OK. It’s not a muck monster . . . and may not technically be a swamp, but a CREATURE from a LAGOON is close enough!!!



Join Ben as he talks about a comic series he was wary about, but after taking the chance on the first two issues, he is ALL IN! (Sorry for the spoiler . . . but he liked it.)

Man-Thing celebrated his 50th anniversary recently, and so as time goes on the issues of his comic books have been celebrating their own 50th anniversaries!



While I am not sure how long this will last, I wanted to take a look at these comics . . . about 50 years later.



In this issue, Man-Thing is drawn into a conflict with a man and a woman who are in a conflict over a child . . . and the relationship trauma and issues and inter-personal dynamics may not be great, but the story sets up some of what’s to come from THE MAN-THING!!!



MAN-THING’S ORIGINS (Savage Tales #1 and Astonishing Tales #12 and 13) Swamp Things Ep. 2 – CBTM103

No, your ears aren’t deceiving you! This episode is going out on THREE different feeds! We recording this episode for WELCOME TO LEVEL SEVEN (Ben’s podcast about the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and his co-host Stewart agreed to let him repurpose it over here, because SWAMP COMICS!!!



Here we have the first official appearance of Man-Thing in the MCU! He’s been referred to! He’s been possibly spotted as a carved face on Planet Skaar!



But now he’s here! And he’s going by the name Ted.



And yes, Ben was excited.

So in the previous episode from the main feed of Comic Book Time Machine, Ben talked about the first part of the Flea Market Challenge – he had $3 cash in his wallet and determined to find a comic or two that he would enjoy but only using the $3 budget.



He found not one but TWO comics that fit the bill, but he was surprised to find that the second of the comics he found . . . was a SWAMP MONSTER COMIC!!!



And so, where he expected Swamp Things #21 to be about the two Swamp Thing series that DC is putting out in March . . . instead he spends some time with this old $1 comic.



And he had fun doing it.



Some links to things Ben talks about in this episode:Comic Book Time Machine episode 103, which talks about the surprisingly good swamp monster story “Lure of the Swamp”Episode 176 of Comic Book Time Machine, featuring part one of the $3 Flea Market Challenge

What a time to love comic book swamp monsters!



First up: Ben takes a quick look at the second issue of Swamp Thing Future State



Then: The Swamp Thing is a ten issue maxi-series by Ram V and Mike Perkins, introducing a new Swamp Thing to protect the green



Finally: Three one-shots that are actually just three issues in a three issue mini-series celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Marvel’s muck monster, and this story reveals some unknown information about the Man-Thing’s origins!



It’s “an embarrassment of riches” . . . as 2021 may not feature lots of muck men guesting in other series, but both of the big comic publishers give Manny and Swampy their own spotlight!

The end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 featured two comic book events with Swamp Thing, and this week had a couple swamp related surprises in the comics world.



As usual, Ben judges these swamp based comics using the following paradigm:CONTENT – is the story good?COVER – is the cover poster-worthy?CREATURE – how does the creature look?







FUTURE STATE: SWAMP THING #1 of 2 from DC Comics



The first chapter in a two part series takes us in the the distant future of earth . . . an earth dominated by plant life and ruled by Swamp Thing, who roams the land with a crew of swamp people looking for traces of humanity.



ENDLESS WINTER crossover from DC Comics



It’s not a huge crossover. It’s not an important crossover. But it IS a fun one.







It’s a complete story, with a beginning, middle, and end, that jumps between two time periods – the distant past in the era of vikings and the modern day. These two time periods share a villain, and to defeat him in the present the Justice League must learn from the past.



Plus, two surprises this week:



* News of a new Man-Thing miniseries coming soon (along with news of a ten issue maxi-series featuring Swamp Thing)* The new issue of Back Issue magazine, featuring two articles about the history of Man-Thing, from TwoMorrows

Two swamp-related comics have been released recently, so Ben heads off to the swamps to record about them.



As usual, Ben judges these swamp based comics using the following paradigm:CONTENT – is the story good?COVER – is the cover poster-worthy?CREATURE – how does the creature look?







LEGEND OF THE SWAMP THING HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR One Shot from DC Comics



This 48-page one shot features a six story anthology of Swamp Thing tales through time, including:* a pagan/earth-god styled creature from the Roman invasion of Briten* a cool and maybe not too surprising creature from the time of the Spanish explorers* a companion to a Japanese soldier from World War II* A Puerto Rican creature that steps in to stop a plantation owner from a horrible act* a brand new Swamp Thing, just waking up to his new identity



This was a nice surprise after the cancellation of the Swamp Thing Wal-Mart exclusive books, but the question is: is it good?







EMPYRE: AVENGERS Three Issue Mini-Series from Marvel Comics



Man-Thing has been quiet lately, unlike just recently when he was showing up all over the place. But it does make sense that he would show up in this tie-in to the major Marvel event that features plant based aliens.



But what place does a wordless, mindless creature have in an ensemble cast team book?



Again, the question: is it good?



One of these topics was a HUGE surprise to Ben. The other was sort of a let down. Which was which? Find out here!

Ben returns to the swamp for a Man-Thing related episode! This time, he takes a look at the NEW swamp character, Man-Slaughter! And he pops open a soda that’s swamp-themed AND Avery-themed. And post credit, he takes a look at the Funko Pop Man-Thing figure.

