Swamp Things Podcast

"Magic is the science of coincidence." Swamp Thing, Abby, Chester, Constantine, the Sprout, Lipschitz, Roy Raymond, and Wild Thing are caught in a synchronicity maelstrom from which they might not escape. Matt Gamble joins Robert Reineke in discussing the issue #73 of Swamp Thing, written and drawn by Rick Veitch and entitled "The Fire Next Door." Things are building towards a climax. Reader: Eric...

"Gotta watch that driving ambition, Alden. It can lead to burn out." Driving ambition also applies to Rick Veitch in the latest episode where his experiments in layout and storytelling reaches a new level. Matt Gamble joins Robert Reineke in discussing the amazing issue #72 of Swamp Thing, written and drawn by Rick Veitch and entitled "Gargles in the Rat Race Choir." You might never look at a comi...

"I remember learning in college how meaningful events might be linked in some mysterious way. They called the phenomenon synchronicity." Swamp Thing and Constantine are still trying to create the next earth elemental, but find themselves in a minefield of coincidences. Rob Veatch joins Robert Reineke in getting to the bottom of issue #71 of Swamp Thing, written and drawn by Rick Veitch and entitle...

"Don't worry, mate. Johnny's on the job." After escaping a trap set by the Parliament of Trees Swamp Thing reunites with Abby in an issue that can only be described as metaphorically graphic. But, John Constantine is on the job to get things moving in the right direction as he trades favors for information. Rob Veatch joins Robert Reineke in trying to untangle issue #70 of Swamp Thing, written by...

"The renegade felt the name for his own essential truth slip out on the tides of his aura. 'Duality' he said. But he did not understand." A new wild Swamp Thing is born and a trap is sprung by the Parliament of Trees ensnaring Swamp Thing's mind. Rob Veatch joins Robert Reineke in trying to untangle issue #69 of Swamp Thing, written and drawn by Rick Veitch and entitled "Wild Thing." And things ar...

"It's like my old mentor, the General, used to say: 'Business can be crueler than love or war.  To that I might add 'All's fair."" Rob Veatch returns to discuss Swamp Thing #68 entitled "Reflections in a Golden Eye" in which Rick Veitch attempts and pulls off a complicated formal exercise consisting of four different threads, each of which are presented in different styles. It's a grand experiment...

"Just what the world needs, eh? Another grotty dim-witted clod of a film to add to the cultural wasteland." Rob Veatch returns to discuss Swamp Thing #67 entitled "The Wisdom of Solomon" as surprising enemies are revealed and Swamp Thing suffers a crushing setback at the hands of Solomon Grundy, who has no use for the concept of sharing. Reader: Patrick Ripoll of 96 Greers and Tracks of the Damned...

"Sounds great, Piggy! But you're wrong about one thing. These paparazzi photos? I happen to know they were faked. See, Wonder Girl has this delicate little beauty mark... It's almost in the same spot as Diane's was..." Swamp Thing #66 by Rick Veitch entitled "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" has a little bit of everything. Including heaven, hell, John Constantine, Hellblazer, Arkham Asylum and its...

"The Publishers and the so-called Purveyors of "Fine Art" have conspired to keep the public in the dark about the true potential of comics!" Rick Veitch is joined by artists Shawn McManus, Jim Fern, Stan Woch, and Tom Yeates for a bit of monkey shines in Swamp Thing Annual #3 entitled "Distant Cousins." Erik Hanson from the Cradle to the Grave podcast returns to help discuss this issue as we try t...

"Swamp Thing is dead!" We kick off the third season of Swamp Things which will be focussed on the Rick Veitch run. And maybe it won't end on recriminations and tears this time. I'm joined by Rob Veatch as we discuss how Rick Veitch kicked everything off in his first issue, #65 "(We Could Be) Diving for Pearls" Reader: Robert Reineke Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of  Now Playing Network Logo: Nat...

It was my great pleasure to welcome Stephen R. Bissette to the podcast for a wide ranging interview covering most of his career. Despite some subpar audio on my end. I hope all our listeners enjoy this. Podcast Artwork by Nat Almirall Podcast Theme Music by Jim Laczkowski Dedicated to the Memory of John Bierly

"If there is truly a heaven, sweet Linda... I pray to God you're happy there... And there must be a heaven... because I know there is a hell... I'm living in that hell right now...!" We reach the end of the second season with "The Leviathan Conspiracy" wrapping up Len Wein's orignal run. Nestor Redondo supplies the art as Len Wein has revelations and twists to bring a conclusion to the storylines...

