the explosion. Sunderland and Woodrue parted on bad terms, so the scientist used Sunderland's automated computer systems to raise the thermostat in Swamp Thing's cryochest. This allowed Swamp Thing's body to regenerate, and in his search for Sunderland, he stumbled across the Floronic Man's report, which sent him into a mindless rage. He killed Sunderland, and set off for the swamps. (Swamp Thing v2 #21) Swamp Thing went into shock from learning his true origins. He rooted himself into the swamp and spent three weeks dreaming; his mind eventually traveling into The Green. Woodrue returned to the swamp and discovered Swamp Thing's connection to The Green, but the experience drove him mad. (Swamp Thing v2 #22) When Swamp Thing realized the presence of Woodrue's corrupting influence there, he wrenched himself back into reality. He caught up with Woodrue and convinced the villain that his war against animal life was pointless, reminding him that plant life and animal life needed each other to survive. (Swamp Thing v2 #24)
In San Miguel, Swamp Thing visited the abandoned Cambridge mansion, haunted by every person ever to have been killed by the Cambridge repeater firearm. A group of thrill seekers were menaced by the ghosts. Swamp Thing managed to exorcise the ghosts from the mansion by making the sound of a hammer on a big table within. Afterward, Constantine appeared and explained that he wanted the Swamp Thing to see first-hand the effects that the coming Crisis was having on Earth. (Swamp Thing v2 #45) Swamp Thing and Constantine witnessed the effects of the Crisis: blood red skies, and people and beasts from many different time periods, displaced into the present day. The pair were suddenly teleported to the Monitor's Satellite by Alexander Luthor. Constantine introduced Swamp Thing to Alexander, who had formed a plan to ensure that reality survived the Crisis. Constantine promised that the Swamp Thing would likewise ensure that the spiritual realms survived the after-effects of the Crisis. (Swamp Thing v2 #46)
Brightest Day
Alec Holland was returned to life by the Life Entity within the White Lantern whilst the Swamp Thing became a being of mindless destruction. Alec's last conscious memory was of hurling himself into the swamp to extinguish the flames engulfing him, having no memory of ever being the Swamp Thing previously. Constantine took it upon himself to seek the living Alec out and force him to reunite with the Swamp Thing as one thus returning its conscience. However, since he had been given his life back, Alec wanted to keep it with John conceding and letting him live.
The Entity revealed Alec Holland as its champion and a missing, vital component of the Swamp Thing itself. Unlike the previous incarnation, a mass of humanoid plant life with all of Holland's absorbed memories, this new, renewed Swamp Thing was generated directly from the body of Alec Holland himself. The Entity imbued upon Holland all of the powers of the Green that the former had wielded, including the additional elemental governance over fire. As the Swamp Thing, Alec grew to an enormous height to battle the corrupted being. Upon defeating it, he restored the Green to its natural order.
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events. Alec Holland is brought back to life but came to be haunted by the memories of the Swamp Thing. Alec tried to put those memories behind him and live life as a carpenter in Louisiana yet the Green continues to reach out for him. He was visited at work by Superman who informed him of strange animal deaths across the world. Alec declined to further investigating the matter as he explained to Superman his search for a normal life. He came to tell Superman how he tried returning to his botany work and successfully created a bio-restorative formula but he also had a vision of a world covered in Green so he destroyed it. Later that night, Alec had nightmares of the Swamp Thing and awoke to find his room covered in plants.
Overview
Personality and attributes
Powers and abilities
It was said that the Swamp Thing's mind seemed to be a function of his astral body. (Swamp Thing v5 #75)
To increase his intellect, he could grow a structure modelled on the human brain that could serve as a bio-computer. The large structure took two hours for him to grow where it towered above him. When bonded with it, Swamp Thing could become lost in though where seemingly a moment for him led to months passing in the real world. (Swamp Thing v2 #75)
As a scientist, he was noted for his research in the bio-restorative formula. Such was the importance of the formula that it was said that whoever obtained it would control the world. (Swamp Thing v1 #1)
Notes
- Alec Holland was created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson where he made his first appearance in Swamp Thing v1 #1 (November, 1972).
Alternate Versions
In other media
Television
- In Swamp Thing, Alec Holland appeared in the setting of the 1990 live-action television series where he was portrayed by actor Dick Durock.
- In Swamp Thing, Alec Holland appeared in the setting of the 1991 live-action television series where he was voiced by actor Len Carlson.
- In Swamp Thing, Alec Holland appeared in the live-action DC Universe television series where he was portrayed by actor Andy Bean.
Films
- In Swamp Thing, Alec Holland appeared in the 1982 live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Ray Wise.
- In The Return of Swamp Thing, Alec Holland appeared in the live-action film sequel where he was portrayed by actor Dick Durock.
Video games
- In Infinite Crisis, Alec Holland was referenced in the backstory of Swamp Thing who was a playable character in the MOBA video game. It was said that Swamp Thing initially believed he was a reborn Alec Holland but instead learnt he simply inherited the deceased scientist's memories.
- In Injustice 2, Alec Holland as Swamp Thing appeared as a playable character in the fighting video game where he was voiced by actor Fred Tatasciore.
- In DC: Legends, Alec Holland as Swamp Thing appeared as a playable character in the mobile video game.
Appearances
- Swamp Thing v1: (1972)
- Swamp Thing v2:
- Swamp Thing v5:
- Justice League Dark v1:
- Batman:
- Justice League Dark v2:
- The Swamp Thing v1:
External Links
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