Ben returns to the swamp to talk about:

* How Wal-Mart has changed the way they are publishing their exclusive 100 Page Giants, which are no longer exclusive, and how Ben has released himself from having to buy them all
* GIANT SWAMP THING #2, featuring two brand new stories that Ben really enjoyed for two different reasons – one feeling like a throw back to the short horror roots of Swamp Thing and the other giving a haunting mediation on life and death
* THE PLOT #1 and 2, a new series from Vault Comics that feels like the beginning to an effective horror movie

 

Journey to the swamp with Ben as he covers:

* Alan Moore’s Saga of the Swamp Thing volume 1 (issues 20-27)
* The Wal-Mart exclusive 100 Page Comic Giant Swamp Thing #5
* Swamp Monsters, the collection of public domain pre-code swamp monster horror comics
* The first three episodes of DC Universe’s Swamp Thing TV series and the accompanying controversy surrounding its cancelation

Also, enjoy as Ben completely forgets to talk about the reason he called this episode “Even Monsters Get Scared,” which comes from the wrap up to the final storyline in the Saga collection. Seriously, he doesn’t even mention it. He’s a bum!

The twelfth episode in the SWAMP THINGS: COMIC BOOK MUCK MEN, BOG BEASTS, AND MUD MONSTERS series takes a look at the all new Wal-Mart exclusive Swamp Thing series — part of their 100-Page Comic Giant series! This episode is an overview of the changes made to the Wal-Mart exclusive line up, as well as a spoiler-free overview of the new Swamp Thing series.

This comic was a “grail” comic for me that I found while at a comic book convention a little while ago. I was waiting for a special time to podcast about it.
That time is now!
But it was not at al what I expected! So did I like it?
Also, today’s promo: find Shortbox Showcase here!
And so ends 2018’s Week of Weird!

A weird trilogy from the Fantastic Four’s history, featuring a weird new team!
Ghost Rider! Hulk! Spider-Man! Wolverine! Together, they are the NEW FANTASTIC FOUR!
This one has everything! At least, that’s what the cover promises. “Even the kitchen sink.”
In truth, it IS a fun superhero romp. And one that’s definitely worthy of . . . the week of weird!
Also, our today’s podcast promo: find The Fantasticast here.

Two comics. Two wars. Two creatures. Two retcons. One man: Nick Fury.
But these two comics tell the story of two different Nick Furys: one, the World War II sergeant, the other a Vietnam War era Agent of SHIELD.
Take a trip back in time to witness the origin of a living island and the easy days of Venom’s symbiotic species on earth.
Also, today’s podcast promo: find In Country: Marvel Comics’ The ‘Nam here.

 

October 2018 brought two long collections of short stories:
Cursed Comics Cavalcade is a collection of brand new stories, an 80 page book for $9.99 found in comic shops
Swamp Thing Halloween Horror 100-Page Comic Giant, a 100page book for $4.99 found only at Wal-Mart
Both feature Swamp Thing in a brand new short story. Both feature Batman, Zatanna, and Superman and MORE DC superheroes. And both are pretty fun.
Also, today’s podcast promo: find Midnight: the Podcasting Hour here.

Today’s entry in the week of weird is a fantastic comic series, Wolff and Byrd: Counselors of the Macabre!
Featuring werewolves, vampires, zombies, ghosts, and ghouls who all share a common problem: they need lawyers.
Also featuring a subplot about Sodd, the Thing Called It!
A swamp monster subplot? I’m in. Of course, it helps that it looks great and is a seriously fun read.
Also, today’s podcast promo: find The Longbox Crusade here.

For today’s episode in the Week of Weird, one of the weirdest comics I’ve ever read.
Bill Mantlo, Keith Giffen, and Klaus Jansen create a tale that should be goofy or campy, and yet it carries some surprising depth. Not super deep depth, but the depth it DOES reach is surprising.
As part of a try out series, this story got tried out and then left behind. But it was good enough to get an episode in The Comic Book Time Machine, so that’s something…
Also, today’s podcast promo: find The Quarter-Bin Podcast here.

Today, Ben takes a look at the FIRST DC/Marvel crossover!

Issue number 56 of Aquaman and issue 72 of Sub-Mariner link up in an odd . . . perhaps strange . . . or one might even say WEIRD way.

Written by the same writer, elements from one story lead into the other. In fact, the protagonist of the first story directly caused the creation of the antagonist in the second! Aquaman and Sub-Mariner never meet, but they do crossover in this first episode of the Comic Book Time Machine’s “week of weird”.
Also, today’s podcast promo: find The Fire and Water Podcast here.

For a guy with no regular series, Swamp Thing sure is getting around. In the last couple of months he’s shown up in:

* Damage #6
* Scooby-Doo Team Up #40
* Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe #1
* Suicide Squad Annual #1

And truth be told, most of his appearances are pretty good!
Plus, Ben covers Swampy’s appearance in Teen Titans Go to the Movies!

The fifth episode of SWAMP THINGS: COMIC BOOK MUCK MEN, BOG BEASTS, AND MUD MONSTERS features the much anticipated (by Ben) Swamp Thing Winter Special, but also features a couple surprise swamp monster titles and a character Ben absolutely hates. (Again.)
Covering:
Swamp Thing Winter Special — By Len Wein, Tom King, Kelley Jones, & Jason Fabok
Spider-Man/Deadpool #23-25 — Story by Robbie Thompson, art by Chris Bachalo and others
Young Monsters in Love — Swamp Thing story by Mark Russell, art by Frazier Irving
Captain Carrot and his Amazing Zoo Crew! — Story by Roy Thomas, art by Scott Shaw!