"Home..? Who'd have ever thought that one day... I would call this dismal bog home..." Len Wein and Nestor Redondo explore the cursed, never ending life of Milo Mobius in this time travel adventure. It's a definite change of pace for Swamp Thing as we near the end of Len Wein's run. Reader: Nat Almirall of  Where the Long Tail Ends Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of  Now Playing Network Logo: Nat A...

"How long he has stood here, gazing sadly at the ruptured ruins of the mouldering barn that was once his private laboratory, he cannot remember-- nor would it truly matter if he did--" It's a changing of the guard as Nestor Redondo steps in to art duties after Bernie Wrightson had left. Returning guest Erik Hanson steps in as we assess Redondo's art. And the story of alien worms and would be savio...

"For the screamng is loud and long and frightening --- and laced wth maniacal laughter that sends snakes skittering into the underbrush  --- night-birds sailing off into an angry sky --- and, at last, the screaming stops!" The end of the Bernie Wrightson run is reached with Issue #10 of Swamp Thing. Paul Hermann of The Comic Binge comes on to discuss this wrapup featuring a battle of monsters and...

"Don't play so high an' mighty with me, Cable. I'll bet there's something in your life you've felt exactly the same way about." This month, Ryan Lower from The Batman Book Club comes on the podcast to discuss "The Stalker from Beyond" by Len Wein, Bernie Wrightson, and Michael Wm. Kaluta. There's a lot to unpack in a still timely rumination on xenophobia and a divided America. Reader: Robert Reine...

"There wasn't any natural way to restore the mines... so my pappy... he started checking into unnatural ways... the occult... and the supernatural... Then one night... I guesss he thought he was ready... He gathered up all the mystic books as such he'd been collecting... and carried them into the mine... And that was the last anyone ever saw of my pappy... Oh, there was the scream that night of co...

"This man...will just keep coming...until one of us...is dead...!" In a very special episode, legendary comics artist Kelley Jones comes on the podcast to discuss Swamp Thing #7 "The Night of the Bat" by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson where Swamp Thing journeys to Gotham and encounters Batman. It's a break from the usual format, perhaps becoming more "The Comics That Made Us", but we have a wide ra...

"'They are incapable of raising their hands against their neighbors.' Those were the little clockmaker's words. But their meaning is soon drowned out by the furious chatter of machine gun fire that echoes across the square." In this episode, Rob Veatch comes on to discuss Wein and Wrightson's "A Clockwork Horror" where Swamp Thing stumbles across of village of mechanical men and their dedicated to...

"You looked after me... when I needed help... Now it's my turn to look after you!" Samantha Kacho returns to the podcast to discuss issue #5 of the original Swamp Thing run entitled "The Last of the Ravenwind Witches!" Witchcraft, prejudice, Puritans, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and a host of other thoughts are discussed. Reader: Samantha Kacho Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Playing Network Logo:...

"Somhow, the fear-filled scream that drifts in from the bog is not totally unexpectedby those in the ancient manor -- but all heads turn at the sound just the same..." Jeremy Lloyd of Dark Tower Radio is a guest this month as we discuss Issue #4 "Monster on the Moors", Bernie Wrightson, werewolves, Stephen King, and CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF. Reader: Andy DiGenova of Holy Batcast Original Music: Jim L...

"There wasn't much left of you, you realize -- I had to improvise my repairs from the materials at hand! Here -- I'll show you!" With issue #3 of Swamp Thing, Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson tell the story of The Patchwork Man and introduce Abigail Arcane to the saga. Guest Andy DiGenova of Holy Batcast comes on to discuss this historic issue. Reader: Robert Reineke Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of...

"Forgive my manner of summoning you, my friend, but I could not chance your refusing my invitation! You see, I have a proposition to make you. A most unusual proposition, indeed!" With issue #2 of Swamp Thing, Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson introduce Anton Arcane and embue the book with an expressionistic look that would mark it until today. Guest Erik Hanson comes on to discuss this historic issue...

"They will be back... the ones that killed me... Ferrett and the others will be back... and I will be waiting!" Welcome to season 2 of Swamp Things which will be exploring the Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson run of Swamp Thing. Erik Hanson joins Robert to explore the Swamp thing #1 and the Dark Genesis of Swamp Thing.

"Laissez les bontemps rouler. Please. For us. For all of us." We've reached the end of Alan Moore's run with issue 64 "Return of the Good Gumbo". Alan Moore is joined by Tom Yeates, Rick Veitch, and Stephen Bissette to bring closure and a decision about Swamp Thing's relationship with mankind. Erik Hanson comes on to discuss this finale. Reader: Erik Hanson Original Music: Jim Laczkowski of Now Pl...