Swamp Thing is a 2011 comic book series published by DC Comics as part of the New 52 initiative. The series is initially written by Scott Snyder with art by Yanick Paquette. Snyder would later leave the series after 18 issues, with the series being taken over by Charles Soule for the remainder of the series.
The series centers on a new Swamp Thing, who this time is the real Alec Holland, not a plant who thinks he is Holland. However, the resurrected Alec is on the run from his long-deferred destiny, only to find himself having to accept the transformation to try and save Abby, finally becoming Swamp Thing in truth.
The first issue was released September 7, 2011. The series lasted for 40 issues, with the final issue released March 4, 2015.
Swamp Thing (2011) provides examples of the following tropes:
- Anthropomorphic Personification: On top of Swamp Thing as the representative for plant life, the series add representatives for animal life, decay, machine life, writing...
- Art Imitates Art: A page
in issue #4 references The Runaway by Norman Rockwell. - Back from the Dead: Alec was resurrected to fight the corrupted Swamp Thing in Brightest Day.
- Bloodier and Gorier: The series is a lot more graphic than previous series. This is especially shown with Abigail's severed head and her spinal column, esophagus, and wind pipe being held by Anton Arcane.
- Boyish Short Hair: Abby Arcane has this.
- The Burlesque of Venus: In issue #27, the plant elemental known as the Wolf tries to convince Swamp Thing that it's for the best he remain within the Green by summoning sentient plant constructs of Abby and Capucine in the nude, Abby standing atop a flower shaped like an oyster shell while posing like Venus.
- The Bus Came Back: The elemental Swamp Thing's resurrection and death are undone in the New 52, and while in the Green, the real Alec runs into Swamp Thing.
- Cyberspace: "The Metal" is an ethereal plane representing technology.
- Decapitation Presentation: Issue #16 ends with Anton Arcane holding up Abigail's severed head.
- Eldritch Abomination: The series introduces The Rot, which acts as the natural force of death and decay.
- Ghost Memory: Alec possesses Swamp Thing's memories, and at first he doesn't know why.
- Humans Are Special: The series brings up the idea that what human avatars bring to the Green is restraint, because humans have a conscience and thus can make decisions that the rest of the Green cannot.
- I Have a Family: In issue #34, a man pleads Lady Weeds not to kill him after giving her a lighter because he has children. Lady Weeds simply states that her victim being a parent isn't her fault and proceeds to slit his throat.
- Legacy Character: Alec himself, taking over for his replica after the white light resurrects him for real to take the place of the original Swamp Thing after he had been corrupted as a Black Lantern. A few previous Swamp Things also play a part in the series.
- Necromancer: Anton Arcane becomes the avatar of the Rot, the force of Decay and Death.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero!: Alec killing the Parliament of Trees and bringing the Wolf and the Lady back wasn't the greatest idea ever.
- Raising the Steaks: The Big Bad is Death itself (technically, the Rot) personified. As such, Alec must face such undead abominations as zombie pigs and a reanimated woolly mammoth fossil.
- Reed Richards Is Useless: Jason Woodrue tries using the power of the Green to serve human purposes in the New 52 run, but doesn't understand what he's doing with it comes at the expense of another part of the Green, so people still end up suffering.
- Replacement Goldfish: Alec Holland for Abby Arcane. She even says he's not "her" Swamp Thing when they first meet.
- Rescue Romance: Alec falls in love with Abby after she rescues him.
- Seen It All: Abby Arcane has become quite blasé to all the horror around her as a coping mechanism.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Alec with Abby. Due to their roles as avatars of their respective elements, they cannot be together.
- The World Is Just Awesome: Alec has a great time going around the Great Barrier Reef, taking in the lovely scenery.
